bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calcium‐induced contraction of sarcomeres changes the regulation of mitochondrial respiration in permeabilized cardiac cells
Authors: Anmann Tiia , Eimre Margus , Kuznetsov Andrey V. , Andrienko Tatiana , Kaambre Tuuli , Sikk Peeter , Seppet Evelin , Tiivel Toomas , Vendelin Marko , Seppet Enn , Saks Valdur A.
Published: June 2005

The relationships between cardiac cell structure and the regulation of mitochondrial respiration were studied by applying fluorescent confocal microscopy and analysing the kinetics of mitochondrial ADP‐stimulated respiration, during calcium‐induced contraction in permeabilized cardiomyocytes and myocardial fibers, and in their ‘ghost’ preparations (after selective myosin extraction). Up to 3 µm free calcium, in the presence of ATP, induced strong contraction of permeabilized cardiomyocytes with intact sarcomeres, accompanied by alterations in mitochondrial arrangement and a significant decrease in the apparent Km for exogenous ADP and ATP in the kinetics of mitochondrial respiration. The Vmax of respiration showed a moderate (50%) increase, with an optimum at 0.4 µm free calcium and a decrease at higher calcium concentrations. At high free‐calcium concentrations, the direct flux of ADP from ATPases to mitochondria was diminished compared to that at low calcium levels. All of these effects were unrelated either to mitochondrial calcium overload or to mitochondrial permeability transition and were not observed in ‘ghost’ preparations after the selective extraction of myosin. Our results suggest that the structural changes transmitted from contractile apparatus to mitochondria modify localized restrictions of the diffusion of adenine nucleotides and thus may actively participate in the regulation of mitochondrial function, in addition to the metabolic signalling via the creatine kinase system.
Translational incorporation of L‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine into proteins
Authors: Ozawa Kiyoshi , Headlam Madeleine J. , Mouradov Dmitri , Watt Stephen J. , Beck Jennifer L. , Rodgers Kenneth J. , Dean Roger T. , Huber Thomas , Otting Gottfried , Dixon Nicholas E.
Published: June 2005

An Escherichia coli cell‐free transcription/translation system was used to explore the high‐level incorporation of l‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) into proteins by replacing tyrosine with DOPA in the reaction mixtures. ESI‐MS showed specific incorporation of DOPA in place of tyrosine. More than 90% DOPA incorporation at each tyrosine site was achieved, allowing the recording of clean 15N‐HSQC NMR spectra. A redox‐staining method specific for DOPA was shown to provide a sensitive and generally applicable method for assessing the cell‐free production of proteins. Of four proteins produced in soluble form in the presence of tyrosine, two resulted in insoluble aggregates in the presence of high levels of DOPA. DOPA has been found in human proteins, often in association with various disease states that implicate protein aggregation and/or misfolding. Our results suggest that misfolded and aggregated proteins may result, in principle, from ribosome‐mediated misincorporation of intracellular DOPA accumulated due to oxidative stress. High‐yield cell‐free protein expression systems are uniquely suited to obtain rapid information on solubility and aggregation of nascent polypeptide chains.
Determinants of the nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of muscle glycogen synthase
Authors: Cid Emili , Cifuentes Daniel , Baqué Susanna , Ferrer Juan C. , Guinovart Joan J.
Published: June 2005

Muscle glycogen synthase (MGS) presents a nuclear speckled pattern in primary cultured human muscle and in 3T3‐L1 cells deprived of glucose and with depleted glycogen reserves. Nuclear accumulation of the enzyme correlates inversely with cellular glycogen content. Although the glucose‐induced export of MGS from the nucleus to the cytoplasm is blocked by leptomycin B, and therefore mediated by CRM1, no nuclear export signal was identified in the sequence of the protein. Deletion analysis shows that the region comprising amino acids 555–633 of human MGS, which encompasses an Arg‐rich cluster involved in the allosteric activation of the enzyme by Glc6P, is crucial for its nuclear concentration and aggregation. Mutation of these Arg residues, which desensitizes the enzyme towards Glc6P, interferes with its nuclear accumulation. In contrast, the known phosphorylation sites of MGS that regulate its activity are not involved in the control of its subcellular distribution. Nuclear human MGS colocalizes with the promyelocytic leukaemia oncoprotein and p80‐coilin, a marker of Cajal bodies. The subnuclear distribution of MGS is altered by incubation with transcription inhibitors. These observations suggest that, in addition to its metabolic function, MGS may participate in nuclear processes.
The meaning of Einstein’s equation
Authors: Baez John C. , Bunn Emory F.
Published: June 2005

