bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Formation of charge-selective Mg–Ag electrodes to CuPc:C60 blend layers
Authors: Rusu M. , Wiesner S. , Lauermann I. , Fischer Ch.-H. , Fostiropoulos K. , Audinot J. N. , Fleming Y. , Lux-Steiner M. Ch.
Published: August 2010

The formation of buffer-free charge carrier selective Mg–Ag cathodes for donor-copper phthalocyanine (CuPc):acceptor-C60 bulk heterojunction organic solar cells is investigated. An optimum charge carrier selectivity is achieved with Mg:Ag/Ag cathode structures, where the Mg:Ag alloy layer has a composition close to that of Ag3Mg. In addition, Mg diffusion into CuPc:C60 layer is observed. As a result, an interaction between Mg and Cu2+ with a concurrent change in oxidation state of both metals takes place. However, no formation of magnesium phthalocyanine is observed.
Nearly zero transmission through periodically modulated ultrathin metal films
Authors: Xiao Sanshui , Zhang Jingjing , Peng Liang , Jeppesen Claus , Malureanu Radu , Kristensen Anders , Mortensen N. Asger
Published: August 2010

Transmission of light through an optically ultrathin metal film with a thickness comparable to its skin depth is significant. We demonstrate experimentally nearly-zero transmission of light through a film periodically modulated by a one-dimensional array of subwavelength slits. The suppressed optical transmission is due to the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons and the zero-transmission phenomenon is strongly dependent on the polarization of the incident wave.
Organic heterojunction photodiodes exhibiting low voltage, imaging-speed photocurrent gain
Authors: Hammond William T. , Xue Jiangeng
Published: August 2010

We report the demonstration of fast and strong photocurrent gain in organic photodiodes with tailored charge blocking layers. The hole blocking layer between the anode and the photoactive layer leads to accumulation of photogenerated holes at its interface with the active layer, which causes a strong secondary electron injection from the anode and as such a high photocurrent gain. Using a bulk heterojunction of C60 and copper phthalocyanine as the active layer, we have achieved photocurrent gains up to 500 across the visible spectrum and bandwidths on the order of 1 kHz, well above the imaging-compatible bandwidth (>60 Hz).
Surface electronic structure of ZrB2 buffer layers for GaN growth on Si wafers
Authors: Yamada-Takamura Yukiko , Bussolotti Fabio , Fleurence Antoine , Bera Sambhunath , Friedlein Rainer
Published: August 2010

The electronic structure of epitaxial, predominantly single-crystalline thin films of zirconium diboride (ZrB2), a lattice-matching, conductive ceramic to GaN, grown on Si(111) was studied using angle-resolved ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. The existence of Zr-derived surface states dispersing along the Γ¯-M¯ direction indicates a metallic character provided by a two-dimensional Zr-layer at the surface. Together with the measured work function, the results demonstrate that the surface electronic properties of such thin ZrB2(0001) buffer layers are comparable to those of the single crystals promising excellent conduction between nitride layers and the substrate in vertical light-emitting diodes on economic substrates.
Electromechanical response of porous piezoelectric materials: Effects of porosity connectivity
Authors: Iyer Sumantu , Venkatesh T. A.
Published: August 2010

A three-dimensional finite element model is developed to completely characterize the electromechanical response of a general piezoelectric material with spherical or cylindrical porosity, respectively, with zero-dimensional (3–0) or one-dimensional (3–1) connectivity and to obtain a quantitative assessment of the effects of porosity connectivity on the effective performance characteristics of porous piezoelectric materials. By considering materials with different crystal symmetries, it is demonstrated that piezoelectric materials designed with spherical porosity (with 3–0 connectivity) exhibit enhanced hydrostatic figure of merit and are more suitable for hydrophone applications, as compared to materials engineered with cylindrical porosity (with 3–1 connectivity).
Focusing and trapping of DNA molecules by head-on ac electrokinetic streaming through join asymmetric polarization
Authors: Du Jung-Rong , Wei Hsien-Hung
Published: August 2010

In this work, invoking join asymmetric ac polarization using double half-quadrupole electrodes in a symmetric arrangement, we demonstrate a head-on ac electro-osmotic streaming capable of focusing and trapping DNA molecules efficiently. This is manifested by the observation that picomolar DNA molecules can be trapped into a large crosslike spot with at least an order of magnitude concentration enhancement within just half a minute. We identify that the phenomenon is a combined result of the formation of two prefocused DNA jets flowing toward each other, dipole-induced attraction between focused DNA molecules, and dielectrophoretic trap on the spot. With an additional horizontal pumping, we observe that the trap can transform into a peculiar pitchfork streaming capable of continuous collection and long-distance transport of concentrated DNA molecules. We also show that the same electrode design can be used to direct assembly of submicrometer particles. This newly designed microfluidic platform not only has potentials in enhancing detection sensitivity and facilitating functional assembly for on-chip analysis but also provides an added advantage of transporting target molecules in a focused and continuous manner.
Continuous wave operation of current injected GaN vertical cavity surface emitting lasers at room temperature
Authors: Lu Tien-Chang , Chen Shih-Wei , Wu Tzeng-Tsong , Tu Po-Min , Chen Chien-Kang , Chen Cheng-Hung , Li Zhen-Yu , Kuo Hao-Chung , Wang Shing-Chung
Published: August 2010

