bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of a cylindrical patch antenna fed with coaxial probe using FDTD
Authors: Cao Xiangyu , Luk K. M. , Liang Changhong
Published: May 2003

The feed model is very important for microstrip antenna analysis using FDTD. In this paper, the feed model with coaxial probe is accurately and efficiently analysed in terms of the contour path technique, driving out the magnetic field modified equations and accomplishing the FDTD procedure. Finally, the characteristic parameters of a cylindrical patch antenna are predicted. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 406–408, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10932
Calculation of optimized parameters of rectangular microstrip patch antenna using genetic algorithm
Authors: Pattnaik Shyam S. , Khuntia Bonomali , Panda Dhruba C. , Neog Dipak K. , Devi S.
Published: May 2003

In this paper, the genetic algorithm (GA) has been applied to calculate the optimized length and width of rectangular microstrip antennas. The inputs to the problem are the desired resonant frequency, dielectric constant, and thickness of the substrate; the outputs are the optimized length and width. The antennas considered are electrically thin. Method of moments (MoM)‐based IE3D software from Zealand Inc., USA, and experimental results are used to validate the GA‐based code. The results are in good agreement. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 431–433, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10940
Improved Ritz‐Galerkin method for field distribution of graded‐index optical fibers
Authors: Wang Zi Hua , Zhang Hui , Meunier Jean Pierre
Published: May 2003

Having obtained the eigenvalue and the modal field by using the Ritz–Galerkin method, we quit the cladding‐field expression in the form of a Laguerre–Gaussian function and reconstruct it with a modified Bessel function. The accuracy of the cladding field is thus improved. We also show its application to the calculation of the coupling coefficient. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 433–436, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10941
Study of a printed meander antenna using the FDTD method
Authors: Ali M. , Okoniewski M. , Stuchly S. S.
Published: May 2003

A printed meander antenna is studied using the FDTD method. The influence of a number of antenna parameters (dielectric constant, substrate thickness, and presence of ground plane) on the input impedance and radiation pattern of the antenna is examined. It is found that a 60% size reduction compared to a half‐wave dipole can be achieved with a substrate dielectric constant of 4. Data presented can be used to design antennas with resonant resistances of 40Ω or higher. A similar study of an antenna on a dielectric slab is also performed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 440–444, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10943
New iterative equations for an E‐plane T‐junction in a parallel‐plate waveguide using Green's function
Authors: Cho Yong H.
Published: May 2003

Reflection and transmission behaviors of an E‐plane T‐junction in a parallel‐plate waveguide are theoretically investigated. Green's function and the iterative procedure are used to obtain the iterative equations for the Hz field modal coefficients. Numerical computations illustrate the characteristics of reflection and transmission powers in terms of frequency. A dominant‐mode solution is presented and compared with higher‐mode solutions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 447–449, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10945
Guided and leaky wave characteristics of periodic microstrip structures
Authors: Fu Yun‐Qi , Zhang Guo‐Hua , Yan Dun‐Bao , Yuan Nai‐Chang
Published: May 2003

Photonic bandgap materials have significant applications in the elimination of surface wave on a microstrip antenna. In this paper, several kinds of microstrip structures are analyzed in order to assess their potential for constructing PBG materials. The microstrip structures are periodically loaded with cross dipoles, Jerusalem crosses, or square loops. Periodic Green's functions plus the method of moments (MoM) are introduced to obtain the nonlinear characteristics equation. The real roots are found to show the propagation characteristics of the periodic structure and the existence of bandgap is revealed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 457–458, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10949
Effect of Choto‐san, a Kampo medicine, on impairment of passive avoidance performance in senescence accelerated mouse (SAM)
Authors: Mizushima Yutaka , Kan Shin , Yoshida Satoshi , Irie Yoshifumi , Urata Yukitomo
Published: May 2003

Effect of Choto‐san (TJ–47), a Kampo medicine, on impairment of learning performance was evaluated by means of a step‐through passive avoidance task in SAMP8 mice, a senescence‐prone substrain. Tokishakuyaku‐san (TJ–23), another Kampo medicine, was also employed for comparison. SAMP8 mice at the age of 10–12 months showed a poorer passive avoidance response than SAMR1 mice, a senescence‐resistant substrain, in the memory‐retention test, but not in the memory‐acquisition test. Improved response in the memory‐retention test was observed in SAMP8 mice treated with TJ–47, and almost equal degree of improvement was also observed after treatment with TJ–23. These results suggest that a long‐term administration of Choto‐san could improve to some extent the impairment of memory caused by aging. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assumptions improve project and product quality
Authors: Fieggen Bruce
Published: May 2003

The effect of poor assumptions on project quality is usually negative. Therefore, it is critical to implement 'good assumption management'. A simple method to capture and apply assumptions to the Project Management Planning of any project is described in this article. Good assumption planning gives the project team and senior staff a preview to potential project problems. Good assumption management prevents poor assumptions from damaging your project and product quality. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Standard operating procedures for clinical research personnel ‐ Part 16
Authors: Bohaychuk Wendy , Ball Graham
Published: May 2003

