bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INTERNATIONALIZATION OF EXTENSION: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Authors: Ludwig Barbara G. , Barrick R. Kirby
Published: January 2011

Extension systems across the country have been challenged to integrate international perspectives into programs and assist staff and clientele in developing global competency. For the past decade, national Extension leaders have encouraged state Extension systems to internationalize. Few studies have been conducted related to internationalization of the Extension component of the land grant university system. The purpose of the study was to identify the characteristics that will describe an internationalized state Extension system. The study used a three-round, modified Delphi technique to explore and describe the characteristics of an internationalized state Extension system. By consensus, the Delphi Panel identified 38 characteristics of an internationalized state Extension system. Five critical elements were identified: (1) Clientele develop a fundamental understanding of global and national interdependence; (2) Extension educational programs within the U.S. stress the impact of international economic forces on agricultural markets; (3) Extension educators incorporate international perspectives into on-going activities; (4) Extension faculty/agents recognize the relationship between basic international issues and the Extension mission; and (5) Personnel evaluation systems recognize international efforts. The absence of any one of these critical element would mean that the Extension system could not be considered to be internationalized.
AGENT TURNOVER IN OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Authors: Rousan Laith M. , Henderson Janet L.
Published: January 2011

The main purpose of the study was to determine the reasons why agents voluntarily leave Ohio State University Extension. Between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 1994, 67 county agents voluntarily left OSU Extension. The specific objectives of the study were to: a) describe county agents who voluntarily left OSU Extension based on selected characteristics and b) determine the percentage of county agents who voluntarily left OSU Extension due to organizational, individual work-related, and individual non-work related factors. Based upon the findings of the study, agents who voluntarily leave OSU Extension are most likely to be Caucasian females, in their early thirties holding a Master*s degree who are married with no children. They are also more likely to be in a non-tenure track position in a single county working in the 4-H program area. Furthermore, the results of this study reveal county agents are most likely to leave OSU Extension because of other priorities in their lives, other job offers, insufficient pay for the amount of work performed, family obligations, too many late night meetings, too many work responsibilities, and attraction to more money elsewhere.
SCIENCE CREDIT FOR AGRICULTURE: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED EFFECTS AND TEACHER SUPPORT
Authors: Johnson Donald M.
Published: January 2011

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between Arkansas agriculture teachers’ perceptions of the effects of offering science credit for agriculture and their support for offering science credit for agriculture. Vroom’s (1964) expectancy theory of human motivation formed the theoretical framework for the study. The results indicated that: (a) Arkansas agriculture teachers strongly support granting science credit for agriculture, and (b) that a practically significant portion of the variance in support for science credit could be explained by a linear combination of five perceived effect components. Teachers’ perceptions of the Student Benefits effect component was the most powerful predictor of support for science credit, followed (in descending order) by the Negative Impact, Program Benefits, Enrollment, and Science Content effect components. The results of the study support the efficacy of Vroom’s (1964) expectancy theory of human motivation. Recommendations are made for professional practice and for further research.
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND THE 1862 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS: THE REST OF THE STORY
Authors: Herren Ray V. , Hillison John
Published: January 2011

Agricultural Education has had a close working relationship with land-grant universities since they were started in 1862. Many teacher educators refer to the 1862 Act as the Morrill Act. However, others besides Justin Morrill deserve credit for the Act and its passage. There were many false starts along the road to passage of the Act. One of the most fundamental decisions was whether agricultural education teachers should be prepared at land-grant universities or at normal schools. While many agricultural education teacher educators have taught the history of the land-grant act, few have taught the total history because only a few have known it. Jonathan Baldwin Turner of Illinois deserves credit for creating the concept of the land-grant university and advocating its establishment over a 20 year period. After several attempts, including one Presidential veto by James Buchanan, the bill finally became law. One important part of the passage was the Civil War which took several conservative and state rights Senators and Congressmen out of Washington and permitted the Northern legislators to pass the bill. Advocates of normal schools decided they would like to train agricultural education teachers and even got a provision in one of the predecessors to the Smith-Hughes Act to require it. However, land-grant universities had more clout and became the main source of teacher preparation. This decision placed agricultural education teachers administratively closer to agriculturalists than pedagogical specialists.
EFFECTS OF TEACHING APPROACH ON ACHIEVEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION STUDENTS WITH VARYING LEARNING STYLES
Authors: Dyer James E. , Osborne Edward W.
Published: January 2011

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the problem solving approach to the subject matter approach in teaching given units of instructions to students of varying learning styles. Results indicated that three distinct learning styles were present in high school agriculture classes (field-independent, field-dependent, field-neutral). The majority of students was field-independent. As the treatment, neither the problem solving nor subject matter approach produced significantly higher achievement scores in classes taught by the respective approach. Likewise, the learning style of the student did not result in significantly higher scores. However, when teaching approach was analyzed across learning styles, field-neutral learners were found to score significantly higher on achievement tests when taught in classes using the problem solving approach.
THE INSERVICE NEEDS OF BEGINNING TEACHERS OF AGRICULTURE AS PERCEIVED BY BEGINNING TEACHERS, TEACHER EDUCATORS, AND STATE SUPERVISORS
Authors: Garton Bryan L. , Chung Namyong
Published: January 2011

