bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dietary Source of Stearidonic Acid Promotes Higher Muscle DHA Concentrations than Linolenic Acid in Hybrid Striped Bass
Authors: Bharadwaj Anant S. , Hart Steven D. , Brown Billie J. , Li Yong , Watkins Bruce A. , Brown Paul B.
Published: November 2009

Rapid expansion of aquacultural production is placing increasing demand on fish oil supplies and intensified the search for alternative lipid sources. Many of the potential alternative sources contain low concentrations of long chain n‐3 fatty acids and the conversion of dietary linolenic acid to longer chain highly unsaturated fatty acids is a relatively inefficient process in some species. A 6‐week study was conducted to compare tissue fatty acid (FA) concentrations in hybrid striped bass fed either 18:3n‐3 (α‐linolenic acid; ALA) or 18:4n‐3 (stearidonic acid; SDA). Hybrid striped bass were fed either a control diet containing fish oil, or diets containing ALA or SDA at three different levels (0.5, 1 and 2% of the diet). There were no significant differences in whole animal responses between fish fed ALA or SDA. Liver and muscle concentrations of ALA and SDA were responsive to dosages fed. However, only 22:6n‐3 concentrations in muscle were significantly affected by dietary source of 18 carbon precursors. Muscle 22:6n‐3 concentrations were significantly higher in fish fed SDA compared to fish fed ALA. Based on these data, it appears that feeding SDA can increase long chain n‐3 fatty acid concentrations in fish muscle.
Establishing Which Factors Patients Value When Selecting Urology Outpatient Care
Authors: Shah Jyoti , Dickinson C. Louise
Published: November 2009

Objective:

The launch of Choose and Book has enabled patients to choose from at least four providers of healthcare to reduce long waiting times for elective surgery. We aimed to investigate what factors patients consider when deciding on their choice of hospital and to establish what weight patients placed on each of these factors when making their choice.

Patients and methods:

Patients attending general urology outpatient clinics during a 3-month period were invited to complete a questionnaire grading these factors in level of importance to them.

Results:

Hospital cleanliness was the most important factor when choosing a hospital, followed by hospital reputation.

Conclusions:

Cleanliness and hygiene standards within a hospital are increasingly important to patients with the rise in hospital acquired infections, heightened by a high level of media interest in hospital hygiene. The behaviour of patients in choosing where and when and by whom they want their health care will clearly have an impact on waiting times, although the true impact of this is as yet difficult to establish. With respect to urology, this may affect the choice of hospital as well as the treating urology consultant. For patients to make these choices they will need more information about their options and General Practitioners will need to provide appropriate guidance.
SKyphoplasty
Authors: Rashid Faisal , Munk Peter L. , Heran Manraj , Malfair David , Chiu Owen
Published: November 2009

Objective

SKyphoplasty is a new method of percutaneous spinal augmentation. Despite its limited availability in the United States, SKyphoplasty has experienced considerable growth in recent years. In this article, we aim to provide a stepwise documentation of the technique, with brief reference to the 2 established methods, vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty.

Conclusion

Experience with SKyphoplasty is relatively limited, and little information has appeared in the literature to support its theoretical benefits. After review of previously published material, an audit of our institutional experience, and discussion with other practioners who perform this procedure, it would appear that pain relief by using this device is at best similar to that of conventional vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. There was no evidence of height restoration in our patient population, an advantage that has been brought into question.
Self-injurious behavior among Greek male prisoners: Prevalence and risk factors
Authors: Sakelliadis E.I. , Papadodima S.A. , Sergentanis T.N. , Giotakos O. , Spiliopoulou C.A.
Published: November 2009

Background

Self-harm among prisoners is a common phenomenon. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of self-injurious behavior (SIB) among Greek male prisoners, record their motives and determine independent risk factors.

Methods

A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was administered to 173 male prisoners in the Chalkida prison, Greece. The questionnaire included items on self-harm/SIB, demographic parameters, childhood history, family history, physical and mental disease, lifestyle and smoking habits, alcohol dependence (CAGE questionnaire), illicit substance use, aggression (Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire [BPAQ] and Lifetime History of Aggression [LTHA]), impulsivity (Barrat Impulsivity Scale-11) and suicidal ideation (Spectrum of Suicidal Behavior Scale). Univariate nonparametric statistics and multivariate ordinal logistic regression were performed.

Results

Of all the participants, 49.4% (95% CI: 41.5–57.3%) disclosed self-harm (direct or indirect). The prevalence of SIB was equal to 34.8% (95% CI: 27.5–42.6%). Most frequently, SIB coexisted with indirect self-harm (80.7%). The most common underlying motives were to obtain emotional release (31.6%) and to release anger (21.1%). At the univariate analysis, SIB was positively associated with a host of closely related factors: low education, physical/sexual abuse in childhood, parental neglect, parental divorce, alcoholism in family, psychiatric condition in family, recidivism, age, sentence already served, impulsivity, aggression, alcohol dependence, self-reported diagnosed psychiatric condition and illicit substance use. Childhood variables were particularly associated with the presence of diagnosed psychiatric condition. At the multivariate analysis, however, only three parameters were proven independent risk factors: self-reported diagnosed psychiatric condition, illicit substance use and aggression (BPAQ scale).

