bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WASSERSTEIN DISTANCES FOR VORTICES APPROXIMATION OF EULER-TYPE EQUATIONS
Authors: HAURAY MAXIME
Published: June 2009

We establish the convergence of a vortex system towards equations similar to the 2D Euler equation in vorticity formulation. The only but important difference is that we use singular kernel of the type x⊥/|x|α+1, with α < 1, instead of the Biot–Savard kernel x⊥/|x|2. This paper follows a previous work of Jabin and the author about the particles approximation of Vlasov equation in Ref. 13. Here we study a different mean-field equation, simplify the proofs and weaken non-physical initial conditions. The simplification is due to the introduction of the infinite Wasserstein distance. The results are obtained for L1 ∩ L∞ vorticities without any sign assumption, in the periodic setting, on the whole space and on the half space (with Neumann boundary conditions). A vortex-blob result is also given, that is valid for short times in the true vortex case.
ON THE CRITICAL EXPONENT FOR FLOCKS UNDER HIERARCHICAL LEADERSHIP
Authors: CUCKER FELIPE , DONG JIU-GANG
Published: June 2009

Very recently, a model for flocking was introduced by Cucker and Smale together with a proof of convergence. This proof established unconditional convergence to a common velocity provided the interaction between agents was strong enough and conditional convergence otherwise. The strength of the interaction is measured by a parameter β ≥ 0 and the critical value at which unconditional convergence stops holding is β = 1/2. This model was extended by Shen to allow for a hierarchical leadership structure among the agents and similar convergence results were proved. But, for discrete time, unconditional convergence was proved only for [Formula: see text] (k being the number of agents). In this note we improve on this result showing that unconditional convergence holds indeed for β < 1/2.
DFT STUDY OF BOND ENERGIES AND ATTACHMENT SITES OF SAMPLE DIVALENT CATIONS (Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+) TO HISTIDINE IN THE GAS PHASE
Authors: TAVASOLI ELHAM , FATTAHI ALIREZA
Published: June 2009

In view of better understanding interactions of amino acids and peptides with metallic cations in the isolated state, the model system histidine– M 2+ ( M 2+ = Mg 2+, Ca 2+, Zn 2+) has been studied theoretically. The computations have been performed with the help of the density functional theory (DFT) and the B3LYP functional. The extended basis set was the standard 6-311++G**. All the molecular complexes obtained by the interaction between several energetically low-lying tautomers/conformers/zwitterions of histidine and the cations on different binding sites were considered.

Our study shows that complexes of histidine with Mg 2+, Ca 2+, Zn 2+ are rather similar. In the isolated state, the most stable form corresponds to a tridentate complex in which the cation interacts with oxygen and two nitrogen atoms: one from the terminal NH 2 and one from the imidazole ring. All computations indicate that the metal ion affinity (MIA) decreases on going from Zn 2+ to Mg 2+ and Ca 2+, for the considered amino acid. This indicates that histidine prefers to bind to the transition metal cation rather than alkali earth metals. The influence of theses cations on the acidity of histidine were also considered. As expected, upon metal complexation, proton dissociation of histidine becomes much more favorable, that is, its acidity becomes much less endothermic.
A NONSELF-CONSISTENT METHOD FOR THE NONEQUILIBRIUM GREEN'S FUNCTION TECHNIQUE
Authors: SUN Z. Z. , FAN W. , ZHANG R. Q.
Published: June 2009

A parametric approximation approach is proposed to study the electronic transport properties in quantum transport systems such as quantum dots and molecules. This approach is developed from the nonequilibrium Green function technique and employs an approximate nonself-consistent (NSC) procedure to substitute the original self-consistent (SC) one when the many-body term, such as electron–electron interaction, is considered. A simple model of one eigen-energy level coupled to two continuous energy spectrums is used to illustrate the new NSC method that can be generalized to multi-energy level cases in a straightforward manner. The comparison between the NSC results with the SC results demonstrate the correctness and the effectiveness of the new method.
3D-QSAR AND DOCKING STUDIES OF NOVEL QUINAZOLINE ANALOGUES AS ORAL INHIBITORS TOWARDS AP-1 AND NF-κB
Authors: QIAN LI , LU HAI-LIANG , LIAO SI-YAN , MIAO TI-FANG , SHEN YONG , ZHENG KANG-CHENG
Published: June 2009

Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) and Docking studies of novel quinazoline analogues, which are oral potential inhibitors towards the activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), have been carried out. The 3D-QSAR study based on the comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) shows the established model having a significant statistical quality and excellent predictive ability, in which the correlation coefficient R is 0.972 and cross-validation coefficient q2 is 0.619. The Docking results also show a considerable correlation (or trend) between the energy scores and the corresponding experimental values for these compounds at some sites. Meanwhile, it is very interesting to find the binding sites just fall on the joint regions between AP-1 (or NF-κB) and DNA. It may be the reason that the quinazoline analogues have inhibition function because their existence on these joint regions can effectively prevent free AP-1 and NF-κB from binding to DNA. Based on the established 3D-QSAR and Docking analyses, six new compounds of quinazoline analogues with higher inhibitory activities were theoretically designed and presented. The above results can offer some valuable theoretical references for the pharmaceutical molecular design as well as the action mechanism analysis.
DISSIPATIVE PARTICLE DYNAMICS SIMULATION ON THE PREPARATION PROCESS OF MACROPOROUS STYRENE-DIVINYLBENZENE COPOLYMER
Authors: ZHONG JING , YIN FANG-HUA , LIAO JUN-MIN , TANG MING-SHIUAN , CHEN CHENG-BIN , CHEN CHENG-LUNG
Published: June 2009

Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) was carried out to study the copolymerization process of halogen-substituted styrene (ST-X), divinylbenzene (DVB), and dodecane (DO) in aqueous solution. The results showed that properly selecting the sizes of DO and water beads, and choosing the appropriate interaction parameters between beads are crucial in the simulation system. The influence of polymerization parameters, such as polymerization temperature, ST-X/DVB/DO/water ratio, and halogen substitution on ST on the copolymer morphology, were investigated in detail and confirmed that the simulation results can reproduce the macroscopic experimental phase separation. In addition, the pore volume of copolymers formed at different polymerization conditions is estimated, which consisted with the data measured in the experiments. Our work has demonstrated that DPD methods can be applied to study such copolymerization process.
STRUCTURE DETERMINATION OFTpRu(PPh3){κ2-N, O-NH=C(Ph)N=C(Ph)O}: A STORY OF HOW COMPUTATIONAL STUDIES CONTRIBUTE TO THE STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION PROCESS
Authors: ZHENG WENXU , LEUNG CHUNG WING , ZHOU ZHONGYUAN , LAU CHAK PO , LIN ZHENYANG
Published: June 2009

In this paper, we described the process involved in the structure determination of TpRu ( PPh3){κ2-N, O- NH = C ( Ph ) N = C ( Ph ) O } and demonstrated the tremendous help of computational chemistry in the molecular structure elucidation.
DFT STUDY ON GAS-PHASE INTERACTION BETWEEN HISTIDINE AND ALKALI METAL IONS (Li+, Na+, K+); AND INFLUENCE OF THESE IONS ON HISTIDINE ACIDITY
Authors: TAVASOLI ELHAM , FATTAHI ALIREZA
Published: June 2009

The gas-phase metal affinities of histidine Li +, Na + and K + ions have been determined theoretically employing the hybrid B3LYP exchange–correlation functional and using 6-311++G** basis sets. All computations indicate that the metal ion affinity decreases on going from Li + to Na + and K + for the considered amino acid. Different types of M + coordinations on several histidine conformers/tautomers were considered in detail.

The optimized structures indicate that Li + and Na + prefer a tri-dentate coordination, bonding with a nitrogen atom of imidazole ring ( N τ), – NH 2, and an oxygen atom of a carbonyl, while in the K +-histidine lowest-energy conformer, the cation appears to be bi-coordinated to both oxygen atoms of the zwitterionic form by the energy values not too far from that of tri-coordination. We also performed the DFT calculations for proton dissociation energy of histidine both in the presence and absence of alkali metal ions. Our results also reveal that the acidity of histidine dramatically increases upon metal ion complexation.
STUDY ON HOMOGENEOUS PRECIPITATION OF CeO2 NANOPARTICLES BY DISSIPATIVE PARTICLE DYNAMICS SIMULATION
Authors: ZHONG JING , CHEN ZHI-GANG , LIAO JUN-MIN , TANG MING-SHIUAN , CHEN CHENG-BIN , CHEN CHENG-LUNG
Published: June 2009

Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) was carried out to study the nucleation and crystal growth process of cerium dioxide ( CeO 2) nanoparticles in alcohol/water mixed solvents by homogeneous precipitation method. The results showed that properly selecting the sizes of CeO 2 and water beads, and choosing the appropriate interaction parameters between beads are crucial in the simulation system. The nucleation and crystal growth process of CeO 2 can be classified into four stages: induction, nuclei growth, crystal forming, and crystal aggregation, which could be reproduced from different initial CeO 2 concentration and after different simulation time. The simulation results confirm that the effect of solvent on the nucleation and crystal growth of CeO 2 nanoparticles are different at four stages and cannot be simply described by Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek theory or nucleation thermodynamics theory as proposed in the published literatures. Our work demonstrated that DPD methods can be applied to study nanoparticle forming process.
VIBRATIONAL DYNAMICS AND POTENTIAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTION OF TWO WELL-KNOWN NEUROTRANSMITTER RECEPTORS: TYRAMINE AND DOPAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Authors: SIDDIQUI SHAMOON AHMAD , DWIVEDI APOORVA , SINGH P. K. , HASAN TANVEER , JAIN SUDHA , SUNDARAGANESAN N. , SALEEM H. , MISRA NEERAJ
Published: June 2009

This work deals with the theoretical study on the molecular structure of two well-known neurotransmitter receptors tyramine hydrochloride and dopamine hydrochloride. The equilibrium geometry, harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, and Raman scattering activities were calculated by the density functional B3LYP method employing 6-311G(d,p) as the basis set and the vibrational studies were interpreted in terms of the potential energy distribution (P.E.D.). The internal coordinates were optimized repeatedly to maximize the P.E.D. contributions. A detailed interpretation of the infrared and Raman spectra of tyramine and dopamine hydrochloride is reported in the present work. The similarities and differences between the vibrational spectra of the two molecules studied have been highlighted. The scaled theoretical wave numbers are in perfect agreement with the experimental values. The thermodynamic calculations related to the title compounds were also performed at B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. The FT-Raman and FT-IR spectra of tyramine and dopamine hydrochloride have been taken from literature.
ROLE OF ADENINE AND GUANINE SITES IN HOLE HOPPING IN DNA NANOWIRE
Authors: KAUR INDERPREET , KULKARNI GIRISH S. , AJORE RAM , BHARADWAJ RICHA , KOTAMARTHI BHANU PRAKASH , SINGH NIMAL , BHARADWAJ LALIT M.
Published: June 2009