The purpose of the study was to identify and prioritize the inservice needs of beginning agriculture teachers in the state of Missouri. The target populations for the study consisted of beginning (first- and second-year) agriculture teachers in Missouri during the 1994-95 academic year (N=37) and members of the Joint State Staff in Agricultural Education, which included teacher educators and state supervisors (N=16). Census populations were used. An instrument, using the Borich needs assessment model, was developed to assess the perceived level of importance and perceived level of competence of beginning teachers regarding 50 professional competencies. Twelve of the 50 professional competencies were identified by the beginning teachers as having a greater need for inservice education. The technical agriculture competencies were ranked lower in priority for inservice when compared to professional competencies in the areas of instruction, program planning and evaluation, and program administration. In general, the ranking of the inservice needs by the beginning teachers did not correspond with the rankings of the inservice needs as perceived by teacher educators and state supervisors.
REACHING HIGHER LEVELS OF COGNITION USING PUBLICATIONS
Authors: Boone Kristina , Miller Larry E. , Brown Larry C.
Published: January 2011

Publications are used extensively by adult and rural educational organizations, including Extension, to educate people when face-to-face contact is not possible or when adjunct instruction is necessary or useful. Yet, very little research has been conducted regarding the level of cognition that is achieved after reading publications. Using the Newcomb-Trefz Model of Cognition, an experiment was designed to determine the effect of two, four-page publications on Extension clientele’s cognition. Results demonstrated that the subjects learned from Extension publications and achieved higher-levels of cognition. Cognition was not highly correlated with education level. Higher correlations were seen between cognition and education level for the control groups than for treatment groups. With the tremendous amount of information available via the information superhighway, Extension should concentrate on producing media that have an educational edge in enhancing cognition.
An analysis of the collection 5 MODIS over-ocean aerosol optical depth product for its implication in aerosol assimilation
Authors: Shi Y. , Zhang J. , Reid J. S. , Holben B. , Hyer E. J. , Curtis C.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. As an update to our previous use of the collection 4 Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) over-ocean aerosol optical depth (AOD) data, we examined ten years of Terra and eight years of Aqua collection 5 data for its potential usage in aerosol assimilation. Uncertainties in the over-ocean MODIS AOD were studied as functions of observing conditions, such as surface characteristics, aerosol optical properties, and cloud artifacts. Empirical corrections and quality assurance procedures were developed and compared to collection 4 data. After applying these procedures, the Root-Mean-Square-Error (RMSE) in the MODIS Terra and Aqua AOD are reduced by 30% and 10–20%, respectively, with respect to AERONET data. Ten years of Terra and eight years of Aqua quality-assured level 3 MODIS over-ocean aerosol products were produced. The newly developed MODIS over-ocean aerosol products will be used in operational aerosol assimilation and aerosol climatology studies, as well as other research based on MODIS products.
Absorbing aerosol in the troposphere of the Western Arctic during the 2008 ARCTAS/ARCPAC airborne field campaigns
Authors: Mc Naughton C. S. , Clarke A. D. , Freitag S. , Kapustin V. N. , Kondo Y. , Moteki N. , Sahu L. , Takegawa N. , Schwarz J. P. , Spackman J. R. , Watts L. , Diskin G. , Podolske J. , Holloway J. S. , Wisthaler A. , Mikoviny T. , de Gouw J. , Warneke C. , Jimenez J. , Cubison M. , Howell S. G. , Middlebrook A. , Bahreini R. , Anderson B. E. , Winstead E. , Thornhill K. L. , Lack D. , Cozic J. , Brock C. A.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. In the spring of 2008 NASA and NOAA funded the ARCTAS and ARCPAC field campaigns as contributions to POLARCAT, a core IPY activity. During the campaigns the NASA DC-8, P-3B and NOAA WP-3D aircraft conducted over 150 h of in-situ sampling between 0.1 and 12 km throughout the Western Arctic north of 55° N (i.e. Alaska to Greenland). All aircraft were equipped with multiple wavelength measurements of aerosol optics, trace gas and aerosol chemistry measurements, as well as direct measurements of black carbon mass and the aerosol size distribution. Late April of 2008 proved to be exceptional in terms of Asian biomass burning emissions transported to the Western Arctic. Though these smoke plumes account for only 11–14% of the samples within the Western Arctic domain, they account for 43–47% of the total burden of black carbon. Light absorbing carbon from urban/industrial activities and biomass burning together account for 93–98% of total light absorption in the middle troposphere. Light absorption by mineral dust accounts for the remaining absorption in the middle troposphere, but up to 14% near the surface and in the upper troposphere below the tropopause. Stratifying the data to reduce the influence of dust allows us to determine mass absorption efficiencies for black carbon of 11.2±0.8, 9.5±0.6 and 7.4±0.7 m2 g−1 at 470, 530 and 660 nm wavelengths. These estimates are consistent with 35–80% enhancements in 530 nm absorption due to clear or slightly absorbing coatings of pure black carbon particulate. Assuming a 1/λ wavelength dependence for BC absorption, and assuming that refractory aerosol (420 °C, τ = 0.1 s) in low-dust samples is dominated by brown carbon, we derive mass absorption efficiencies for brown carbon of 0.83±0.15 and 0.27±0.08 m2 g−1 at 470 and 530 nm wavelengths. Estimates for the mass absorption efficiencies of Asian Dust are 0.034 m2 g−1 and 0.017 m2 g−1. However the values are highly uncertain due to the limitations imposed by PSAP instrument noise. In-situ ARCTAS/ARCPAC measurements during the IPY provide valuable constraints for absorbing aerosol over the Western Arctic, species which are currently poorly simulated over a region that is critically under-sampled.
Bayesian statistical modeling of spatially correlated error structure in atmospheric tracer inverse analysis
Authors: Mukherjee C. , Kasibhatla P. S. , West M.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. Inverse modeling applications in atmospheric chemistry are increasingly addressing the challenging statistical issues of data synthesis by adopting refined statistical analysis methods. This paper advances this line of research by addressing several central questions in inverse modeling, focusing specifically on Bayesian statistical computation. Motivated by problems of refining bottom-up estimates of source/sink fluxes of trace gas and aerosols based on increasingly high-resolution satellite retrievals of atmospheric chemical concentrations, we address head-on the need for integrating formal spatial statistical methods of residual error structure in global scale inversion models. We do this using analytically and computationally tractable spatial statistical models, know as conditional autoregressive spatial models, as components of a global inversion framework. We develop Markov chain Monte Carlo methods to explore and fit these spatial structures in an overall statistical framework that simultaneously estimates source fluxes. Additional aspects of the study extend the statistical framework to utilize priors in a more physically realistic manner, and to formally address and deal with missing data in satellite retrievals. We demonstrate the analysis in the context of inferring carbon monoxide (CO) sources constrained by satellite retrievals of column CO from the Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument on the TERRA satellite, paying special attention to evaluating performance of the inverse approach using various statistical diagnostic metrics. This is developed using synthetic data generated to resemble MOPITT data to define a~proof-of-concept and model assessment, and then in analysis of real MOPITT data.
