bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aortic growth arrest after preterm birth: a lasting structural change of the vascular tree
Authors: Schubert U. , Müller M. , Edstedt Bonamy A.-K. , Abdul-Khaliq H. , Norman M.
Published: August 2011

Young people who are born very preterm exhibit a narrower arterial tree as compared with people born at term. We hypothesized that such arterial narrowing occurs as a direct result of premature birth. The aim of this study was to compare aortic and carotid artery growth in infants born preterm and at term. Observational and longitudinal cohort study of 50 infants (21 born very preterm, all appropriate for gestational age, 29 controls born at term) was conducted. Diameters of the upper abdominal aorta and common carotid artery were measured with ultrasonography at three months before term, at term and three months after term-equivalent age. At the first assessment, the aortic end-diastolic diameter (aEDD) was slightly larger in very preterm infants as compared with fetal dimensions. Fetal aortic EDD increased by 2.6 mm during the third trimester, whereas very preterm infants exhibited 0.9 mm increase in aEDD during the same developmental period (P < 0.001 for group difference). During the following 3-month period, aortic growth continued unchanged (+0.9 mm) in very preterm infants, whereas postnatal growth in term controls slowed down to +1.3 mm (P < 0.001 v. fetal aortic growth). At the final examination, aEDD was 22% and carotid artery EDD was 14% narrower in infants born preterm compared with controls, also after adjusting for current weight (P < 0.01). Aortic and carotid artery growth is impaired after very preterm birth, resulting in arterial narrowing. Arterial growth failure may be a generalized vascular phenomenon after preterm birth, with implications for cardiovascular morbidity in later life.
Thermal transport in graphene-based nanocomposite
Authors: Hu Lin , Desai Tapan , Keblinski Pawel
Published: August 2011

Using molecular dynamics simulations, we study model graphene nanoplatelets and carbon nanotubes in an organic matrix. We demonstrate that, despite relatively high interfacial thermal resistance between the filler and the matrix, the thermal conductivity enhancement of the nanocomposite can be very significant. Our results suggest that agglomeration and low aspect ratio of the conductive nanofiller additive are primarily responsible for the limited conductivity enhancement reported to date. Mapping of the simulation results on the homogenization model, accounting for interfacial resistance, allows us to predict the full potential of the nanocarbon filler addition for thermal conductivity enhancement.
Stability of strategies in payoff-driven evolutionary games on networks
Authors: Sorrentino Francesco , Mecholsky Nicholas
Published: August 2011

We consider a network of coupled agents playing the Prisoner’s Dilemma game, in which players are allowed to pick a strategy in the interval [0, 1], with 0 corresponding to defection, 1 to cooperation, and intermediate values representing mixed strategies in which each player may act as a cooperator or a defector over a large number of interactions with a certain probability. Our model is payoff-driven, i.e., we assume that the level of accumulated payoff at each node is a relevant parameter in the selection of strategies. Also, we consider that each player chooses his/her strategy in a context of limited information. We present a deterministic nonlinear model for the evolution of strategies. We show that the final strategies depend on the network structure and on the choice of the parameters of the game. We find that polarized strategies (pure cooperator/defector states) typically emerge when (i) the network connections are sparse, (ii) the network degree distribution is heterogeneous, (iii) the network is assortative, and surprisingly, (iv) the benefit of cooperation is high.
Simultaneous measurement of thermal diffusivity and optical absorption coefficient using photothermal radiometry. I. Homogeneous solids
Authors: Fuente Raquel , Apiñaniz Estibaliz , Mendioroz Arantza , Salazar Agustín
Published: August 2011

Modulated photothermal radiometry (PTR) has been widely used to measure the thermal diffusivity of bulk materials. The method is based on illuminating the sample with a plane light beam and measuring the infrared emission with an infrared detector. The amplitude and phase of the PTR voltage is recorded as a function of the modulation frequency and then fitted to the theoretical model. In this work, we test the ability of modulated PTR to retrieve simultaneously the thermal diffusivity and the optical absorption coefficient of homogeneous slabs. In order to eliminate the instrumental factor, self-normalization is used, i.e., the ratio of the PTR signal recorded at the rear and front surfaces. The influence of the multiple reflections of the light beam, the heat losses, and the transparency to infrared wavelengths are analyzed. Measurements performed on a wide variety of homogeneous materials, covering the whole range from transparent to opaque, confirm the validity of the method. In Part II of this work, the method is extended to multilayered materials.
Light trapping by a dielectric nanoparticle back reflector in film silicon solar cells
Authors: Lee Benjamin G. , Stradins Paul , Young David L. , Alberi Kirstin , Chuang Ta-Ko , Couillard J. Gregory , Branz Howard M.
Published: August 2011

Drop-coated high-refractive-index nanoparticles used as a back reflector for thin-film solar cells are non-absorbing Mie-scatterers that enhance light trapping. We present optical measurements and theory for this approach. A 40% enhancement of the photocurrent and efficiency of a 2.5 μm thick single-crystal Si solar cell on display glass is achieved by adding a back reflector of 270 nm rutile TiO2 nanoparticles.
A resistive instability of lower hybrid-like waves in regions with parallel currents
Authors: Verdon A. L. , Cairns Iver H. , Melrose D. B. , Robinson P. A.
Published: August 2011

