bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ability of various water‐insoluble fertilizers to supply available phosphorus in hydroponics to plant species with diverse phosphorus‐acquisition efficiency: Involvement of organic acid accumulation in plant tissues and root exudates
Authors: Erro Javier , Ma Zamarreño Angel , Ma García‐Mina Jose
Published: July 2010

Previous studies describe the suitability of a new type of phosphorus (P) fertilizer, called “rhizosphere‐controlled fertilizer” (RCF), to supply available P to plants while reducing soil phosphorus fixation. In order to explore the involvement of organic acid root exudation in P uptake from RCF, we investigated the relationship between shoot and root P concentrations, and the concentration of the main polycarboxylic organic acids in roots, shoots, and plant exudates. Plant species with different P‐acquisition efficiency (low: maize; medium: chickpea; high: lupin) were grown in hydroponics with three different P fertilizers: The water‐insoluble P fraction of RCF (RCF); Phospal, a slow‐release source of phosphate composed of calcium and aluminum phosphates (PH); monopotassiumphosphate (KP), and a control treatment without P (P–).

RCF was as efficient as KP in supplying P to plants in the case of chickpea and lupin, and slightly less efficient than KP in maize. However, P from PH was not available for maize and less available compared to KP and RCF in chickpea and lupin. This variation reflects the different efficiencies in P acquisition for the three plant species. Except in the case of maize, plants receiving KP presented the lowest concentration of organic acids in roots and exudates, while those plants suffering severe P deficiency (P– and PH) showed the highest organic acid concentration. However, RCF had a high concentration of organic acids in roots and exudates, as well as a high P concentration in the shoot indicating that P uptake from RCF is enhanced due to root release and action of specific organic acids.
Prevalence of Salmonella infecting bacteriophages associated with Ontario pig farms and the holding area of a high capacity pork processing facility
Authors: Wang Sunan , Zhao Weikang , Raza Asad , Friendship Robert , Johnson Roger , Kostrzynska Magdalena , Warriner Keith
Published: July 2010

BACKGROUND: There is interest in applying bacteriophages to control Salmonella in pig production and pork processing. The following reports on the prevalence of Salmonella infecting bacteriophages within Ontario pig farms and associated with the holding area of a pork slaughterhouse.

RESULTS: Salmonella infecting bacteriophages were present in 30 and 28 of the effluent manure samples collected from 36 farms using S. Typhimurium DT104 or S. Heidelberg as host cell respectively. Bacteriophages were recovered in 95–100% of the 48 samples taken from holding pens within a high capacity slaughterhouse over a 12 month period. Bacteriophages isolated from farms exhibited similar host ranges which differed to that of slaughterhouse isolates. Salmonella (n = 21) from the slaughterhouse were susceptible to the endogenous bacteriophages. Despite being susceptible to the resident phages, the Salmonella populations were found to be genetically stable with the same genotypes being recovered over successive visits. Salmonella isolated from the farms were frequently resistant to the endogenous phages.

CONCLUSIONS: Bacteriophages are prevalent in the pig slaughterhouse environment although they do not have a significant impact on the genetic structure of Salmonella populations. However, there was evidence that the Salmonella population structure on farms is influenced by the presence of infecting phages. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of dietary mineral level and inulin inclusion on phosphorus, calcium and nitrogen utilisation, intestinal microflora and bone development
Authors: Varley Patrick F , McCarney Catherine , Callan James J , O'Doherty John V
Published: July 2010

BACKGROUND: An experiment was conducted to investigate the interaction between dietary phosphorus (P) level (4 vs 6 g total P kg−1) and inulin inclusion (0 vs 20 g kg−1) on coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility, nitrogen (N), P and calcium (Ca) utilisation, bone mineralisation, selected gastrointestinal microflora, intestinal volatile fatty acid concentrations and digesta pH in the ileum, caecum and proximal colon. Owing to the design of the experiment, as dietary P level increased, there was also an increase in dietary Ca level in order to maintain a sustainable dietary Ca/P ratio. Entire male finisher pigs (n = 10 per treatment) with a similar initial body weight (51 kg, standard deviation 2.4 kg) were used.

RESULTS: Inulin inclusion lowered (P < 0.01) Enterobacteriaceae populations in the proximal colon compared with pigs offered diets without added inulin. However, intestinal bacterial populations of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp. were unaffected. Inulin inclusion had no effect on mineral digestibility or bone mineralisation. Pigs offered low P and Ca diets had lower (P < 0.01) bone mineralisation than pigs offered high P and Ca diets.

CONCLUSION: Intestinal bacterial populations of Enterobacteriaceae in the proximal colon were lowered by inulin inclusion. Inulin inclusion did not affect P, Ca or N utilisation or bone mineralisation in the finisher pig when offered either a low or a high P diet. Increasing the P and Ca content of the diet led to an increase in bone mineralisation. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Cost analysis of asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss investigations
Authors: Wilson YuShan L. , Gandolfi Michele M. , Ahn Inhye E. , Yu Guopei , Huang Tina C. , Kim Ana H.
Published: July 2010

Objectives/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study is to critically evaluate the typical cost of asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL) work‐up, and to compare the positive predictive value from this common presenting symptom.