Weekly cycles in precipitation in a polluted region of Europe
Authors: Stjern C. W.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. Weekly cycles in aerosol concentration and corresponding cycles in precipitation have been reported over Europe, but results are conflicting. To obtain a large potential effect of aerosols on precipitation we here focus on a highly polluted region on the borders between Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. Meteorological parameters from 30 surface stations in a mix of urban, rural and remote locations were analyzed for the time period 1983–2008, using three different tests: the Kruskal-Wallis test, a spectral analysis and a comparison of the regular 7-day week to constructed 6- and 8-day weeks. We expect a clear and statistically significant weekly cycle to pass all three tests. Precipitation amount and meteorological variables associated with convective conditions, such as the frequency of heavy precipitation events and observations of rain showers, showed two-peak weekly cycles with maxima on Tuesdays and during weekends. The amplitude of the precipitation cycle increased with longitude towards the more polluted eastern part of the region, but the statistical significance of the cycles did not change correspondingly. The amplitudes of the weekly cycles were in many cases larger for the heavily polluted 1983–1987 period than for the cleaner 2004–2008 as well as the total period, but were equally often largest in the clean period. Moreover, of all the variables, periods and seasons investigated, the weekly cycles were statistically significant only for summertime values of light precipitation frequency and cloud amount, and only by one of the three tests applied. Conclusively, clear weekly cycles in meteorological variables were not found in this polluted region of Europe.
Modeling biogeochemical processes in sediments from the Rhône River prodelta area (NW Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: Pastor L. , Cathalot C. , Deflandre B. , Viollier E. , Soetaert K. , Meysman F. J. R. , Ulses C. , Metzger E. , Rabouille C.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. In-situ oxygen microprofiles, sediment organic carbon content and pore-water concentrations of nitrate, ammonium, iron, manganese and sulfides obtained in sediments from the Rhône River prodelta and its adjacent continental shelf were used to constrain a numerical diagenetic model. Results showed that (1) organic matter from the Rhône River is composed of a fraction of fresh material associated to high first-order degradation rate constants (11–33 yr−1), (2) burial efficiency (burial/input ratio) in the Rhône prodelta (within 3 km of the river outlet) can be up to 80%, and decreases to ~20% on the adjacent continental shelf 10–15 km further offshore (3) there is a large contribution of anoxic processes to total mineralization in sediments near the river mouth, certainly due to large inputs of fresh organic material combined with high sedimentation rates, (4) diagenetic by-products originally produced during anoxic organic matter mineralization are almost entirely precipitated (>97%) and buried in the sediment, which leads to (5) a low contribution of the re-oxidation of reduced products to total oxygen consumption. Consequently, total carbon mineralization rates as based on oxygen consumption rates and using Redfield stoichiometry can be largely underestimated in such River Ocean dominated Margins (RiOMar) environments.
Auto-control of pumping operations in sewerage systems by rule-based fuzzy neural networks
Authors: Chiang Y.-M. , Chang L.-C. , Tsai M.-J. , Wang Y.-F. , Chang F.-J.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. Pumping stations play an important role in flood mitigation in metropolitan areas. The existing sewerage systems, however, are facing a great challenge of fast rising peak flow resulting from urbanization and climate change. It is imperative to construct an efficient and accurate operating prediction model for pumping stations to simulate the drainage mechanism for discharging the rainwater in advance. In this study, we propose two rule-based fuzzy neural networks, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and counterpropagation fuzzy neural network for on-line predicting of the number of open and closed pumps of a pivotal pumping station in Taipei city up to a lead time of 20 min. The performance of ANFIS outperforms that of CFNN in terms of model efficiency, accuracy, and correctness. Furthermore, the results not only show the predictive water levels do contribute to the successfully operating pumping stations but also demonstrate the applicability and reliability of ANFIS in automatically controlling the urban sewerage systems.
On the factors influencing surface-layer energy balance closure and their seasonal variability over semi-arid loess plateau of Northwest China
Authors: Xiao X. , Zuo H. C. , Yang Q. D. , Wang S. J. , Wang L. J. , Chen J. W. , Chen B. L. , Zhang B. D.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. In the context of September 2006–August 2010 eddy covariance data of the Semi-Arid Climate Change and Environment Observatory, Lanzhou University (SACOL) as a platform of the Key Laboratory of Semi-Arid Climate Change, Ministry of Education, an intensive study is performed of the SACOL data quality and energy balance closure (EBC) characteristics on a seasonal basis, the EBC impacts of the flux contribution from the target source zone, the low-frequency part of the turbulence spectra, turbulent mixing intensity and diverse schemes for surface soil heat fluxes. Evidence suggests that (1) through the steady state test (SST) and integral turbulence characteristics (ITC) tests as well as analysis of flux contribution from target area to the EBC, it is found that most of the eddy covariance data are within a domain of effective quality. The valid data account for 77.5, 75.4, 68.3 and 61.6% of seasonal total for spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively; (2) the EBC shows its appreciable seasonal variability, with the energy residual making up 19.0, 14.8, 11.6 and 7.7% of net radiation in winter, summer, autumn and spring, respectively; (3) (i) Flux contribution from the target zone has greater EBC impact and as the flux contribution in percentage increases, EBC is correspondingly improved. Even the percentage reaches 100%, the energy balance fails to be closed entirely. (ii) The Ogive function analysis shows that the EBC suffers the effect of relatively small (maximum) low-frequency turbulent flux in spring and summer (winter). (iii) Turbulence intensity exerts noticeable impact on the EBC; when turbulent mixing arrives at certain intensity, the EBC is in an optimal state and stabilized. (iv) Different schemes of surface soil thermal flux have significant effect on the EBC.
A framework for the quantitative assessment of climate change impacts on water-related activities at the basin scale