Transfer integrals for oligos with different bases have been calculated using INDO/Koopman's approximation to unveil the charge transport mechanism in DNA. The sequences, G(A) n G , n = 1, 2, …, 10; G(A) x G(A) y G , x + y = 9; and G(A) x G(A) y G(A) z G , x + y + z = 8, were employed to interpret the Guanine (G) and Adenine(A) hopping. Adenine hopping is found to be faster in G(A) n G sequences with longer Adenine bridges (n ≥ 3). Inserting G-bases in between G(A) 10 G led to a decrease in the value of transfer integrals. Close analysis has revealed that bridge closer to 3′-end forms a hopping bottleneck; however, the presence of bridge at 5′-end enhances the charge transfer through A-hopping. Further insertion of single G sites in G(A) x G(A) y G (where x + y = 9) reduces the transfer integrals, thus explaining the hampering of A-hopping. Hence, sequences of the type G(A) n G , n > 3, are better suited for their application as molecular wire. Finally, studies on the effect of flipping of bases, i.e. flipping G:C to C:G on transfer integrals, have revealed that helical distortions and conformational changes due to sequence variations lead to changes in coupling, which is highly unpredictable.
AB INITIO STUDY OF THE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE AND THERMAL CIS–TRANS ISOMERIZATION OF 3,3′-DIAMINO-4,4′-AZOFURAZAN AND 3,3′-DIAMINO-4,4′-AZOXYFURAZAN
Authors: WANG LUOXIN , TUO XINLIN , ZOU HANTAO , YI CHANGHAI , WANG XIAOGONG
Published: June 2009

In this work, we carried out the density functional theory (DFT) calculations in order to understand the molecular structures and thermal trans–cis isomerization of 3,3′-diamino-4,4′-azofurazan (DAAzF) and 3,3′-diamino-4,4′-azoxyfurazan (DAAF). We found that the azo group oxidation of DAAzF leading to the formation of DAAF induced evidently the twist of azofurazan molecule and weakened one of CN bonds connecting the furazan rings and azo group. This means that DAAzF is more stable than DAAF. In addition, the oxidation of azo group has a significant influence on the energy difference between trans- and cis-isomer of azofurazan. The energy difference between the isomers of DAAF is only about half of that of DAAzF. Furthermore, the thermal trans–cis isomerization of DAAzF and DAAF was found to follow a different mechanism: an inversion mechanism for DAAzF and a rotation mechanism for DAAF. By analyzing the reversible trans–cis isomerization process, we firstly proposed that a self-desensitization effect could be responsible for the low sensitivity of azofurazan. This new desensitization mechanism may be useful in the design of novel high energetic density material.
LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM MANAGING TECHNOLOGY-INTENSIVE TEAMS
Authors: THAMHAIN HANS J.
Published: June 2009

An ongoing field study of 76 new product development teams in 27 companies identifies specific barriers and drivers to effective team performance. The paper provides insight into the affects of organizational environment and managerial leadership on project team performance in technology-oriented team environments. The results show that team leadership has significant impact on both the project team and its broader organizational environment ultimately affecting team and project performance. Team leaders must manage the work and people relations across diverse organizational and cultural boundaries, including support functions, suppliers, sponsors and partners. The paper provides suggestions for building the organizational environment, work processes and leadership skills necessary for successful implementation of complex development projects.
NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT WITH DYNAMIC DECISION SUPPORT
Authors: VENTER JACOBUS PETRUS , VAN WAVEREN CORNELIS CRISTO
Published: June 2009

The development of new and improved management methods for new product development is important. Existing methods suffer from a number of shortcomings, especially their inability to deal with a mixture of quantitative and qualitative data. The objective of this study is to apply decision support techniques (especially Bayesian networks) to the area of new product development management in order to address some of the shortcomings.

The research approach is one of decision structuring and modeling. The literature shows the criteria that are important during the management of new product development. These criteria are used in a three-step decision structuring framework to develop a conceptual model based on a Bayesian network, in support of new product development management. The result is a Bayesian network that incorporates the knowledge of experts into a decision support model. The model is shown to be requisite because it contains all the essential elements of the problem on which decision-makers can base their action.