The resistive instabilities and dispersion of obliquely propagating waves near the lower hybrid (LH) frequency are studied in plasma carrying a current parallel to the magnetic field. Possible applications of these instabilities include magnetic reconnection regions where LH-like waves may accelerate and heat both ions and electrons. A resistive instability is found in one of the four LH-like wave modes for electron drift speeds several times greater than the electron thermal speed for representative parameters. Numerical fully electromagnetic kinetic calculations of the solutions to the linear dispersion equation are compared with more approximate analytic calculations and show good agreement. The analytic results indicate that ion magnetization effects play a critical role in the resistive instability.
Gap modes assisted enhanced broadband light absorption in plasmonic thin film solar cell
Authors: Sreekanth K. V. , Sidharthan R. , Murukeshan V. M.
Published: August 2011

In this paper, gap modes assisted enhanced broadband light localization and possible absorption in a thin film silicon solar cell is presented. The existence of gap modes in metal particle-surface based thin film silicon solar cell is numerically investigated for improved light absorption. About 10.2% increment in light absorption compared to bare thin film silicon solar cell is obtained and enhanced light absorption at longer wavelength range is observed. The enhancement is due to the modification of localized surface plasmon modes around the nanoparticles via exciting the gap modes in the space between the nanoparticle and the surface.
Space charge limited electron flow in two dimensions without magnetic field
Authors: Rokhlenko A. , Lebowitz J. L.
Published: August 2011

We present a semi-analytic study of space charge limited electron flow from spatially periodic field emitters in the absence of a magnetic field. This extends our previous works, in which we assumed the existence of a strong magnetic field guiding the flow. We find that, in spite of the non-uniformity of the current density in the flow direction, the total current is very close to that obtained with a strong magnetic field in the same geometry and applied voltage. An analysis of the flow structure and comparison with the magnetized flow is given.
Transverse current response in armchair graphene ribbons
Authors: Liu Junfeng , Ma Zhongshui , Zhang Chao
Published: August 2011

We demonstrate that the direction of transverse current in graphene nanoribbons under a magnetic field can be tuned with a gate voltage. It is shown that for armchair ribbons there exist extra energy regions where the direction of the Hall current can be switched between positive and negative values. The directional change of the Hall current coincides with the special points where the two lowest energy bands in the spectrum become degenerate (band crossing points). The number of such degenerate points depends on the width of the ribbons. The dependence of the sign reversal on the gate voltage provides a mechanism for tuning transverse response in graphene based devices.
Correlations of dielectric properties with electronic structure and phonon vibration of low loss tunable Ba0.4Sr0.6Ti1-yMnyO3 ceramics
Authors: Zhang Jingji , Zhai Jiwei , Zhang Yewen
Published: August 2011

Correlations of dielectric properties with electronic structure and phonon vibration of Ba0.4Sr0.6Ti1-y MnyO3 (y = 0.00-0.20) ceramics were studied by using spectroscopic techniques. High level of Mn substitution prevented the reduction of Ti4+ and enhanced the charge ordering of Ti3+/Ti4+, leading to materials with high Q values. An increase in the concentration of Mn resulted in hardening of the softest mode, which led to a reduction in relative permittivity, dielectric loss, and tunability with increasing y. Raman spectra revealed that higher vibration frequency of Ti-O bonds was related to lower relative permittivity, and narrower width of Mn-O stretching corresponded to a higher Q × f.
Sensitivity improvement of silicon-on-insulator photodiode by gold nanoparticles with substrate bias control
Authors: Ono Atsushi , Matsuo Yuki , Satoh Hiroaki , Inokawa Hiroshi
Published: August 2011

The sensitivity of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) lateral p-n junction photodiode was enhanced by attaching gold (Au) nanoparticles. This was confirmed by comparing I-V characteristics with and without Au nanoparticles at various substrate voltages. Twofold enhancement was attained in the visible wavelength region when the substrate was biased to positive. The substrate bias changed the area of depletion layer in SOI, and the light scattering by Au nanoparticles effectively enhanced the sensitivity when the area of depletion layer was small.
High piezoelectric activity in (Na,K)NbO3 based lead-free piezoelectric ceramics: Contribution of nanodomains
Authors: Fu Jian , Zuo Ruzhong , Xu Zhengkui
Published: August 2011

The origin of high piezoelectric response in (Na0.52K0.48−x)(Nb0.92−xSb0.08)O3-xLiTaO3 lead-free ceramics was investigated by looking into the composition-dependent domain morphology by means of transmission electron microscopy. Nanodomains of alternate orthorhombic and tetragonal domains with a width of 20–50 nm were surprisingly observed but only for compositions near polymorphic phase coexistence zone. The formation of nanodomain morphology was considered to result from the reduction of the domain wall energy owing to the vanishing of the polar anisotropy, which ultimately induced enhanced piezoelectric properties. The result indicated that nanodomains are not proprietary features of traditional Pb-based piezoelectric ceramics with a morphotropic phase boundary.
EBR1, a Novel Zn2Cys6 Transcription Factor, Affects Virulence and Apical Dominance of the Hyphal Tip in Fusarium graminearum
Authors: Zhao Chunzhao , Waalwijk Cees , de Wit Pierre J. G. M. , van der Lee Theo , Tang Dingzhong
Published: August 2011