Authors: Anghileri D. , Pianosi F. , Soncini-Sessa R.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. While quantitative assessment of the climate change impact on hydrology at the basin scale is quite addressed in the literature, extension of quantitative analysis to impact on the ecological, economic and social sphere is still limited, although well recognized as a key issue to support water resource planning and promote public participation. In this paper we propose a framework for assessing climate change impact on water-related activities at the basin scale. The peculiarities of our approach are that: (i) the impact quantification is based on a set of performance indicators defined together with the stakeholders, thus explicitly taking into account the water-users preferences; (ii) the management policies are obtained by optimal control techniques, linking stakeholder expectations and decision-making; (iii) the multi-objective nature of the management problem is fully preserved by simulating a set of Pareto-optimal management policies, which allows for evaluating not only variations in the indicator values but also tradeoffs among conflicting objectives. The framework is demonstrated by application to a real world case study, Lake Como basin (Italy). We show that the most conflicting water-related activities within the basin (i.e. hydropower production and agriculture) are likely to be negatively impacted by climate change. An uncertainty analysis is performed in order to assess how the climate natural variability and approximations in modeling the physical system (climate and hydrology) and the socio-economic system (management policy) affect the robustness of the estimated impacts. We demonstrate that the contribution of natural climate uncertainty is rather significant and that, among different modelling uncertainty sources, the one from climate modeling is very significant.
Hydrologic feasibility of artificial forestation in the semi-arid Loess Plateau of China
Authors: Jin T. T. , Fu B. J. , Liu G. H. , Wang Z.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. Hydrologic viability in terms of moisture availability is fundamental for ecosystem sustainability in arid and semiarid regions. This study was conducted to examine the regional scale and after-planting variations of soil moisture for planted Black Locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) plantations in the Loess Plateau of China. 30 sites spanning for 300 km long and 190 km wide in the Northern Shaanxi Province were selected in all. On the regional scale, SMC spatial variability was most closely correlated to rainfall. A large amount of herbaceous cover helped increase the moisture level in the topsoil (0–10 cm), and soil moisture in the deeper layer between 20 and 60 cm below the surface was mostly affected by plantations. The after planting SMC of artificial plantations in areas with sufficient precipitation (mean annual precipitation (MAP) 617 mm) may increase with stand age due to soil water-holding capacity and soil water retention ability improvements after planting. For areas in water shortage (MAP 509 mm), evapotranspiration caused the soil of the plantation to dry up in the first 20 years of growth. Then as the plantation aged, evapotranspiration decreased, and the soil profile recovered gradually. In areas where water was extremely lacking, soil moisture was too rare to be used by trees, and after-planting SMC variation with stand age was insignificant. For the sustainability of artificial ecosystem, the construction of artificial plantations needs to be thoroughly evaluated on regional scale based on the climate conditions (especially rainfall) and soil moisture conditions in arid and semiarid areas.
Metrological traceability of oceanographic salinity measurement results
Authors: Seitz S. , Feistel R. , Wright D. G. , Weinreben S. , Spitzer P. , De Bièvre P.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. Consistency of observed oceanographic salinity data is discussed with respect to contemporary metrological concepts. The claimed small uncertainty of salinity measurement results traceable to the conductivity ratio of a certified IAPSO Standard Seawater reference is not metrologically justified if results are compared on climatic time scales. This applies in particular to Practical Salinity SP, Reference Salinity SR, and the latest estimates of Absolute Salinity using the TEOS-10 formalism. On climate time scales an additional contribution to the uncertainty that is related to unknown property changes of the reference material must be accounted for. Moreover, when any of these measured or calculated quantity values is used to estimate Absolute Salinity of a seawater sample under investigation, another uncertainty contribution is required to quantify the accuracy of the equations relating the actually measured quantity to the Absolute Salinity. Without accounting for these additional uncertainties, such results cannot be used to estimate Absolute Salinity with respect to the International System of Units (SI), i.e. to the unit chosen for the mass fraction of dissolved material in the sample, which is "g kg−1". From a metrological point of view, such deficiencies in the calculations involving other quantities will produce SI-incompatible results. We outline how these problems can be overcome by linking salinity to primary SI measurement standards.
Getting around Antarctica: new high-resolution mappings of the grounded and freely-floating boundaries of the Antarctic ice sheet created for the International Polar Year
Authors: Bindschadler R. , Choi H. , Wichlacz A. , Bingham R. , Bohlander J. , Brunt K. , Corr H. , Drews R. , Fricker H. , Hall M. , Hindmarsh R. , Kohler J. , Padman L. , Rack W. , Rotschky G. , Urbini S. , Vornberger P. , Young N.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. The boundary of grounded ice and the location of ice transitioning to a freely floating state are mapped at 15-m resolution around the entire continent of Antarctica. These data products are produced by participants of the International Polar Year project ASAID using customized software combining Landsat-7 imagery and ICESat laser altimetry. The grounded ice boundary is 53 610 km long; 74% of it abuts to floating ice shelves or outlet glaciers, 19% is adjacent to open or sea-ice covered ocean, and 7% of the boundary are land terminations with bare rock. Elevations along each line are selected from 6 candidate digital elevation models: two created from the input ICESat laser altimetry and Landsat data, two from stereo satellite imagery, and two from compilations of primarily radar altimetry. Elevation selection and an assignment of confidence in the elevation value are based on agreement with ICESat elevation values and shape of the surface inferred from the Landsat imagery. Elevations along the freely-floating boundary (called the hydrostatic line) are converted to ice thicknesses by applying a firn-correction factor and a flotation criterion. The relationship between the seaward offset of the hydrostatic line from the grounding line only weakly matches a prediction based on beam theory. Airborne data are used to validate the technique of grounding line mapping, elevation selection and ice thickness derivation. The mapped products along with the customized software to generate them and a variety of intermediate products are available from the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Retinitis Pigmentosa Inversa with Unilateral High Myopia with Fellow Eye Optic Disc Pitting
Authors: Sheth Saumil , Rush Ryan , Narayanan Raja
Published: January 2011