We report the demonstration of the continuous wave laser action on GaN-based vertical cavity surface emitting lasers at room temperature. The laser structure consists of a ten-pair Ta2O5/SiO2 distributed Bragg reflector (DBR), a 7λ-thick optical cavity, ten-pairs InGaN/GaN multiquantum wells with an AlGaN electron blocking layer, and a 29-pair AlN/GaN DBR. The laser has a threshold current of about 9.7 mA corresponding to the current density of about 12.4 kA/cm2 and a turn-on voltage about 4.3 V at 300 K. The lasing wavelength was 412 nm with a linewidth of about 0.5 nm. A spontaneous emission coupling efficiency factor of about 5×10−3 and the degree of polarization of about 55% were measured, respectively. The laser beam has a narrow divergence angle of about 8°.
Perspective-Based Illusory Movement in a Flat Billboard—An Explanation
Authors: Papathomas Thomas V , Kourtzi Zoe , Welchman Andrew E
Published: August 2010

We describe a compelling motion illusion elicited by a huge billboard placed along a street, depicting a building that contains strong perspective cues. When observers move fast along the opposite sidewalk, they perceive the depicted building as rotating in their direction of travel. This is a special case of the ‘following’, or ‘pointing out of the picture’, illusion that elicits a strong illusory motion percept. Here we discuss the cause of the illusory motion and suggest that the brain relies on the depicted perspective cues to infer a 3-D shape and a concomitant motion that is incompatible with the physical pictorial surface.
Spatial Vision Meets Spatial Cognition: Examining the Effect of Visual Blur on Human Visually Guided Route Learning
Authors: Therrien Megan E , Collin Charles A
Published: August 2010

Visual navigation is a task that involves processing two-dimensional light patterns on the retinas to obtain knowledge of how to move through a three-dimensional environment. Therefore, modifying the basic characteristics of the two-dimensional information provided to navigators should have important and informative effects on how they navigate. Despite this, few basic research studies have examined the effects of systematically modifying the available levels of spatial visual detail on navigation performance. In this study, we tested the effects of a range of visual blur levels—approximately equivalent to various degrees of low-pass spatial frequency filtering—on participants' visually guided route-learning performance using desktop virtual renderings of the Hebb–Williams mazes. Our findings show that the function of blur and time to finish the mazes follows a sigmoidal pattern, with the inflection point around +2 D of experienced defocus. This suggests that visually guided route learning is fairly robust to blur, with the threshold level being just above the limit for legal blindness. These findings have implications for models of route learning, as well as for practical situations in which humans must navigate under conditions of blur.
No Role for Lightness in the Perception of Black and White? Simultaneous Contrast Affects Perceived Skin Tone, but Not Perceived Race
Authors: Brooks Kevin R , Gwinn O Scott
Published: August 2010

Faces of individuals with African and European heritage (henceforth referred to as Black and White respectively) feature two major differences: those of skin tone and morphological characteristics. Although considerations of perceived race are important to various psychological subdisciplines, to date the relative influence of morphological versus photometric characteristics has not been investigated. We attempted to influence the perceived racial typicality of a central target face by manipulating perceived skin tone using the well-known lightness contrast illusion. As expected, ratings of skin tone were influenced by surround faces, yet ratings of perceived racial typicality were not, suggesting a dissociation between the two judgments. Surprisingly, skin tone contributes little to perceived race, leaving facial morphology as the dominant cue. These results may shed light on failures to find effects of racial typicality in studies of prejudice where judgments were based on photographs with altered skin tone alone.
Lip Colour Affects Perceived Sex Typicality and Attractiveness of Human Faces
Authors: Stephen Ian D , McKeegan Angela M
Published: August 2010

The luminance contrast between facial features and facial skin is greater in women than in men, and women's use of make-up enhances this contrast. In black-and-white photographs, increased luminance contrast enhances femininity and attractiveness in women's faces, but reduces masculinity and attractiveness in men's faces. In Caucasians, much of the contrast between the lips and facial skin is in redness. Red lips have been considered attractive in women in geographically and temporally diverse cultures, possibly because they mimic vasodilation associated with sexual arousal. Here, we investigate the effects of lip luminance and colour contrast on the attractiveness and sex typicality (masculinity/femininity) of human faces. In a Caucasian sample, we allowed participants to manipulate the colour of the lips in colour-calibrated face photographs along CIELab L* (light–dark), a* (red–green), and b* (yellow–blue) axes to enhance apparent attractiveness and sex typicality. Participants increased redness contrast to enhance femininity and attractiveness of female faces, but reduced redness contrast to enhance masculinity of men's faces. Lip blueness was reduced more in female than male faces. Increased lightness contrast enhanced the attractiveness of both sexes, and had little effect on perceptions of sex typicality. The association between lip colour contrast and attractiveness in women's faces may be attributable to its association with oxygenated blood perfusion indicating oestrogen levels, sexual arousal, and cardiac and respiratory health.
Human papillomavirus vaccine acceptability among a national sample of adult women in the USA
Authors: Stupiansky Nathan W. , Rosenthal Susan L. , Wiehe Sarah E. , Zimet Gregory D.
Published: August 2010

