bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stabilizing a 22 karat nanogolden cage
Authors: Wang Q. , Sun Q. , Jena P.
Published: November 2009

Since the discovery of C60 fullerene, considerable efforts have been devoted to find other elements with similar hollow cage structures. However, search for hollow metallic cages with a diameter similar to that of C60 fullerene has been elusive. We describe a procedure for the rational design of metallic cages by suitably choosing their size, composition, and charge state. A 22 karat nanogolden cage with a diameter of about 8.5 Å and consisting of 12 Al and 20 Au atoms is found to be metastable, which can be stabilized by embedding a Mn4 cluster. In contrast to bulk Mn, which is antiferromagnetic, and isolated Mn4 cluster, which is ferromagnetic with a giant magnetic moment of 20μB, the Mn4@Al12Au20 endohedral complex exhibits magnetic bistability with 0μB and 14μB configurations being energetically nearly degenerate. These results, based on density functional theory, open the door to design a novel class of endohedral complexes with possible applications.
Obtaining Hartree–Fock and density functional theory doubly excited states with Car–Parrinello density matrix search
Authors: Liang Wenkel , Isborn Christine M. , Li Xiaosong
Published: November 2009

The calculation of doubly excited states is one of the major problems plaguing the modern day excited state workhorse methodology of linear response time dependent Hartree–Fock (TDHF) and density function theory (TDDFT). We have previously shown that the use of a resonantly tuned field within real-time TDHF and TDDFT is able to simultaneously excite both the α and β electrons to achieve the two-electron excited states of minimal basis H2 and HeH+ [C. M. Isborn and X. Li, J. Chem. Phys. 129, 204107 (2008)]. We now extend this method to many electron systems with the use of our Car–Parrinello density matrix search (CP-DMS) with a first-principles fictitious mass method for wave function optimization [X. Li, C. L. Moss, W. Liang, and Y. Feng, J. Chem. Phys. 130, 234115 (2009)]. Real-time TDHF/TDDFT is used during the application of the laser field perturbation, driving the electron density toward the doubly excited state. The CP-DMS method then converges the density to the nearest stationary state. We present these stationary state doubly excited state energies and properties at the HF and DFT levels for H2, HeH+, lithium hydride, ethylene, and butadiene.
Free energies of stable and metastable pores in lipid membranes under tension
Authors: den Otter Wouter K.
Published: November 2009

The free energy profile of pore formation in a lipid membrane, covering the entire range from a density fluctuation in an intact bilayer to a large tension-stabilized pore, has been calculated by molecular dynamics simulations with a coarse-grained lipid model. Several fixed elongations are used to obtain the Helmholtz free energy as a function of pore size for thermodynamically stable, metastable, and unstable pores, and the system-size dependence of these elongations is discussed. A link to the Gibbs free energy at constant tension, commonly known as the Litster model, is established by a Legendre transformation. The change of genus upon pore formation is exploited to estimate the saddle-splay modulus or Gaussian curvature modulus of the membrane leaflets. Details are provided of the simulation approach, which combines the potential of mean constraint force method with a reaction coordinate based on the local lipid density.
Difference between penetration and damping lengths in photonic crystal mirrors
Authors: Sauvan C. , Hugonin J. P. , Lalanne P.
Published: November 2009

Different mirror geometries in two-dimensional photonic crystal slabs are studied with fully vectorial calculations. We compare their optical properties and, in particular, we show that, for heterostructure mirrors, the penetration length associated with the delay induced by distributed reflection is not correlated with the characteristic damping length of the electromagnetic energy distribution in the mirror. This unexpected result evidences that the usual trade-off between short damping lengths and large penetration lengths that is classically encountered in distributed Bragg reflectors can be overcome with carefully designed photonic crystal structures.
Surface-plasmon mode hybridization in subwavelength microdisk lasers
Authors: Perahia R. , Alegre T. P. Mayer , Safavi-Naeini A. H. , Painter O.
Published: November 2009

Hybridization of surface-plasmon and dielectric waveguide whispering-gallery modes are demonstrated in a semiconductor microdisk laser cavity of subwavelength proportions. A metal layer is deposited on top of the semiconductor microdisk, the radius of which is systematically varied to enable mode hybridization between surface-plasmon and dielectric modes. The anticrossing behavior of the two cavity mode types is experimentally observed via photoluminescence spectroscopy and optically pumped lasing action at a wavelength of λ∼1.3 μm is achieved at room temperature.
Study of an organic-inorganic hybrid columinescence system by photoacoustic method
Authors: Yang Yue-tao , Liu Xiao-jun , Zhang Shu-yi
Published: November 2009