Purpose

TO report a possible rare association of bilateral retinitis pigmentosa inversa (RPI) with unilateral high myopia with fellow eye optic disc pitting.

Methods

A 55-year-old man with a history of reduced vision in the right eye since childhood presented with gradually decreasing vision in the left eye. On examination, a −23.00 diopter refractive error and diffuse chorioretinal atrophy consistent with pathologic myopia was found in the right eye. An optic disc pit with posterior pole pigmentary alterations thought to be consequent to a previous neurosensory detachment was found in the left eye. Though the retinal arteriolar attenuation seen in both eyes with an inconsistent history of night blindness since childhood pointed towards the possibility of a concurrently existing rod or rod-cone dystrophy, the posterior pole pigmentary alterations characteristic of RPI were clearly masked by the above pathologies.

Results

Optical coherence tomography demonstrated prominent foveal atrophy and an optic disc pit in the left eye. Electroretinography (ERG) demonstrated moderately attenuated amplitudes with pro-longed implicit times of rod and cone responses bilaterally. The patient was diagnosed with bilateral RPI and anisometropic amblyopia in the right eye.

Conclusions

This report documents a unique constellation of findings which include bilateral RPI and unilateral high myopia with an optic disc pit in the fellow eye. An ERG confirmation of a dystrophic etiology should be sought in suspicious cases, especially when findings are masked by the concurrent presence of other pathologies.
Searching for the Right Way to Begin Class
Authors: Lawry John D.
Published: January 2011

Disengage from the busyness of life.
Nitrogen‐Doped Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes Grown on Substrates: Evidence for Framework Doping and Their Enhanced Properties
Authors: Liu Yu , Jin Zhong , Wang Jinyong , Cui Rongli , Sun Hao , Peng Fei , Wei Li , Wang Zhenxing , Liang Xuelei , Peng Lianmao , Li Yan
Published: January 2011