The model can be used to perform 'what-if' analyses in various ways, thereby supporting the management of risk in new product development. This research not only contributes a model to support new product development management, but also provides insight into how decision support — especially Bayesian networks — can enhance technology management methods.
THE VIRTUAL TEAM CHALLENGE: IS IT TIME FOR TRAINING?
Authors: SCHUMACHER TERRY , POEHLER LANCE
Published: June 2009

There has been considerable growth in the use of Virtual Teams in the past decade, and further growth is broadly assumed. Researchers investigating Virtual Teams describe problems these teams encounter, assert that training for virtual team assignments is necessary, and offer suggestions on the issues that such training should address. Further evidence of the training need is that a fortune 100 company employed the primary author to develop the initial version of a virtual team training simulation for their internal use. The 'Virtual Team Challenge' is being used in the Rose-Hulman Project Management course. Participants manage a simulated project for three hours. To successfully complete the project within schedule, they must avoid or resolve problems typically encountered by virtual teams. Participants receive advice and are guided to adopt best practices as defined by our literature review and those offered by the client.
MANAGEMENT OF EXTERNAL SOURCES OF TECHNOLOGICAL INFORMATION AND INNOVATION PERFORMANCE
Authors: GOMES CLANDIA MAFFINI , KRUGLIANSKAS ISAK
Published: June 2009

The objective of the research presented in this paper is to study the relationship between practices for managing external sources of information and the innovative performance of the enterprise. The research can be characterized as mostly quantitative. The data had been collected from a sample of Brazilian enterprises recognized as being very commited with technological innovation activities. The findings of the study suggest many significant relationships between the innovation performance of the enterprise and kind of sources of technological information used as well as with the access modalities to this external sources. The results suggest, also, a trend towards an increasing of the use of external sources of technological information and the existence, regarding this matter, of a large space for improvements of the actual managerial practices adopted by the enterprises.
CRUSTAL DEFORMATION STUDIES IN JAVA (INDONESIA) USING GPS
Authors: ABIDIN HASANUDDIN Z. , ANDREAS HERI , KATO TERUYUKI , ITO TAKEO , MEILANO IRWAN , KIMATA FUMIAKI , NATAWIDJAYA DANNY H. , HARJONO HERY
Published: June 2009

Along the Java trench the Australian–Oceanic plate is moving and pushing onto and subducting beneath the Java continental crust at a relative motion of about 70 mm/yr in NNE direction. This subduction-zone process imposed tectonic stresses on the fore-arc region offshore and on the land of Java, thus causing the formation of earthquake fault zones to accommodate the plate movement. Historically, several large earthquakes happened in Java, including West Java. This research use GPS surveys method to study the inter-seismic deformation of three active faults in West Java region (i.e. Cimandiri, Lembang and Baribis faults), and the co-seismic and post-seismic deformation related to the May 2006 Yogyakarta and the July 2006 South Java earthquakes.

Based on GPS surveys results it was found that the area around Cimandiri, Lembang and Baribis fault zones have the horizontal displacements of about 1 to 2 cm/yr or less. Further research is however still needed to extract the real inter-seismic deformation of the faults from those GPS-derived displacements. GPS surveys have also estimated that the May 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake was caused by the sinistral movement of the (Opak) fault with horizontal co-seismic deformation that generally was less than 10 cm. The post-seismic horizontal deformation of the July 2006 South Java tsunami earthquake has also been estimated using GPS surveys data. In the first year after the earthquake (2006 to 2007), the post-seismic deformation is generally less than 5 cm; and it becomes generally less than 3 cm in the second year (2007 to 2008).
DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION AND EVACUATION PROCEDURES IN THE 2004–2007 TSUNAMIS, INCLUDING THE 2004 INDIAN OCEAN
Authors: IMAMURA FUMIHIKO
Published: June 2009

Three steps taken to obtain information, make the decision to escape and complete safe evacuation were identified from field investigations and interviews of survivors of the 2004–2007 tsunamis in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Three kinds of knowledge gaps among the people and experts caused a delay in evacuation even though they received warnings of the tsunamis. The response to such a disaster should be related to a balance between recognition of the tsunami warning and evaluation of individual risk bias. For an appropriate tsunami warning, the tsunami information in the system should be selected and modified to overcome risk bias, which should be reduced and unified by public awareness and education, including creation of hazard maps designed by both natural and social scientists.
TSUNAMI AMPLIFICATION ALONG THE EASTERN COAST OF INDIA AND SRI LANKA DUE TO EARTHQUAKE RUPTURE PROPAGATION IN THE SUMATRA-NICOBAR-ANDAMAN TRENCHES
Authors: HIRATA KENJI
Published: June 2009

We investigated an effect of earthquake rupture propagation, or tsunami source propagation, on offshore tsunami amplitude through numerical simulations. In the numerical simulations, we used satellite-based real bathymetry and a realistic fault configuration for M9 class great earthquakes, and we allowed an earthquake rupture to propagate one-dimensionally in the long-axis direction of the fault. Various earthquake rupture velocities as well as various fault lengths were tested. A general feature is that the slower the earthquake rupture velocity, the larger the tsunami amplitude. This suggests that the effect of earthquake rupture propagation cannot be neglected for most of tsunamis generated by slow earthquakes. Along the eastern coast of India and Sri Lanka, however, earthquake rupture propagation makes tsunami amplification behaviors complicated and varied from station to station. This is because amplification of offshore tsunami is controlled by source configuration and bathymetry as well as rupture velocity.
SIMULATION OF FUTURE ANDAMAN TSUNAMI INTO STRAITS OF MALACCA BY TUNA
Authors: KOH HOCK LYE , TEH SU YEAN , KEW LEE MING , ZAKARIA NOR AZAZI
Published: June 2009