This is the 16th in a series of articles containing proposals for wording and content of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for clinical research activities conducted by sponsors and Contract Research Organisations (CROs). The procedures include those required by the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many other guidelines and regulations, and ‘best practice’ observed by the authors. The model forms require modification for actual use. In this article, SOPs are presented for internal review of case report forms and data: initial internal CRF review (after retrieval to sponsor/CRO) (SOP 405); data correction after retrieval from study sites (SOP 406); database development, review and lock (SOP 407); and statistical review (SOP 408). SOPs are also presented for management of CROs (SOP 409) and clinical laboratories during studies (SOP 410). (The full text of all 101 SOPs is available from the authors.) Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Defensibility and ethics in the laboratory
Authors: Boyd Jo Ann
Published: May 2003

Laboratory personnel must feel that ethical standards of conduct are a priority in the laboratory. Management must support this concept not only during training but also in daily communication to employees. Further, review of staff experience and training of employees is necessary to reinforce the need for ethics. This paper discusses defensibility and ethics in the laboratory, and the goals of assuring that the reporting of laboratory data will be performed in an ethical manner and will provide legal defensibility of data and laboratory procedures. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
What's New?
Authors: Bohaychuk Wendy , Broughton Steve
Published: May 2003

The What's New? section in the Quality Assurance Journal aims to draw attention to items of importance to QA professionals. There is a three‐month interval between final submission of manuscripts and distribution of the journal. For this issue, the entries in the What's New? Section arise from the period of 01 December 2002 to 28 February 2003. If you feel that there is any other new information that should be brought to the attention of readers, please let us know by e‐mailing wbohaychuk@gcrpc.com Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of wood and temperature on juvenile coho salmon winter movement, growth, density and survival in side‐channels
Authors: Giannico Guillermo R. , Hinch Scott G.
Published: May 2003

In British Columbia, side‐channels have been built to compensate for lost salmonid habitat. Most are structurally simple with little in‐stream wood; however, they support high densities of juvenile coho salmon. We longitudinally divided in halves the top 100 m of two dead‐end artificial side‐channels, one side‐channel with low winter water temperatures (surface‐fed) and one with relatively higher water temperatures (groundwater‐fed), closed the downstream end of each side‐channel with two‐way traps, and treated only one half of each channel with bundles of wood. Trapped fish were marked daily and coho salmon movement, growth and smolt output were monitored for two years. Wood addition increased juvenile coho winter carrying capacity and spring smolt output only in the ‘colder’ surface‐fed side‐channel. In contrast, in the groundwater‐fed side‐channel, with relatively higher water temperatures, the wood treatment slightly reduced the channel's carrying capacity and the spring output of coho salmon smolts. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rehabilitating the floodplain of the lower River Dyje for fish
Authors: Lusk Stanislav , Halačka Karel , Lusková Věra
Published: May 2003

The lower reaches of the River Dyje were heavily modified between 1975 and 1985. The river was straightened, isolating its meanders and reducing its length by 22%. As a consequence, the river bed showed a markedly lower diversity in both hydrological and morphological characteristics. Because the River Dyje forms the state boundary between the Czech Republic and Austria, fluvial activity of the lower reaches is excluded. Along the River Dyje an active alluvium has been preserved, with approximately 1300 hectares in the Czech Republic and somewhat less in Austria. The flow regime in the lower reaches is regulated by 19 water reservoirs and a number of fishponds, with a total capacity of approximately 45% of the annual drainage. These modifications have distinctly impacted the living conditions of the indigenous ichthyofauna. Based on the results of our ichthyological investigations from 1994 to 2000, we have recommended a number of modifications that could improve the environmental conditions for fishes: (i) controlled flooding of the alluvial meadows, aimed at creating conditions for the spawning of phytophilous fish species; (ii) restoration of permanent connections between separated river meanders and the River Dyje to increase the hydrological and morphological diversity in the river bed; (iii) creation of artificial pools in the floodplain to provide more suitable habitats for fishes. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Desnagging to resnagging: new directions in river rehabilitation in southeastern Australia
Authors: Erskine Wayne D. , Webb Ashley A.
Published: May 2003

Extensive desnagging (removal of large woody debris and living riparian vegetation) and associated river improvement works were conducted in rivers of southeastern Australia (Victoria and New South Wales) between at least 1886 and 1995. Swamp drainage, large woody debris removal and vegetation clearing were strongly supported by legislation, government funding and institutional arrangements in both states. As a result, large amounts of large woody debris were removed from rivers, regenerating indigenous vegetation was cleared from within designed alignment widths and, ironically, huge numbers of exotic trees, especially willows, were planted. The environmental impacts of desnagging have only been documented on a few impacted rivers but have included increased flow velocity, spatially extensive bed degradation, massive channel enlargement and loss of fish habitat. Recognition of the need for more integrated land and water management, and new research on the hydraulic, geomorphic, biogeographic and ecological significance of large woody debris and the values of indigenous riparian vegetation during the 1980s led to a major shift in river rehabilitation. We have drawn on our own and other published research to further develop a set of guidelines for the incorporation of large woody debris into river rehabilitation plans. Our guidelines extend those recently prepared for southeastern Australia and address site selection, where to place timber, the amount to be introduced, how to distribute it, techniques of introduction and woody debris sources. However, in the long term, riparian vegetation rehabilitation within the potential recruitment zone is essential to supply large woody debris. Given that our results demonstrate that very large woody debris makes a significant contribution to the total loading, it will be a very long time (>100 years) before natural recruitment can be recreated. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A 180,000-year pollen record from Owens Lake, CA: terrestrial vegetation change on orbital scales
Authors: Woolfenden Wallace B.
Published: May 2003