Nitrogen‐doped single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are synthesized directly on silicon and quartz substrates through a normal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Thermogravimetry mass spectrometry measurements and Raman spectroscopy give firm evidence for framework nitrogen doping. X‐ray‐photoelectron‐spectroscopy analysis further obtains the bonding style of the nitrogen atoms in the carbon framework. The nitrogen doping significantly changes the properties of the SWCNTs. All of the tubes behave like metallic tubes in field‐effect transistors. The doped nitrogen atoms introduce a stronger affinity for the SWCNTs to metal nanoparticles. Compared with pristine SWCNTs, the nitrogen‐doped tubes show enhanced sensitivity and selectivity for electrochemical detection of some electrophilic species including O2, H2O2, and Fe3+. They also present improved electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction. These unique properties of the nitrogen‐doped SWCNTs endow them with important potential applications in various fields.
Recent Developments in the [5+2] Cycloaddition
Authors: Pellissier Hélène
Published: January 2011

The rapid generation of molecular complexity in a relatively easy manner has made the [5+2] cycloaddition approach a highly useful tool in the synthesis of a wide number of complex natural products and important biologically active products containing seven‐membered rings. Besides the common and highly efficient [5+2] cycloadditions of oxidopyrylium and oxidopyridinium ions with π‐systems which offer an easy access to a wide range of novel heterocyclic seven‐membered ring molecules with a oxygen or nitrogen bridge, and the less employed [5+2] photocycloadditions, the metal‐catalyzed [5+2] cycloadditions have attracted a lot of attention and have become one of the most popular ways of constructing seven‐membered ring products. All these cycloadducts can be synthetically manipulated easily toward a number of interesting molecular structures with high potential applications. Abbreviations: Ac: acetyl; Ar: aryl; BarF: tetrakis[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate; BINAP: 2,2′‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl; Bn: benzyl; Boc: tert‐butoxycarbonyl; Bu: butyl; Bz: benzoyl; Cbz: benzyloxycarbonyl; cod: cyclooctadiene; Cp: cyclopentadienyl; DBU: 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene; DCE: 1,2‐dichloroethane; de: diastereomeric excess; DFT: density functional theory; DMF: dimethylformamide; DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide; dppb: 1,4‐bis(diphenylphosphino)butane; dppe: 1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphine)ethane; dppp: 1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphino)propane; ee: enantiomeric excess; Et: ethyl; HFIP: hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol; L: ligand; M: metal; Me: methyl; MOM: methoxymethyl; Ms: mesyl; Ph: phenyl; PMB: para‐methoxybenzoyl; Pr: propyl; Segphos: 5,5′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐4,4′‐bi‐1,3‐benzodioxole; TBDPS: tert‐butyldiphenylsilyl; TBS: tert‐butyldimethylsilyl; TEA: triethylamine; Tf: trifluoromethanesulfonyl; TFE: trifluoroethanol; THP: tetrahydropyran; TIPS: triisopropylsilyl; TMS: trimethylsilyl; Tol: tolyl; Tp: hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate; Ts: 4‐toluenesulfonyl (tosyl); VCP: vinylcyclopropane.
Long work hours is associated with suboptimal glycemic control among US workers with diabetes
Authors: Davila Evelyn P. , Florez Hermes , Trepka Mary Jo , Fleming Lora E. , Niyonsenga Theophile , Lee David J. , Parkash Jai
Published: January 2011

Background

Increasing numbers of US workers are diabetic. We assessed the relationship between glycemic control and work hours and type of occupation among employed US adults with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Data were obtained from the 1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A representative sample of employed US adults ≥20 years with self‐reported type 2 diabetes (n = 369) was used. Two dichotomous glycemic control indicators, based on various HbA1c level cut‐points, were used as dependent variables in weighted logistic regression analyses with adjustment for confounders.

Results

Adults working over 40 hr/week were more likely to have suboptimal glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 7%) compared to those working 20 hr or less (odds ratio = 5.09; 95% confidence interval: [1.38–18.76]).

Conclusions

Work‐related factors, such as number of hours worked, may affect the ability of adults with type 2 diabetes to reach and maintain glycemic control goals. These factors should be considered in the development of workplace policies and accommodations for the increasing number of workers with type 2 diabetes. Am. J. Ind. Med. 54:375–383, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Injury underreporting among small establishments in the construction industry
Authors: Dong Xiuwen S. , Fujimoto Alissa , Ringen Knut , Stafford Erich , Platner James W. , Gittleman Janie L. , Wang Xuanwen
Published: January 2011

Background

There is convincing evidence that occupational injury and illness rates, particularly those reported by employers in the BLS' Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), substantially underestimate the true magnitude of injury and illness in the construction industry.

Methods

Fifteen years of data from five large nationally representative data sources were analyzed, including SOII, CFOI, CBP, CPS, and MEPS. Regression trends and ratio analyses were conducted, and stratified by establishment size and Hispanic ethnicity.

Results

Small construction establishments were most likely to underreport injuries. The SOII data only captured 25% of severe injuries among Hispanic workers, and 60% among white workers in small construction establishments.

Conclusions

Underreporting is pervasive in the construction industry for small establishments and Hispanic workers. Given that small establishments are predominant in the U.S. construction industry, they should be the focus of a larger effort to identify the true extent of construction‐related injuries. Am. J. Ind. Med. 54:339–349, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antiepileptic drugs interact with folate and vitamin B12 serum levels
Authors: Linnebank Michael , Moskau Susanna , Semmler Alexander , Widman Guido , Stoffel‐Wagner Birgit , Weller Michael , Elger Christian E.
Published: January 2011

Objective:

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are important for the treatment of epilepsy, psychiatric diseases, and pain syndromes. Small studies have suggested that AED treatment reduces serum levels of folate and vitamin B12.