Study Design:

Retrospective chart review from two major otolaryngology centers.

Methods:

We reviewed charts from patients presenting to New York Eye and Ear Infirmary between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006, and the University of Minnesota between December 1, 2002 and November 30, 2007 with ASNHL. Diagnostic information included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and serum laboratory values (antinuclear antibodies, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Lyme, rapid plasma reagin, and thyroid‐stimulating hormone). We calculated positive rate according to each item of diagnosis. To estimate cost‐benefit, we further calculated the average cost for identifying a patient with a positive result.

Results:

The total cost was $263,535, whereas the average cost for identifying a positive patient was $146,40.81. The total lab cost was $16,935 and the total imaging cost was $246,600. The average cost for identifying a positive patient based on MRI was $61,650 and $2,109 based on lab values. Of the 247 patients, only six patients (2.4%)—one patient with acoustic neuroma, two patients with syphilis, and three patients with Lyme—were identified with treatable pathology.

Conclusions:

A comprehensive ASNHL work‐up may not be applicable to all patients. Laboratory serologic tests are highly cost effective in diagnosing treatable causes of ASNHL, such as syphilis and Lyme. Although radiographic imaging with MRI is not as cost effective, its value in detecting for acoustic neuroma is undeniable. Laryngoscope, 2010
Capacity constraints in operationalisation of payment for ecosystem services (PES) in India: Evidence from land degradation
Authors: Kumar P.
Published: July 2010

The understanding of the requirement for PES and necessary capacity of stakeholders to conceive, design and execute PES, are critical to its successful operationalisation. Identification and assessment of capacity needs are also prerequisite for PES especially in a developing country like India where institutional setting and functioning are far from the desirable level. In this background, the paper begins with an introduction of the basic concept and centrality of economic valuation in PES. Next, the paper discusses the status of the land degradation problem in India and how the PES can prove to be an efficient tool to manage the declining ecosystem services due to increasing land degradation in the Country. By identifying the direct and indirect drivers of land degradation, the stage is set for designing of appropriate response options for halting the degradation of land which is not only the base of agrarian economy of India but source of livelihood options for the poor. In the subsequent section, the paper assesses the required capacity to operationalise PES in the states where the problem of land degradation is acute. This has been done on the basis of wider consultation with land users (farmers), conservation agencies, Departments of Land Agriculture and related R&D agencies through a structured questionnaire in group meetings in different parts of the Country during 2006–2007. The necessary capacity on behalf of stakeholders like the Local, State and National level institutions have been mapped out. The result from the survey suggests that while the capacity to understand the ecosystem services is adequate, the capacity to do valuation of incremental change in the ecosystem services is not sufficient and the State still needs to invest significant amount of resources before this tool can be used to manage the land based ecosystem services in India. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decline of soil fertility during forest conversion of secondary forest to Chinese fir plantations in subtropical China
Authors: Wang Q. , Wang S. , Yu X.
Published: July 2010

The effects of forest conversion on soil fertility are still not well understood in subtropical zones. This issue was addressed by comparing chemical properties of soil in a secondary forest and a Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata Hooker) plantation at the Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology. Total N, available P, ${\rm NO}_{{\rm 3}}^{ - } $‐N, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and exchangeable Al3+ and H+ of soil were significantly lower in the pure Chinese fir plantation (PCP) than in the secondary forest while soil organic carbon (SOC), total K and exchangeable Na+ had a tendency to decrease in the PCP. In contrast, soil pH and percentage base saturation (PBS) significantly increased due to forest conversion, and available K, ${\rm NH}_{{\rm 4}}^{ + } $‐N and exchangeable Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ tended to increase in the PCP. Some underlying processes responsible for the differences in soil fertility between the secondary forest and the Chinese fir plantation were low litterfall and root input to soil and site preparation in coniferous plantations. There was no significant difference in the effect of slope position on chemical properties of soil in the PCP and the secondary forest. Results indicated that the conversion of secondary forests to coniferous plantations leads to a decline in soil fertility. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Synthetic Approach to Homologous Blockcopolymers
Authors: Kurzhals Steffen , Binder Wolfgang H.
Published: July 2010

Summary: Blockcopolymers of 3‐methyl‐3‐phenylcyclopropene and norbornene derivatives were synthesized via ROMP. The crossover reaction during ROMP blockcopolymerization was successfully monitored via MALDI‐TOF MS in agreement with GPC and NMR‐methods.
Ring‐Closing Metathesis of Ene‐Ynamide: Application to the Synthesis of Medium‐Sized Cyclic Dienamide
Authors: Wakamatsu Hideaki , Sakagami Maiko , Hanata Miyuki , Takeshita Mitsuhiro , Mori Miwako
Published: July 2010