This is a brief introduction to general relativity, designed for both students and teachers of the subject. While there are many excellent expositions of general relativity, few adequately explain the geometrical meaning of the basic equation of the theory: Einstein’s equation. Here we give a simple formulation of this equation in terms of the motion of freely falling test particles. We also sketch some of the consequences of this formulation and explain how it is equivalent to the usual one in terms of tensors. Finally, we include an annotated bibliography of books, articles, and websites suitable for the student of relativity.
Experimental study of Bernoulli’s equation with losses
Authors: Saleta Martı́n Eduardo , Tobia Dina , Gil Salvador
Published: June 2005

We present a simple and inexpensive experiment to study the drainage of a cylindrical vessel. The experiment consists of a transparent cylinder and a webcam or a digital camera connected to a computer. The model proposed to explain the results makes use of Bernoulli’s equation for real flows including energy losses. The experimental results are well explained by the model, which is a generalization of Torricelli’s expression.
Cosmology calculations almost without general relativity
Authors: Jordan Thomas F.
Published: June 2005

The Friedmann equation is derived for a Newtonian universe. Changing mass density to energy density gives exactly the Friedmann equation of general relativity. Accounting for the work done by pressure then yields the two Einstein equations that govern the expansion of the universe. Explanations of radiation pressure and vacuum pressure provide the rest of the tools needed by undergraduates to do basic calculations in cosmology. This approach is demonstrated with calculations about the expansion of the universe, the closeness of the density to the critical density, and the amounts of vacuum energy and matter energy needed to make the expansion accelerate or to make it stop. Travel time and luminosity distance are calculated in terms of the redshift. General relativity is needed only for the change in luminosity distance caused by the curvature of space. Thirty-one problems are included.
Electrons as field quanta: A better way to teach quantum physics in introductory general physics courses
Authors: Hobson Art
Published: June 2005

I propose a conceptual change in the way we teach nonrelativistic quantum physics in introductory survey courses and general modern physics courses. Traditional instruction treats radiation as a quantized electromagnetic wave that, because it is quantized, is observable only as discrete field quanta, while treating matter as particles that are accompanied by a wave function. In other words, traditional instruction views radiation as fundamentally a field phenomenon, and matter as fundamentally a particle phenomenon. But quantum field theory has a more unified view, according to which both radiation and matter are continuous fields while both photons and material particles are quanta of these fields. The quantum field theory view of radiation and matter clarifies particle identity issues, dispels students’ Newtonian misconceptions about matter, arguably resolves the wave-particle paradox, is the accepted view of contemporary physics, and might be the simplest and most effective teaching approach for all students. I propose that we make this field-theory viewpoint the conceptual basis for teaching non-relativistic quantum physics.
Equivalence between focused paraxial beams and the quantum harmonic oscillator
Authors: Steuernagel Ole
Published: June 2005

The paraxial approximation to the scalar Helmholtz equation is shown to be equivalent to the Schrödinger equation for a quantum harmonic oscillator. This equivalence maps the Gouy phase of classical wave optics onto the time coordinate of the quantum harmonic oscillator and also helps us understand the qualitative behavior of the field and intensity distributions of focused optical beams in terms of the amplitude and probability distributions of quantum harmonic oscillators and vice versa.
OPTIMAL STANDING LONG JUMP SIMULATION FROM DIFFERENT STARTING POSTURES
Authors: CHENG KUANG-YOU B. , CHEN WEN-CHIEN
Published: June 2005

A planar 4-segment human body model is used to simulate and study the effects of starting posture on standing long jumping performance. The model consists of frictionless hinge joints and is driven by joint torque actuators. The four segments represent feet, shanks, thighs, and trunk with head and arms. Movement simulations start from three different postures: high squat, squat, and low squat. The control variables are the joint torque activation levels and takeoff time. The objective function is the maximum horizontal distance from the toe point at takeoff to the center of mass (c.m.) position at landing. Optimal simulation results agree reasonably well with measurements. Different from previous high jump simulation study, slight dependence of initial posture on jump distance is found. Longer jump distance from a higher initial posture is probably due to greater range of countermovement that results in larger extension joint torque generation.
NEUROMECHANICAL STRATEGY IN VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENT DURING DOWNWARD STEPPING
Authors: HUANG YUN-CHING , HUANG WEN-JIE , TSAI FENG-JEN , LIU YU
Published: June 2005