Methods:

This prospective monocenter study aimed at testing the hypothesis that AED treatment is associated with folate and vitamin B12 serum levels in a large population. A total of 2730 AED‐treated and 170 untreated patients with epilepsy and 200 healthy individuals were enrolled.

Results:

Treatment with carbamazepine, gabapentin, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, primidone, or valproate was associated with lower mean serum folate levels or with a higher frequency of folate levels below the reference range in comparison with the entire group of patients, untreated patients, or controls. Treatment with phenobarbital, pregabalin, primidone, or topiramate was associated with lower vitamin B12 levels compared with the entire group of patients. Vitamin B12 serum levels were higher in patients treated with valproate compared with the entire group of patients, untreated patients, and healthy controls. Folate or vitamin B12 levels below the reference range were associated with higher mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and higher homocysteine plasma levels. Vitamin substitution for 3 months in 141 patients with folate or vitamin B12 levels below the reference range yielded normal vitamin levels in 95% of the supplemented patients and reduced MCV and homocysteine plasma levels.

Interpretation:

Treatment with most of the commonly used AEDs is associated with reduced folate or vitamin B12 serum levels and is a risk factor for hyperhomocysteinemia. Oral substitution is effective to restore vitamin, MCV, and homocysteine levels. Ann Neurol 2011.
Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase protects against ischemic stroke through SIRT1‐dependent adenosine monophosphate–activated kinase pathway
Authors: Wang Pei , Xu Tian‐Ying , Guan Yun‐Feng , Tian Wei‐Wei , Viollet Benoit , Rui Yao‐Cheng , Zhai Qi‐Wei , Su Ding‐Feng , Miao Chao‐Yu
Published: January 2011

Objective:

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt) is the rate‐limiting enzyme in mammalian nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)+ biosynthesis and contributes to cell fate decisions. However, the role of Nampt in brain and stroke remains to be investigated.

Methods:

We used lentivirus‐mediated Nampt overexpression and knockdown to manipulate Nampt expression and explore the effects of Nampt in neuronal survival on ischemic stress both in vivo and in vitro. We also used adenosine monophosphate (AMP)‐activated kinase‐α2 (AMPKα2) and silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) knockout mice to investigate the underlying mechanisms of Nampt neuroprotection.

Results:

Nampt inhibition by a highly‐specific Nampt inhibitor, FK866, aggravated brain infarction in experimentally cerebral ischemia rats, whereas Nampt overexpression in local brain and Nampt enzymatic product nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) reduced ischemia‐induced cerebral injuries. Nampt overexpression and knockdown regulated neuron survival via the AMPK pathway. Neuroprotection of Nampt was abolished in AMPKα2−/− neurons. In neurons, Nampt positively modulated NAD+ levels and thereby controlled SIRT1 activity. SIRT1 coprecipitated with serine/threonine kinase 11 (LKB1), an upstream kinase of AMPK, and promoted LKB1 deacetylation in neurons. Nampt‐induced LKB1 deacetylation and AMPK activation disappeared in SIRT1−/− neurons. In contrast, Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase kinase‐β (CaMKK‐β), another upstream kinase of AMPK, was not involved in the neuroprotection of Nampt. More important, Nampt overexpression‐induced neuroprotection was abolished in SIRT1+/− and AMPKα2−/− mice.

Interpretation:

Our findings reveal that Nampt protects against ischemic stroke through rescuing neurons from death via the SIRT1‐dependent AMPK pathway and indicate that Nampt is a new therapeutic target for stroke. Ann Neurol 2011.
An efficient binary system for gene expression in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, using GAL4 variants
Authors: Kobayashi Isao , Kojima Katsura , Uchino Keiro , Sezutsu Hideki , Iizuka Tetsuya , Tatematsu, Ken‐Ichiro , Yonemura Naoyuki , Tanaka Hiromitsu , Yamakawa Minoru , Ogura Eri , Kamachi Yusuke , Tamura Toshiki
Published: January 2011

A binary gene expression system using the yeast GAL4 DNA‐binding protein and the upstream activating sequence (UAS) of galactose‐driven yeast genes is an established and powerful tool for the analysis of gene function. However, in the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, this system has been limited in its utility by the relatively low transcriptional activation activity of GAL4 and by its toxicity. In this study, we investigated the potential of several established GAL4 variants (GAL4Δ, GAL4VP16, GAL4VPmad2, GAL4VPmad3, and GAL4NFκB) and of two new GAL4 variants, GAL4Rel and GAL4Relish, which contain the transcription‐activating regions of the BmRel and BmRelish genes, respectively, to improve the utility of the GAL4/UAS system in B. mori. We generated constructs containing these GAL4 variants under the control of constitutive or inducible promoters and investigated their transcription‐activating activity in cultured B. mori cells and embryos and in transgenic silkworms. GAL4VP16 and GAL4NFκB exhibited high transactivation activity but appeared to be toxic when used as transgenes under the control of a constitutive promoter. Similarly, GAL4VPmad2 and GAL4VPmad3 exhibited higher transactivation activity than GAL4, combined with strong toxicity. The transcription‐activating activity of GAL4Δ was about twice that of GAL4. The two new GAL4 variants, GAL4Rel and GAL4Relish, were less active than GAL4. Using GAL4VP16 and GAL4NFκB constructs, we have developed a very efficient GAL4/UAS binary gene expression system for use in cultured B. mori cells and embryos and in transgenic silkworms. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neue Hemmstoffe der Aromatase: Synthese und biologische Aktivität pyridyl‐substituierter Phenanthrenonderivate
Authors: Bayer Herbert , Hartmann Rolf W.
Published: January 2011