Zn2Cys6 transcription factors are unique to fungi and have been reported to be involved in different regulatory functions. Here, we characterized EBR1 (enhanced branching 1), a novel Zn2Cys6 transcription factor of Fusarium graminearum. Knocking out EBR1 in F. graminearum PH-1 caused reduction of both radial growth and virulence. The conidia of knock-out strain PH-1Δebr1 germinated faster than those of wild-type PH-1, but the conidiation of the mutant was significantly reduced. Detailed analysis showed that the reduced radial growth might be due to reduced apical dominance of the hyphal tip, leading to increased hyphal branching. Inoculation assays on wheat heads with a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled PH-1Δebr1 mutant showed that it was unable to penetrate the rachis of the spikelets. Protein fusion with GFP showed that EBR1 is localized in the nucleus of both conidia and hyphae. Knocking out the orthologous gene FOXG_05408 in F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici caused a much weaker phenotype than the PH-1Δebr1 mutant, which may be due to the presence of multiple orthologous genes in this fungus. Transformation of FOXG_05408 into PH-1Δebr1 restored the mutant phenotype. Similar to EBR1, FOXG_05408 is localized in the nucleus of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Possible functions of EBR1 and its relation with other fungal transcription factors are discussed.
Barley Leaf Transcriptome and Metabolite Analysis Reveals New Aspects of Compatibility and Piriformospora indica–Mediated Systemic Induced Resistance to Powdery Mildew
Authors: Molitor Alexandra , Zajic Doreen , Voll Lars M. , Pons-Kühnemann Jörn , Samans Birgit , Kogel Karl-Heinz , Waller Frank
Published: August 2011

Colonization of barley roots with the basidiomycete fungus Piriformospora indica (Sebacinales) induces systemic resistance against the biotrophic leaf pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (B. graminis). To identify genes involved in this mycorrhiza-induced systemic resistance, we compared the leaf transcriptome of P. indica-colonized and noncolonized barley plants 12, 24, and 96 h after challenge with a virulent race of B. graminis. The leaf pathogen induced specific gene sets (e.g., LRR receptor kinases and WRKY transcription factors) at 12 h postinoculation (hpi) (prepenetration phase) and vesicle-localized gene products 24 hpi (haustorium establishment). Metabolic analysis revealed a progressing shift of steady state contents of the intermediates glucose-1-phosphate, uridinediphosphate-glucose, and phosphoenolpyruvate 24 and 96 hpi, indicating that B. graminis shifts central carbohydrate metabolism in favor of sucrose biosynthesis. Both B. graminis and P. indica increased glutamine and alanine contents, whereas substrates for starch and nitrogen assimilation (adenosinediphosphate- glucose and oxoglutarate) decreased. In plants that were more B. graminis resistant due to P. indica root colonization, 22 transcripts, including those of pathogenesis-related genes and genes encoding heat-shock proteins, were differentially expressed ≥twofold in leaves after B. graminis inoculation compared with non-mycorrhized plants. Detailed expression analysis revealed a faster induction after B. graminis inoculation between 8 and 16 hpi, suggesting that priming of these genes is an important mechanism of P. indica-induced systemic disease resistance.
A Test System to Quantify Inoculum in Runoff fromPhytophthora ramorum-Infected Plant Roots
Authors: Shishkoff Nina
Published: August 2011

Foliar hosts of Phytophthora ramorum are often susceptible to root infection but the epidemiological significance of such infections is unknown. A standardized test system was developed to quantify inoculum in runoff from root-infected Viburnum tinus ‘Spring Bouquet’ or Rhododendron ‘Cunningham's White’ cuttings. Cuttings of both species gave off a maximum amount of inoculum 1 to 3 weeks after inoculation. The greatest amount of inoculum was recovered from Viburnum roots that were 48 to 70 days old at the time of inoculation, or roots incubated at 15 to 20°C rather than 25°C. Inoculum in runoff from inoculated Viburnum roots was similar for four different isolates of P. ramorum representing both the NA1 and EU1 lineages. When Rhododendron cuttings were inoculated with P. ramorum, P. citricola, or P. cactorum, inoculum of all three pathogens was recovered from runoff, with the highest amount recovered from plants inoculated with P. citricola, followed by the other two. Compared with the other two pathogens, P. ramorum colonized root tissue to a smaller extent. The epidemiology of root infection by P. ramorum is important in itself but the assay might lend itself for use in risk analysis for root infection of other plant species and evaluation of control measures, and also shed light on other root-infecting Phytophthora spp.
Kenneth Burton. 26 June 1926 — 22 November 2010
Authors: Petersen George B.
Published: August 2011

Kenneth Burton was an enthusiastic, lateral-thinking biochemist, with special skills in physical sciences, chemistry and mathematics who, although perhaps best known for his highly cited study of the conditions for the diphenylamine colour reaction for DNA, made outstanding contributions in several important fields. His calculations, which he refined over the years, of the thermodynamic parameters of many biological substances were of the greatest importance in the development of intermediary metabolism. Attracted to bacteriophage systems as a route to tackling the thorny problem of DNA replication, his early discovery that bacteriophage DNA replication precedes phage DNA synthesis set the stage for important developments in our understanding of viral systems and, ultimately, antiviral therapies. His pioneering studies of specific methods for the chemical degradation of DNA molecules were among the first steps towards the determination of nucleotide sequences in DNA at a time when direct chemical degradation seemed to be the only feasible approach.
Charles Henry Brian Priestley. 8 July 1915 — 18 May 1998
Authors: Garratt J. R. , Webb E. K. , McCarthy S.
Published: August 2011