Conclusion

The prevalence of SIB is particularly high. Psychiatric condition, illicit substance use and aggression seem to be the most meaningful risk factors; childhood events seem only to act indirectly.
Distinguishing between depression and anxiety: A proposal for an extension of the tripartite model
Authors: den Hollander-Gijsman M.E. , de Beurs E. , van der Wee N.J.A. , van Rood Y.R. , Zitman F.G.
Published: November 2009

Aim

The aim of the current study was to develop scales that assess symptoms of depression and anxiety and can adequately differentiate between depression and anxiety disorders, and also can distinguish within anxiety disorders. As point of departure, we used the tripartite model of Clark and Watson that discerns three dimensions: negative affect, positive affect and physiological hyperarousal.

Methods

Analyses were performed on the data of 1449 patients, who completed the Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire (MASQ) and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). From this, 1434 patients were assessed with a standardized diagnostic interview.

Results

A model with five dimensions was found: depressed mood, lack of positive affect, somatic arousal, phobic fear and hostility. The scales appear capable to differentiate between patients with a mood and with an anxiety disorder. Within the anxiety disorders, somatic arousal was specific for patients with panic disorder. Phobic fear was associated with panic disorder, simple phobia and social anxiety disorder, but not with generalized anxiety disorder.

Conclusions

We present a five-factor model as an extension of the tripartite model. Through the addition of phobic fear, anxiety is better represented than in the tripartite model. The new scales are capable to accurately differentiate between depression and anxiety disorders, as well as between several anxiety disorders.
Effect of acute stress on NTPDase and 5′‐nucleotidase activities in brain synaptosomes in different stages of development
Authors: Horvat Anica , Stanojević Ivana , Drakulić Dunja , Veličković Nataša , Petrović Snježana , Milošević Maja
Published: November 2009

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of acute restraint stress on rat brain synaptosomal plasma membrane (SPM) ecto‐nucleotidase activities at specific stages of postnatal development (15‐, 30‐, 60‐ and 90‐day‐old rats) by measuring the rates of ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis 1, 24 and 72 h post‐stress. At 1 h after stress NTPDase and ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase activities were decreased in rats aged up to 60 days old. In adult rats elevated enzyme activities were detected, which indicated the existence of different short‐term stress responses during development. A similar pattern of ATP and ADP hydrolysis changes as well as the ATP/ADP ratio in all developmental stages indicated that NTPDase3 was acutely affected after stress. The long‐term effect of acute stress on NTPDase activity differed during postnatal development. In juvenile animals (15 days old) NTPDase activity was not altered. However, in later developmental stages (30 and 60 days old rats) NTPDase activity decreased and persisted for 72 h post‐stress. In adult rats only ATP hydrolysis was decreased after 24 h, indicating that ecto‐ATPase was affected by stress. Ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase hydrolysing activity was decreased within 24 h in adult rats, while in 15‐ and 30‐day old rats it decreased 72 h post‐stress. At equivalent times in pubertal rats (60 days old) a slight activation of ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase was detected. Our results highlight the developmental‐dependence of brain ecto‐nucleotidase susceptibility to acute stress and the likely existence of different mechanisms involved in time‐dependent ecto‐nucleotidase activity modulation following stress exposure. Clearly there are differences in the response of the purinergic system to acute restraint stress between young and adult rats.
On a Collection of Helminths from Thomson's Gazelle,Gazella thomsoni, from Tanganyika
Authors: Liang-Sheng Yeh
Published: November 2009

The present paper is a report on a collection of helminths collected from gazelles from Tanganyika Territory. It comprises one species of trematode,Paramphistomum microbothriwn; one species of a larval cestodcTaenia hydatigcna; eleven species of nematodes,Trichuris spiricollis; Haemonchus contortus; Trichostrongylus probolurus; Gazellofilaria tanganyikae; Cooperioides antidorca; Paracooperia serrata; P. daubneyi; Longistrongylus meyeri; Impalaia nudicollis; Gazellostrongylus lerouxigen. et sp. nov. (Trichostrongylidae) andProtostrongylns gazellaesp. nov. The seven last mentioned species are all new records for the gazelle.
The Occurrence in Cyprus of Bullinus contortus in the Endemic Area of Schistosoma hæmatobium
Authors: Leiper R. T.
Published: November 2009

The occurrence of Bilharzia infection in Cyprus was first recorded by Dr. George A. Williamson in a paper entitled “Bilharzia hæmatobia in Cyprus,” published in the British Medical Journal of 27th September, 1902.
On a species of Onchocerca from the Ox in West Africa
Authors: Cameron T. W. M.
Published: November 2009