Pollen from the upper 90 m of core OL-92 from Owens Lake is a climatically sensitive record of vegetation change that indicates shifts in the plant associations representing warm and cold desertscrub, pinyon–juniper woodland, and pine–fir forest during the past 180,000 years. These changes are synchronized with glacial–interglacial cycles. During glacial and stadial climates, juniper woodland expanded downslope and replaced warm desert shrubs while upper montane and subalpine forests in the arid Inyo Mountains also expanded, and those in the Sierra Nevada were displaced by the ice cap and periglacial conditions. Conversely, during interglacial and interstadial climates, warm desert plants expanded their range in the lowlands, juniper and sagebrush retreated upslope, and montane and subalpine forests expanded in the Sierra Nevada. The reconstructed vegetation history demonstrates a regional climatic response, and the congruence of the pollen sequence with marine and ice cap oxygen isotope stratigraphies suggests a link between regional vegetation and global climate change at orbital scales.
Holocene climate and landscape evolution East of the Pechora Delta, East-European Russian Arctic
Authors: Väliranta Minna , Kaakinen Anu , Kuhry Peter
Published: May 2003

This study presents a multiproxy record of Holocene environmental change in the region East of the Pechora Delta. A peat plateau profile (Ortino II) is analyzed for plant macrofossils, sediment type, loss on ignition, and radiocarbon dating. A paleosol profile (Ortino III) is described and radiocarbon dated. A previously published peat plateau profile (Ortino I) was analyzed for pollen and conifer stomata, loss on ignition, and radiocarbon dating. The interpretation of the latter site is reassessed in view of new evidence. Spruce immigrated to the study area at about 8900 14C yr B.P. Peatland development started at approximately the same time. During the Early Holocene Hypsithermal taiga forests occupied most of the present East-European tundra and peatlands were permafrost free. Cooling started after 5000 14C yr B.P., resulting in a retreat of forests and permafrost aggradation. Remaining forests disappeared from the study area around 3000 14C yr B.P., coinciding with more permafrost aggradation. The retreat of forests resulted in landscape instability and the redistribution of sand by eolian activity. The displacement of the Arctic forest line and permafrost zones indicates a warming of at least 2–3°C in mean July and annual temperatures during the Early Holocene. At least two cooling periods can be recognized for the second half of the Holocene, starting at about 4800 and 3000 14C yr B.P.
Phytolith analysis from the archaeological site of Kush, Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
Authors: Ishida Sachiko , Parker Adrian G. , Kennet Derek , Hodson Martin J.
Published: May 2003

Despite the wealth of archaeological sites and excellent conditions for preservation, few phytolith investigations have been undertaken from the Arabian Gulf region. The results from the Sasanian and Islamic archaeological tell of Kush, Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, are presented. Kush is situated just inside the Gulf on an important trade route. The occupation sequence dates from the 4th century A.D. until the 13th century A.D., recording the development of the site in the Sasanian period, followed by the arrival of Islam in the 7th century A.D. and the final abandonment of the site in the late 13th century when the nearby site of al-Mataf (Julfar) began to develop closer to the present day coastline. All the samples analyzed contained abundant phytoliths (short cells, elongated cells, and groups of elongated cells) of various types. They included date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), papillae (possibly from barley (Hordeum)), and hair cells possibly from species of canary grass (Phalaris spp.). Some researchers have suggested that groups of elongated cells may indicate the presence of irrigation in semiarid environments. The present results for this class of phytoliths appeared to imply that intensive irrigation was unlikely to have taken place around Kush.
Influence of age, castration, and testosterone on T cell subsets in healthy and leukemia grafted mice
Authors: Aboudkhil Souad , Zaîd Abdelhamid , Henry Laurent , Bureau Jean‐Paul
Published: May 2003

Abstract The distribution of T cell subsets in pubertal (2 months) and post‐pubertal (10 months) mice showed a significant decrease in the percentage of CD4+ splenocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with age, unlike the percentage of CD8+ cells in PBL, which remained unchanged. The change in the distribution of T cell subsets in the spleen and blood occurred in 2 months old castrated mice, as in 10 months old animals. P388 tumor grew better in post‐pubertal and in castrated mice than in young mice. The intact mice survived longer than the castrated ones. The relative number of CD4+, CD8+ and CD2+ splenocytes was lower in transplanted intact mice than that in controls. The CD8+ and CD2+ subsets in the blood of 2 months transplanted mice were higher than those in controls, whereas in PBL, in 10 months old and castrated mice, the T lymphocyte subsets remain unchanged. Depo‐testosterone (DT) injection strongly reduced weight and tumor growth in all the intact and castrated animals. A significant correlation is observed between the tumor weight and testosterone level in the plasma of the 2 months old DT treated mice. Moreover, DT injection induced a significant increase in the percentage of blood CD8+ cells in all the batches. These data indicate that physiologically, androgens affect the age‐related distribution of lymphocyte T subsets and suggest that they slow down tumor growth, besides causing a direct effect, through an immunological process.
Cardiorespiratory system dynamics in chronic heart failure
Authors: Mangin L. , Monti A. , Médigue C.
Published: May 2003