Charles Henry Brian Priestley was born and educated in England. After completing the Mathematical Tripos at the University of Cambridge, he joined the Meteorological Office in 1939. For the next seven years he was engaged mostly in wartime work, including a two-year spell in Canada (1941–43) and three years with the Meteorological Office upper-air unit at Dunstable, UK (1943–46). In 1946, aged 31 years, he took up an Australian appointment with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (later to become the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)) to establish and develop a group to undertake research in meteorological physics. Thereafter he was based in Melbourne, Australia, with his career in the CSIRO extending to 1977. Priestley’s own early research focused on large-scale atmospheric systems, including substantial work on global-scale transport, and later on small-scale atmospheric convection and heat transfer, in which he established some significant results. He had a leading role in the development of the atmospheric sciences in Australia, and was strongly involved in international meteorology.
Plastid Uridine Salvage Activity Is Required for Photoassimilate Allocation and Partitioning in Arabidopsis
Authors: Chen Mingjie , Thelen Jay J.
Published: August 2011

Nucleotides are synthesized from de novo and salvage pathways. To characterize the uridine salvage pathway, two genes, UKL1 and UKL2, that tentatively encode uridine kinase (UK) and uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRT) bifunctional enzymes were studied in Arabidopsis thaliana. T-DNA insertions in UKL1 and UKL2 reduced transcript expression and increased plant tolerance to toxic analogs 5-fluorouridine and 5-fluorouracil. Enzyme activity assays using purified recombinant proteins indicated that UKL1 and UKL2 have UK but not UPRT activity. Subcellular localization using a C-terminal enhanced yellow fluorescent protein fusion indicated that UKL1 and UKL2 localize to plastids. The ukl2 mutant shows reduced transient leaf starch during the day. External application of orotate rescued this phenotype in ukl2, indicating pyrimidine pools are limiting for starch synthesis in ukl2. Intermediates for lignin synthesis were upregulated, and there was increased lignin and reduced cellulose content in the ukl2 mutant. Levels of ATP, ADP, ADP-glucose, UTP, UDP, and UDP-glucose were altered in a light-dependent manner. Seed composition of the ukl1 and ukl2 mutants included lower oil and higher protein compared with the wild type. Unlike single gene mutants, the ukl1 ukl2 double mutant has severe developmental defects and reduced biomass accumulation, indicating these enzymes catalyze redundant reactions. These findings point to crucial roles played by uridine salvage for photoassimilate allocation and partitioning.
Mortality among substance‐using mothers in California: a 10‐year prospective study
Authors: Hser Yih‐Ing , Kagihara Jamie , Huang David , Evans Elizabeth , Messina Nena
Published: August 2011

Aims  To examine mortality rates and causes of death among a cohort of substance‐using mothers and to identify risk factors that predict mortality.

Design, setting, participants  This is a prospective study of a cohort of 4447 substance‐using mothers (pregnant or parenting) who were enrolled during 2000–02 in 40 drug abuse treatment programs across California.

Methods  All mothers were assessed at baseline using the Addiction Severity Index. Mortality data were obtained from the National Death Index and causes of death were coded using ICD‐10. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated relative to women in the general population adjusted for age. Proportional hazard (Cox) regression was used to identify risk factors predicting death.

Results  At the end of 2010, 194 deaths were confirmed, corresponding to a crude mortality rate of 4.47 per 1000 person‐years and SMR of 8.4 (95% confidence interval: 7.2–9.6). Drug overdose (28.8%), cardiovascular disease (10%), and alcohol or drug disorders (8.9%) were the leading causes of death. Baseline factors associated with higher mortality included older age, being white (relative to African American or Hispanic), heroin, alcohol, cocaine or marijuana (relative to methamphetamine) as the primary drug problem, drug injection and greater severity of employment, medical/health and psychiatric problems.

Conclusions  Substance‐using mothers have 8.4 times the mortality than that observed among US women of similar age. Greater severity of employment, medical/health and psychiatric problems contributed to the elevated mortality.
What do clinical pharmacologists do? A questionnaire survey of senior UK clinical pharmacologists
Authors: Aronson Jeffrey K.
Published: August 2011