Background: In the USA, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is currently licensed for 9–26-year-old females, but licensure for women over 26 years is being considered. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association of sociodemographic and health-related factors to HPV vaccine acceptability among adult women. Methods: The current study utilised a nationally representative sample of women (n = 1323) aged 27–55 living in the USA, with an oversampling of black and Latina women. A multiple item measure of HPV vaccine acceptability across varying cost and location-of-availability (clinic only v. any local pharmacy) conditions was the main outcome measure. General linear modelling was used to analyse the association of vaccine cost, location availability, and sociodemographic and health-related variables with vaccine acceptability. Results: Vaccine cost had the strongest association with acceptability [F (2, 1249) = 832.1; P < 0.0001]; however, factors such as religiosity, political views, a history of various negative sexual health outcomes and previous flu shot receipt were also associated with acceptability. Location availability had a statistically significant but modest effect, with a slight preference shown for health clinic availability. Conclusions: Adult women had generally high levels of HPV vaccine acceptability, but were greatly influenced by cost of the vaccine. Women who had experienced negative sexual health outcomes due to HPV-specific infection rated the vaccine as more acceptable, perhaps due to distress associated with those outcomes.
Scaling up human papillomavirus vaccination: a conceptual framework of vaccine adherence
Authors: Katz Ingrid T. , Ware Norma C. , Gray Glenda , Haberer Jessica E. , Mellins Claude A. , Bangsberg David R.
Published: August 2010

This review article provides a conceptual framework for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine acceptance and adherence, with a focus on improving understanding of the sociocultural factors impacting vaccine adherence behaviour. We include a systematic review of the slowly expanding literature on HPV vaccine acceptability and uptake in developed nations, as well as the relatively few publications from poorer nations, where more than 80% of global cervical cancer related deaths occur and where the vaccine will probably have the largest impact. We suggest that this conceptual framework will not only improve our understanding of HPV vaccine uptake and adherence, but it may also guide future sociobehavioural research geared towards improving adherence to the HPV vaccine and other multi-step vaccines in a young population at risk for sexually transmissible infections.
Monitoring the control of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and related diseases in Australia: towards a national HPV surveillance strategy
Authors: Brotherton Julia M. L. , Kaldor John M. , Garland Suzanne M.
Published: August 2010

This paper describes a possible multifaceted approach to human papillomavirus (HPV) related surveillance in Australia following implementation of a national HPV vaccination program. We describe eight main components: monitoring of vaccine coverage, vaccine safety, type-specific HPV infection surveillance, cervical cytology (Pap screening) coverage and screen detected lesion prevalence, cervical cancer incidence and mortality, genital wart incidence, incidence of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, and knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about HPV and HPV vaccination. Australia is well placed to monitor the impact of its HPV vaccination program as well as to measure vaccine effectiveness with existing HPV vaccines, cervical screening and cancer registries.
Role of the nurse immuniser in implementing and maintaining the National Human Papillomavirus 'Cervical Cancer' Vaccine rollout through a school-based program in Victoria
Authors: Kent Helen , Heffernan Margaret E. , Silvers Julie , Moore Elya , Garland Suzanne M.
Published: August 2010

In an effort to understand the strengths and limitations of current approaches to human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) delivery in schools, we conducted an audit of nurse immunisers (NI). In this survey of 159 Victorian NI, the NI perceived that knowledge, safety and side effects were among the most important issues raised by parents, schoolgirls, and teachers in the school setting. The most common concern identified by NIs was the physical layout of the vaccination setting (41%), followed by safety, then knowledge of the vaccine. There is a need for ongoing assessment of factors that improve or impede the delivery of HPV vaccines.
Knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) and the HPV vaccine in a national sample of Australian men and women
Authors: Pitts Marian K. , Heywood Wendy , Ryall Richard , Smith Anthony M. , Shelley Julia M. , Richters Juliet , Simpson Judy M.
Published: August 2010