Aims:

With the complex demodulation (CDM) method, we assessed the instantaneous amplitude and frequency of cardiovascular (CV) and respiratory oscillations, and the instant phase (IP) between the CV and respiratory signals using respiration as a periodic forced stimulation. We hypothesised a possible lack of synchronisation between CV and respiratory signals under regular breathing at different frequencies.

Methods:

RR interval (ECG), blood pressure (SBP/DBP, Finapress), respiration (Respitrace) were monitored during two random‐order periods of voluntary paced‐breathing (0.15 Hz/0.25 Hz) in 10 moderate CHF patients and 10 age‐matched controls. The CDM method provides the amplitude and frequency of a particular spectral component as a function of time in both LF and HF bands. IP between CV and respiratory oscillations was assessed using the real modulating breathing rate.

Results:

(i) Continuous phase variations between CV oscillations and the respiratory signal were evidenced in CHF patients, the slower the breathing rate, the greater the phase variation (RR/Resp; 0.25 Hz, 23±17°; 0.15 Hz, 46±57°, P<0.01; RR/Resp at 0.15 Hz 6±3 vs. 46±57 P<0.01 controls vs. CHF). Phase was constant in controls. (ii) In patients, the instant amplitude of the cardiovascular oscillations in the high frequency domain is more markedly altered when the breathing rate was slowed down as compared to controls.

Conclusion:

The lack of synchronisation between physiological signals during voluntary breathing in CHF patients highlights a central uncoupling between CV and respiratory neuronal activities.
PSII photochemistry, thermal energy dissipation, and the xanthophyll cycle in Kalanchoë daigremontiana exposed to a combination of water stress and high light
Authors: Lu Congming , Qiu Nianwei , Lu Qingtao , Wang Baoshan , Kuang Tingyun
Published: May 2003

Kalanchoë daigremontiana, a CAM plant grown in a greenhouse, was subjected to severe water stress. The changes in photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry were investigated in water‐stressed leaves. To separate water stress effects from photoinhibition, water stress was imposed at low irradiance (daily peak PFD 150 μmol m−2 s−1). There were no significant changes in the maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm), the traditional fluorescence induction kinetics (OIP) and the polyphasic fluorescence induction kinetics (OJIP), suggesting that water stress had no direct effects on the primary PSII photochemistry in dark‐adapted leaves. However, PSII photochemistry in light‐adapted leaves was modified in water‐stressed plants. This was shown by the decrease in the actual PSII efficiency (ΦPSII), the efficiency of excitation energy capture by open PSII centres (Fv′/Fm′), and photochemical quenching (qP), as well as a significant increase in non‐photochemical quenching (NPQ) in particular at high PFDs. In addition, photoinhibition and the xanthophyll cycle were investigated in water‐stressed leaves when exposed to 50% full sunlight and full sunlight. At midday, water stress induced a substantial decrease in Fv/Fm which was reversible. Such a decrease was greater at higher irradiance. Similar results were observed in ΦPSII, qP, and Fv′/Fm′. On the other hand, water stress induced a significant increase in NPQ and the level of zeaxanthin via the de‐epoxidation of violaxanthin and their increases were greater at higher irradiance. The results suggest that water stress led to increased susceptibility to photoinhibition which was attributed to a photoprotective process but not to a photodamage process. Such a photoprotection was associated with the enhanced formation of zeaxanthin via de‐epoxidation of violaxanthin. The results also suggest that thermal dissipation of excess energy associated with the xanthophyll cycle may be an important adaptive mechanism to help protect the photosynthetic apparatus from photoinhibitory damage for CAM plants normally growing in arid and semi‐arid areas where they are subjected to a combination of water stress and high light.
Low root zone temperature favours shoot B partitioning into young leaves of oilseed rape (Brassica napus)
Authors: Ye Zhengqian , Huang Longbin , Bell Richard W. , Dell Bernie
Published: May 2003

In previous studies with tropical plant species, low root zone temperature (RZT) induced boron (B) deficiency, but it is not known if the same response to RZT will be expressed in temperate species, like oilseed rape, that are more tolerant of low temperature. The present experiments investigated the effect of RZT (10 and 20°C) on oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. cv. Hyola 42) response to B in solution culture, in summer and winter. Regardless of canopy growth conditions, low RZT (10°C) promoted the partitioning of shoot B to the actively growing leaves, especially when B supply was low. However, low RZT did not significantly alter net B uptake rates or plant biomass. Low RZT decreased the shoot‐to‐root ratio, countering the effects of low B which increased it, leading to a decreased demand for B in the shoot at low RZT. At low B supply, B‐deficiency symptoms appeared later at 10 than at 20°C, corresponding with higher B concentrations in the youngest fully opened leaves (YOLs) at 10°C RZT. Thus 10°C RZT increased the tolerance to low B supply. As a result, it is concluded that the effect of decreasing RZT on the responses of the temperate species, oilseed rape, to low B supply depends on whether the low RZT is above or below the optimal root temperature for growth.
Hyper‐gravity effects on the Arabidopsis transcriptome
Authors: Martzivanou Maria , Hampp Rüdiger
Published: May 2003