Summary: Ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) of ene‐ynamide, which could be applied to the synthesis of various heterocycles containing 7‐ and 8‐membered rings, was investigated. Ene‐ynamides are easily synthesized by the known method. When a toluene solution of ene‐ynamide was stirred in the presence of a catalytic amount of second‐generation ruthenium carbene complex 1 under an ethylene atmosphere, RCM proceeded smoothly to provide a heterocyclic compound having a diene moiety in good to high yield. A substituent of the ynamide moiety affected the yield of the cyclized product.
Latent and Switchable Olefin Metathesis Catalysts
Authors: Diesendruck Charles E. , Iliashevsky Olga , Ben‐Asuly Amos , Goldberg Israel , Lemcoff N. Gabriel
Published: July 2010

Summary: Many latent olefin metathesis initiators have been described in the recent years. In this symposium manuscript, we present our contribution to the field, based on the use of different heteroatoms; namely sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorous and selenium; as chelators in ruthenium bidentate benzylidenes. The steric and electronic parameters were thoroughly studied and used in order to prepare not only latent pre‐catalysts but also thermo‐ and photo‐switchable systems – effectively granting control over both reaction initiation and interruption.
Self Metathesis of Fatty Alcohols and Amines to Provide Monomers for Polyester and Polyamide Products
Authors: Riepl Herbert Matthias , Pettrak Jürgen , Faulstich Martin , Herrmann Wolfgang Anton
Published: July 2010

Summary: Self metathesis of oleochemicals offers a variety of bifunctional compounds, that can be used as monomer for polymer production. Many precursors are in huge scales available, like oleic acid ester (biodiesel), oleyl alcohol (tensides), oleyl amines (tensides, lubricants). We show several ways to produce and separate and purify C18‐α,ω‐bifunctional compounds, using Grubbs 2nd Generation catalysts, starting from technical grade educts.
Latent Olefin Metathesis Catalysts for Polymerization of DCPD
Authors: Drozdzak Renata , Nishioka Naoki , Recher Gilles , Verpoort Francis
Published: July 2010

Summary: Advances in design of latent ruthenium phenylindenylidene catalysts bearing salicylaldimine ligands for ring‐opening metathesis polymerization are described. The presence of the substituents in ortho position in N‐aryl ring of salicylaldimine ligand has been found to be the main factor determining the catalyst stability. The best of the studied catalysts after acid activation offers activity comparable to that of the dichloride systems in ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of DCPD, while maintaining very high stability in the monomer solution.
GIAO, DFT, AIM and NBO analysis of the NH···O intramolecular hydrogen‐bond influence on the1J(N,H) coupling constant in push–pull diaminoenones
Authors: Afonin Andrei V. , Ushakov Igor A. , Vashchenko Alexander V. , Kondrashov Evgeniy V. , Rulev Alexander Yu.
Published: July 2010

In the series of diaminoenones, large high‐frequency shifts of the1H NMR of the NH group in thecis‐position relative to the carbonyl group suggests strong NH···O intramolecular hydrogen bonding comprising a six‐membered chelate ring. The NH···O hydrogen bond causes an increase of the1J(N,H) coupling constant by 2–4 Hz and high‐frequency shift of the15N signal by 9–10 ppm despite of the lengthening of the relevant NH bond. These experimental trends are substantiated by gauge‐independent atomic orbital and density functional theory calculations of the shielding and coupling constants in the 3,3‐bis(isopropylamino)‐1‐(aryl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one (12) for conformations with theZ‐ andE‐orientations of the carbonyl group relative to the NH group. The effects of the NH···O hydrogen‐bond on the NMR parameters are analyzed with the atoms‐in‐molecules (AIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) methods. The AIM method indicates a weakening of the NH···O hydrogen bond as compared with that of 1,1‐di(pyrrol‐2‐yl)‐2‐formylethene (13) where NH···O hydrogen bridge establishes a seven‐membered chelate ring, and the corresponding1J(N,H) coupling constant decreases. The NBO method reveals that the LP(O) →σ*NHhyperconjugative interaction is weakened on going from the six‐membered chelate ring to the seven‐membered one due to a more bent hydrogen bond in the former case. A dominating effect of the NH bond rehybridization, owing to an electrostatic term in the hydrogen bonding, seems to provide an increase of the1J(N,H) value as a consequence of the NH···O hydrogen bonding in the studied diaminoenones. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ukrainische Wissenschaft – auf dem Weg nach Europa
Authors: Heinrich Lothar
Published: July 2010

Eine große Zahl hervorragender Nachwuchsforscher und eine besondere Kompetenz in den Materialwissenschaften zeichnen die ukrainische Wissenschaft aus. Die Intensivierung der deutsch‐ukrainischen Zusammenarbeit stärkt die europäische Wettbewerbsfähigkeit.
Altered levels of insulin‐like growth factor binding protein proteases in preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction
Authors: Christians Julian K. , Gruslin Andrée
Published: July 2010