The Andaman tsunami that occurred on 26 December 2004 has initiated and sustained keen research interest on modeling the characteristics and impacts of tsunami, with particular reference to tsunami wave heights, velocities and travel times. We have developed an in-house tsunami simulation model known as TUNA based upon the shallow water equations SWE for the purpose of simulating these tsunami characteristics. In this paper we present simulated tsunami scenarios along Malaysian coasts in the Straits of Malacca due to a potential earthquake originating in the Andaman Sea. Linear shallow water equations (LSWE) are used in the deep ocean, without the friction and advection terms to reduce computational time. On the other hand, in regions with shallow depth and over the beaches, non-linear shallow water equations (NSWE) and moving boundary are used in TUNA. Simulation results with TUNA indicate satisfactory performance when compared to simulation results from COMCOT and on-site survey results for the 2004 Andaman tsunami. Finally we discuss future enhancement of TUNA to improve its performance and to extend its applications to include ecological and water quality simulations.
EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI HAZARD IN MYANMAR
Authors: THEIN MAUNG , MYINT THAN , TUN SOE THURA , SWE TINT LWIN
Published: June 2009

Myanmar, lying in a major seismic belt, is indeed earthquake-prone and is vulnerable to hazards from moderate and large magnitude earthquakes, including tsunami hazards along its long coastal areas. The seismotectonics of the region indicates that earthquakes in Myanmar mostly have originated along an active subduction zone (Andaman Megathrust Zone) in the west and along a large transform fault zone (Sagaing Fault Zone) in the middle part of the country. In the past, at least two large magnitude earthquakes along that subduction zones were tsunamigenic. Of course, the tsunami generated by the giant 2004 Sumatra Earthquake also caused moderate damage in some parts of the Myanmar Coast. Thus, it is evident that Myanmar is vulnerable to hazards from moderate and large magnitude earthquakes, including tsunami hazards along its long coastline.

The active fault studies (from paleoseismological survey through tectonic geodesy), upgrade and newly installation of seismic station networks, public awareness and curriculum development, building code development and technical training program are priority requirements in the country. Recently, researchers on tectonic geology recognize some active segments of the Sagaing, Kyaukkyan and Kabaw faults, as well as marine and fluvial terraces which seemed to be associated with subduction of India and Burma (Myanmar) plates along the Bengal tectonic boundary. Their study should be extended by providing some instrumentation schemes like global positioning system (GPS) network. Myanmar Earthquake Committee (MEC) has developed a seismic zone map of Myanmar in deterministic approach in 2006, for the sake of providing general information to the user for various purposes, and for public information. Technical development is needed for the completeness of the next generation of seismic zone map of Myanmar which is to be incorporated in Building Code, which in turn requires researches and findings on tectonics of Myanmar.
BASIC DESIGN OF JAPANESE NATIONWIDE GPS BUOY NETWORK WITH MULTI-PURPOSE OFFSHORE OBSERVATION SYSTEM
Authors: NAGAI TOSHIHIKO , SHIMIZU KATSUYOSHI
Published: June 2009

This paper introduces a basic design of GPS buoy multi-purpose data processing system using numerical filtering analysis. GPS buoy system and future plan of the GPS buoy network in Japan are introduced. Tsunami detection system with time series is considered. Directional wave analysis and offshore wind and current analysis methods are also investigated.
A WEB-BASED ONLINE TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM FOR THAILAND'S ANDAMAN COASTLINE
Authors: SRIVICHAI MONGKONKORN , IMAMURA FUMIHIKO , SUPHARATID SEREE
Published: June 2009

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami caused significant damages to Thailand. This great experience enhances the necessity of an early warning system. This paper describes three techniques for developing the tsunami warning system (Numerical modeling, Neural network modeling and web-based online displaying). Hypothetical earthquake and tsunami sources are obtained from past events and are mostly concentrated in the Andaman microplate. The GRNN is seen to provide reasonable predictions of wave heights for variable location, magnitude and depth of earthquake. The obtained online tsunami database warning system will be very useful for Thailand's response measure against the future damages.
The Ethnography of South Asian Foragers
Authors: Fortier Jana
Published: June 2009

Forty contemporary South Asian societies continue to carry out hunting and gathering as their primary subsistence strategy, but who are these societies? In which ways are they similar or dissimilar? Are they like contemporary foragers in other world areas? This article reviews ethnographic research concerning contemporary South Asian foragers with a focus on subsistence, cosmologies, and social organization. Major conclusions are that evolutionary/devolutionary theories about foragers during the documented ethnographic period lack reliable data and that theories of trade between farmers and foragers ignore the paramount importance of subsistence foraging practices. Currently, theories based on interpretations of foragers' own cultural categories and standpoints constitute the most reliable ethnographic studies, and notable contributions are highlighted. Contemporary foragers themselves advocate that their best chances for cultural survival depend on state governments that maintain environmentally diverse, healthy forests, provide contemporary foraging communities access to their traditional natural resources, and implement projects that foster cultural survival rather than assimilation.
Symptom: Subjectivities, Social Ills, Technologies
Authors: Biehl João , Moran-Thomas Amy
Published: June 2009