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate leg muscular regulation and neuromuscular activation by investigating the stiffness and EMG amplitude between normal vision students and visually impaired students. Ten normal vision (age: 24.3 ± 2 years; 171.5 ± 4.6; mass: 65.9 ± 8.0) and 10 visually impaired students (age: 23.2 ± 2.4 years; 163.4 ± 9.6; mass: 62.8 ± 15.0) served as subjects. An AMTI force platform (1200 Hz) and a Peak Performance high speed camera (60 Hz) were used synchronously to record the ground reaction force, the kinematic parameters and EMG signals of lower extremity during the subjects stepped down from height 20, 30 and 40 cm. After treating the data and discussion, the conclusions were obtained. The regulation of neuromusclar system of the impaired is less efficient compared to the normal one because of softer stiffness and lower EMG activity.
EVALUATION OF MICROMOTION OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL CELLS IN ELECTRICAL CELL-SUBSTRATE IMPEDANCE SENSING (ECIS) METHOD USING A MATHEMATICAL MODEL
Authors: GODA NORIKO , KATAOKA NORIYUKI , SHIMIZU JUICHIRO , MOHRI SATOSHI , YAMAMOTO YOSHITAKE , OKUDA HIROYUKI , KAJIYA FUMIHIKO
Published: June 2005

We proposed a mathematical model for the microdynamics of cultured cells measured with ECIS (Electrical Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing) system that can separately evaluate cell-to-cell and cell-to-substrate gaps. Our mathematical model is composed of culture medium impedance between cells (Zsol), cell impedance (Zc), and polarization impedance of the electrode (Zp). Zsol consists of the resistance between cells (Rsol) and the capacitance between cells (Csol) of the culture medium. In particular, Rsol is the resistance component related to the cell-to-cell distance (A). Zc consists of capacitance of the cell membrane (Cc) and resistance of the cell membrane (Rc). Zp depends on the cell-to-substrate distance (h) because of the shielding effect of cells to the electrode. The shielding effect is defined as shielding coefficient (Sk). We examined the changes in the impedance of the electrode without or with cells in various conditions. The electrical characteristics of the electrode with or without cells agreed well with those measured in ECIS system. It was found that whether A or h caused the changes in the impedance could be determined based on the changes in the total resistance and reactance (capacitance); A mainly affects the total resistance value, and h mainly affects total capacitance value. Therefore, we can simply estimate the changes in cell-to-cell and cell-to-substrate gaps with measured total resistance and reactance (capacitance). Based on these results, when the cultured endothelial cells (HUVEC) were stimulated with estrogen for 40 hours, it was proved that the cell-to-cell distances decreased, even though the cell-to-electrode distances slightly increased. This result suggests that the barrier function of endothelium is fortified by estrogen.
EVALUATING THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF A VENTRICULAR SIMULATOR
Authors: ZANNOLI ROMANO , CORAZZA IVAN , CACCIAFESTA PAOLA , BRANZI ANGELO
Published: June 2005

The mechanical performance of a ventricular simulator was characterized by recording Pressure-Volume loops for different preload and afterload conditions. The End Systolic Pressure-Volume Relationship was drawn to demonstrate a "physiological" behaviour. The external work of the artificial ventricle was calculated by the P-V loop area and the presence of the Frank–Starling mechanism was demonstrated.

The P-V loop was obtained by recording the internal pressure and by integrating the flow signal recorded at the orifice of the artificial ventricular chamber. The preload was modified by increasing the level of the filling reservoir and the afterload was modified by shortening the thin tube that represents the hydraulic resistance. The measurements were repeated at two different volumes of the ventricular external chamber. The ventricular external work was calculated by measuring the P-V loop area in the different loading conditions.

The sequence of the loops obtained by changing the preload and afterload show a well defined End Systolic Pressure-Volume Relationship that changes its slope by changing the volume of the ventricular external chamber. The ventricular mechanical simulator shows a "physiological" behaviour.
BRAIN MOTION AND DEFORMATION DURING CLOSED HEAD INJURY IN THE PRESENCE OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID
Authors: BABBS CHARLES F.
Published: June 2005

This paper presents a new analysis of the physics of closed head injury following brief, intense acceleration of the head. It focuses upon the buoyancy of the brain in cerebrospinal fluid, which protects against damage; the propagation of strain waves through the brain substance, which causes damage; and the concentration of strain in critical anatomic regions, which magnifies damage. Numerical methods are used to create animations or "movies" of brain motion and deformation. Initially, a 1 cm gap filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) separates the brain from the skull. Whole head acceleration induces artificial gravity within the skull. The brain accelerates, because its density differs slightly from that of CSF, strikes the inner aspect of the skull, and then undergoes viscoelastic deformation. The computed pattern of brain motion correlates well with published high-speed photographic studies. The sites of greatest deformation correlate with sites of greatest pathological damage. This fresh biomechanical analysis allows one to visualize events within the skull during closed head injury and may inspire new approaches to prevention and treatment.
Evolution of Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars
Authors: Herwig Falk
Published: June 2005