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preeclampsia (PE) are leading causes of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Many studies have found association between low levels of insulin‐like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) proteases in the first trimester maternal circulation and the risk of subsequent development of PE and/or IUGR. These results are generally interpreted to reflect decreased production of the proteases by the placenta, leading to reduced proteolysis of IGFBPs and lower free levels of insulin‐like growth factor (IGF), resulting in diminished feto‐placental development. However, the association between low circulating levels of placental proteins early in pregnancy and the subsequent development of IUGR and/or PE could be due to low exchange in the placenta and not due to reduced production. In contrast, late in pregnancy, the circulating levels of these proteins and their expression in the placenta are often elevated in PE, which may reflect upregulation to compensate for abnormal placental development, that is an adaptive mechanism to increase IGFBP proteolysis, increase local IGF levels and promote feto‐placental growth. Further research into the biological mechanisms underlying these associations will aid the identification of high‐risk pregnancies and the development of therapeutic targets for diseases for which there are presently no preventative measures. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Description of hypersensitivity adverse events following administration of heparin that was potentially contaminated with oversulfated chondroitin sulfate in early 2008
Authors: McMahon Ann W. , Pratt Robert G. , Hammad Tarek A. , Kozlowski Steven , Zhou Esther , Lu Susan , Kulick Corrinne G. , Mallick Tarun , Dal Pan Gerald
Published: July 2010

Purpose

To characterize the nature of a heparin contaminant's clinical effects in cases reported to the Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS). The FDA received reports of heparin‐associated adverse events (AEs) starting in late 2007–early 2008 during a national investigation of allergic‐type events. The investigation identified Baxter Healthcare‐brand heparin product due to its strongest association with the events. Later, oversulfated chondroitin sulfate (OSCS), a heparin‐like contaminant, was discovered.

Methods

This study was a case series of heparin reports in AERS received 1 January 2008 to 31 March 2008. Variables considered were frequency of treatment settings, AEs, mortality; as well as heparin dose and OSCS contamination.

Results

Five hundred seventy‐four AERS cases (unduplicated reports) were identified and included. Of 94 cases with a fatal outcome, 68 reported at least one AE term from the list used to identify an allergic‐type event. Nearly 75% of AEs in cases of IV administration (n = 170/233) reportedly occurred within 10 minutes, whereas over half of subcutaneous administration cases (n = 13/23) resulted in times‐to‐event of greater than 24 hours. Although cases with a time‐to‐event of less than 10 minutes appeared to correlate with higher levels of OSCS contamination, no clear differences were noted between high‐ and low‐to‐absent OSCS concentration lots with respect to AEs observed.

Conclusions

Intravenous administration and a higher OSCS concentration appeared to correlate with a more rapid onset of event. The FDA continues to monitor AEs associated with heparin use and has taken appropriate regulatory action to ensure a safe heparin drug supply. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and properties of chain‐extended bismaleimide resins containing phthalide cardo structure
Authors: Xiong Xuhai , Chen Ping , Yu Qi , Zhu Nengbo , Wang Baichen , Zhang Jinxiang , Li Jianfeng
Published: July 2010

Three novel bismaleimide (BMI) monomers containing phthalide groups in their structures, i.e. 3,3‐bis[4‐(4‐maleimidophenoxy)phenyl]phthalide, 3,3‐bis[4‐(4‐maleimidophenoxy)‐3‐methylphenyl]phthalide and 3,3‐bis[5‐isopropyl‐4‐(4‐maleimidophenoxy)‐2‐methylphenyl]phthalide, based on phenolphthalein, o‐cresolphthalein and thymolphthalein, respectively, were designed and synthesized. The chemical structures of the monomers were confirmed from 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. These monomers exhibit good solubility in common organic solvents, enabling easy solution processing. The thermal curing behavior of the monomers was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, displaying broad exothermic peaks and large thermal processing windows. Thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis were used to characterize the thermal stability and thermal mechanical properties of the resulting BMI resins. The results, in contrast to bisphenol A‐based BMI resin, indicate that the incorporation of the phthalide structure into the polybismaleimide network can effectively improve the thermal properties. Water absorption tests of the cured products demonstrate the chemical structure has an effect on moisture resistance. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
A preliminary report on innovative group therapy in an oncology in‐patient department: a patient–family–staff community meeting
Authors: Eliasov Liron , Zalman Daniela , Flechter Ezequiel , Vorobeichik Marina , Halevi‐Gurevich Michal , Levi Inbal , Bar‐Sela Gil
Published: July 2010

Objective: The Community Meeting (CM) is a unique form of group therapy applied from Psychiatry to an Oncology in‐patient department. It is designed to answer the needs of in‐patients and family members for open communication and empathic interaction and to serve as a model for effective coping.

Methods: A weekly staff–patient–family open group was held, with facilitation based on an integrative crisis intervention model. After each CM, the staff meets to discuss implications.

Results: Frequent themes include patient and caregiver concerns about cancer, treatments, communication and coping difficulties. Subjective impressions of participants indicate positive outcomes. The CM seems to enhance positive interactions and perceived quality of care. It helps staff to identify distress, serves as a managerial tool and promotes collaboration among staff.