In this work, a columinescence system is found for lanthanide complexes Ln(p-ABA)3⋅H2O (p-ABA: p-aminobenzoic acid) incorporated in silica matrix. It is found that the luminescence quantum yield of Tb3+ emissions increases remarkably when partly replacing Tb(p-ABA)3⋅H2O by Gd(p-ABA)3⋅H2O in silica glass. Moreover, through the ratio of the fast to the slow heat components derived from a photoacoustic method, the intrinsic luminescence quantum yield of Tb3+ and the ligand sensitization efficiency are determined for the samples. The luminescence quenching effect for Tb–Er(p-ABA)3⋅H2O complexes in silica matrix is also discussed.
Epitaxial growth of (001)-oriented Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 thin films on a-plane sapphire with an MgO/ZnO bridge layer
Authors: Xiao Bo , Liu Hongrui , Avrutin Vitaliy , Leach Jacob H. , Rowe Emmanuel , Liu Huiyong , Özgür Ümit , Morkoç Hadis , Chang W. , Alldredge L. M. B. , Kirchoefer S. W. , Pond J. M.
Published: November 2009

High quality (001)-oriented Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 (BST) thin films have been grown on a-plane sapphire (112¯0) by rf magnetron sputtering using a double bridge layer consisting of (0001)-oriented ZnO (50 nm) and (001)-oriented MgO (10 nm) prepared by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. X-ray diffraction revealed the formation of three sets of in-plane BST domains, offset from one another by 30°, which is consistent with the in-plane symmetry of the MgO layer observed by in situ reflective high electron energy diffraction. The in-plane epitaxial relationship of BST, MgO, and ZnO has been determined to be BST [110]//MgO [110]//ZnO [112¯0] and BST [110]/MgO [110]//ZnO [11¯00]. Capacitance-voltage measurements performed on BST coplanar interdigitated capacitor structures revealed a high dielectric tunability of up to 84% at 1 MHz.
Direct observation of carrier depletion around a dislocation in GaP by scanning spreading resistance microscopy
Authors: Yokoyama T. , Takenaka R. , Kamimura Y. , Edagawa K. , Yonenaga I.
Published: November 2009

The local electrical resistivities in deformed n-GaP have been measured by scanning spreading resistance microscopy (SSRM). The SSRM images show chainlike alignments of spots with high resistivity along the slip direction. These spots can be attributed to carrier-depletion around a charged dislocation. From the observed spot size, the line charge density of the dislocations has been estimated to be 0.4–0.9e/b, where b denotes the magnitude of the Burgers vector. The estimated value of line charge density has been discussed in relation with the dislocation core structure.
The effect of intracluster photoelectron interactions on the angular distribution in I−⋅CH3I photodetachment
Authors: Van Duzor Matthew , Wei Jie , Mbaiwa Foster , Mabbs Richard
Published: November 2009

I − and I−⋅CH3I velocity mapped photodetachment images are recorded over wavelengths between 270 and 370 nm. Spectral similarities, in conjunction with ab initio calculations show that the cluster anion comprises an atomic iodide anion moiety solvated by a relatively unperturbed CH3I molecule. Between 340–370 nm and at 280 nm, free I− is produced via a process analogous to dissociative electron attachment within the cluster anion. More strikingly, the photoelectron angular distribution for each species at a given electron kinetic energy is very different, despite detachment occurring from the iodide 5p orbital in each case. These observations reveal the effect of interaction of the photoelectron with the neutral cluster residue and are discussed in terms of resonances associated primarily with the CH3I molecule.
Extremely broadened high-order harmonics generated by the femtosecond pulses propagating through the filaments in air
Authors: Ganeev R. A. , Kuroda H.
Published: November 2009

We demonstrate a considerable broadening of the harmonics generating in laser plasma using the laser pulses propagating through the filaments in air. A fourfold increase of harmonic bandwidth was achieved in the case of phase-modulated laser pulses, alongside with an increase in harmonic conversion efficiency (from 5×10−6 to 1.2×10−5). We also present the studies of harmonic generation using phase-modulated pulses at different ranges of ellipticity of the polarization of laser beam.
Efficient inverted top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes using ultrathin MoO3/C60 bilayer structure to enhance hole injection
Authors: Hou Jianhua , Wu Jiang , Xie Zhiyuan , Wang Lixiang
Published: November 2009

Efficient inverted top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes with aluminum (Al) as both the cathode and semitransparent anode are investigated. It is found that introduction of the ultrathin molybdenum trioxide (MoO3)/fullerene (C60) bilayer structure between the low work function Al top anode and the hole-transporting layer dramatically enhances the device performance as compared to the devices with sole MoO3 or C60 buffer layer. The ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate that the hole injection barrier between Al anode and hole-transporting layer is effectively reduced via strong dipole effect at Al/MoO3/C60 interfaces with its direction pointing from Al to C60.
Resourcing Culture: Is a Prosaic ‘Third Space’ Possible in Rural China?
Authors: Oakes Tim
Published: November 2009

Recalling Tony Bennett's plea for a more ‘prosaic’ cultural studies, this paper proposes a redefinition of the concept ‘third space’ as a prosaic space of policy and governmentality. Based on field research in rural China, where cultural heritage has become a central resource in economic development, the paper argues that cultural development cannot be relied upon to produce spaces of resistance, empowerment, or ‘sustainability’. This is, in part, because cultural development tends to conceive of cultural spaces as ‘rooted’ rather than as spaces of translocality. While third space offers an attractive alternative to such a conceptualization, it remains vulnerable to the same alienating spatial abstractions as found in the practices of cultural development. The paper seeks to maintain the critical focus of third space while redefining it in more prosaic terms to better reflect the everyday governmentalized spaces of culture within which people live.
Excessive Financialisation: Insuring Lifestyles, Enlivening Subjects, and Everyday Spaces of Biosocial Excess
Authors: French Shaun , Kneale James
Published: November 2009