Callus cultures of Arabidopsis thaliana (cv. Columbia) in Petri dishes were exposed to altered g‐forces by centrifugation (1–10 g). Using semi‐quantitative RT–PCR transcripts of genes coding for metabolic key enzymes (ADP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase, ADPG‐PP; β‐amylase, fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase, FBPase; glyceraldehyde‐P dehydrogenase, GAPDH; hydroxymethylglutaryl‐CoA reductase, HMG; phenylalanine‐ammonium‐lyase, PAL; PEP carboxylase, PEPC) were used to monitor threshold conditions for g‐number (all) and time of exposure (β‐amylase) which led to altered amounts of the gene product. Exposure to approximately 5 g and higher for 1 h resulted in altered transcript levels: transcripts of β‐amylase, PAL, and PEPC were increased, those of ADPG‐PP decreased, while those of FBPase, GAPDH, and HMG were not affected. This probably indicates a shift from starch synthesis to starch degradation and increased rates of anaplerosis (PEPC: supply of ketoacids for amino acid synthesis). In order to get more information about g‐related effects on gene expression, we used a 1‐h exposure to 7 g for a microarray analysis, using a commercial A. thaliana chip with 4105 unique annotated clusters/genes (IncyteGenomics). Transcripts of more than 200 genes were significantly increased in amount (ratio 7 g/1 g control; 21.6 and larger). They fall into several categories. Transcripts coding for enzymes of major pathways form the largest group (25%), followed by gene products involved in cellular organization and cell wall formation/rearrangement (17%), signalling, phosphorylation/dephosphorylation (12%), proteolysis and transport (10% each), hormone synthesis plus related events (8%), defense (4%), stress‐response (2%), and gravi‐sensing (2%). Many of the alterations are part of a general stress response, but some changes related to the synthesis/rearrangement of cell wall components could be more hyper‐g‐specific. We only found few gene products, which were decreased in relation to 1 g controls, and these were less significant (ratio < 21.6). We thus assume that g‐forces above a threshold of about 5 g for 1 h are sensed by plant cells in general, causing distinct metabolic responses, which obviously in part, are regulated by gene expression.
Osmotic water permeability of cell membranes from Mesembryanthemum crystallinum leaves: effects of age and salinity
Authors: Trofimova Marina S. , Zhestkova Inna M. , Kholodova Valentina P. , Andreev Igor M. , Sorokin Evgeny M. , Kruglova Anna G. , Kuznetsov Vladimir V.
Published: May 2003

The osmotic water permeability (Pos) of cell membranes isolated from leaves of 40‐, 50‐ and 60‐day‐old Mesembryanthemum crystallinum plants was estimated by measuring light‐scattering kinetics using stopped‐flow spectrophotometry. The measurements were performed on the plasma membrane (PM), purified tonoplast (TP), and TP‐enriched vesicles. The PM and TP‐enriched vesicles were obtained by partitioning the microsomal fraction in an aqueous polymer two‐phase system, whereas the purified TP vesicles were prepared by microsomal vesicle flotation on a sucrose cushion. The Pos of isolated membranes declined with plant age. The kinetic experiments showed that there was no difference between the Pos of the PM and TP isolated from plants of all ages. A 24‐h exposure of plants to 400 mM NaCl caused a decline in the Pos as well. These findings suggest that, during M. crystallinum transition to CAM, which was induced by plant ageing or salinity, plant osmoregulatory responses included changes in the Pos of the leaf‐cell membranes. These variations in the Pos are discussed in the context of adaptive mechanisms responsible for the maintenance of the water balance in the common ice plant.
The rate coefficient of repair of photosystem II after photoinactivation
Authors: He Jie , Chow Wah Soon
Published: May 2003

During photosynthesis, photoinactivation and repair of photosystem II (PSII) occur simultaneously, resulting in a net loss of functional PSII under a given irradiance. This study determines the rate coefficients for the partial processes, allowing the calculation of the partial rates at any concentration of functional/non‐functional PSII. The rate coefficient of photoinactivation was obtained from the onset of photoinactivation of PSII in leaf segments of Capsicum annuum L. in the absence of repair, and was in turn used to obtain the rate coefficient (kr) of repair of PSII when repair was occurring. The value of kr was found to be near maximum at an irradiance as low as 29 µmol photons m−2 s−1 and peaked at or somewhat above the growth irradiance; however, it declined on further increasing the irradiance, possibly due to oxidative stress. The value of kr was considerably decreased by elevating the CO2 to about 1%, particularly at low irradiance, probably due to acidification of the stroma to a pH outside the range that is optimal for protein synthesis. The method of determining kr is convenient to apply, not relying on radiolabelling and pulse‐chase experiments.
A return to romance: Winifred Holtby's spinster novels from between the wars
Authors: Gan Wendy
Published: May 2003