In the domain of health, not only are the raw effects of economic, social, and medical inequalities continually devastating, but novel processes of reconfiguring illness experience, subjectivity, and control are also underway. Human relationships to medical technology are increasingly constituted outside the clinical encounter. In this article we explore how the domestic encroachment of medical commodities affects social bonds in both affluent and resource-poor contexts, as well as how these commodities become interwoven in the very fabric of symptoms and identities. Symptoms are more than contingent matters; they are, at times, a necessary condition for the afflicted to articulate a new relationship to the world and to others. In exploring how people conceptualize technological self-care, we are specifically concerned with disciplinary modes of evidence-making and ask the following: what are the possibilities and limitations of theoretical frameworks (such as structural violence, biopower, social suffering, and psychoanalysis) through which these conceptions are being analyzed in contemporary anthropological scholarship? What can the unique capacities of ethnography add to the task of capturing the active embroilment of reason, life, and ethics as human conditions are shaped and lost? The intellectual survival of anthropological theory, we argue, might well be connected to people's own resilience and bodily struggles for realities to come.
The Oldowan: The Tool Making of Early Hominins and Chimpanzees Compared
Authors: Toth Nicholas , Schick Kathy
Published: June 2009

The Oldowan was the term first coined by Louis Leakey to describe the world's earliest stone industries, named after the famous site of Olduvai (formerly Oldoway) Gorge in Tanzania. The Oldowan Industrial Complex documents the first definitive evidence of early hominin culture as well as the earliest known archaeological record. This review examines our state of knowledge about the Oldowan and the hominin tool makers who produced this archaeological record and compares and contrasts these patterns with the technological and cultural patterns of modern apes, especially chimpanzees and bonobos. Of special interest are methodological approaches that can attempt to make direct comparisons between the early archaeological record and modern ape material culture, including a long-term collaborative experimental program in teaching modern apes to make and use stone tools.
Photorhabdusand a Host of Hosts
Authors: Waterfield Nick R. , Ciche Todd , Clarke David
Published: June 2009

Photorhabdus is a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae that lives in a mutualistic association with a Heterorhabditis nematode worm. The nematode worm burrows into insect prey and regurgitates Photorhabdus, which goes on to kill the insect. The nematode feeds off the growing bacteria until the insect tissues are exhausted, whereupon they reassociate and leave the cadaver in search of new prey. This highly efficient partnership has been used for many years as a biological crop protection agent. The dual nature of Photorhabdus as a pathogen and mutualist makes it a superb model for understanding these apparently exclusive activities. Furthermore, recently identified clinical isolates of Photorhabdus are helping us to understand how human pathogens can emerge from the enormous reservoir of invertebrate pathogens in the environment. As Photorhabdus has never been found outside a host animal, its niche represents an entirely biotic landscape. In this review we discuss what molecular adaptations allow this bacterium to complete this fascinating and complex life cycle.
Muon Colliders and Neutrino Factories
Authors: Geer Steve
Published: June 2009

Over the past decade, there has been significant progress in developing the concepts and technologies needed to produce, capture, and accelerate O(1021) muons per year. These developments have paved the way for a new type of neutrino source (neutrino factory) and a new type of very high energy lepton-antilepton collider (muon collider). This article reviews the motivation, design, and research and development for future neutrino factories and muon colliders.
The Highest-Energy Cosmic Rays
Authors: Beatty James J. , Westerhoff Stefan
Published: June 2009

The search for the origin of cosmic rays with energies above 1018 eV has made considerable progress during the past few years. With new data from the High Resolution Fly's Eye experiment in Utah and the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina, a suppression of the cosmic ray flux above 5 × 1019 eV consistent with the predicted suppression arising from interaction with the cosmic microwave background (the so-called GZK suppression) has been observed. Recent results from Auger seem to indicate that the arrival direction distribution of cosmic rays with energies above the GZK suppression is not isotropic. Progress toward a better understanding of the chemical composition of the cosmic rays is under way. A new generation of detectors is providing data of unprecedented quality and quantity. In this article, we review these recent developments and briefly outline how our view of the highest-energy cosmic rays has evolved over the past several years.
Reconstruction of myocardial tissue motion and strain fields from displacement-encoded MR imaging
Authors: Liu Yi , Wen Han , Gorman Robert C. , Pilla James J. , Gorman Joseph H. , Buckberg Gerald , Teague Shawn D. , Kassab Ghassan S.
Published: June 2009

A quantitative analysis of myocardial mechanics is fundamental to understanding cardiac function, diagnosis of heart disease, and assessment of therapeutic intervention. Displacement encoding with stimulated-echo (DENSE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique was developed to track the three-dimensional (3D) displacement vector of discrete material grid points in the myocardial tissue. Despite the wealth of information gained from DENSE images, the current software only provides two-dimensional in-plane deformation. The objective of this study is to introduce a postprocessing method to reconstruct and visualize continuous dynamic 3D displacement and strain fields in the ventricular wall from DENSE data. An anatomically accurate hexagonal finite-element model of the left ventricle (LV) is reconstructed by fitting a prolate spheroidal primitive to contour points of the epi- and endocardial surfaces. The continuous displacement field in the model is described mathematically based on the discrete DENSE vectors using a minimization method with smoothness regularization. Based on the displacement, heart motion and myocardial stretch (or strain) are analyzed. Illustratory computations were conducted with DENSE data of three infarcted and one normal sheep ventricles. The full 3D results show stronger overall axial shortening, wall thickening, and twisting of the normal LV compared with the infarcted hearts. Local myocardial stretches show a dyskinetic LV in the apical region, dilation of apex in systole, and a compensatory increase in strain in the healthy basal region as a compensatory mechanism. We conclude that the proposed postprocessing method significantly extends the utility of DENSE MRI, which may provide a patient-specific 3D model of cardiac mechanics.
Spinal nociceptin mediates electroacupuncture-related modulation of visceral sympathoexcitatory reflex responses in rats
Authors: Zhou Wei , Mahajan Aman , Longhurst John C.
Published: June 2009