Since the discipline expanded during 1970–1990, the number of UK consultant clinical pharmacologists has fallen. This paper describes the results of a questionnaire survey of the work patterns of 53 UK consultant clinical pharmacologists, including 35 (66%) employed by universities and 13 (25%) employed by the National Health Service (NHS). The range of activities undertaken includes: teaching medical students and others the principles of clinical pharmacology and practical therapeutics; research in a wide range of pharmacological and therapeutic areas; patient care, mostly in acute and general hospital medicine and in out‐patient clinics; service both locally and nationally on a wide range of committees related to drug therapy; editorial work on learned journals and preparation of written teaching materials, including journal articles, didactic textbooks, reference books, and e‐learning materials. The median amount of time that a UK consultant clinical pharmacologist spends on these activities is 50 hours per week; several work more than that. The time is spent as follows: teaching 10%; research 40%; clinical work 30%; policy and administration 12%; editorial work and writing 8%. The numbers of physicians who have been newly registered with the General Medical Council as clinical pharmacologists each year has so far been undiminished, but the number of consultant posts has fallen in 1990–2010. Many trainees therefore leave the discipline when they become consultants.
Comparing phenotypic effects and molecular correlates of developmental, gradual and rapid cold acclimation responses in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Colinet Hervé , Hoffmann Ary A.
Published: August 2011

1. To cope with stressful environmental temperatures, organisms can enhance thermotolerance when exposed to sub‐lethal temperatures before thermal stress, a phenomenon referred to as thermal acclimation. Acclimation includes different forms (developmental, gradual or rapid) that vary in ecological importance depending on patterns of diurnal and seasonal thermal variation.

2. Here, we complete a comprehensive assessment of how the different forms of acclimation based on simulated field temperatures affect cold tolerance in Drosophila melanogaster under different levels of cold stress (−4·5 °C/2 h and 0 °C/10 h).

3. We predict that (i) combinations of acclimation treatments may be particularly beneficial and (ii) benefits of different acclimation types may differ for acute vs. chronic cold stress. We also investigate whether distinct forms of acclimation promote differential molecular responses to stress.

4. Acclimation treatments had very large effects on cold tolerance and resulted in phenotypes ranging from sensitive to tolerant individuals within the specific cold stress applied (−4·5 °C/2 h and 0 °C/10 h). Acclimation also influenced expression of several genes (Hsp23, Hsp70, Hsp40, Hsp68, Starvin and Frost) during recovery from cold stress but effects depended on the nature of the acclimation treatment.

5. Cumulative effects occurred between different forms of acclimation, and these as well as the different molecular responses point to different underlying mechanisms.

6. These results highlight that combined acclimation treatments may strongly impact field stress resistance.
Attitudes towards biosample donation in andrology patients
Authors: Ma Yi , Kong XianMing , Dai HuiLi , Wang LiMin , Zhu LiJun
Published: August 2011

Clinical left‐over biosamples are an important source for medical research. Our aim is to ascertain the attitudes of andrology patients towards biosample donation. A survey of 866 andrology patients with diverse andrology conditions was conducted in Shanghai, China from May 2010 to December 2010. The response rate was 75.8%. Of the study patients, 61.4% (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.58–0.65) voiced the opinion that they were willing to donate the residual biosample; 32.0% refused to donate; and 6.6% stated that they were undecided. Unwillingness to give sample was independently associated with having a low level of education (p = 0.047, OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.39–0.995) and being infertile patients (p = 0.03, OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39–0.95), while willingness was significantly associated with being cancer patients (p = 0.04, OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.03–3.50), being aged 18–29 years (p < 0.01, OR = 5.88, 95% CI: 2.85–12.16) and being aged 30–44 years (p = 0.01, OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.20–3.90). Most andrology patients would want to authorize every future research by themselves (82.4%) and obtain their individual research results (75.7%). Less than half of the willing respondents would want to donate semen (44.1%) and testis (41.3%). The results suggested that andrology patients’ willingness to donate samples was low, especially in case of infertile patients. More studies are required to elucidate further causes for the low willingness to donate sample among andrology patients.
Species introduction promotes hybridization and introgression in Coregonus: is there sign of selection against hybrids?
Authors: KAHILAINEN KIMMO K. , ØSTBYE KJARTAN , HARROD CHRIS , SHIKANO TAKAHITO , MALINEN TOMMI , MERILÄ JUHA
Published: August 2011

Species introductions are considered one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss via ecological interactions and genetic admixture with local fauna. We examined two well‐recognized fish species, native whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) and introduced vendace (Coregonus albula), as well as their morphological hybrids in a single lake to test for selection against hybrids and backcrosses in the wild. A representative random subsample of 693 individuals (27.8%) was taken from the total catch of coregonids. This subsample was examined with the aim to select c. 50 individuals of pure whitefish (n = 52), pure vendace (n = 55) and putative hybrid (n = 19) for genetic analyses. The subsequent microsatellites and mitochondrial (mt) DNA analyses provided compelling evidence of hybridization and introgression. Of the 126 fish examined, four were found to be F1, 14 backcrosses to whitefish and seven backcrosses to vendace. The estimates of historical gene flow suggested higher rates from introduced vendace into native whitefish than vice versa, whereas estimates of contemporary gene flow were equal. Mitochondrial introgression was skewed, with 18 backcrosses having vendace mtDNA and only three with whitefish mtDNA. Hybrids and backcrosses had intermediate morphology and niche utilization compared with parental species. No evidence of selection against hybrids or backcrosses was apparent, as both hybrid and backcross growth rates and fecundities were high. Hybrids (F1) were only detected in 2 year‐classes, suggesting temporal variability in mating between vendace and whitefish. However, our data show that hybrids reached sexual maturity and reproduced actively, with backcrosses recorded from six consecutive year‐classes, whereas no F2 individuals were found. The results indicate widespread introgression, as 10.8% of coregonids were estimated to be backcrosses.
Levels of soluble endothelial selectin in umbilical cord serum are influenced by gestational age and histological chorioamnionitis, but not by pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Mitani Minoru , Matsuda Yoshio , Shimada Etsuko , Kobayashi Aiko , Akizawa Yoshika , Kawamichi Yayoi , Makino Yasuo , Matsui Hideo
Published: August 2011

Aims:  The aim of this study was to examine the factors that influence soluble endothelial selectin (sE‐selectin) levels in umbilical cord serum.