The last two decades have witnessed, as part of a wider financialisation of British economy and society, a creeping privatisation of social welfare provision. Political justification for the expansion of privatised social insurance markets has frequently been couched in the language of responsibility. However, as the ‘credit crunch’ spectacularly attests and as studies of the dynamics of financialisation have succeeded in showing, financialised capitalism turns on excess. In this paper we explore some of the ways in which the reworking of long-term insurance or life assurance has contributed to the financialisation of everyday life. More particularly, we trace the emergence of what we call ‘lifestyle insurance’. Our purpose here is not only to begin to map the terrain and consider the consequences of this nascent modality of insurance in the UK, but in so doing to contribute to wider debates about the processes of subjectification that underwrite financialisation. In addition to pressing for a greater attention to be given to life assurance the paper suggests, by mobilising the figure of excess, three more areas to which studies of the financialisation of the everyday might productively attend: first, the financialisation of life itself; second, the ways in which financialisation is affectively charged; third, the spatial politics of financialisation.
Application of abscisic acid promotes yield in field-cultured soybean by enhancing production of carbohydrates and their allocation in seed
Authors: Travaglia Claudia , Reinoso Herminda , Bottini Rubén
Published: November 2009

This study investigates the effect of abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA3) applications on physiological and productive parameters in complementary experiments performed with soybean cultured in the field for 3 crop seasons and in the greenhouse for 1 crop season. ABA 300 mg/L was sprayed at the V7 and R2 phenological stages, while GA3 300 mg/L was sprayed at R2 and repeated 7 days later. GA3-treated plants had longer shoots and ABA-treated plants had greater dry weight of aerial parts. Nodule formation was not affected, but both shoot diameter and root density were greater in ABA-treated plants. ABA increased leaf area and chlorophyll content, while GA3 diminished them. In ABA-treated plants, there was a significant reduction in leaf conductance 24 h after the hormone had been applied, but then the conductance values started to rise and equalled those of the controls 11 days later. Although there were no differences in number of pods, in GA3-treated plants the number of seeds per pod was lower, and in ABA-treated plants, young pods were bigger. ABA application increased soybean yield by enhancing carbon allocation and partitioning to the seed. Exogenous ABA also improved the seed quality since it did not affect protein levels but enhanced oil concentration, while GA3 spraying increased oil concentration but diminished seed proteins.
A novel approach to planting grass - legume pastures in the mixed farming zone of southern inland Queensland, Australia
Authors: Whitbread A. M. , Hall C. A. , Pengelly B. C.
Published: November 2009

Reliable establishment of pasture systems with a desirable composition of grasses and legumes remains a challenge in the highly variable climates of the northern grain belt of southern inland Queensland. In this paper, an alternative system is proposed whereby legumes and grasses are planted simultaneously in alternative strips. A 4-year study tested the establishment, production, and botanical composition of the tropical legume species Macroptilium bracteatum cvv. Cardaga and Juanita, Lablab purpureus cv. Endurance, and Clitoria ternatea cv. Milgarra sown as pure stands or with grass strips. The grass strips, and a grass-only treatment, both contained a mix of Panicum maximum cv. Petrie, Dichanthium aristatum cv. Floren, and Bothriochloa insculpta cv. Bisset. L. purpureus was relatively unproductive, yielding ~2000 kg/ha dry matter (DM) produced in each of the first 2 years. M. bracteatum produced 2050 and 3300 kg/ha DM in Years 1 and 2, with declining plant populations and DM in subsequent years. C. ternatea produced 960 kg/ha DM in Year 1, 2730 kg/ha DM in Year 2, and continued to persist throughout the trial, albeit at low DM production levels. The grass-only treatment was dominated by the sown grass species, while the legume-based treatments were dominated by a colonising native species, Dichanthium sericeum, in the fourth and final year. Sowing grass strips adjacent to the legume areas proved a successful strategy, with the proportion of sown grasses in the legume strips increasing to >20% of total DM by Year 4. Soil carbon changes did not differ between treatments, but total C in the top 0.15 m increased from 0.99% in Year 1 to 1.13% in Year 4, representing a net gain of 6.5 t/ha in C over 3 years.
Persistence, productivity, nutrient composition, and aphid tolerance of Cullen spp.
Authors: Hayes R. C. , Li G. D. , Dear B. S. , Humphries A. W. , Tidd J. R.
Published: November 2009