Die Phenanthrenonderivate 3–6 wurden synthetisiert und auf ihre Aromatase‐ und Desmolase‐hemmende Wirkung untersucht. Sie weisen zum Teil eine deutlich stärkere Aromatase‐Hemmung auf als Aminoglutethimid (Verb. 5 und 6), ohne allerdings die Aktivitäten der Ausgangsverbindungen 1 und 2 zu übertreffen. Die Verbindungen 4 und 5 zeigen keine Hemmung der Desmolase.
Anthralin derivatives—inhibition of 5‐lipoxygenase—antipsoriatic efficacy
Authors: Tanzer Helene , Braun Christine , Seidel Matthias , Wiegrebe Wolfgang
Published: January 2011

Inhibition of 5‐lipoxygenase by anthralin (1) and 41 derivatives is determined: the acids 38 and 39, the lactones 40–42 and 9‐anthrone (8) are the most potent inhibitors, the lactone 41 reaching the efficacy of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA). The results were correlated with the hydrophilic/lipophilic balance of the test compounds and their clinical efficacy as far as known. There is no correlation between the “minimum structure” of Krebs and Schaltegger7) concerning antisoriatic activity and the inhibitory effects against 5‐lipoxygenase.
New routes to polyfunctionally substituted pyridine, pyridopyridine, quinoline, and pyridazine derivatives
Authors: Elnagdi Mohamed H. , Erian Ayman W. W.
Published: January 2011

The pyridine derivatives 4 and 10 are obtained by condensing β‐aminocrotononitrile (1a) with malononitrile. Compound 4 affords the pyridylpyridazine 7 on coupling with aryldiazonium salts. The reaction of 1a with cyanothioacetamide affords 12 which affords the thieno[2,3‐b]pyridine 13 on treatment with phenacylbromide, and pyrido[2,3‐b]pyridine 15 on treatment with benzylidenemalononitrile (14).

A variety of new pyridines, cyclohexadiene, and pyridopyridine derivatives were obtained from reaction of 2‐amino‐1‐propene‐1,1,3‐tricarbonitrille (1b) and diethyl 3‐amino‐2‐cyanopent‐2‐enedioate (1c) with Michael‐systems. Reaction of 1b with acrylonitrile afforded an acyclic diadduct 25 which could be cyclized to the aminoquinoline 26.
Molecular‐Modelling‐Untersuchungen zur Konformation und Konfiguration natürlich vorkommender, diastereomerer 10‐C‐Glucosylanthron‐ und ‐oxanthronverbindungen (Aloin‐ und 10‐Hydroxyaloin‐Typ)
Authors: Höltje Hans‐Dieter , Stahl Kristin , Lohse Karsten , Rauwald Hans W.
Published: January 2011

Mit Hilfe einer Molecular‐Modelling‐Methode auf der Grundlage von Kraft‐feldrechnungen wird eine Untersuchung zur Konfiguration und eine Konformationsanalyse folgender natürlich vorkommender diastereomerer C‐Glucosylanthron‐ und ‐oxanthronverbindungen beschrieben: Aloin A (1) und B (2), 10‐Hydroxyaloin A (3) und B (4) sowie ihre Octaacetylderivate 3a, 4a, 2,4,5,7‐Tetrabromaloin A (5) und B (6), 5‐Hydroxyaloin A (7) und 5‐Hydroxyaloin B (8).
Cinnamoylnitrile‐, pyran‐, and pyranopyrazole‐derivatives containing the salicylanilide moiety with anticipated molluscicidal activity
Authors: Nawwar Galal A. M. , Abdelrazek Fathy M. , Swellam Randa H.
Published: January 2011

The reaction of new cinnamonitriles containing the salicylyl moiety with active methylene reagents leads to the formation of the corresponding heterocycles. Their reaction with aniline yields the corresponding salicylanilide derivatives. The obtained pyrans and anilides were tested for molluscicidal activity.
1,2‐dihydro‐3,1‐benzoxazin‐4‐one and 4‐H‐1,2‐dihydro‐pyrido‐[2,3‐d]‐[1,3]‐oxazin‐4‐one derivatives as potential prodrugs: Part II: Hydrolysis
Authors: Schwenker Gerhard , Chen Jianbing
Published: January 2011

The kinetics of the spontaneous hydrolysis of the potential prodrugs 1a‐1f, 2a‐2g, and 3a‐3e in methanol‐buffer mixtures (3:7) at various pH‐values was studied and a simple analytical uv‐spectroscopic method was developed. The results show that most of the new potential prodrugs were very quickly reconverted to their parent drugs under these conditions. All of the potential prodrugs are very sensitive between pH 4.0 and 8.0, with half lives < 50 min at 20°C, except for compounds 1f, 2f, and 3d. Compounds 1b and 1c are so sensitive that they reconverted to their parent drug during the mixing of the stock solution and the buffer‐methanol‐mixture.