Conclusions: The CM is a unique method for addressing the burdens of in‐patient oncology members. A structured study is needed to substantiate these descriptive outcomes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The human peripheral subunit‐binding domain folds rapidly while overcoming repulsive Coulomb forces
Authors: Arbely Eyal , Neuweiler Hannes , Sharpe Timothy D. , Johnson Christopher M. , Fersht Alan R.
Published: July 2010

Peripheral subunit binding domains (PSBDs) are integral parts of large multienzyme complexes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. PSBDs facilitate shuttling of prosthetic groups between different catalytic subunits. Their protein surface is characterized by a high density of positive charges required for binding to subunits within the complex. Here, we investigated folding thermodynamics and kinetics of the human PSBD (HSBD) using circular dichroism and tryptophan fluorescence experiments. HSBD was only marginally stable under physiological solvent conditions but folded within microseconds via a barrier‐limited apparent two‐state transition, analogous to its bacterial homologues. The high positive surface‐charge density of HSBD leads to repulsive Coulomb forces that modulate protein stability and folding kinetics, and appear to even induce native‐state movement. The electrostatic strain was alleviated at high solution‐ionic‐strength by Debye‐Hückel screening. Differences in ionic‐strength dependent characteristics among PSBD homologues could be explained by differences in their surface charge distributions. The findings highlight the trade‐off between protein function and stability during protein evolution.
Crystal structure of human thioredoxin revealing an unraveled helix and exposed S‐nitrosation site
Authors: Weichsel Andrzej , Kem Michelle , Montfort William R.
Published: July 2010

Thioredoxins reduce disulfide bonds and other thiol modifications in all cells using a CXXC motif. Human thioredoxin 1 is unusual in that it codes for an additional three cysteines in its 105 amino acid sequence, each of which have been implicated in other reductive activities. Cys 62 and Cys 69 are buried in the protein interior and lie at either end of a short helix (helix 3), and yet can disulfide link under oxidizing conditions. Cys 62 is readily S‐nitrosated, giving rise to a SNO modification, which is also buried. Here, we present two crystal structures of the C69S/C73S mutant protein under oxidizing (1.5 Å) and reducing (1.1 Å) conditions. In the oxidized structure, helix 3 is unraveled and displays a new conformation that is stabilized by a series of new hydrogen bonds and a disulfide link with Cys 62 in a neighboring molecule. The new conformation provides an explanation for how a completely buried residue can participate in SNO exchange reactions.
Core glycan in the yeast multicopper ferroxidase, Fet3p: A case study of N‐linked glycosylation, protein maturation, and stability
Authors: Ziegler Lynn , Terzulli Alaina , Sedlak Erik , Kosman Daniel J.
Published: July 2010

Glycosylation is essential to the maintenance of protein quality in the vesicular protein trafficking pathway in eukaryotic cells. Using the yeast multicopper oxidase, Fet3p, the hypothesis is tested that core glycosylation suppresses Fet3p nascent chain aggregation during synthesis into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Fet3p has 11 crystallographically mapped N‐linked core glycan units. Assembly of four of these units is specifically required for localization of Fet3p to the plasma membrane (PM). Fet3 protein lacking any one of these glycan units is found in an intracellular high‐molecular mass species resolvable by blue native gel electrophoresis. Individually, the remaining glycan moieties are not required for ER exit; however, serial deletion of these by N → A substitution correlates with these desglycan species failure to exit the ER. Desglycan Fet3 proteins that localize to the PM are wild type in function indicating that the missing carbohydrate is not required for native structure and biologic activity. This native function includes the interaction with the iron permease, Ftr1p, and wild type high‐affinity iron uptake activity. The four essential sequons are found within relatively nonpolar regions located in surface recesses and are strongly conserved among fungal Fet3 proteins. The remaining N‐linked sites are found in more surface exposed, less nonpolar environments, and their conservation is weak or absent. The data indicate that in Fet3p the N‐linked glycan has little effect on the enzyme's molecular activity but is critical to its cellular activity by maximizing the protein's exit from the ER and assembly into a functional iron uptake complex.
Acaricides and their residues in Spanish commercial beeswax
Authors: Serra‐Bonvehí Josep , Orantes‐Bermejo José
Published: July 2010

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this work was to determine residues of acaricides in recycled Spanish beeswax.

RESULTS: Chlorfenvinphos, fluvalinate, amitraz, bromopropylate, acrinathrin, flumethrin, coumaphos, chlorpyrifos, chlordimeform, endosulfan and malathion residues were determined by GC‐µECD/NPD/MS detection. Owing to the extreme instability of amitraz, this analyte was transformed into the stable end‐metabolite 2,4‐dimethylaniline, later derivatised with heptafluorobutyric anhydride and determined by GC‐µECD/MS. Recoveries from spiked samples ranged from 86 to 108%, while quantification limits varied from 0.10 to 0.30 mg kg−1 using GC‐µECD/NPD, and from 12 to 85 µg kg−1 by GC‐MSD. Of a total of 197 samples analysed, only eight samples (4%) were free of residues of chlorfenvinphos (0.019–10.6 mg kg−1), fluvalinate was present in 93.6% of samples analysed (0.027 –88.7 mg kg−1), while coumaphos was confirmed in only five of the 134 samples analysed at concentrations of less than 195 µg kg−1. The remaining acaricides were identified with different levels of incidence at concentrations from 12 to 231 µg kg−1.