Materials and Methods:  sE‐selectin levels in umbilical cord serum were measured in 144 patients using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. We examined the association of sE‐selectin levels with gestational age, pre‐eclampsia (PE), histological chorioamnionitis (HCAM), preterm premature rupture of membranes, magnesium sulfate use, birthweight, and placental weight.

Results:  A significant positive correlation was observed between sE‐selectin levels and gestational age in the patients who had neither PE nor HCAM (r = 0.559, P < 0.0001). This statistically positive correlation persisted in patients with PE without HCAM (n = 25, r = 0.644, P < 0.001), but not in patients with HCAM without PE (n = 58, r = 0.102, P = 0.448). In matched gestational age analysis, sE‐selectin levels were increased in the presence of HCAM (P = 0.0006), but were not influenced by the presence of PE (P = 0.127), preterm premature rupture of membranes (P = 0.352) or magnesium sulfate use (P = 0.337).

Conclusion:  sE‐selectin levels in umbilical cord serum were positively correlated with gestational weeks. sE‐selectin levels in umbilical cord serum were higher in mothers with HCAM but not with PE, when compared with gestational‐age‐matched controls.
Continuity in the kitchen: how younger and older women compare in their food practices and use of cooking skills
Authors: Lyon Phil , Mattsson Sydner Ylva , Fjellström Christina , Janhonen‐Abruquah Hille , Schröder Monika , Colquhoun Anne
Published: August 2011

Comparisons between younger and older women in the kitchen usually focus on the historical argument that younger women do not have the domestic cooking skills of their mothers or grandmothers. At one level, this is convincing because there is now demonstrably greater reliance on ready meals and processed foods, and less on the home production of meals from raw ingredients. Compared with the immediate post‐Second World War years, not so much time is routinely spent in the kitchen, and food preparation is no longer a task central to the lives of many women. The availability of meals or meal components requiring less domestic labour and improved kitchen technology are both factors in this transformation of women's lives. However, they are not just available to the young. So, this research questions the impact of these factors across the age spectrum. Older women may have had very different domestic experiences earlier in their lives but have they now converged with the practices of younger women? How do younger and older women compare in terms of their food practices and the cooking skills they currently use in the kitchen? Using Scottish questionnaire data from a cross‐national study, this paper reports on the differences and similarities for 37 younger women (25–45 years; mean 32 years) and 43 older women (60–75 years; mean 68 years) in their actual use of specific food preparation and cooking techniques, the kind of meals they made, and the extent to which they ate out or ordered in meals for home consumption. Results indicated that while there were some differences in food preparation, the use of fresh ingredients and the style of cooking undertaken in the home, these were mostly marginal. There were similar response patterns for the adequacy of their domestic facilities and equipment. There was, however, a notable divergence in their patterns of eating meals out, or phoning out for meals. These data suggest that while younger and older women – different cooking generations – do differ, the way they differ is related more to current lifestyle factors than to any highly differentiated domestic food preparation and cooking skills.
Adjunctive cognitive remediation for schizophrenia using yoga: an open, non-randomised trial
Authors: Bhatia Triptish , Agarwal Akhilesh , Shah Gyandeepak , Wood Joel , Richard Jan , Gur Raquel E. , Gur Ruben C. , Nimgaonkar Vishwajit L. , Mazumdar Sati , Deshpande Smita N.
Published: August 2011

Background:Yoga therapy (YT) improves cognitive function in healthy individuals, but its impact on cognitive function among persons with schizophrenia (SZ) has not been investigated.

Objective:To evaluate the adjunctive YT for cognitive domains impaired in SZ.

Methods:Patients with SZ received YT or treatment as usual (TAU;n= 65,n= 23, respectively). Accuracy and speed for seven cognitive domains were assessed using a computerised neurocognitive battery (CNB), thus minimising observer bias. Separately, YT was evaluated among patients with bipolar I disorder (n= 40), major depressive disorder (n= 37) and cardiology outpatients (n= 68). All patients also received routine pharmacotherapy. Patients were not randomised to YT or TAU.

Results:In comparison with the SZ/TAU group, the SZ/YT group showed significantly greater improvement with regard to measures of attention following corrections for multiple comparisons; the changes were more prominent among the men. In the other diagnostic groups, differing patterns of improvements were noted with small-to-medium effect sizes.