The persistence, productivity, and nutrient content of accessions of Cullen australasicum, C. cinereum, C. tenax, and C. parvum were compared with lucerne (Medicago sativa) in grazed swards for 3 years on an acid soil in southern New South Wales. All Cullen spp. established satisfactorily from seed sown into a cultivated seed bed, but C. australasicum accessions were more persistent than C. cinereum, C. parvum, and C. tenax, which declined to a frequency of <5% by the start of the fourth year under rotational grazing. Cullen australasicum was the most productive of the 4 Cullen spp. with herbage yields similar to the lucerne cv. Sceptre. Leaves and stems of the Cullen spp. had significantly lower S, K, B, and Na contents than lucerne. The herbage P content of all Cullen spp., except C. tenax, was lower than in lucerne. Calcium and Mn levels were higher in C. australasicum than in all other species. Sheep often avoided grazing all Cullen spp. when other herbage was available, suggesting that these species had lower palatability. The dry matter digestibility (DMD) of lucerne herbage (76%) in September was higher than in C. australasicum (74.3%), C. cinereum (71.3%), and C. tenax (69.7%) (P < 0.001). The metabolisable energy content of the herbage of C. australasicum was similar to lucerne (10.7–10.9 MJ/kg DM) but was lower in C. cinereum and C. tenax (9.9–10.3 MJ/kg DM). The crude protein content of the 4 Cullen spp. was similar (21.4–22.3%) but significantly lower than for lucerne (33.6%). Glasshouse studies found C. australasicum, C. cinereum, C. pallidum, C. parvum, and C. tenax to be moderately to highly susceptible to bluegreen aphids (BGA) (Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji), but one C. australasicum accession was highly tolerant, suggesting that aphid susceptibility can be overcome by selection. All 5 Cullen species proved highly resistant to spotted alfalfa aphids (Therioaphis trifolii Monell). Cullen australasicum was found to be susceptible to Alfalfa mosaic virus, which resulted in stunting of growth of some plants in the field experiment. Of the 4 Cullen spp. examined in the field experiment, C. australasicum demonstrated the most potential as a forage plant for low-rainfall regions with superior persistence and productivity under grazing and the highest resistance to BGA.
Improving the accuracy of selection for late maturity α-amylase in wheat using multi-phase designs
Authors: Butler D. G. , Tan M. K. , Cullis B. R.
Published: November 2009

The assessment of grain defect traits is assuming greater importance in wheat germplasm selection. Late maturity α-amylase is one such characteristic that renders wheat unsuitable for high value end products, even though the grain may appear sound. Phenotyping defect traits typically involves a multi-phase process, where genetic material for assay has been affected by non-genetic sources of variation in one or more previous linked stages of experimentation or preparation. The adoption of appropriate statistical design and analysis methods in these situations is, however, not widespread. Substantial sources of non-genetic variation were identified in the analysis of a designed experiment to measure late maturity α-amylase expression, indicating the potential for improved selection decisions. A simulation study based on these results suggests that significant gains over current methods in the accuracy of phenotyping this grain defect can be achieved with sound multi-phase statistical design and analysis techniques. Although restricted in scope, the simulation also indicates that a considerable increase in estimated heritability could be expected from the proposed methodology.
Assessment of genetic diversity in Australian canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars using SSR markers
Authors: Wang J. , Kaur S. , Cogan N. O. I. , Dobrowolski M. P. , Salisbury P. A. , Burton W. A. , Baillie R. , Hand M. , Hopkins C. , Forster J. W. , Smith K. F. , Spangenberg G.
Published: November 2009

Australian canola (Brassica napus L.) has been relatively isolated from the global gene pool and limited knowledge is available for genetic variability based on DNA profiling. In the present study, genetic diversity of recent Australian canola cultivars was determined by simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker analysis. In total, 405 individuals from 48 varieties were genotyped with 18 primer pairs, resulting in 112 polymorphic features. The number of polymorphic features amplified by each SSR primer pair varied from 3 to 16. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) detected 53.7% and 46.3% within- and between-cultivar variation, respectively. Intra-cultivar genetic variability differed according to cultivar. The number of polymorphic features per cultivar varied from 35 (Ag-Spectrum) to 72 (Ag-Insignia), while mean sum of squares (MSS) varied from 6.29 (Tornado TT) to 24.76 (Ag-Emblem). Genetic differentiation of cultivars generally reflected pedigree structure and origin by breeding organisation. Clustering and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) indicated that the individuals were separated into 4 major groups. The genetic diversity information from this study will be useful for future Australian canola breeding programs.
Psycholinguistic and corpus-linguistic evidence for L2 constructions
Authors: Gries Stefan Th. , Wulff Stefanie
Published: November 2009