The species of Onchocerca described in this paper was received some months ago from Mr. J. L. Stewart, M.C., M.R.C.V.S., from Tamale, Gold Coast Colony. The cysts containing the parasites are found most commonly in the subcuticular connective tissue of the inter-costal muscles; but they are also found elsewhere, usually in a superficial position. Mr. Stewart in a letter accompanying the material, draws attention to their superficial resemblance to Cysticercus bovis.
Observations on Artificial Infestation of Sheep with Fasciola hepatica and on A Phase in the Development of the Parasite
Authors: Montgomerie R. F.
Published: November 2009

By the close of the winter of 1925–26, the author's investigations into the value of certain drugs in the treatment and control of liver rot of sheep had reached a stage when it was felt that further advancement in certain important directions necessitated the employment of sheep subjects which had become infested with Fasciola hepatica to a known degree at a particular time. Naturally infested sheep were unsuitable, since observation had demonstrated a great variation—as regards both extent and type—in the infestation of sheep of the same flock.
New Trematodes from the Newt Triturus viridescens
Authors: Holl Fred J.
Published: November 2009

The writer has found three apparently new species of trematodes in the newt, Triturus viridescens Rafinesque. The newts were collected near Durham and Lakeview, North Carolina, and a study is being made to determine if there is any seasonal periodicity in the occurrence of their parasites. It is of interest that one trematode, Opisthodiscus americanus, is the first species of its genus to be reported for North America. Only one species of Brachycælium has been reported previously for North America and another, B. trituri, is described in this paper. A new species, Gorgoderina intermedia, is also described.
Tom McArthur's English Today
Authors: Bolton Kingsley , Graddol David , Mesthrie Rajend
Published: November 2009

As English Today notches up a century, it's high time to acknowledge Tom McArthur's inimitable contribution to the study of English worldwide.

Tom McArthur's contribution to English language studies has been immense, and has had a powerful impact at a number of levels. Tom started his life as an educator, gaining crucial exposure to English across the globe very early in his career, when in one of his first jobs teaching English at the Cathedral School in Bombay (Mumbai). After a varied academic career, which included a post at the University of Quebec, Tom returned to the UK to start a new journal for Cambridge University Press, English Today. Tom's brief at that time was to be the founding editor of a journal that would inform a wide readership about the highways and byways of the English language, during an era when English was becoming a global language at an unprecedented speed.
Sri Lankan English: a distinct South Asian variety
Authors: Meyler Michael
Published: November 2009

Sri Lankan English belongs to the family of South Asian Englishes, of which
Indian English is the best known and most established example –
although Indian English itself is of course hugely diverse. Indian English and
Sri Lankan English have much in common, as both varieties evolved from the
English of the British colonials of the nineteenth century, and much common
vocabulary developed to describe the common flora and fauna of the two
countries, as well as their shared religious and cultural aspects. Both
varieties include a number of words of Tamil origin, and many others derived
from Sanskrit roots.

The main aims of this paper are to present the argument for the recognition of
Sri Lankan English as a distinct variety of English, and to discuss some of the
practical issues encountered in compiling a dictionary of this nature.
Christmas
Authors: Tulloch Alexander
Published: November 2009

Some seasonal etymologies.

The origins of many of the words associated with Christmas are as fascinating as they are illuminating. But at this time of year those who celebrate Christmas throughout the world are usually too preoccupied with buying presents, preparing traditional fare, organising parties etc. to bother about the derivations of the words unwrapped along with the presents, only to be used for a couple of weeks before being put away again till next year.
Locality in metrical typology
Authors: Buckley Eugene
Published: November 2009

Recent work in metrical typology within Optimality Theory has emphasised the rhythmic distribution of stress peaks by reference to clashes and lapses, compared to the more central role of foot constituency characteristic of most previous approaches. One consequence of this emphasis has been the introduction of constraints that require reference to non-adjacent objects in the representation, such as two unstressed syllables plus a word edge or a stress peak. I argue here for a constraint-based approach to metrical typology that permits only strictly local formulations. This approach requires increased reference to foot structure, while maintaining local reference to clashes and lapses. The revised set of constraints predicts a larger set of possible stress systems, but correctly includes an attested iambic pattern excluded by recent theories.
The profitability of organic soybean production
Authors: McBride W.D. , Greene Catherine
Published: November 2009

Results from long-term experimental trials suggest that similar yields and lower costs are possible with organic compared to conventional soybeans, but there is little information about the relative costs and returns of these systems on commercial farms. This study examines the profitability of commercial soybean production using a nationwide survey of soybean producers for 2006 that includes a targeted sample of organic growers. Treatment-effect models are specified to characterize adopters of the organic approach and to isolate the impact of organic choice on operating, operating and capital, and total economic costs of soybean production. Organic soybean producers tend to be younger, have less crop acreage, and are less likely to work off-farm than conventional producers. Organic soybean production costs range from about $1 to $6 per bushel higher than those for conventional soybeans due to both lower yields and higher per-acre costs, while the average organic price premium in 2006 was more than $9 per bushel. Long-term cropping systems data suggest significant returns to organic systems result from similar yields and lower costs than conventional systems, but the high returns to commercial organic production found in this study can only be attributed to the significant price premiums paid for organic soybeans. Average organic soybean price premiums have remained high since 2006 despite much higher conventional soybean prices as users of organic soybeans attempt to retain and attract more acreage. However, increases in conventional soybean prices and fuel prices reduce the incentive for planting organic soybeans by improving returns to conventional production and increasing the relative costs of organic production.
Effects of organic nitrogen fortifiers on some growth parameters of green amaranths (Amaranthus caudatus L.)
Authors: AdeOluwa O.O. , Adeoye G.O. , Yusuff S.A.
Published: November 2009