Conclusions:Our initial analyses suggest nominally significant improvement in cognitive function in SZ with adjunctive therapies such as YT. The magnitude of the change varies by cognitive domain and may also vary by diagnostic group.
Effects of morphological Family Size for young readers
Authors: Perdijk Kors , Schreuder Robert , Baayen R. Harald , Verhoeven Ludo
Published: August 2011

Dutch children, from the second and fourth grade of primary school, were each given a visual lexical decision test on 210 Dutch monomorphemic words. After removing words not recognized by a majority of the younger group, (lexical) decisions were analysed by mixed‐model regression methods to see whether morphological Family Size influenced decision times over and above several other covariates. The effect of morphological Family Size on decision time was mixed: larger families led to significantly faster decision times for the second graders but not for the fourth graders. Since facilitative effects on decision times had been found for adults, we offer a developmental account to explain the absence of an effect of Family Size on decision times for fourth graders.
Topologically Enhanced Slicing of MLS Surfaces
Authors: Yang Pinghai , Li Kang , Qian Xiaoping
Published: August 2011

Growing use of massive scan data in various engineering applications has necessitated research on point-set surfaces. A point-set surface is a continuous surface, defined directly with a set of discrete points. This paper presents a new approach that extends our earlier work on slicing point-set surfaces into planar contours for rapid prototyping usage. This extended approach can decompose a point-set surface into slices with guaranteed topology. Such topological guarantee stems from the use of Morse theory based topological analysis of the slicing operation. The Morse function for slicing is a height function restricted to the point-set surface, an implicitly defined moving least-squares (MLS) surface. We introduce a Lagrangian multiplier formulation for critical point identification from the restricted surface. Integral lines are constructed to form Morse-Smale complex and the enhanced Reeb graph. This graph is then used to provide seed points for forming slicing contours, with the guarantee that the sliced model has the same topology as the input point-set surface. The extension of this approach to degenerate functions on point-set surface is also discussed.
Infrared Based Wall Shear Stress Measurement Techniques
Authors: Rudolph Ilka , Reyer Matthias , Nitsche Wolfgang
Published: August 2011

The paper presented here introduces two novel, infrared based wall shear stress measurement techniques. The first provides wall shear stress visualizations with a high spatial and temporal resolution as well as spatial quantitative information. The other technique enables sensor-based measurements of the wall shear stress magnitude and direction. Both techniques are based on the close link between momentum and heat transport in the boundary layer and correlate the surface temperature distribution of a heated surface (first technique) or a heated spot (second technique), which is measured using infrared thermography, with the wall shear stress. For the spatial qualification and quantification, the temporal surface temperature evolution of a heated structure subjected to a flow is linked to the wall shear stress distribution. The second, sensor-based technique heats a small spot on an otherwise unheated surface. The temperature distribution, or thermal tuft, around this heated spot is closely related to the local wall shear stress magnitude and direction. Results are presented for both techniques and compared to reference measurements and visualizations, respectively. Reference measurements of the wall shear stress were obtained using a skin friction balance; oilflow visualizations were used as a reference visualization technique.
Why did an effective Dutch complex psycho-social intervention for people with dementia not work in the German healthcare context? Lessons learnt from a process evaluation alongside a multicentre RCT
Authors: Voigt-Radloff Sebastian , Graff Maud , Leonhart Rainer , Hüll Michael , Rikkert Marcel Olde , Vernooij-Dassen Myrra
Published: August 2011

Background

The positive effects of the Dutch Community Occupational Therapy in Dementia programme on patients' daily functioning were not found in a multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) in Germany.

Objectives

To evaluate possible effect modification on the primary outcome within the German RCT with regard to (1) participant characteristics, (2) treatment performance and (3) healthcare service utilisation; and (4) to compare the design and primary outcome between the German and the original Dutch study.

Methods

(1) The impact of participant baseline data on the primary outcome was analysed in exploratory ANCOVA and regression analyses. (2) Therapists completed questionnaires on context and performance problems. The main problems were identified by a qualitative content analysis and focus-group discussion. Associations of the primary outcome with scores of participant adherence and treatment performance were evaluated by regression analysis. (3) Utilisation rates of healthcare services were controlled for significant group differences. (4) Differences in the Dutch and German study design were identified, and the primary outcome was contrasted at the item level.

Results

(1) Participant characteristics could not explain more than 5% of outcome variance. (2) The treatment performance of some active intervention components was poor but not significantly associated with the primary outcome. (3) There were no significant group differences in the utilisation of healthcare resources. (4) In contrast to the Dutch waiting-control group, the active intervention in the German control group may have reduced group differences in the current RCT. The German patients demonstrated a higher independence at baseline and less improvement in instrumental activities of daily living.

Conclusion

The differences in outcome may be explained by a more active control treatment, partially poor experimental treatment and less room for improvement in the German sample. Future cross-national transfers should be prepared by pilot studies assessing the applicability of the intervention and patient needs specific to the target country.

Trial registration

International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, DRKS00000053.
Trends in adult cardiovascular disease risk factors and their socio-economic patterning in the Scottish population 1995–2008: cross-sectional surveys
Authors: Hotchkiss Joel W , Davies Carolyn , Gray Linsay , Bromley Catherine , Capewell Simon , Leyland Alastair H
Published: August 2011

Objectives

To examine secular and socio-economic changes in cardiovascular disease risk factor prevalences in the Scottish population. This could contribute to a better understanding of why the decline in coronary heart disease mortality in Scotland has recently stalled along with a widening of socio-economic inequalities.