In Construction Grammar, highly frequent syntactic configurations are assumed to be stored as symbolic units in the mental lexicon alongside words. Considering the example of gerund and infinitival complement constructions in English (She tried rocking the baby vs. She tried to rock the baby), this study combines corpus-linguistic and experimental evidence to investigate the question whether these patterns are also stored as constructions by German foreign language learners of English. In a corpus analysis based on 3,343 instances of the two constructions from the British component of the International Corpus of English, a distinctive collexeme analysis was computed to identify the verbs that distinguish best between the two constructions; these verbs were used as experimental stimuli in a sentence completion experiment and a sentence acceptability rating experiment. Two kinds of short-distance priming effects were investigated in the completion data: we checked how often subjects produced an ing-/to-/’other’-construction after having rated an ing- or to-construction (rating-to-production priming), and how often they produced an ing-/to-/’other’-construction when they had produced and ing- or to-construction in the directly preceding completion (production-to-production priming). Furthermore, we considered the proportion of to-completions before a completion in the questionnaire as a measure of a within-subject accumulative priming effect. We found no rating-to-production priming effects in the expected direction, but a weak effect in the opposite direction; short-distance production-to-production priming effects from ing to ing and from ‘other’ and to to to, and, on the whole at least, a suggestive accumulative production-to-production priming effect for both constructions. In the rating task, we found that subjects rate sentences better when the sentential structure is compatible with the main verb’s collexemic distinctiveness.
Reconstructing verb meaning in a second language
Authors: Gullberg Marianne
Published: November 2009

This study examines to what extent English speakers of L2 Dutch reconstruct the meanings of placement verbs when moving from a general L1 verb of caused motion (put) to two specific caused posture verbs (zetten/leggen ‘set/lay’) in the L2 and whether the existence of low-frequency cognate forms in the L1 (set/lay) alleviates the reconstruction problem. Evidence from speech and gesture indicates that English speakers have difficulties with the specific verbs in L2 Dutch, initially looking for means to express general caused motion in L1-like fashion through over-generalisation. The gesture data further show that targetlike forms are often used to convey L1-like meaning. However, the differentiated use of zetten for vertical placement and dummy verbs (gaan ‘go’ and doen ‘do’) and intransitive posture verbs (zitten/staan/liggen ‘sit, stand, lie’) for horizontal placement, and a positive correlation between appropriate verb use and target-like gesturing suggest a beginning sensitivity to the semantic parameters of the L2 verbs and possible reconstruction.
The RATP ticket vending machines
Authors: Veyrune Olivier
Published: November 2009

The new RATP ticket vending machine for the Paris/ Ile-de-France network handles two forms of devices: magnetic tickets with magnetic strips or RFID technology smartcards with a no-contact system. The main feature of this ticket vending machine is obviously to provide a general public MMI (Man Machine Interface) with a touch-sensitive screen, and a second interface – specially dedicated to the visually impaired/partially sighted and non-sighted – with a touch screen and voice guidance.
Persistence of Skin Contamination and Environmental Shedding ofClostridium difficileduring and after Treatment of C.difficileInfection
Authors: Sethi Ajay K. , Al-Nassir Wafa N. , Nerandzic Michelle M. , Bobulsky Greg S. , Donskey Curtis J.
Published: November 2009

Background.

Current guidelines for control ofClostridium difficileinfection (CDI) suggest that contact precautions be discontinued after diarrhea resolves. However, limited information is available regarding the frequency of skin contamination and environmental shedding ofC. difficileduring and after treatment.

Design.

We conducted a 9-month prospective, observational study involving 52 patients receiving therapy for CDI. Stool samples, skin (chest and abdomen) samples, and samples from environmental sites were cultured forC. difficilebefore, during, and after treatment. Polymerase chain reaction ribotyping was performed to determine the relatedness of stool, skin, and environmental isolates.

Results.

Fifty-two patients with CDI were studied.C. difficilewas suppressed to undetectable levels in stool samples from most patients during treatment; however, 1-4 weeks after treatment, 56% of patients who had samples tested were asymptomatic carriers ofC. difficile.The frequencies of skin contamination and environmental shedding remained high at the time of resolution of diarrhea (60% and 37%, respectively), were lower at the end of treatment (32% and 14%, respectively), and again increased 1-4 weeks after treatment (58% and 50%, respectively). Skin and environmental contamination after treatment was associated with use of antibiotics for non-CDI indications. Ninety-four percent of skin isolates and 82% of environmental isolates were genetically identical to concurrent stool isolates.

Conclusions.

Skin contamination and environmental shedding ofC. difficileoften persist at the time of resolution of diarrhea, and recurrent shedding is common 1-4 weeks after therapy. These results provide support for the recommendation that contact precautions be continued until hospital discharge if rates of CDI remain high despite implementation of standard infection-control measures.
Acute Emergence of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica Infection among Mechanically Ventilated Patients in a Long-Term Acute Care Facility
Authors: Weaver Kingsley N. , Jones Roderick C. , Albright Rosemary , Thomas Yolanda , Zambrano Carlos H. , Costello Michael , Havel Janet , Price Joel , Gerber Susan I.
Published: November 2009

Objective.

To describe an outbreak of infection associated with an infrequently implicated pathogen, Elizabethkingia meningoseptica, in an increasingly prominent setting for health care of severely ill patients, the long-term acute care hospital.

Design.

Outbreak investigation.

Setting.

Long-term acute care hospital with 55 patients, most of whom were mechanically ventilated.

Methods.

We defined a case as E. meningoseptica isolated from any patient specimen source from December 2007 through April 2008, conducted an investigation of case patients, obtained environmental specimens, and performed microbiologic testing.

Results.