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) knowledge has rarely been investigated in the context of a national vaccination program. The present study investigated HPV knowledge after the introduction of a national HPV vaccination program in Australia using a national sample of men and women. Methods: Questions assessing HPV knowledge were part of a broader national study of health and relationships administered via a computer-assisted telephone interview. These findings are from wave four of the study, conducted between 2007 and 2008. Knowledge questions about HPV included its association with cervical cancer, genital warts and abnormal Pap tests. Results: A total of 2634 women and 2556 men between the ages of 18 and 70 were interviewed. Overall, 62.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 60.8–64.7%) of women and 38.3% (95% CI: 36.3–40.4%) of men had heard of HPV. Of these, 66.0% (95% CI: 64.1–67.9%) correctly answered that HPV is associated with cervical cancer, 50.2% (95% CI: 48.2–52.1%) answered that HPV is associated with abnormal Pap tests and 44.5% (95% CI: 42.5–46.5%) answered that HPV causes warts. Predictors of good knowledge included being female, aged between 26 and 45, holding higher education levels and older age at first sex. Ever having a Pap test was also associated with awareness about HPV. Conclusion: One of the highest levels of knowledge about HPV in Australia to date is reported in the present study. Knowledge about the association between HPV and cervical cancer was particularly high, especially when compared with knowledge of the association with genital warts. This appears to be a consequence of the marketing of the HPV vaccine as a vaccination against cervical cancer.
Quality assessment for human papillomavirus testing
Authors: Tabrizi Sepehr N.
Published: August 2010

There are over 30 commercial, as well as numerous in-house assays, available for human papillomavirus testing. Laboratories performing such assays would need to assess accuracy and reproducibility of their results by incorporating ongoing internal control as well as participating in external quality-assurance schemes (EQAS) as part of their quality assurance program. Several EQAS are available and participation in which is a requirement for laboratories engaged in HPV testing. It is important that laboratories select the appropriate panels for detection of targeted types covered by assay used. Failure to do so can possibly alter patient management and increase the cost of treatment.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine acceptance and perceived effectiveness, and HPV infection concern among young New Zealand university students
Authors: Chelimo Carol , Wouldes Trecia A. , Cameron Linda D.
Published: August 2010

Two-hundred undergraduate students completed an anonymous questionnaire after viewing a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine television commercial. Eight-four percent of participants would accept a free HPV vaccine, whereas 47% were unconcerned about future personal HPV infection risk. Males were less likely to accept a free HPV vaccine and to be concerned about future personal HPV infection risk. Perceived HPV vaccine effectiveness was significantly greater among participants who had previously heard of the vaccine and who knew that HPV is sexually transmitted. More education on the role of sexual behavioural characteristics of both males and females in HPV transmission is necessary to promote awareness and concern of personal HPV infection risk and acceptance of HPV vaccination.
Cancers attributable to human papillomavirus infection
Authors: Grulich Andrew E. , Jin Fengyi , Conway E. Lynne , Stein Alicia N. , Hocking Jane
Published: August 2010

Although the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was introduced primarily as a cervical cancer prevention vaccine, HPV has a causal role in several types of cancer. This article reviews the epidemiological evidence for the role of HPV in human cancer, and describes Australian trends in these cancers. HPV is a necessary cause of cervical cancer. The currently vaccine-preventable subtypes of HPV 16 and 18 are responsible for ~70% of cervical cancer. The introduction of an organised Pap smear program in Australia led to a steep decline in incidence over the past decades. HPV can be detected in ~40% and 70% of vulval and vaginal cancers respectively. Rates of these cancers have been stable over the past 20 years. The prevalence of HPV in penile cancer is ~50% and incidence has not recently changed. For anal cancer, ~85% of cases are HPV positive, and incidence has increased significantly in both men and women over the past 20 years. In the oral cavity, ~35% of oropharyngeal cancers and ~25% of other oral cavity cancers are HPV positive. The incidence of HPV-related oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers is increasing, whereas incidence at HPV-unrelated sites is decreasing. Overall, 1154 HPV-related cancer cases were potentially preventable by vaccination. If HPV-related cancers at non-cervical sites are prevented by vaccination, then a similar number of cancer cases will be prevented as in the cervix. However, almost one-quarter of the potentially preventable cancer cases are in men, who are not included in the current national immunisation program.
Promising strategies for cervical cancer screening in the post-human papillomavirus vaccination era
Authors: Tota Joseph , Mahmud Salaheddin M. , Ferenczy Alex , Coutlée François , Franco Eduardo L.
Published: August 2010

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is expected to reduce the burden of cervical cancer in most settings; however, it is also expected to interfere with the effectiveness of screening. In the future, maintaining Pap cytology as the primary cervical screening test may become too costly. As the prevalence of cervical dysplasias decreases, the positive predictive value of the Pap test will also decrease, and, as a result, more women will be referred for unnecessary diagnostic procedures and follow-up. HPV DNA testing has recently emerged as the most likely candidate to replace cytology for primary screening. It is less prone to human error and much more sensitive than the Pap smear in detecting high-grade cervical lesions. Incorporating this test would improve the overall quality of screening programs and allow spacing out screening tests, while maintaining safety and lowering costs. Although HPV testing is less specific than Pap cytology, this issue could be resolved by reserving the latter for the more labour-efficient task of triaging HPV-positive cases. Because most HPV-positive smears would contain relevant abnormalities, Pap cytology would be expected to perform with sufficient accuracy under these circumstances. HPV Pap triage would also provide a low-cost strategy to monitor long-term vaccine efficacy. Although demonstration projects could start implementing HPV testing as a population screening tool, more research is needed to determine the optimal age to initiate screening, the role of HPV typing and other markers of disease progression, and appropriate follow-up algorithms for HPV-positive and Pap-negative women.
Evaluation of interpretation during congregational services and public religious retreats in south-west Nigeria
Authors: Salawu Adewuni
Published: August 2010