Design

Four Scottish Health Surveys 1995, 1998, 2003 and 2008 (6190, 6656, 5497 and 4202 respondents, respectively, aged 25–64 years) were used to examine gender-stratified, age-standardised prevalences of smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, discretionary salt use and self-reported diabetes or hypertension. Prevalences were determined according to education and social class. Inequalities were assessed using the slope index of inequality, and time trends were determined using linear regression.

Results

There were moderate secular declines in the prevalence of smoking, excess alcohol consumption and physical inactivity. Smoking prevalence declined between 1995 and 2008 from 33.4% (95% CI 31.8% to 35.0%) to 29.9% (27.9% to 31.8%) for men and from 36.1% (34.5% to 37.8%) to 27.4% (25.5% to 29.3%) for women. Adverse trends in prevalence were noted for self-reported diabetes and hypertension. Over the four surveys, the diabetes prevalence increased from 1.9% (1.4% to 2.4%) to 3.6% (2.8% to 4.4%) for men and from 1.7% (1.2% to 2.1%) to 3.0% (2.3% to 3.7%) for women. Socio-economic inequalities were evident for almost all risk factors, irrespective of the measure used. These social gradients appeared to be maintained over the four surveys. An exception was self-reported diabetes where, although inequalities were small, the gradient increased over time. Alcohol consumption was unique in consistently showing an inverse gradient, especially for women.

Conclusions

There has been only a moderate decline in behavioural cardiovascular risk factor prevalences since 1995, with increases in self-reported diabetes and hypertension. Adverse socio-economic gradients have remained unchanged. These findings could help explain the recent stagnation in coronary heart disease mortalities and persistence of related inequalities.
Tobacco expenditure and its implications for household resource allocation in Cambodia
Authors: John Rijo M , Ross Hana , Blecher Evan
Published: August 2011

Objectives

To assess the determinants of smoking behaviour and to estimate the impact of tobacco consumption on the consumption of other commodities by Cambodian households.

Methods

To assess the determinants of smoking in Cambodia, the authors used a logistic regression model that estimated the probability of an individual smoking, given a set of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. A Seemingly Unrelated Regression method was used to assess the impact of tobacco consumption on the consumption of other commodities. The nationally representative 2004 Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey, collected by the National Institute of Statistics of the Ministry of Planning in Cambodia, was used for the analysis.

Results

Smoking in Cambodia is influenced by a variety of factors such as gender, marital status, age, ethnicity, literacy, health status and perceptions about the health consequences of tobacco use. The authors found that spending on tobacco crowds out expenditures on education and clothing at the national level and expenditures on food for low- and middle-income households.

Conclusions

The first analysis of the study showed that increased education is associated with lower daily smoking, and the second analysis revealed that expenditures on tobacco crowds out expenditures on education. Combining these two results points to a vicious circle where low education means higher likelihood of smoking, which in turn results in lower spending on education. Such budget allocation clearly has negative intergenerational consequences.
DISJOINT-PATHS AND FAULT-TOLERANT ROUTING ON RECURSIVE DUAL-NET
Authors: LI YAMIN , PENG SHIETUNG , CHU WANMING
Published: August 2011

The recursive dual-net is a newly proposed interconnection network for massive parallel computers. The recursive dual-net is based on recursive dual-construction of a symmetric base network. A k-level dual-construction for k > 0 creates a network containing (2n0)2k/2 nodes with node-degree d0 + k, where n0 and d0 are the number of nodes and the node-degree of the base network, respectively. The recursive dual-net is node and edge symmetric and can contain huge number of nodes with small node-degree and short diameter. Disjoint-paths routing and fault-tolerant routing are fundamental and critical issues for the performance of an interconnection network. In this paper, we propose efficient algorithms for disjoint-paths and fault-tolerant routings on the recursive dual-net.
ASYMPTOTICALLY OPTIMAL DETERMINISTIC RENDEZVOUS
Authors: CARRIER FABIENNE , DEVISMES STÉPHANE , PETIT FRANCK , RIVIERRE YVAN
Published: August 2011

In this paper, we address the deterministic rendezvous in graphs where k mobile agents, disseminated at different times and different nodes, have to meet in finite time at the same node. The mobile agents are autonomous, oblivious, labeled, and move asynchronously. Moreover, we consider an undirected anonymous connected graph. For this problem, we exhibit some asymptotical time and space lower bounds as well as some necessary conditions. We also propose an algorithm that is asymptotically optimal in both space and round complexities.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD AND OTHER DARK ENERGIES IN NONLINEAR ELECTRODYNAMICS
Authors: MAITY SAYANI , CHAKRABORTY SHUVENDU , DEBNATH UJJAL
Published: August 2011

In this work, we have considered the flat FRW model of the universe filled with electromagnetic field. First, the Maxwell's electromagnetic field in linear form has been discussed and after that the modified Lagrangian in nonlinear form for accelerated universe has been considered. The corresponding energy density and pressure for nonlinear electromagnetic field have been calculated. We have found the condition such that the electromagnetic field generates dark energy. The correspondence between the electromagnetic field and the other dark energy candidates namely tachyonic field, DBI-essence, Chaplygin gas, hessence dark energy, k-essence and dilaton dark energy have been investigated. We have also reconstructed the potential functions and the scalar fields in this scenario.