Nineteen patients had E. meningoseptica infection, and 8 died. All case patients had been admitted with respiratory failure that required mechanical ventilation. Among the 8 individuals who died, the time from collection of the first specimen positive for E. meningoseptica to death ranged from 6 to 43 days (median, 16 days). Environmental sampling was performed on 106 surfaces; E. meningoseptica was isolated from only one swab. Three related pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns were identified in patient isolates; the environmental isolate yielded a fourth, unrelated pattern.

Conclusion.

Long-term acute care hospitals with mechanically ventilated patients could serve as an important transmission setting for E. meningoseptica. This multidrug-resistant bacterium could pose additional risk when patients are transferred between long-term acute care hospitals and acute care hospitals.
Insertion and use of the LMA Supreme™ in the prone position*
Authors: López A. M. , Valero R. , Brimacombe J.
Published: November 2009

We investigated whether insertion of an LMA Supreme™ and its use for maintenance of anaesthesia is feasible in the prone position. Forty adult patients positioned themselves prone and were given propofol until the Bispectral Index was < 50. A size‐4 LMA Supreme was inserted by experienced anaesthetists. Ease of insertion, ease of ventilation, efficacy of seal, ease of gastric tube insertion, blood staining, postoperative sore throat, and other complications were recorded. Insertion was successful at the first and second attempt in 37 (92.5%) and 3 (7.5%) patients, respectively. The mean (SD) insertion time was 21 (15) s. Oropharyngeal leak pressure was greater in females than males (29 (4) vs 25 (4) cmH2O, respectively, p = 0.01). Adequate ventilation was achieved in all patients. Gastric tube placement was successful in all patients. The frequency of blood staining and sore throat was 7.5% each. No other complications were noted. We conclude that use of the LMA Supreme in the prone position by experienced users is feasible.
Cocaine‐related admissions to an intensive care unit: a five‐year study of incidence and outcomes
Authors: Galvin S. , Campbell M. , Marsh B. , O’Brien B.
Published: November 2009

Cocaine misuse is increasing and it is evidently considered a relatively safe drug of abuse in Ireland. To address this perception, we reviewed the database of an 18‐bed Dublin intensive care unit, covering all admissions from 2003 to 2007. We identified cocaine‐related cases, measuring hospital mortality and long‐term survival in early 2009. Cocaine‐related admissions increased from around one annually in 2003–05 to 10 in 2007. Their median (IQR [range]) age was 25 (21–35 [17–47]) years and 78% were male. The median (IQR [range]) APACHE II score was 16 (11–27 [5–36]) and length of intensive care stay was 5 (3–9 [1–16]) days. Ten patients died during their hospital stay. A further five had died by the time of follow‐up, a median of 24 months later. One was untraceable. Cocaine toxicity necessitating intensive care is increasingly common in Dublin. Hospital mortality in this series was 52%. These findings may help to inform public attitudes to cocaine.
Successful correction of murine sickle cell disease with reduced stem cell requirements reinforced by fractionated marrow infusions
Authors: Felfly Hady , Trudel Marie
Published: November 2009

Minimal criteria requirements of stem cell replacement, conditioning regimen and modalities of infusion essential for cure of sickle cell disease (SCD) by bone marrow(BM)/stem cell transplantation or gene therapy must be established prior to clinical trials. The threshold of normal BM/stem cells for therapeutic correction of this red blood cell disorder was evaluated in the SAD murine SCD model from peripheral donor white blood cells. From 11 groups of stable chimeric SAD mice (5–92%) analyzed over ∼2 years, mice with ∼16% normal donor stem cells showed improvement of haematological and erythroid responses. Mice in the 26% chimeric group and above demonstrated substantial amelioration of organ pathologies with generalized decreased iron deposits, fibrosis and reached normal lifespan. Subsequently, the minimal myelosuppression concurrently with number and timing of infusions and number of BM cells was determined to reach therapeutic threshold in SAD mice. Higher myelosuppression (2 Gy vs. 1 Gy) and cell number in single infusion led to increased chimerism. Importantly, administration of three‐equivalent cell subdoses within 28 h of mild myelosuppression resulted in 100% recipient engraftment at therapeutic levels. These studies established the long‐term therapeutic chimeric threshold of normal white blood cells at ∼26% and determined the minimal fractionated BM/stem cell doses concomitant with mild myelosuppression for significant correction of SCD in SAD mice.
Advances in the management and understanding of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS)
Authors: Teachey David T. , Seif Alix E. , Grupp Stephan A.
Published: November 2009

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a disorder of T cell dysregulation caused by defective Fas‐mediated apoptosis. Patients with ALPS can develop a myriad of clinical manifestations including lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, autoimmunity and increased rates of malignancy. ALPS may be more common that originally thought, and testing for ALPS should be considered in patients with unexplained lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and/or autoimmunity. As the pathophysiology of ALPS is better characterized, a number of targeted therapies are in preclinical development and clinical trials with promising early results. This review describes the clinical and laboratory manifestations found in ALPS patients, as well as the molecular basis for the disease and new advances in treatment.
Ontogeny of escape swimming performance in the spotted salamander
Authors: Landberg Tobias , Azizi Emanuel
Published: November 2009

1. The life stage suffering the highest predation rate is expected to have the highest escape performance unless developmental or functional constraints interfere. Peak aquatic escape performance in ephemeral pond‐breeding amphibians is expected to develop early in the larval period, and metamorphosis is expected to reduce or completely disrupt aquatic escape performance. In anurans, exceptionally low escape performance during metamorphosis creates selection favouring rapid metamorphosis – which minimizes the time individuals spend in the vulnerable transition between tadpole and frog.