In ‘A return to romance: Winifred Holtby's spinster novels from between the wars’, I discuss Winifred Holtby's representations of the spinster in The Crowded Street, Poor Caroline and South Riding in the context of contemporary discourses on the spinster which, I argue, affect Holtby's representations negatively. I also suggest that despite Holtby's feminist desire to recuperate the much‐maligned spinster in her writing, her failure to decisively uncouple romance from the spinster narrative consolidates the spinster in her traditional social role and transforms alternatives to heterosexual marriage, such as work, into mere consolations for the unmarried woman.
Non‐Classical Export of an Adenovirus Structural Protein
Authors: Trotman Lloyd C. , Achermann Dominik P. , Keller Stephan , Straub Monika , Greber Urs F.
Published: May 2003

The icosahedral capsids of Adenoviruses (Ads) consist of the hexon and stabilizing proteins building the facettes, and of the vertex protein penton base (Pb) anchoring the protruding fibers. The fibers bind to the Coxsackie virus B Ad cell surface receptor (CAR) and Pb to integrins. Here we describe a novel property of the Ad2 Pb. Pb was found to leave the infected cell and, upon exit, it attached to the surrounding noninfected cells forming a radial gradient with highest Pb levels on cells adjacent to the infected cell. The producer cells remained intact until at least 30 h post infection. At this point, Pb was not recovered from the extracellular medium, suggesting that its cell–cell spread might not involve free Pb. When viral particles were released at late stages of infection, soluble Pb was found in the extracellular medium and it randomly bound to noninfected cells. Nonlytic export of Pb occurred upon transient transfection with plasmid DNA, but plasmid‐encoded fiber was not exported, indicating that cell–cell spread of Pb is autonomous of infection. Pb export was not affected by Brefeldin A‐induced disruption of the Golgi apparatus, suggesting that it occurred via a nonclassical mechanism. Interestingly, the coexpression of Pb and fiber leads to both Pb and fiber export, termed ‘protein abduction’. We suggest that fiber abduction might support viral dissemination in infected tissues by interfering with tissue integrity.
Otubains: a new family of cysteine proteases in the ubiquitin pathway
Authors: Balakirev Maxim Y , Tcherniuk Sergey O , Jaquinod Michel , Chroboczek Jadwiga
Published: May 2003

The modification of cellular proteins by ubiquitin (Ub) is an important event that underlies protein stability and function in eukaryotes. Protein ubiquitylation is a dynamic and reversible process; attached Ub can be removed by deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs), a heterogeneous group of cysteine proteases that cleave proteins precisely at the Ub–protein bond. Two families of DUBs have been identified previously. Here, we describe new, highly specific Ub iso‐peptidases, that have no sequence homology to known DUBs, but which belong to the OTU (ovarian tumour) superfamily of proteins. Two novel proteins were isolated from HeLa cells by affinity purification using the DUB‐specific inhibitor, Ub aldehyde (Ubal). We have named these proteins otubain 1 and otubain 2, for OTU‐domain Ubal‐binding protein. Functional analysis of otubains shows that the OTU domain contains an active cysteine protease site.
Polypeptide‐binding proteins mediate completion of co‐translational protein translocation into the mammalian endoplasmic reticulum
Authors: Tyedmers Jens , Lerner Monika , Wiedmann Martin , Volkmer Jörg , Zimmermann Richard
Published: May 2003

The first step in the secretion of most mammalian proteins is their transport into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Transport of pre‐secretory proteins into the mammalian ER requires signal peptides in the precursor proteins and a protein translocase in the ER membrane. In addition, hitherto unidentified lumenal ER proteins have been shown to be required for vectorial protein translocation. This requirement was confirmed in this study by using proteoliposomes that were made from microsomal detergent extracts and contained either low or high concentrations of lumenal ER proteins. Furthermore, immunoglobulin‐heavy‐chain‐binding protein (BiP) was shown to be able to substitute for the full set of lumenal proteins and, in the case of biotinylated precursor proteins, avidin was found to be able to substitute for lumenal proteins. Thus, the polypeptide‐chain‐binding protein BiP was identified as one lumenal protein that is involved in efficient vectorial protein translocation into the mammalian ER.
Covariations in the nuclear chloroplast transcriptome reveal a regulatory master‐switch
Authors: Richly Erik , Dietzmann Angela , Biehl Alexander , Kurth Joachim , Laloi Christophe , Apel Klaus , Salamini Francesco , Leister Dario
Published: May 2003

The evolution of the endosymbiotic progenitor into the chloroplast organelle was associated with the transfer of numerous chloroplast genes into the nucleus. Hence, inter‐organellar signalling, and the co‐ordinated expression of sets of nuclear genes, was set up to control the metabolic and developmental status of the chloroplast. Here, we show by the differential‐expression analysis of 3,292 genes, that most of the 35 environmental and genetic conditions tested, including plastid signalling mutations, elicit only three main classes of response from the nuclear chloroplast transcriptome. Two classes, probably involving GUN (genomes uncoupled)‐type plastid signalling, are characterized by alterations, in opposite directions, in the expression of largely overlapping sets of genes.
Factors of home dream recall: a structural equation model
Authors: Schredl Michael , Wittmann Lutz , Ciric Petra , GÖtz Simon
Published: May 2003