The role of nociceptin and its spinal cord neural pathways in electroacupuncture (EA)-related inhibition of visceral excitatory reflexes is not clear. Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) is an endogenous ligand for a G protein-coupled receptor, called the N/OFQ peptide (NOP) receptor, which has been found to be distributed in the spinal cord. The present study investigated the importance of this system in visceral-cardiovascular reflex modulation during EA. Cardiovascular pressor reflex responses were induced by gastric distension in Sprague-Dawley rats anesthetized by ketamine and xylazine. An intrathecal injection of nociceptin (10 nM) at T1–2 attenuated the pressor responses by 35%, similar to the influence of EA at P 5–6 (42% decrease). An intrathecal injection of the NOP antagonist, [ N-Phe1]nociceptin1-13NH2, partially reversed the EA response. Pretreatment with the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone did not alter the EA-like inhibitory effect of nociceptin on the pressor reflex, whereas a combination of nociceptin receptor antagonist with naloxone completely abolished the EA response. An intrathecal injection of nociceptin attenuated the pressor responses to the electrical stimulation of the rostral ventrolateral medulla by 46%, suggesting that nociceptin can regulate sympathetic outflow. Furthermore, a bilateral microinjection of NOP antagonist into either the dorsal horn or the intermediolateral column at T1 partially reversed the EA inhibitory effect. These results suggest that nociceptin in the spinal cord mediates part of the EA-related modulation of visceral reflex responses.
Decreased cardiac expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and redox imbalance in murine diabetic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Han Bing , Baliga Reshma , Huang Hong , Giannone Peter J. , Bauer John Anthony
Published: June 2009

Type 1 diabetes is associated with a unique form of cardiomyopathy that is present without atherosclerosis. Redox imbalance and/or changes in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression have been associated with diabetes-related cardiomyopathy. However, the mechanisms of these changes and their interrelationships remain unclear. Using a murine type 1 diabetes model, we tested the hypothesis that alterations in cardiac performance are associated with decreased cardiac microvascular prevalence, as well as downregulation of VEGF isoforms. We also investigated oxidative stress as a contributor to regulate individual VEGF isoforms and microvascular rarefaction. Significant and rapid hyperglycemia was observed at 1 wk post-streptozotocin (STZ) and persisted throughout the 5-wk study. Left ventricular (LV) fractional shortening was reduced at week 1 and 5 post-STZ insult relative to age-matched controls. We also observed the early reduction in E/A ratio at 1 wk. Immunostaining for CD31 and digital image analysis demonstrated a 35% reduction in microvessels/myocardial area, indicative of rarefaction, which was highly correlated with fractional shortening. Furthermore, a significant increase in the prevalence of protein 3-nitrotyrosine was observed in the diabetic cardiac tissue, which was inversely associated with microvascular rarefaction. The expressions of three VEGF isoforms were significantly reduced to different extents. The reduction of VEGF164was associated with GSSG accumulation. These data demonstrate that the mouse model of STZ-induced diabetes has hallmark features observed in humans with respect to nonischemic systolic and diastolic performance and microvascular rarefaction, which are associated with changes in VEGF isoform expression and redox imbalance in the myocardium.
Speckle tracking echocardiography in the assessment of mouse models of cardiac dysfunction
Authors: Peng Yu , Popović Zoran B. , Sopko Nikolai , Drinko Jeannie , Zhang Zheng , Thomas James D. , Penn Marc S.
Published: June 2009

Two-dimensional (2-D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) accurately quantifies circumferential strain ( Scirc) and radial strain ( Srad) in humans and in large and small animals. This study was performed to assess sensitivity of Scirc and Srad to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in mouse models. We performed 2-D and M-mode echocardiography 1) in 6 mice during superficial and profound isoflurane anesthesia, 2) serially in 12 mice to monitor the development of heart failure induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and in 8 corresponding control mice, and 3) in 26 mice with varying degrees of TAC-induced heart failure and 12 corresponding control mice immediately before euthanasia. Fractional shortening (FS) and LV mass were measured from standard M-mode tracings, whereas Scirc and Srad were derived by STE. Percent fibrosis and myocyte diameters were assessed from whole heart cross-sectional specimens stained by Masson trichrome. Profound isoflurane anesthesia decreased Scirc ( P = 0.027) but not Srad ( P > 0.05). Mice subjected to TAC showed an immediate and sustained decrease in FS ( P = 0.035), Scirc ( P = 0.016), and Srad ( P = 0.012). Scirc showed better correlation with FS ( r = 0.56 and P < 0.0001) and LV mass ( r = 0.42 and P = 0.0003) than Srad ( r = 0.54 and P < 0.0001 for FS and r = 0.37 and P = 0.014 for LV mass, respectively). Percent fibrosis correlated better with Scirc ( r = 0.46 and P = 0.004) than with Srad ( r = −0.32 and P = 0.05), whereas myocyte diameter showed similar correlation with both strains ( r = 0.45 and r = −0.44, respectively, and P = 0.006 for both). STE correctly identifies LV dysfunction and histological changes in mice and can be used for the serial assessment of cardiac remodeling in murine models.
Animal models of asthma
Authors: Bates Jason H. T. , Rincon Mercedes , Irvin Charles G.
Published: June 2009