2. We investigated the development of aquatic escape performance in the spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum (Shaw, 1802), from embryonic development through metamorphosis. We expected performance to peak early in the larval period as hatchlings face high rates of predation but embryos must first develop escape behaviours. We also tested whether escape performance during metamorphosis was intermediate, as predicted by tail fin resorption, or lower than larvae and adults indicating a major physiological disruption.

3. Escape performance shows a complex ontogeny that is first positively influenced by embryonic and early larval development and then negatively correlated with tail resorption and body size. Escape distance was the only performance metric not affected by life stage. In contrast, both escape velocity and duration showed ontogenetic peaks early in the larval period with the lowest performance found in early embryos and adults and intermediate performance during metamorphosis.

4. This pattern suggests that metamorphosis does not impose a major physiological disruption on escape performance. Because spotted salamanders do not pass through a frog‐like ‘ontogenetic performance valley’ during metamorphosis, they may be less subject than anurans to selection favouring rapid metamorphosis.

5. Functional implications of phenotypic variation should be considered in an ontogenetic framework because the relationship between body size and escape performance can be reversed on either side of an ontogenetic performance peak. The assumption that metamorphosis radically disrupts basic functions such as predator evasion does not seem universally warranted and suggests examination of ontogenetic performance trajectories in a diversity of animals with complex life cycles.
Contribution of acidification and eutrophication to declines in species richness of calcifuge grasslands along a gradient of atmospheric nitrogen deposition
Authors: Stevens Carly J. , Thompson Ken , Grime J. Philip , Long Christopher J. , Gowing David J. G.
Published: November 2009

1. Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N) is a global problem resulting in negative consequences for biodiversity due to direct toxicity, increases in invasive species, increased susceptibility to environmental stresses and soil‐mediated effects of acidification and eutrophication.

2. Reductions in plant species richness related to N deposition have been observed in a number of habitats including calcifuge (acid) grasslands but the mechanisms of this decline have not been fully investigated. We test the hypotheses that along a large‐scale gradient of N deposition there is (i) an increase in species tolerant of low pH conditions as a result of soil acidification and (ii) an increase in competitive and nitrophilic species as a result of soil eutrophication. As competitive species can occur in low pH habitats, both of these hypotheses could be true.

3. Using plant characteristics, we examined changes in vegetation species composition along the gradient of N deposition in the UK. Mean C–S–R signatures were used to identify the competitive response of plant communities together with Ellenberg N (nitrogen) scores to identify increases in nitrophilic species. Ellenberg R (reaction, pH) scores were used to identify change in response to soil pH together with an index of soil acidity preference developed using regional survey data.

4. Mean C–S–R signatures showed no significant correlation with N deposition, nor did mean Ellenberg N scores. Ellenberg R scores and the index of soil acidity preference showed significant relationships with N deposition indicating an increased dominance of acid‐tolerant species.

5. The results suggest that soil acidification as opposed to eutrophication and consequent competition between species is contributing to shifts in species composition and diversity linked to N deposition in calcifuge grasslands. Soil acidification may be leading to reduced nutrient availability preventing the effects of N addition from being apparent.
Morphological diversity and ecological similarity: versatility of muscular and skeletal morphologies enables ecological convergence in shrews
Authors: Young Rebecca L. , Sweeney Michael J. , Badyaev Alexander V.
Published: November 2009

1. Ecological convergence in morphology among taxa of distinct evolutionary histories is a common illustration of the efficacy of natural selection. Ecological convergence is often enabled by functional redundancy of complex morphological structures, such that modification of existing morphologies in response to similar functional requirements can lead to the development and evolution of morphological diversity. Thus, studies of the mechanisms that enable the development of similar adaptations in taxa with distinct morphologies provide important insights into both the evolution of past adaptations and patterns of future evolutionary divergence.

2. Here, we examine mechanisms that have enabled ecological convergence in foraging morphology among four geographically isolated and morphologically distinct populations of shrews: south‐eastern Arizona and north‐central New Mexico populations of the montane shrews (Sorex monticolus) and northern California and north‐central Montana populations of the vagrant shrew (S. vagrans).

3. We show that despite overlap in diet, populations had distinct skeletal and muscular morphologies of the mandible. This association between ecological convergence and morphological uniqueness among populations was enabled by versatility of foraging morphologies that generated similar functional outputs.

4. In addition, we found that populations exhibited unique skeletal and muscular correlations with diet suggesting that distinct muscular and morphological components of the complex foraging apparatus can be used for a particular resource. This result corroborates a previous finding that extensive modularity in mandibular development allows diverse morphologies to generate equivalent functions and utilize similar resources across taxa.