In most spiritual gatherings in Southwest Nigeria, as observed today, preaching is in English or in Yoruba and then interpreted in Yoruba or English. English is an official language in Nigeria and Yoruba is the local language in most of the Southwest of the country. Most people are to some extent bilingual.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the quality of the interpretation carried out in those spiritual gatherings. Questionnaires were administered. Data were collated and analyzed. A total of 39 respondents (78%) were satisfied with the output of the interpretation from English to Yoruba while only 48% were satisfied with the interpretation from Yoruba to English. The study concludes that interpretation from English to Yoruba is being handled better and more training be given to those interpreting from Yoruba to English.
Dialect contact and change of the northern Japanese plantation immigrants in Hawai‘i
Authors: Hiramoto Mie
Published: August 2010

This paper investigates changes in the dialect of a group of northern Japanese immigrants from the Tôhoku dialect speaking areas who migrated to Hawai‘i. The speakers moved to Hawai‘i as sugar plantation workers between 1899 and 1923 and the data were recorded between 1972 and 1975. Being latecomers to the plantations as well as a linguistic minority in the Japanese community in Hawai‘i, Tôhoku immigrants experienced dialect discrimination by other Japanese immigrants. The data tell us that the traditional Tôhoku dialect forms were replaced almost completely by the non-Tôhoku dialect forms after the speakers’ immigration. This study suggests that obvious dialect stigmatization led to the Tôhoku dialect speakers’ adoption of non-Tôhoku dialect features in order to gain acceptance in the local Japanese communities. Interestingly, however, the speakers transferred their Tôhoku dialect phonology to the newly acquired non-Tôhoku dialect forms. The findings support current second dialect acquisition studies that adult speakers acquire lexically-bound features more easily than phonological features.
Creole phonological restructuring
Authors: Russell Eric
Published: August 2010

This article examines the influence of perception on creole phonological restructuring, drawing comparisons to loanword adaptation and second language learning and outlining a formal framework within which change can be described and explained. The three scenarios of contact-induced modification are compared and contrasted, focusing on the nature of contact, the role of different source and target languages, and the means by which participants access source tokens. Data from Haitian, showing diachronic modification to lexifier rhotics, is used to illustrate the position that perception may be the primary causal factor in phonological modification in some instances. It is argued that source ambiguity and substrate (L1) perceptual knowledge underlie restructuring. Perceptual competence is formalized in a broadly Optimality Theoretic grammar using level-specific constraints referring to the parsing and categorization of experiential input. Putative substrate data are used to establish a perceptual grammar which, when applied to experiential input, predict attested outcomes in Haitian.
Quantifiers as negative markers in Italian dialects
Authors: Garzonio Jacopo , Poletto Cecilia
Published: August 2010

In this work we consider the diachronic development of two distinct types of negative markers, those originally stemming from minimizers (m-negation) and those originally deriving from a negative quantifier (q-negation). We provide evidence in favor of the hypothesis that, despite appearances, they do not follow the same grammaticalization path. We claim that the distinct syntactic position of the two types of negation in the modern dialects depends on the distinct evolution path they have taken, which in turn depends on their original properties. While minimizers change their position during the grammaticalization cline, q-negation stays in the same position throughout the whole process. If this is correct, it means that Jespersen’s cycle is not syntactically homogenous and that the result of a postverbal negative marker can be achieved by means of various strategies.
Information structure and epistemic modality in adverbial clauses in French
Authors: Lahousse Karen
Published: August 2010

In this paper it is argued that, contrary to what is often assumed, embedded adverbial clauses have an information structure articulation independent from that of the main clause. More particularly, it is shown that the specific way in which information structure is expressed in adverbial clauses depends on the possibility vs. impossibility of epistemic qualification in the adverbial clause. The claim is based on new empirical evidence concerning the distribution of a clearly information structure-driven syntactic configuration: verb-subject word order in French.
Pro-adverbs of manner as markers of activity transition
Authors: Keevallik Leelo
Published: August 2010

This paper explores the phenomenon that pro-adverbs of manner are cross-linguistically used to mark transitions from one activity to another. In Estonian, the pro-adverb nii is used for this purpose. Among Estonian refugees in Sweden, an activity transition is frequently marked with soo. Both nii and soo originally had the same semantic meaning ‘like this/that, in this way, so’, even though soo merely in its source language German. The article argues that the deictic pro-adverbs of manner are especially suitable for the task of marking activity transitions because they can be applied at the boundaries of verbal as well as non-verbal activities. The reason for the existence of this pattern seems to lie in the general necessity in human interaction to jointly move from one activity to another and the exophoric deictic capacity of pro-adverbs. The study explores audio- and video-recorded examples with regard to the sequencing of social actions accomplished by the participants in the verbal as well as the bodily domain.
MAP1B Regulates Axonal Development by Modulating Rho-GTPase Rac1 Activity
Authors: Montenegro-Venegas Carolina , Tortosa Elena , Rosso Silvana , Peretti Diego , Bollati Flavia , Bisbal Mariano , Jausoro Ignacio , Avila Jesus , Cáceres Alfredo , Gonzalez-Billault Christian
Published: August 2010