Chemical fertilizers for boosting crop production are becoming more expensive and scarce. Green amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus L.) is a fast growing and highly nutritious crop, but its common use in the diet of Nigerians is constrained by its high demand for nitrogen fertilizer. Thus, there is a need to find local fertilizer materials that are readily available to peasant farmers. A preliminary field study was conducted to evaluate urine and neem (Azadirachta indica L. juss) as alternative sources for mineral fertilizers in fortifying organic fertilizer (OF) made from cow dung and market waste compost, and OF fortified with urea and bone meal [organo-mineral fertilizer (OMF)], for yield and growth of green amaranth. Fifteen treatments, based on the percentages of N supplied, were NPK15-15-15, OMF, OF, urine, neem and ten treatments of 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% OF supplemented with a total of 50, 40, 30, 20 and 10% urine or neem, respectively, to provide a total application rate of 100 kg N ha−1, with no fertilizer treatment as a control. Planting was done in two successions (main with fertilizer treatments and residual without further application). The fertilizer sources and levels had significant effects on plant height, number of leaves, stem girth, fresh weight and dry weight. The residual effects were also significant for plant height, number of leaves, total fresh and dry weights. Forty percent N urine amendment of the OF produced the highest total fresh amaranth biomass (269.3 g plot−1 main effect and 110.8 g plot−1 residual effect), which was significantly better than the values of (140 and 35.3 g plot−1, respectively) obtained with respect to OMF during main planting and NPK during residual planting. Results of our study reveal that 40% N urine fortification of OF was a viable substitute for synthetic fertilizers in production of amaranth, and that urine and neem cake can be alternatives to mineral fertilizer for crop production.
Eye witness – memorialising humanity in Steve McQueen’sHunger
Authors: McNamee Eugene
Published: November 2009

This paper builds on a developing field of enquiry regarding the potency of film as an intervention into normative patterns in popular culture which are recognisable in a legal pluralist sense, and that relate to more standard legal analyses of constitutional development. The argument is developed that Steve McQueen inHungerhas made a film which marries a particular filmic formal device of lingering on highly aestheticised details of human behaviour with an overall filmic sensibility of refusing ‘politics’ in favour of ‘humanity’. The film demonstrates a resounding success, both in critical terms and in having the film accepted on its own terms of ‘humanity’. The suggestion in this paper is that the ongoing processes of ‘dealing with the past’ in Northern Ireland and other post-conflict societies may have something to learn from the marriage of idea and aesthetic form inHunger.

‘People say, “Oh, it’s a political film” but for me it’s essentially about what we, as humans, are capable of, morally, physically, psychologically. What we will inflict and what we will endure.’

(McQueen, quoted in O’Hagan, 2008)
Judging pictures: a case study of portraits of the Chief Justices, Supreme Court of New South Wales
Authors: Moran Leslie J.
Published: November 2009

This essay is about portraits: judicial portraits. It offers a case study of the interface between law and visual culture. Its object of enquiry is a collection of pictures (painted and photographic), depicting the sixteen Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia, from 1824 to the present day. The original paintings hang in the Banco Court, Sydney. The photographs and digital copies of all the images are on the Court’s website. Beginning with a brief review of socio-legal scholarship on the judiciary, the essay explores existing work on the visual image of the judge. In response to the limitations of that research, the paper turns to art historical scholarship to facilitate an analysis of the aesthetic and technological factors (the continuities and changes) that shape and generate the meaning of these judicial images. It explores the relevance of context upon meaning. The paper demonstrates a number of methodological approaches and reflects upon the contribution that a study of judicial pictures may make to socio-legal scholarship.
Cause lawyers are alright: ideology works its magic on the cause
Authors: Aristodemou Maria
Published: November 2009

To paraphrase Barack Obama, cause lawyers aren’t supposed to make any money: ‘their poverty is proof of their integrity’ (Obama, 2007, p. 135). Integrity and its insignia are, of course, sought-after signifiers not only in the field of community organising that Obama was describing, but in all professions, not least that of cause lawyers that is the focus of this book. The Cultural Lives of Cause Lawyers is the fifth in a series of essays edited by Austin Sarat and Stuart Scheingold on the activities of cause lawyers. Previous collections set the scene for the nature and aims of cause lawyering, analysing their professional and political commitments in theory and in practice, and their relationship to the state and to social movements in a global era. It is a series that almost single-handedly, quickly and efficiently helped define, as well as develop, this exciting new field.
Modeling the diurnal variation of tracer transit velocity through a subglacial channel
Authors: Schuler T. V. , Fischer U. H.
Published: November 2009