Previous research has indicated that personality factors such as openness to experience, creativity, visual memory, attitude toward dreams, and sleep behavior is related to home dream recall frequency (DRF). However, a study investigating all areas simultaneously within one sample in order to determine the percentage of variance explained by all variables and to take intercorrelations between the influencing factors into account has not been performed till now. The present study with 444 participants fills this gap. Using several indicators for each of the variables mentioned above, a structural equation model was tested. Although the model fit was satisfying, the four factors which were significantly related to DRF: personality (openness to experience, thin boundaries, absorption), creativity, nocturnal awakenings, and attitude toward dreams, explained only 8.4% of the total variance. As this value is considerably lower than those of studies investigating a single influencing factor and using similar measurement instruments in similar samples, one might speculate about possible expectancy effects in these previous studies, an effect which has been demonstrated for DRF in the laboratory setting. In addition, the small percentage of explained variance of each single factors (<3%) may indicate that other, in this study unmeasured, variables such as sleep duration (state aspect), introspection, and cognitive functioning immediately upon awakening (sleep inertia) show substantial covariance with the interindividual differences in DRF. Future studies should focus on longitudinal aspects in order to differentiate between state versus trait factors (although methodologic issues, e.g. the effect of the measurement technique on DRF itself, have to be clarified) and investigate additional variables which might be associated with DRF (see above).
Image size magnification and power and dilation factors for optical instruments in general
Authors: Harris W. F.
Published: May 2003

Traditional treatments of spectacle magnification for distant objects consider only stigmatic spectacle lenses and they compare the retinal image size in a refractively fully compensated eye with the image size in the uncompensated eye. Spectacle magnification is expressed as a product of two factors, the power and shape factors of the lens. The power factor depends on the position of the entrance pupil of the eye. For an eye with an astigmatic cornea, however, the position of the entrance pupil is not well defined. Thus, the traditional approach to spectacle magnification does not generalize properly to allow for astigmatism. Within the constraints of linear optics and subject to the restriction that the eye's iris remains the aperture stop, this paper provides a complete, unified and exact treatment for optical instruments in general. It compares retinal image size in a generalized sense (including image shape and orientation) for any instrument in front of an eye with that of the eye alone irrespective of whether the instrument compensates or not. The approach does not make use of the concept of the entrance pupil at all and it allows for astigmatism and for non‐alignment of refracting elements in the instrument and in the eye. The concept of spectacle magnification generalizes to the concept of instrument size magnification. Instrument size magnification can be expressed as the product of two matrix factors one of which can be interpreted as a power factor (as back‐vertex power) and the other factor for which the name dilation factor is more appropriate in general. The general treatment is then applied to a number of special cases including afocal instruments, spectacle lenses (including obliquely crossing thick bitoric lenses), contact lenses, stigmatic systems and stigmatic eyes. In the case of spectacle lenses, the dilation factor reduces to the usual shape factor.
Influence of in situ applied stress during thermal oxidation of (111)Si on Pb interface defects
Authors: Stesmans A. , Pierreux D. , Jaccodine R. J. , Lin M.-T. , Delph T. J.
Published: May 2003

The results of a series of experiments are reported in which constant, controlled levels of in-plane stress were applied in situ to oxidizing (111) silicon substrates. Electron spin resonance measurements show that the properties of inherently incorporated electrically active Pb defects at the (111)Si/SiO2 interface are affected; among others, tensile stresses decrease the number of Pbs, while compressive stresses have the opposite effect. The results are in agreement with the generally accepted relationship between Pb-defect generation and interfacial mismatch (stress).
Enhanced p-type conduction in GaN and AlGaN by Mg-δ-doping
Authors: Nakarmi M. L. , Kim K. H. , Li J. , Lin J. Y. , Jiang H. X.
Published: May 2003

Mg-δ-doping in GaN and AlGaN epilayers has been investigated by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. It was demonstrated through electrical, optical, and structural studies that Mg-δ-doping improves not only p-type conduction, but also the overall quality of p-type GaN and AlGaN epilayers. A twofold (fivefold) enhancement in lateral (vertical) p-type conduction have been achieved for GaN and AlGaN epilayers. It is argued that the observed dislocation density reduction (of about one order of magnitude) is due to the growth interruption in the Mg-δ-doping duration that partially terminates the dislocation propagation in the growth direction. Furthermore, Mg-δ-doping also reduces Mg impurity self-compensation and enhances hole concentrations in Mg-δ-doped GaN or AlGaN.
Element-specific magnetic properties of the epitaxial NiFe/Cr/NiFe trilayers
Authors: Lee I. F. , Shen M. Y. , Lay Y. Y. , Jan J. C. , Chiou J. W. , Tsai H. M. , Pong W. F. , Tsai M.-H. , Hsieh H. H. , Lin H.-J. , Lee J. F. , Ku C. A. , Huang J. C. A.
Published: May 2003