CONCLUSIONS: Residues of acaricides were found in an extensive number of beeswax samples. The contamination with chlorfenvinphos and tau‐fluvalinate was very relevant, particularly as chlorfenvinphos is not legally authorised for use in beekeeping. The possible impacts of the main acaricides detected on larval and adult honey bees are discussed. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Evaluation of chlorfenapyr for control of the bed bug, Cimex lectularius L.
Authors: Romero Alvaro , Potter Michael F , Haynes Kenneth F
Published: July 2010

BACKGROUND: The presence of bed bug populations resistant to pyrethroids demands the development of new control tactics, including the use of insecticides with new modes of action. Insecticides that disrupt oxidative phosphorylation in insect mitochondria can be an option. Laboratory assays were used to measure the toxicity of chlorfenapyr to susceptible strains and two strains highly resistant to pyrethroids. The effectiveness of two chlorfenapyr‐based formulations was compared, and behavioral responses of bed bugs to dry residues of aerosol sprays were evaluated.

RESULTS: Chlorfenapyr was effective against all bed bug strains, killing them at a similar rate, regardless of their susceptibility status to pyrethroids. Dry residues aged for 4 months were as toxic as fresh dry residues. The aerosol formulation had contact activity and caused faster mortality than a water‐based formulation. Bed bugs did not avoid resting on surfaces treated with aerosol.

CONCLUSION: Chlorfenapyr is an option for controlling pyrethroid‐resistant bed bugs. While it does not cause quick knockdown, its long residual activity and no avoidance behavior of bed bugs to dry residues appear to make this insecticide suitable for bed bug control. A faster insecticidal effect is obtained with the aerosol formulation, suggesting greater bioavailablity of the toxicant. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
A demonstration of 4D‐Var using a time‐distributed background term
Authors: Cullen M. J. P.
Published: July 2010

The standard four‐dimensional variational data assimilation (4D‐Var) method used at several major operational centres minimises a cost function which consists of a background term evaluated at the start of the assimilation window and a sum of observation terms evaluated throughout the assimilation window. This method can be interpreted as a smoother in which the background term is evolved in time using the forecast model, and the observations assimilated sequentially. However, in operational practice, the initial estimate of the background error is climatological and highly simplified, so that it is not clear whether this interpretation is useful. We thus interpret the background term as a regularisation term, rather than as an estimate of the true background error. We demonstrate this approach using a toy model whose solutions contain two time‐scales: a slow scale which can be accurately predicted and a fast scale where the model errors are too large for deterministic prediction to be possible. This represents a common situation in operational predictions. We show that, if the regularisation term is only evaluated at the beginning of the assimilation window, as in standard 4D‐Var, it is less effective at controlling rapidly growing modes. This can be resolved by applying the regularisation with equal weight throughout the window. The effect is that, in poorly observed situations, better forecasts of the slow modes can be obtained by directing information from the observations onto the slow modes rather than the unpredictable fast modes. © Crown Copyright 2010. Reproduced with the permission of HMSO. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of denial of service solutions on network quality of service
Authors: Fowler Scott , Zeadally Sherali , Chilamkurti Naveen
Published: July 2010

The Internet has become a universal communication network tool. It has evolved from a platform that supports best‐effort traffic to one that now carries different traffic types including those involving continuous media with quality of service (QoS) requirements. As more services are delivered over the Internet, we face increasing risk to their availability given that malicious attacks on those Internet services continue to increase. Several networks have witnessed denial of service (DoS) and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks over the past few years which have disrupted QoS of network services, thereby violating the Service Level Agreement (SLA) between the client and the Internet Service Provider (ISP). Hence DoS or DDoS attacks are major threats to network QoS. In this paper we survey techniques and solutions that have been deployed to thwart DoS and DDoS attacks and we evaluate them in terms of their impact on network QoS for Internet services. We also present vulnerabilities that can be exploited for QoS protocols and also affect QoS if exploited. In addition, we also highlight challenges that still need to be addressed to achieve end‐to‐end QoS with recently proposed DoS/DDoS solutions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Statistical learning and language acquisition
Authors: Romberg Alexa R. , Saffran Jenny R.
Published: July 2010

Human learners, including infants, are highly sensitive to structure in their environment. Statistical learning refers to the process of extracting this structure. A major question in language acquisition in the past few decades has been the extent to which infants use statistical learning mechanisms to acquire their native language. There have been many demonstrations showing infants' ability to extract structures in linguistic input, such as the transitional probability between adjacent elements. This paper reviews current research on how statistical learning contributes to language acquisition. Current research is extending the initial findings of infants' sensitivity to basic statistical information in many different directions, including investigating how infants represent regularities, learn about different levels of language, and integrate information across situations. These current directions emphasize studying statistical language learning in context: within language, within the infant learner, and within the environment as a whole. WIREs Cogn Sci 2010 1 906–914

This article is categorized under:

Linguistics > Language Acquisition

Psychology > Language
Bayesian Semiparametric Structural Equation Models with Latent Variables
Authors: Yang Mingan , Dunson David B.
Published: July 2010

Structural equation models (SEMs) with latent variables are widely useful for sparse covariance structure modeling and for inferring relationships among latent variables. Bayesian SEMs are appealing in allowing for the incorporation of prior information and in providing exact posterior distributions of unknowns, including the latent variables. In this article, we propose a broad class of semiparametric Bayesian SEMs, which allow mixed categorical and continuous manifest variables while also allowing the latent variables to have unknown distributions. In order to include typical identifiability restrictions on the latent variable distributions, we rely on centered Dirichlet process (CDP) and CDP mixture (CDPM) models. The CDP will induce a latent class model with an unknown number of classes, while the CDPM will induce a latent trait model with unknown densities for the latent traits. A simple and efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm is developed for posterior computation, and the methods are illustrated using simulated examples, and several applications.
A search engine for the global PKI
Authors: Rabinovich Paul
Published: July 2010

Today the public key technology enjoys wide acceptance and use. Countless network protocols and applications use it to guarantee strong authentication and privacy. Usability and maintainability of this technology remains problematic, however. It is still very cumbersome and time-consuming to set up an enterprise Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) that has relationships with external parties. The emergence of PKI bridges, while solving one set of problems, created a new one: management of distributed trust became much more difficult. Complexity of the global PKI mesh and its decentralized nature created a need for a service with a unified view of the global PKI. In this paper we propose a PKI search engine that can provide such a service. The engine supports facilities for certificate and certificate revocation list (CRL) discovery, testing and troubleshooting of extra-enterprise PKIs, certificate revocation status lookup, certification path construction and validation, all based on the Internet-mined and user-registered information.
The Constitution for Europe
Authors: Piris Jean-Claude
Published: July 2010

There is much confusion over the 'Constitution', and this book provides an in-depth legal analysis of the institutional aspects of the Constitutional Treaty which, if ratified by the 25 EU Member States, would govern the European Union. Piris argues that, despite its ratification being rejected by the French and the Netherlands referenda in 2005, the Treaty should not be discarded, as it will inevitably be the point of departure for the future of European integration. He places this analysis in an historical and political context and explains the origin, meanings and legal and political effects of all proposed changes to the present treaties.
The Seleucid Army
Authors: Bar-Kochva Bezalel
Published: July 2010

This is a 1976 study of the organization and tactics of the Seleucid armies from 312 to 129 BC. The first part of the book discusses the numerical strength of the armies, their sources of manpower, the contingents of the regular army, their equipment and historical development, the chain of command, training and discipline. The second part reconstructs the great campaigns in order to examine the Seleucid tactics. The book provides a lesson in Hellenistic and military history and discusses several questions: how did the Hellenistic armies develop after Alexander? What distinguished the Seleucid army as superior to its Hellenistic contemporaries? The answers illuminate the expansion of Hellenism as we learn how the Seleucid army was used as a military, social and cultural instrument to impose the rule of the dynasty over the vast regions of the Empire and how it helped to shape Hellenistic society in the East.
Coated Vesicles
Authors: Ockleford C. , Whyte A.
Published: July 2010

This volume was first published in 1980. Coated vesicles are distinct organelles whose existence has been recognized for many years. Since the original observations of the invaginations of erythroblast and oocyte membranes, coated vesicles have been found associated with a wide variety of membranes and they have been seen to be of importance in the uptake and transport of peptides, proteins and lipoproteins as well as in some cases as mediators of immune function. This book is a comprehensive treatment of coated vesicles and their involvement in the process of endocytosis (the engulfment of material in membranous enclosures).
Chaucer on Interpretation
Authors: Ferster Judith
Published: July 2010

Chaucer on Interpretation enters the current dialogue about whether modern literary theory can illuminate medieval works. Dr Fester argues that the insights of modern phenomenological hermeneutics can enrich our understanding of Chaucer and shows that interpretation is one of the central concerns of his poems. The book demonstrates that the hermeneutical circle is a model for the interdependent relationship between self and other, between characters, between the poet and his literary sources and between a poem and its readers. Ferster shows how Chaucer examines different aspects and consequences of the hermeneutical circle and its implications for personal identity, political power and literary meaning. Taking interpretation as a theme, she gives readings of the Knight's Tale, the Parliament of Fowls, the Clerk's Tale, the Wife of Bath and the narrative frame of the Canterbury Tales.
Avenues to Adulthood
Authors: Ueda Reed
Published: July 2010

American educators have hailed the public high school as the ultimate guarantor of equal opportunity in a modern educational system. Avenues to Adulthood assesses how the high school played this role. Professor Ueda's book discusses the reasons for the modernisation of the high school at the turn of the twentieth century, the kinds of opportunities the high school offered and the way in which it became a focus of civic life that reshaped the American sense of community and generation. To the extent that a small share of poor immigrant children gained access to the high school and received its advantages, that institution counteracted the disadvantages of inherited social status. Academics, interscholastic sports and journalism turned the high school into a focal point of civic pride. Ultimately by supplying educational advantages that affected adult career patterns, the high school was a powerful force in reshuffling the social elites of the early twentieth-century city.
The Science of Design
Authors: Glegg Gordon L.
Published: July 2010