Tracer injections into a moulin connecting to a subglacial channel at Unteraargletscher were repeated at intervals of about two hours over two diurnal discharge cycles in August and September 2000. The pronounced hysteresis in the relationships between tracer transit velocity and proglacial discharge may be explained by adjustments of the channel cross section in response to discharge variations or alternatively by modulation of inflow from the tributary moulin into a main subglacial channel. To test these hypotheses, we employ a physically based, time‐dependent model of channelized subglacial drainage. In a series of numerical experiments, we explore the general characteristics of each mechanism before the model is applied to diurnal discharge variations measured during the tracer tests at Unteraargletscher. We found that the ability of a Röthlisberger channel to adjust its size to the prevailing hydraulic conditions can contribute to the hysteresis in the velocity‐discharge relationships. However, using plausible parameter values, R channel hydraulics alone is not satisfactory in reproducing the magnitude of observed transit velocities. The model further confirms that retardation of the tracer in the tributary moulin due to inflow modulation has major effects on transit velocities both in magnitude and timing. With appropriate assumptions on channel sinuosity and moulin size, a combination of both mechanisms can be found that is capable of reproducing the observed transit velocities.
A Storm of Strong Earthquakes in Greece During 2008
Authors: Papadopoulos Gerassimos A. , Karasthathis Vassilios , Charalambakis Marinos , Fokaefs Anna
Published: November 2009

An unusual cluster of four Mw > 6.2 earthquakes ruptured the Hellenic Arc and Trench (HA‐T) from 6 January to 15 July 2008 with a variety of focal depths and mechanisms (Figure 1 and Table 1). Common earthquake clusters incorporate a sequence of dependent events: a main shock, numerous aftershocks, and sometimes foreshocks preceding the main shock. Cluster members occur on the same fault or on a set of nearby faults. The four HA‐T earthquakes, however, do not conform with this pattern because the faults are spatially isolated.
NASA Advisory Council structure
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: November 2009

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden has added four new committees to the NASA Advisory Council in the areas of commercial space, education and public outreach, information technology infrastructure, and technology and innovation, the agency announced on 2 November. Other committees are in the areas of aeronautics; audit, finance, and analysis; exploration; science; and space operations. The council, which provides advice and makes recommendations to the administrator about agency programs, policies, plans, financial controls, and other matters, holds its next meeting on 18–19 February 2010.
Student payloads for a near‐space research balloon
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: November 2009

U.S. college students with the right stuff could have their experiments sent into near space on the High Altitude Student Platform (HASP), a NASA highaltitude research balloon. The application deadline is 18 December.

The annual NASA project provides nearspace access for 12 undergraduate and graduate student experiments on a balloon flight that could last 15 to 20 hours and reach an altitude of 37 kilometers. The goals of the project—a joint effort between NASA and the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium—are to provide a space test platform to encourage student research and stimulate development of student satellite payloads and other space‐engineering products, according to NASA. Since 2006, the program has selected 44 payloads for flight, representing the work of more than 200 U.S. students.
Understanding Global Climate Variability and Its Effects on Marine Ecosystems: Marine Ecosystems and Climate: Modeling and Analysis of Observed Variability; Boulder, Colorado, 2–14 August 2009
Authors: Hurrell James W.
Published: November 2009

Despite evidence of significant impacts from climate change, relatively few published papers in ecology, conservation biology, and biodiversity research deal with marine systems. This stark fact motivated a recent colloquium, hosted by the Advanced Study Program (ASP) at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The goal was to encourage graduate students to undertake research studies on understanding and predicting global climate variability and its impacts on marine ecosystems. An invited group of 18 international experts worked closely with 26 students from the climate, marine ecosystem, and impact communities.
Preservation state of metastable magnesian calcite in periplatform sediments from the Caribbean Sea over the last million years
Authors: Sepulcre Sophie , Tachikawa Kazuyo , Vidal Laurence , Thouveny Nicolas , Bard Edouard
Published: November 2009

Carbonate‐rich periplatform sediments represent an active carbon reservoir containing metastable aragonite and magnesian calcite (Mg‐calcite, > 4 mol % MgCO3). Since Mg‐calcite is highly soluble, the preservation state of this mineral provides information on past carbonate systems at water depths shallower than the lysocline. The mineralogy and geochemistry of the carbonate‐rich fine fraction (<63 μm) was determined for the last 940 ka in a sediment core collected from the Walton Basin (Northern Caribbean Sea, 846 m water depth). Mg/Ca ratios for Mg‐calcite showed clear glacial‐interglacial cycles with high values (12 mol % MgCO3) during interglacials. Glacial Mg/Ca ratios were approximately 8 mol % MgCO3 for the period from 940 ka to 400 ka, and approximately 10 mol % MgCO3 for the last 400 ka. The Mg/Ca shift is concomitant with a preferential loss of Mg‐calcite relative to aragonite. The preservation state of Mg‐calcite revealed that the bottom water mass of the studied site was slightly more corrosive for the earlier period, possibly relating to a composition change in intermediate water and/or to the ventilation rate in the Atlantic Ocean.
Tremor source location using time reversal: Selecting the appropriate imaging field
Authors: Larmat C. S. , Guyer R. A. , Johnson P. A.
Published: November 2009