Ni and Fe L3,2-edge magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and Cr K-edge x-ray absorption near-edge structure measurements have been performed for the Py/Cr(tCr)/Py (Py=Ni80Fe20) trilayers with tCr=5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 Å. The MCD asymmetry ratios in the Ni and Fe L3-edges spectra are found strongly affected by the thickness of the Cr layer. The moments of the Fe and Ni 3d states are found, respectively, to decrease and increase suddenly when tCr increases beyond 20 Å. The measured magneto-optical Kerr effect hysteresis loops show a ferromagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic phase transition at about the same Cr-layer thickness. The transition of the magnetic property is found to correlate with the structural transition of the Cr spacer layer from a pseudomorphic fcc-like structure to a bcc structure.
Electrical conductivity measurements of oxides from molten state to glassy state
Authors: Simonnet Claire , Phalippou Jean , Malki Mohammed , Grandjean Agnès
Published: May 2003

This article describes an experimental setup designed to measure the electrical conductivity of molten and viscous oxides from 1200 to 400 °C. The “4-electrode” method was adapted to perform impedance measurements over wide temperature and frequency ranges. High-frequency electrode effects were calculated and eliminated. Low-frequency electrode polarization was avoided with the 4-electrode configuration. The ac impedance was measured at one immersion depth. Calibration and complex impedance analysis were necessary to obtain the electrical conductivity of the melt. The results of this technique for a borosilicate melt are presented and compared with those of high-temperature calibration-free solid-state measurements, and their accuracy is evaluated.
CO
2
laser polarimeter for electron density profile measurement on the Large Helical Device
Authors: Akiyama T. , Tsuji-Iio S. , Shimada R. , Nakayama K. , Okajima S. , Takahashi M. , Terai K. , Tanaka K. , Tokuzawa T. , Kawahata K.
Published: May 2003

We developed a three-channel tangential CO2 laser polarimeter to measure electron densities on the Large Helical Device. Our system aims to obtain not only the line averaged electron density but also the electron density profile. The achieved resolution of the Faraday rotation angle was 0.01° with a response time of 3 ms by digital complex demodulation combined with digital filtering. The phase fluctuations whose amplitude is typically 0.05° with a time constant of several seconds were observed. It was found that they were caused by beam axis fluctuations from bench top experiments. In the case of pellet injected plasmas it was demonstrated that the polarimeter could measure the time evolution of the Faraday rotation with high reliability and resolution. The calibrated rotation angle of all chords were well consistent with interferometer data. Assuming the functional dependence of the density profile, we estimated the density profile after pellet injections from three-channel polarimeter data iteratively. As a result, obtained profiles agreed with those measured with the 13-channel far infrared interferometer.
Direct contact packed bed thermal gradient attenuators: Theoretical analysis and experimental observations
Authors: Lawton Kevin M. , Patterson Steven R. , Keanini Russell G.
Published: May 2003

This article theoretically and experimentally characterizes direct contact, packed bed thermal gradient attenuators in which a fluid control stream, subject to broadband thermal disturbances, flows through a thermally attenuating packed bed medium. The theoretical model decomposes the device into three subsystems: an upper mixing volume, the packed bed, and a lower mixing volume. Analysis of the packed bed subsystem leads to a coupled system of equations that describe local heat transfer within the control stream and within individual spherical elements comprising the packed bed; the system of equations obtained has the same general form as that derived in an earlier investigation of tube-in-shell, noncontact thermal gradient attenuators [J. Heat Transfer 123, 796 (2001)]. Associated subsystem transfer functions are derived, and in analogy with observations reported in the earlier investigation, are shown to provide simple, unambiguous criteria for designing and optimizing packed bed attenuators. It is found that, for 52 different sets of experimental conditions, theoretical performance of the device matches experimental performance to within 2.5 dB root mean square, and that the device provides several orders of magnitude attenuation for flow rates on the order of 1 l/min and disturbance frequencies higher than approximately 10 mHz. The results of the present study and the earlier investigation together provide a useful basis for analyzing and designing large and small, contacting and noncontacting, thermal gradient attenuators.
Fabrication of biological microarrays using microcantilevers
Authors: Belaubre P. , Guirardel M. , Garcia G. , Pourciel J. B. , Leberre V. , Dagkessamanskaia A. , Trévisiol E. , François J. M. , Bergaud C.
Published: May 2003

Arrays of silicon-based microcantilevers with properly designed passivated aluminum electrodes have been used to generate microarrays by depositing microspots of biological samples using a direct contact deposition technique. The approach proposed here can be compared to the dip-pen technique but with the noticeable difference that electrostatic fields are generated onto the cantilevers to increase the height of liquid rise on the cantilever surface when dipping them into the liquid to be deposited. Both electrowetting through the reduction of the contact angle and dielectrophoresis through electrostatic forces can be used to favor the loading efficiency. These phenomena are particularly pronounced on the microscale due to the fact that physical scaling laws favor electrostatic forces. Moreover, at this scale, conductive heat dissipation is enhanced and therefore joule heating can be minimized. Using this approach, with a single loading, arrays of more than a hundred spots, from the femtoliter to the picoliter range, containing fluorescent-labeled oligonucleotides and proteins were directly patterned on a glass slide.