This book by Mr Glegg on the principles of the design process is concerned with carrying out the scientific research needed to obtain data for engineering design. He discusses the various kinds of experiments THAT are appropriate to particular situations and which are likely to yield the required data at minimum cost. Mr Glegg's objectives are essentially practical and he aims to help the designer, who often tends to become a specialist when he ought to be a general practitioner, to think through a research problem, even in an area totally outside the range of his previous experience. As in Mr Glegg's previous books, the principles are illustrated and brought home by further, often entertaining, examples from his wide range of experience as an inventor, consulting engineer, director of research and company director.
Complex Multiplication
Authors: Schertz Reinhard
Published: July 2010

This is a self-contained 2010 account of the state of the art in classical complex multiplication that includes recent results on rings of integers and applications to cryptography using elliptic curves. The author is exhaustive in his treatment, giving a thorough development of the theory of elliptic functions, modular functions and quadratic number fields and providing a concise summary of the results from class field theory. The main results are accompanied by numerical examples, equipping any reader with all the tools and formulas they need. Topics covered include: the construction of class fields over quadratic imaginary number fields by singular values of the modular invariant j and Weber's tau-function; explicit construction of rings of integers in ray class fields and Galois module structure; the construction of cryptographically relevant elliptic curves over finite fields; proof of Berwick's congruences using division values of the Weierstrass p-function; relations between elliptic units and class numbers.
Chemical Oceanography and the Marine Carbon Cycle
Authors: Emerson Steven , Hedges John
Published: July 2010

The principles of chemical oceanography provide insight into the processes regulating the marine carbon cycle. The text offers a background in chemical oceanography and a description of how chemical elements in seawater and ocean sediments are used as tracers of physical, biological, chemical and geological processes in the ocean. The first seven chapters present basic topics of thermodynamics, isotope systematics and carbonate chemistry, and explain the influence of life on ocean chemistry and how it has evolved in the recent (glacial-interglacial) past. This is followed by topics essential to understanding the carbon cycle, including organic geochemistry, air-sea gas exchange, diffusion and reaction kinetics, the marine and atmosphere carbon cycle and diagenesis in marine sediments. Figures are available to download from www.cambridge.org/9780521833134. Ideal as a textbook for upper-level undergraduates and graduates in oceanography, environmental chemistry, geochemistry and earth science and a valuable reference for researchers in oceanography.
Tackling Racism in Northern Ireland: ‘The Race Hate Capital of Europe’
Authors: KNOX COLIN
Published: July 2010

Northern Ireland has been dubbed by the media as the ‘race hate capital of Europe’ and attracted recent international criticism after one hundred Roma families were forced to flee their homes following racist attacks. This paper examines the problem of racism in Northern Ireland from a number of perspectives. First, it considers the effectiveness of the Government's response to racism against its Racial Equality Strategy 2005–10 using performance criteria designed to track the implementation of the strategy. Second, it considers and empirically tests the assertion in the literature that sectarianism shapes the way in which racism is reproduced and experienced. Third, it explores racism at the level of the individual – which factors influence people in Northern Ireland to exhibit racist behaviour. Finally, the paper considers the likely policy implications of the research findings in the context of devolved government where addressing racism is part of a wider political imbroglio which has gridlocked decision-making within the power-sharing Executive of Northern Ireland.
ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Authors: Severens Johan L , van der Wilt Gert-Jan
Published: July 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this review was to examine whether studies from the medical literature focusing on efficiency of diagnostic facilities reported economic evaluation methods appropriately, following guidelines for conducting and reporting economic evaluations.

Methods: A Medline search was conducted, and studies that concerned a diagnostic technology
and fulfilled the Drummond criteria were selected for methodological review. The reliability of selection
and methodological review based on the abstracts was determined by scoring a random sample of
both abstracts and full articles. lnterrater reliability was determined by scoring a random sample of
abstracts by both authors. Kappa values were calculated. Nine methodological aspects were reviewed:
study design, the type of economic evaluation, the comparison made, the study's perspective, the
cost-effectiveness ratio used, the definition of cost-effective, the types of costs analyzed, the cost
calculation method, and the use of sensitivity analysis.

Results: Two hundred fifty studies published between 1992 and 1997 were found regarding efficiency
of diagnosticfacilities; 134 studiesfulfilled the Drummond criteriaand were selected for methodological
review. Kappavalues showed reliability of selection and methodological review and interrater reliability.
The existing literatue on the economic evaluation of diagnostic facilities does not adhere well to
guidelines for economic evaluation. In 95%, no perspective was mentioned, in 50% of the cases no
ratio was given, in 82% the cost calculation method was not mentioned, and in 66% no sensitivity
analysis was reported.

Conclusions: Our review suggests that to improve the quality of reporting economic evaluations,
editorial boards could issue and enforce guidelines for standard reporting of such studies.