Cultured neurons obtained from MAP1B-deficient mice have a delay in axon outgrowth and a reduced rate of axonal elongation compared with neurons from wild-type mice. Here we show that MAP1B deficiency results in a significant decrease in Rac1 and cdc42 activity and a significant increase in Rho activity. We found that MAP1B interacted with Tiam1, a guanosine nucleotide exchange factor for Rac1. The decrease in Rac1/cdc42 activity was paralleled by decreases in the phosphorylation of the downstream effectors of these proteins, such as LIMK-1 and cofilin. The expression of a constitutively active form of Rac1, cdc42, or Tiam1 rescued the axon growth defect of MAP1B-deficient neurons. Taken together, these observations define a new and crucial function of MAP1B that we show to be required for efficient cross-talk between microtubules and the actin cytoskeleton during neuronal polarization.
Allowing for environmental effects in a management strategy evaluation for Japanese sardine
Authors: Hurtado-Ferro Felipe , Hiramatsu Kazuhiko , Shirakihara Kunio
Published: August 2010

Hurtado-Ferro, F., Hiramatsu, K., and Shirakihara, K. 2010. Allowing for environmental effects in a management strategy evaluation for Japanese sardine. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 2012–2017. The Japanese sardine (Sardinops melanostictus) is a valuable, but highly variable, resource. After record catches during the late 1980s, a 4-year recruitment failure, coupled with overfishing, resulted in severe stock depletion. TAC-based management was introduced in 1997, but the trend has not been reversed and the biomass is now 2 orders of magnitude below the value in 1987. Although a strong correlation exists between winter sea surface temperature (SST) in the nursery area and recruitment, uncertainty about future environmental effects is not explicitly considered in the management. We evaluate the robustness of three catch rules to environmental uncertainty, as captured by three stock–recruitment models (one without an environmental factor and two based on correlations between recruitment and SST for two datasets), in terms of the risk of further depletion, average biomass, and average catch: a constant fishing mortality (CF), a strategy that follows the Japanese guidelines (JG), and a more conservative strategy (ENV) that uses a temperature threshold as a proxy for regime shifts to switch between alternative catch rules. ENV and JG performed better than CF, with ENV displaying better performance in the long term, but differences were negligible in the short term.
Sir John Tomes FRS, Fellows of the Royal Society, and Dental Reform in the nineteenth Century
Authors: Bishop Malcolm , Parker Melanie
Published: August 2010

In this paper Sir John Tomes HonFRCS LDS FRS (1815–95), surgeon-dentist, is presented as the agent through whose membership of the Royal Society the previously disorganized profession of dentistry shared in the process of reform and scientific progress that engaged the medical profession in the second half of the nineteenth century. The study identifies 70 of the Fellows of the Royal Society who were involved in medical and dental research and/or who gave structure and effect to the governance of the medical and dental professions. In recording the education of Tomes as a scientist, his election to the Society and his place in the process of reform, the paper identifies the Royal Society as a superculture, enabling him to act at a functional remove from the cultures of the surgeons and the dentists of the day.
Selling eugenics: the case of Sweden
Authors: Björkman Maria , Widmalm Sven
Published: August 2010

This paper traces the early (1910s to 1920s) development of Swedish eugenics through a study of the social network that promoted it. The eugenics network consisted mainly of academics from a variety of disciplines, but with medicine and biology dominating; connections with German scientists who would later shape Nazi biopolitics were strong. The paper shows how the network used political lobbying (for example, using contacts with academically accomplished MPs) and various media strategies to gain scientific and political support for their cause, where a major goal was the creation of a eugenics institute (which opened in 1922). It also outlines the eugenic vision of the institute's first director, Herman Lundborg. In effect the network, and in particular Lundborg, promoted the view that politics should be guided by eugenics and by a genetically superior elite. The selling of eugenics in Sweden is an example of the co-production of science and social order.
Dynamics of an electrostatically charged elastic rod in fluid
Authors: Lim Sookkyung , Kim Yongsam , Swigon David
Published: August 2010

We investigate the effects of electrostatic and steric repulsion on the dynamics of a pre-twisted charged elastic rod immersed in a viscous incompressible fluid. Equations of motion of the rod include the fluid–structure interaction, rod elasticity and a combination of two interactions that prevent self-contact, namely the electrostatic interaction and hard-core repulsion. The governing equations are solved using the generalized immersed-boundary method. We find that after perturbation, a pre-twisted minicircle collapses into a compact supercoiled configuration. The collapse proceeds along a complex trajectory that may pass near several unstable equilibrium configurations, before it settles in a locally stable equilibrium. The dwell time near an unstable equilibrium can be up to several microseconds. Both the final configuration and the transition path are sensitive to the initial excess link, ionic strength of the solvent and the initial perturbation.
Intra-locus sexual conflict and sexually antagonistic genetic variation in hermaphroditic animals
Authors: Abbott Jessica K.
Published: August 2010