Studies in animal models form the basis for much of our current understanding of the pathophysiology of asthma, and are central to the preclinical development of drug therapies. No animal model completely recapitulates all features of the human disease, however. Research has focused primarily on ways to generate allergic inflammation by sensitizing and challenging animals with a variety of foreign proteins, leading to an increased understanding of the immunological factors that mediate the inflammatory response and its physiological expression in the form of airways hyperresponsiveness. Animal models of exaggerated airway narrowing are also lending support to the notion that asthma may represent an abnormality of the airway smooth muscle. The mouse is now the species of choice for asthma research involving animals. This presents practical challenges for physiological study because the mouse is so small, but modern imaging methodologies, coupled with the forced oscillation technique for measuring lung mechanics, have allowed the asthma phenotype in mice to be precisely characterized.
Dexamethasone and mifepristone increase retroviral infectivity through different mechanisms
Authors: Solodushko Victor , Bitko Vira , Fouty Brian
Published: June 2009

Using adapted retroviruses for gene delivery is a modern and powerful tool in biological research as well as a promising approach for gene therapy. An important limitation for the extensive use of retroviral vectors is the low infection rate in target cells such as pulmonary vascular endothelial cells due to the insufficient infectivity of standard retrovirus supernatants that can only be overcome by complicated methods of virus concentration. This paper describes two easy methods to augment target cell infectivity, first by increasing the retroviral titer in the medium collected from packaging cells by stimulation of viral propagation with dexamethasone, and second, by increasing target cell sensitivity to retroviral infection by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, mifepristone. Using this method, we increased the infectivity of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells from 16% to 85%. We demonstrate that mifepristone increased the susceptibility of target cells to retroviruses without increasing the viral titer of the supernatant. Dexamethasone, but not mifepristone, increased expression of delivered proteins such as GFP that are important for early identification of infected cells. Each, or both step(s), may be included in a standard protocol for retrovirus propagation and infection of target cells.
Adiponectin deficiency: a model of pulmonary hypertension associated with pulmonary vascular disease
Authors: Summer Ross , Fiack Christopher A. , Ikeda Yasumasa , Sato Kaori , Dwyer Daniel , Ouchi Noriyuki , Fine Alan , Farber Harrison W. , Walsh Kenneth
Published: June 2009

Adiponectin (APN) is an adipocyte-derived factor that exists at high concentrations in serum and has anti-inflammatory and systemic vascular-protective properties. In this study, we investigated the role of APN in pulmonary vascular homeostasis. We found that APN localizes to the luminal side of blood vessels in lung and acts in vitro to block TNF-α-induced E-selectin upregulation in pulmonary artery endothelial cells. Targeted deletion of the APN gene in mice leads to a vascular phenotype in lung characterized by E-selectin upregulation and age-dependent increases in perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration and pulmonary arterial pressures. Taken together, these findings demonstrate an important role for APN in lung vascular homeostasis and suggest that APN-deficient states may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory pulmonary vascular disease and to the development of pulmonary hypertension.
Exposure of Petrol Station Attendants and Auto Mechanics to Premium Motor Sprit Fumes in Calabar, Nigeria
Authors: Udonwa N. E. , Uko E. K. , Ikpeme B. M. , Ibanga I. A. , Okon B. O.
Published: June 2009

A population-based-cross-sectional survey was carried out to investigate the potential risk of exposure to premium motor spirit (PMS) fumes in Calabar, Nigeria, among Automobile Mechanics (AM), Petrol Station Attendants (PSA) and the general population. Structured questionnaire was administered on the randomly chosen subjects to elicit information on their exposure to PMS. Duration of exposure was taken as the length of work in their various occupations. Venous blood was taken for methaemoglobin (MetHb) and packed cells volume (PCV). Mean MetHb value was higher in AM (7.3%) and PSA (5.8%) than in the subjects from the general population (2.7%). PCV was lower in PSA (30.8%), than AM (33.3%) and the subjects from the general population (40.8%). MetHb level was directly proportional, and PCV inversely related, to the duration of exposure. The study suggested increased exposure to petrol fumes among AM, PSA, and MetHb as a useful biomarker in determining the level of exposure to benzene in petrol vapour.
Well Posedness for a Class of Flexible Structure in Hölder Spaces
Authors: Cuevas Claudio , Lizama Carlos
Published: June 2009

We characterize well‐posedness in Hölder spaces for an abstract version of
the equation (∗) u′′ + λu′′′ = c2(Δu + μΔu′) + f which model the vibrations of flexible structures possessing internal material damping and external force f. As a consequence, we show that in case of the Laplacian with Dirichlet boundary conditions, equation (∗) is always well‐posed provided 0 < λ < μ.