Studying triggered Non Volcanic Tremor (NVT) is important because it may help to map the depth of the locked zones of faults associated with high seismic risk. The success of this mapping depends on precisely locating the depth of tremor. Tremor, like other long‐lived signals (e.g., Earth hum) lacks distinct sharp timing features making it impossible to locate with classical approaches. Time Reversal has the advantage of exploiting the full waveform with no a priori assumption regarding the source or the observed signal. We perform a synthetic study of time reversal location of a long‐lasting source in the Los Angeles basin with a realistic 3D velocity model and sparse station set. We show that, the key to successfully locating NVT, is application of suitable imaging fields, such as the wave divergence, curl and energy current.
Control of recent European surface climate change by atmospheric flow
Authors: Vautard Robert , Yiou Pascal
Published: November 2009

Many changes in European surface climate have occurred over the past decades, but most of the processes driving them are not identified. In particular, the role of atmospheric flow in driving surface trends needs to be evaluated to better predict future regional climate. We compare observed surface climate trends with those constructed from daily flow analogues. We find that during the last 60 years atmospheric circulation changes are the main drivers of surface weather trends in winter, but not in summer where temperature strongly interacts with the water cycle. For instance, increasing anticyclonic conditions control the decreasing summer rainfall frequency, but rainfall amount and cloud cover have not decreased accordingly, because individual rainfall events bring more rain now than decades ago. Over the past three decades the control by atmospheric flow changes has weakened, indicating evolutions in the processes steering European surface climate change.
Modeling sediment transport beneath skewed asymmetric waves above a plane bed
Authors: Ruessink B. G. , van den Berg T. J. J. , van Rijn L. C.
Published: November 2009

A one‐dimensional model solving the Reynolds‐averaged Navier‐Stokes and advection‐diffusion equations in conjunction with a k − ε model for turbulence closure is used to systematically explore net sediment transport rates beneath skewed asymmetric waves under sheet flow conditions. The model, which reproduces net rates obtained in U tube experiments under purely skewed and asymmetric oscillatory flow well, is forced with an analytical expression of free stream oscillatory flow in which we varied the degree of skewness versus asymmetry, the magnitude of the total wave nonlinearity, the oscillatory flow amplitude, and the wave period. We find that for a wide range of conditions sediment entrained into the flow during a particular wave half‐cycle has not completely settled before flow reversal and tends to be transported during the next half‐cycle. Consistent with earlier work, these phase‐lag effects reduce transport rates under oscillatory flow dominated by velocity skewness, while they enhance net transport rates under oscillatory flow dominated by velocity asymmetry. Phase‐lag effects are particularly important in fine‐medium sands (<≈250 μm). For a given grain size phase‐lag effects become more pronounced with an increase in wave nonlinearity and in velocity amplitude, and with a decrease (increase) in wave period under skewed (asymmetric) oscillatory flow. When phase‐lag effects are negligible, transport rates are largest under skewed oscillatory flow containing some asymmetry; otherwise, they are largest under asymmetric flow. Our work implies that nearshore sediment transport equations based on the instantaneous bed shear stress may be restricted in applicability to situations when the grain size exceeds ≈250 μm.
Effects of aerosols on the dynamics and microphysics of squall lines simulated by spectral bin and bulk parameterization schemes
Authors: Khain A. P. , Leung L. R. , Lynn B. , Ghan S.
Published: November 2009

A new spectral bin microphysical scheme (SBM) was implemented into the Weather Research and Forecasting model referred to as Fast‐SBM, which uses a smaller number of size distribution functions than the original version of the scheme referred to as Exact‐SBM. It was shown that both schemes produced similar dynamical and microphysical structure of a squall line simulated. An excellent agreement in the simulated precipitation amounts between the schemes was found within a range of cloud condensation nuclei concentrations from 100 to 3000 cm−3. The Fast‐SBM requires about 40% of the computing power of the Exact‐SBM, allowing it to be used for “real‐time” simulations over limited domains. The results obtained using the SBM simulations have been compared with those using a modified version of the Thompson bulk parameterization scheme. The main extension of the bulk scheme was the implementation of the process of drop nucleation, so that drop concentration is no longer prescribed a priori but rather calculated using the prescribed aerosol concentration. This scheme is referred to as the Drop scheme. A large set of sensitivity studies have been performed, in which microphysical parameters and precipitation, droplet nucleation above cloud base, etc., have been compared with those obtained from SBM. The SBM scheme produces more realistic dynamical and microphysical structure of the squall line. The Drop scheme did relatively little to change the cloud structures simulated by the bulk scheme. Unlike the SBM simulations that show different precipitation sensitivities to aerosol concentrations in relatively dry and humid environments, the Drop scheme indicates monotonic decrease in precipitation with increasing aerosol concentrations.
Variations in the aerosol optical properties and types over the tropical urban site of Hyderabad, India
Authors: Kaskaoutis D. G. , Badarinath K. V. S. , Kumar Kharol Shailesh , Rani Sharma Anu , Kambezidis H. D.
Published: November 2009