Intra-locus sexual conflict results when sex-specific selection pressures for a given trait act against the intra-sexual genetic correlation for that trait. It has been found in a wide variety of taxa in both laboratory and natural populations, but the importance of intra-locus sexual conflict and sexually antagonistic genetic variation in hermaphroditic organisms has rarely been considered. This is not so surprising given the conceptual and theoretical association of intra-locus sexual conflict with sexual dimorphism, but there is noa priorireason why intra-locus sexual conflict cannot occur in hermaphroditic organisms as well. Here, I discuss the potential for intra-locus sexual conflict in hermaphroditic animals and review the available evidence for such conflict, and for the existence of sexually antagonistic genetic variation in hermaphrodites. I argue that mutations with asymmetric effects are particularly likely to be important in mediating sexual antagonism in hermaphroditic organisms. Moreover, sexually antagonistic genetic variation is likely to play an important role in inter-individual variation in sex allocation and in transitions to and from gonochorism (separate sexes) in simultaneous hermaphrodites. I also describe how sequential hermaphrodites may experience a unique form of intra-locus sexual conflict via antagonistic pleiotropy. Finally, I conclude with some suggestions for further research.
Adaptive auditory risk assessment in the dogbane tiger moth when pursued by bats
Authors: Ratcliffe John M. , Fullard James H. , Arthur Benjamin J. , Hoy Ronald R.
Published: August 2010

Moths and butterflies flying in search of mates risk detection by numerous aerial predators; under the cover of night, the greatest threat will often be from insectivorous bats. During such encounters, the toxic dogbane tiger moth,Cycnia tenerauses the received intensity, duration and emission pattern of the bat's echolocation calls to determine when, and how many, defensive ultrasonic clicks to produce in return. These clicks, which constitute an acoustic startle response, act as warning signals against bats in flight. Using an integrated test of stimulus generalization and dishabituation, here we show thatC. tenerais able to discriminate between the echolocation calls characteristic of a bat that has only just detected it versus those of a bat actively in pursuit of it. We also show thatC. tenerahabituates more profoundly to the former stimulus train (‘early attack’) than to the latter (‘late attack’), even though it was initially equally responsive to both stimuli. Matched sensory and behavioural data indicate that reduced responsiveness reflects habituation and is not merely attributable to sensory adaptation or motor fatigue. In search of mates in the face of bats,C. tenera's ability to discriminate between attacking bats representing different levels of risk, and to habituate less so to those most dangerous, should function as an adaptive cost–benefit trade-off mechanism in nature.
A comprehensive survey of 3′ animal miRNA modification events and a possible role for 3′ adenylation in modulating miRNA targeting effectiveness
Authors: Burroughs A. Maxwell , Ando Yoshinari , de Hoon Michiel J.L. , Tomaru Yasuhiro , Nishibu Takahiro , Ukekawa Ryo , Funakoshi Taku , Kurokawa Tsutomu , Suzuki Harukazu , Hayashizaki Yoshihide , Daub Carsten O.
Published: August 2010

Animal microRNA sequences are subject to 3′ nucleotide addition. Through detailed analysis of deep-sequenced short RNA data sets, we show adenylation and uridylation of miRNA is globally present and conserved across Drosophila and vertebrates. To better understand 3′ adenylation function, we deep-sequenced RNA after knockdown of nucleotidyltransferase enzymes. The PAPD4 nucleotidyltransferase adenylates a wide range of miRNA loci, but adenylation does not appear to affect miRNA stability on a genome-wide scale. Adenine addition appears to reduce effectiveness of miRNA targeting of mRNA transcripts while deep-sequencing of RNA bound to immunoprecipitated Argonaute (AGO) subfamily proteins EIF2C1–EIF2C3 revealed substantial reduction of adenine addition in miRNA associated with EIF2C2 and EIF2C3. Our findings show 3′ addition events are widespread and conserved across animals, PAPD4 is a primary miRNA adenylating enzyme, and suggest a role for 3′ adenine addition in modulating miRNA effectiveness, possibly through interfering with incorporation into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), a regulatory role that would complement the role of miRNA uridylation in blocking DICER1 uptake.
13C-Tracer and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analyses Reveal Metabolic Flux Distribution in the Oleaginous MicroalgaChlorella protothecoides
Authors: Xiong Wei , Liu Lixia , Wu Chao , Yang Chen , Wu Qingyu
Published: August 2010