5. Synthesis. We conclude that the observed functional and ecological convergences resulted from population‐specific musculoskeletal interactions, and suggest that the differences in skeletal and muscular morphologies observed among these populations reflect evolved differences in plasticity of the skeletal and muscular components of the mandible.
Selection on offspring size among environments: the roles of environmental quality and variability
Authors: Monro Keyne , Sinclair‐Taylor Tane , Marshall Dustin J.
Published: November 2009

1. How mothers balance the trade‐off between offspring size and number to maximize maternal fitness has long been of interest to ecologists seeking to understand the evolution of offspring size. Predictions of the optimal offspring size depend fundamentally on the relationship between offspring size and offspring performance, which may in turn vary with environmental conditions.

2. Selection for larger offspring is expected to intensify as environmental quality deteriorates. Models also predict that variable selection on offspring size may favour the evolution of larger offspring than those favoured when selection is constant, or of strategies of variable offspring provisioning (e.g. bet‐hedging, plasticity). To date, there is mixed empirical support for the first expectation and few tests of the second. Given, however, that offspring size effects are often estimated under controlled laboratory conditions that presumably downplay their strength and variability, we may not yet understand how selection shapes offspring size in nature.

3. We examined several relationships between offspring size and performance in controlled (laboratory) and natural (field) environments over time for a colonial marine invertebrate, Bugula neritina, and assessed the variability of these relationships by doing so for replicate cohorts. We further developed a simple optimality model to examine whether predictions of the optimal offspring size were similar (or similarly variable) across environments.

4. We found that selection on offspring size varied substantially among laboratory and field environments, and among cohorts in the latter. In the laboratory, our model consistently predicted that mothers should maximize their fecundity by producing the smallest possible offspring. In the field, however, the predicted optimal offspring size varied from the smallest possible size to the largest possible size for different cohorts.

5. Our study suggests that laboratory estimates of offspring size effects, though often necessary, may not always reflect the direction or variability of selection on offspring size under natural conditions. The optimal offspring size for mothers in nature may be an ever‐shifting target that shapes provisioning strategies such as bet‐hedging or plasticity in offspring size.
Preferences for steaming of vegetables
Authors: Rennie C. , Wise A.
Published: November 2009

Background:  Steaming retains vitamins and phytochemicals in vegetables better than boiling; thus, it is important to promote this cooking method. The present study aimed to determine what vegetable would be best to use in a campaign to promote steaming.

Methods:  Carrots, broccoli and green cabbage were boiled, steamed or microwave steamed. Untrained assessors (n = 50) evaluated the sensory properties of appearance, texture, taste and overall acceptability using a hedonic rating test on a scale from 1–9. Average scores for overall acceptability were calculated for each type of cooking according to the assessors’ usual cooking method.

Results:  For all features, steaming and microwave steaming were rated significantly higher than boiling for broccoli (for acceptability 6.2 and 7.1 versus 5.1; P < 0.001), whereas carrots were similarly considered better for flavour and overall acceptability. Generally, cabbage was rated lower for all features, with no differences amongst the cooking methods (4.9–5.2 for acceptability). Only two of twenty‐one subjects who usually boil vegetables preferred the boiled vegetables in the present study.

Conclusions:  Generally, steaming and microwave steaming were preferred for certain vegetables, even by those who normally boil them. Barriers to change need to be considered when planning the promotion of steaming as a regular method of cooking vegetables, although it may be more convincing to use vegetables such as broccoli that are perceived as being most acceptable when steamed.
Child‐care environment and dietary intake of 2‐ and 3‐year‐old children
Authors: Gubbels J. S. , Kremers S. P. J. , Stafleu A. , Dagnelie P. C. , De Vries N. K. , Thijs C.
Published: November 2009

Background:  Previous research has shown that children in child‐care do not comply with dietary intake recommendations (i.e. either exceeding or not meeting recommendations), which may be attributable to specific features of the child‐care environment. The present study explored the relationship between the social and physical child‐care (day‐care) environment and dietary intake of 2‐ and 3‐year‐olds in Dutch child‐care centres.

Methods:  The dietary intake of 135 children, aged 2 and 3 years, who were in child‐care was assessed by observing randomly selected children at three meals (morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack) to determine dietary intake (i.e. saturated fat, dietary fibre and energy intake). The environment was observed using the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation checklist, a structured instrument assessing the physical and social environment.

Results:  Children consumed a mean of 486 kJ (116 kcal) during the morning snack, 2043 kJ (488 kcal) during lunch and 708 kJ (169 kcal) during the afternoon snack. There were some gender and age differences in dietary intake. Several environmental factors (e.g. serving style and staff’s model dietary behaviour) were significantly associated with the children’s dietary intake.

Conclusions:  Overall, energy intake was in the upper range of recommended intake for children in child‐care. The associations of several environmental factors with dietary intake stress the importance of the child‐care environment for children’s dietary behaviour. Intervening in this setting could possibly contribute to the comprehensive prevention of childhood obesity.