Aerosol measurements over the tropical urban site of Hyderabad, India, provide a way of determining the variability of the aerosol characteristics over a duration of 1 year (October 2007 to September 2008). The meteorological pattern over India, mainly driven by the regional monsoons, has a great effect on the amount and size distribution of the aerosols. Higher aerosol optical depth (AOD) values are observed in premonsoon, while the variability of the Ångström exponent (α) seems to be more pronounced, with higher values in winter and premonsoon and lower values in the monsoon periods. The AOD at 500 nm (AOD500) is very large over Hyderabad, varying from 0.46 ± 0.17 in postmonsoon to 0.65 ± 0.22 in premonsoon periods. A discrimination of the different aerosol types over Hyderabad is also attempted using values of AOD500 and α380–870. Such discrimination is rather difficult to interpret since a single aerosol type can partly be identified only under specific conditions (e.g., anthropogenic emissions, biomass burning or dust outbreaks), while the presence of mixed aerosols, without dominance of the coarse or accumulation mode, is the usual situation. According to the analysis the three individual components of differing origin, composition and optical characteristics are (1) an urban/industrial aerosol type composed of aerosols produced locally and all year round by combustion activities in the city or long‐range transported (mainly in spring) biomass burning, (2) an aerosol type of mineral origin raised by the wind in the deserts (mainly in premonsoon) or constituting coarse‐mode aerosols under high relative humidity conditions mainly in the monsoon period, and (3) an aerosol type with a marine influence under background conditions occurring in monsoon and postmonsoon periods. Nevertheless, the mixed or undetermined aerosol type dominates with percentages varying from 44.3% (premonsoon) to 72.9% (postmonsoon). Spectral AOD and α data are analyzed to obtain information about the adequacy of the simple use of the Ångström exponent for characterizing the aerosols. This is achieved by taking advantage of the spectral variation of lnAOD versus lnλ, the so‐called curvature. The results show that the spectral curvature can be effectively used as a tool for aerosol types discrimination, since the fine‐mode aerosols exhibit negative curvature, while the coarse‐mode particles are positive.
Ecosystem processes at the watershed scale: Extending optimality theory from plot to catchment
Authors: Hwang Taehee , Band Lawrence , Hales T. C.
Published: November 2009

The adjustment of local vegetation conditions to limiting soil water by either maximizing productivity or minimizing water stress has been an area of central interest in ecohydrology since Eagleson's classic study. This work has typically been limited to consider one‐dimensional exchange and cycling within patches and has not incorporated the effects of lateral redistribution of soil moisture, coupled ecosystem carbon and nitrogen cycling, and vegetation allocation processes along topographic gradients. We extend this theory to the hillslope and catchment scale, with in situ and downslope feedbacks between water, carbon and nutrient cycling within a fully transient, distributed model. We explore whether ecosystem patches linked along hydrologic flow paths as a catena evolve to form an emergent pattern optimized to local climate and topographic conditions. Lateral hydrologic connectivity of a small catchment is calibrated with streamflow data and further tested with measured soil moisture patterns. Then, the spatial gradient of vegetation density within a small catchment estimated with fine‐resolution satellite imagery and field measurements is evaluated with simulated vegetation growth patterns from different root depth and allocation strategies as a function of hillslope position. This is also supported by the correspondence of modeled and field measured spatial patterns of root depths and catchment‐level aboveground vegetation productivity. We test whether the simulated spatial pattern of vegetation corresponds to measured canopy patterns and an optimal state relative to a set of ecosystem processes, defined as maximizing ecosystem productivity and water use efficiency at the catchment scale. Optimal carbon uptake ranges show effective compromises between multiple resources (water, light, and nutrients), modulated by vegetation allocation dynamics along hillslope gradient.
Bacteriophage predation regulates microbial abundance and diversity in a full-scale bioreactor treating industrial wastewater
Authors: Shapiro Orr H , Kushmaro Ariel , Brenner Asher
Published: November 2009