The green alga Chlorella protothecoides has received considerable attention because it accumulates neutral triacylglycerols, commonly regarded as an ideal feedstock for biodiesel production. In order to gain a better understanding of its metabolism, tracer experiments with [U-13C]/[1-13C]glucose were performed with heterotrophic growth of C. protothecoides for identifying the metabolic network topology and estimating intracellular fluxes. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis tracked the labeling patterns of protein-bound amino acids, revealing a metabolic network consisting of the glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle with inactive glyoxylate shunt. Evidence of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and malic enzyme activity was also obtained. It was demonstrated that the relative activity of the pentose phosphate pathway to glycolysis under nitrogen-limited environment increased, reflecting excess NADPH requirements for lipid biosynthesis. Although the growth rate and cellular oil content were significantly altered in response to nitrogen limitation, global flux distribution of C. protothecoides remained stable, exhibiting the rigidity of central carbon metabolism. In conclusion, quantitative knowledge on the metabolic flux distribution of oleaginous alga obtained in this study may be of value in designing strategies for metabolic engineering of desirable bioproducts.
Functional dissection of the granzyme family: cell death and inflammation
Authors: Anthony Desiree A. , Andrews Daniel M. , Watt Sally V. , Trapani Joseph A. , Smyth Mark J.
Published: August 2010

Summary:  Cytotoxic lymphocytes rapidly respond and destroy both malignant cells and cells infected with intracellular pathogens. One mechanism, known as granule exocytosis, employs the secretory granules of these lymphocytes. These include the pore‐forming protein perforin (pfp) and a family of serine proteases known as granzymes that cleave and activate effector molecules within the target cell. Over the past two decades, the study of granzymes has largely focused on the ability of these serine proteases to induce cell death. More recently, sophisticated mouse models of disease coupled with gene‐targeted mice have allowed investigators to ask why granzyme subfamilies are encoded on different chromosomal loci and what broader role these enzymes might play in inflammation and immune response. Here, we provide a brief overview of the granzyme superfamily, their relationship to pfp, and their reported functions in apoptosis. This overview is followed by a comprehensive analysis of the less characterized and developing field regarding the non‐apoptotic functions of granzymes.
Transition and agricultural labor
Authors: Swinnen Johan F. M. , Dries Liesbeth , Macours Karen
Published: August 2010

Reforms have strongly affected agricultural employment in transition countries but in remarkably different ways. We present a theoretical model and an empirical analysis to explain differences in labor adjustment during transition. We show that the differences are due to a combination of variations in initial conditions and differences in reform policies and effects. The removal of price distortions and subsidies caused wage and price adjustments during transition and a reduction in labor demand in agriculture. Surplus labor outflow from agriculture was further stimulated by the privatization of the farm assets as they improve incentives and remove constraints for optimal factor allocation and structural adjustment. The shift to individual farms, which was especially strong in labor‐intensive production systems with low labor productivity in agriculture, has reduced the outflow of labor from agriculture by improving farm governance and labor efficiency, although this effect was mitigated by losses in scale economies due to disruptions and market imperfections in transition. In general, labor outflow was considerably lower on individual farms than on corporate farms, due to a combination of factors related to human capital, access to finance, and physical capital. In the last section of the article we present a general framework for understanding labor adjustments in transition countries. Specifically, we show that there are several patterns of labor transition. In one pattern, followed by, e.g., the Czech Republic and Hungary, there is initially a strong survival of the restructured large‐scale corporate farms that have laid off many workers. In the second phase of transition, gradually the importance of individual farms increases. In other countries, such as Romania, the opposite has happened. In these countries there is an immediate strong shift to individual farms, while labor use increases on average in agriculture. After this initial phase, the shift to individual farms continues, albeit more slowly, and labor use in agriculture starts to decline. Finally, our analysis shows that in countries such as Russia and Ukraine much of the surplus labor is still employed by little‐reformed former collective and state farms. Major adjustments await more progress in agricultural and general reforms.
Roundup Ready soybeans in Argentina: farm level and aggregate welfare effects
Authors: Qaim Matin , Traxler Greg
Published: August 2010

Although adoption rates of genetically modified crops have been staggering in some countries, there is still comparatively little evidence about biotechnology impacts under diverse agroecological and institutional conditions. These knowledge gaps lead to an overly precautious attitude among policy makers and the public. This article analyzes the effects of Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans in Argentina, the country with the second biggest transgenic area worldwide. Based on recent survey data, it is shown that the technology increases total factor productivity by 10% on average, with cost savings being somewhat more pronounced for smaller than for larger farms. The reduction in use of toxic herbicides and of tillage operations entails positive environmental repercussions. Aggregate welfare effects are computed over the 1996–2001 period with a three‐region, partial equilibrium model, comprising Argentina, the United States, and the rest of the world. In 2001, RR soybeans created more than US$1.2 billion of economic surplus at the global level. The largest share went to consumers (53%), followed by seed and biotechnology firms (34%), and agricultural producers (13%). Due to comparatively weak intellectual property protection, and thus only small technology mark‐ups in seed prices and widespread adoption, Argentine soybean growers receive 90% of the benefits in that country. This demonstrates that farmers in developing countries can gain considerably when they obtain access to suitable foreign innovations through technology spill‐overs.