Changes in the microbial community composition of a full-scale membrane bioreactor treating industrial wastewater were studied over a period of 462 days using a series of 16S rRNA gene clone libraries. Frequent changes in the relative abundance of specific taxonomic groups were observed, which could not be explained by changes in the reactor's conditions or wastewater composition. Phage activity was proposed to drive some of the observed changes. Bacterial hosts were isolated from a biomass sample obtained towards the end of the study period, and specific phage counts were carried out for some of the isolated hosts using stored frozen biomass samples as the phage inocula. Plaque-forming unit concentrations were shown to change frequently over the study period, in correlation with changes in the relative abundance of taxonomic groups closely related by 16S rRNA gene sequence to the isolated strains. Quantitative PCR was used to verify changes in the abundance of a taxonomic group closely related to one of the isolated hosts, showing good agreement with the changes in relative abundance in the clone libraries of that group. The emerging pattern was consistent with the ‘killing the winner’ hypothesis, although alternative interaction mechanisms could not be ruled out. This is the first time that phage–host interactions in a complex microbial community are demonstrated over an extended period, and possibly the first in situ demonstration of ‘killing the winner’ stochastic behavior.
The highly conserved synapsin domain E mediates synapsin dimerization and phospholipid vesicle clustering
Authors: Monaldi Ilaria , Vassalli Massimo , Bachi Angela , Giovedì Silvia , Millo Enrico , Valtorta Flavia , Raiteri Roberto , Benfenati Fabio , Fassio Anna
Published: November 2009

Synapsins are abundant SV (synaptic vesicle)-associated phosphoproteins that regulate synapse formation and function. The highly conserved C-terminal domain E was shown to contribute to several synapsin functions, ranging from formation of the SV reserve pool to regulation of the kinetics of exocytosis and SV cycling, although the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are unknown. In the present study, we used a synthetic 25-mer peptide encompassing the most conserved region of domain E (Pep-E) to analyse the role of domain E in regulating the interactions between synapsin I and liposomes mimicking the phospholipid composition of SVs (SV–liposomes) and other pre-synaptic protein partners. In affinity-chromatography and cross-linking assays, Pep-E bound to endogenous and purified exogenous synapsin I and strongly inhibited synapsin dimerization, indicating a role in synapsin oligomerization. Consistently, Pep-E (but not its scrambled version) counteracted the ability of holo-synapsin I to bind and coat phospholipid membranes, as analysed by AFM (atomic force microscopy) topographical scanning, and significantly decreased the clustering of SV–liposomes induced by holo-synapsin I in FRET (Förster resonance energy transfer) assays, suggesting a causal relationship between synapsin oligomerization and vesicle clustering. Either Pep-E or a peptide derived from domain C was necessary and sufficient to inhibit both dimerization and vesicle clustering, indicating the participation of both domains in these activities of synapsin I. The results provide a molecular explanation for the effects of domain E in nerve terminal physiology and suggest that its effects on the size and integrity of SV pools are contributed by the regulation of synapsin dimerization and SV clustering.
The heparin-binding domain confers diverse functions of VEGF-A in development and disease: a structure–function study
Authors: Krilleke Dominik , Ng Yin-Shan Eric , Shima David T.
Published: November 2009

The longer splice isoforms of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)-A, including VEGF164(165), contain a highly basic HBD (heparin-binding domain). This domain allows these isoforms to interact with and localize to the HS (heparan sulfate)-rich extracellular matrix, and bind to the co-receptor Nrp-1 (neuropilin-1). Heparin-binding VEGF-A isoforms are critical for survival: mice engineered to express exclusively the non-heparin-binding VEGF120 have diminished vascular branching during embryonic development and die from postnatal angiogenesis defects shortly after birth. Although it is thought that the HBD contributes to the diverse functions of VEGF-A in both physiological and pathological processes, little is known about the molecular features within this domain that enable these functions. In the present paper, we discuss the roles of the VEGF HBD in normal and disease conditions, with a particular focus on the VEGF164(165) isoform.
Functionally defining the endothelial transcriptome, from Robo4 to ECSCR
Authors: Verissimo Ana Raquel , Herbert John M.J. , Heath Victoria L. , Legg John A. , Sheldon Helen , Andre Maud , Swain Rajeeb Kumar , Bicknell Roy
Published: November 2009

We have applied search algorithms to expression databases to identify genes whose expression is restricted to the endothelial cell. Such genes frequently play a critical role in endothelial biology and angiogenesis. Two such genes are the roundabout receptor Robo4 and the ECSCR (endothelial-cell-specific chemotaxis regulator). Endothelial cells express both Robo1 and Robo4, which we have knocked down using siRNA (small interfering RNA) and then studied the effect in a variety of in vitro assays. Both Robo4 and Robo1 knockdown inhibited in vitro tube formation on Matrigel™. Transfection of Robo4 into endothelial cells increased the number of filopodial extensions from the cell, but failed to do so in Robo1-knockdown cells. Separate immunoprecipitation studies showed that Robo1 and Robo4 heterodimerize. We conclude from this and other work that a heteroduplex of Robo1 and Robo4 signals through WASP (Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein) and other actin nucleation-promoting factors to increase the number of filopodia and cell migration. Knockdown of the transmembrane ECSCR protein in endothelial cells also reduced chemotaxis and impaired tube formation on Matrigel™. Yeast two-hybrid analysis and immunoprecipitation studies showed that, in contrast with the roundabouts, ECSCR binds to the actin-modulatory filamin A. We conclude that all three of these genes are critical for effective endothelial cell migration and, in turn, angiogenesis.