▪ Abstract  The current status of modeling the evolution and nucleosynthesis of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars is reviewed. The principles of AGB evolution have been investigated in recent years leading to improved and refined models, for example with regard to hot-bottom burning or the third dredge-up. The postprocessing s-process model yields quantitative results that reproduce many observations. However, these and most other processes in AGB stars are intimately related to the physics of stellar mixing. Mixing in AGB stars is currently not well-enough understood for accurate yield predictions. Several constraints and methods are available to improve the models. Some regimes of AGB evolution have not yet been studied in sufficient detail. These include the super-AGB stars and AGB stars at extremely low or ultra low metallicity.
Dusty Infrared Galaxies: Sources of the Cosmic Infrared Background
Authors: Lagache Guilaine , Puget Jean-Loup , Dole Hervé
Published: June 2005

▪ Abstract The discovery of the Cosmic Infrared Background (CIB) in 1996, together with recent cosmological surveys from the mid-infrared to the millimeter, have revolutionized our view of star formation at high redshifts. It has become clear, in the last decade, that a population of galaxies that radiate most of their power in the far-infrared (the so-called infrared galaxies) contributes an important part of the whole galaxy build-up in the Universe. Since 1996, detailed (and often painful) investigations of the high-redshift infrared galaxies have resulted in the spectacular progress covered in this review. We outline the nature of the sources of the CIB, including their star-formation rate, stellar and total mass, morphology, metallicity, and clustering properties. We discuss their contribution to the stellar content of the Universe and their origin in the framework of the hierarchical growth of structures. We finally discuss open questions for a scenario of their evolution up to the present-day galaxies.
Galactic Winds
Authors: Veilleux Sylvain , Cecil Gerald , Bland-Hawthorn Joss
Published: June 2005

▪ Abstract  Galactic winds are the primary mechanism by which energy and metals are recycled in galaxies and are deposited into the intergalactic medium. New observations are revealing the ubiquity of this process, particularly at high redshift. We describe the physics behind these winds, discuss the observational evidence for them in nearby star-forming and active galaxies and in the high-redshift universe, and consider the implications of energetic winds for the formation and evolution of galaxies and the intergalactic medium. To inspire future research, we conclude with a set of observational and theoretical challenges.
The Classification of Galaxies: Early History and Ongoing Developments
Authors: Sandage Allan
Published: June 2005

▪ Abstract  “You ask what is the use of classification, arrangement, systematization. I answer you; order and simplification are the first steps toward the mastery of a subject—the actual enemy is the unknown.” Settembrini to Hans Castorp in The Magic Mountain: Thomas Mann

Discussion is made on the philosophy of classification, urging that the classification be made on the basis of morphology alone, not on the basis of supposed physics that some wish to be introduced to “explain” the classification. A history of the development of the present morphological galaxy classification system is given, starting with the purely descriptive systems of Herschel, Wolf, Shapley, and Vorontsov-Velyaminov that have no connective continuity between the classification descriptions. The development of the modern system that has an underlying continuity between the classification bins is reviewed, mainly featuring the 1926 system of Hubble that is the basis of the present extended Hubble system.
Association of Kir6.2 and INS VNTR variants with glucose homeostasis in young obese
Authors: Fur Sophie Le , Fradin Delphine , Boileau Pascal , Bougnères Pierre
Published: June 2005

Although insulin secretion is commonly increased and glucose tolerance decreased in young obese patients, there is a wide individual variability of these parameters. We investigated whether common variants at the Kir6.2 (KCNJ11) and insulin variable number of tandem repeat (INS VNTR) loci are associated with insulin or glucose levels in 388 obese children. The E23K and INS VNTR alleles showed no significant association when each locus was examined individually but a clear effect when the two loci were combined for analysis. In obese children with Kir6.2 KK and class III VNTR alleles, fasting glucose was slightly but consistently greater (4.76 ± 0.05 mM) than in those with Kir6.2 EE and class I/I VNTR alleles (4.63 ± 0.06 mM, P = 6.10−4) or other genotypes (4.64 ± 0.03 mM, P = 1.10−3). Obese children with KK and class III VNTR genotypes also had an early response to oral glucose diminished by ∼36% [insulinogenic index (IGI) = 50 ± 4] compared with Kir6.2 EE and class I/I (IGI = 78 ± 7, P = 0.026) or other genotypes (IGI = 69 ± 3, P = 0.001). In young European obese, the polymorphisms of Kir6.2 and INS VNTR are thus associated with a trend for lower insulin and higher glucose levels, which may reveal a possible epistatic genetic effect that may influence a prediabetic trait in young obese children.
The Post-reform Performance of the Manufacturing Sector in India
Authors: Kalirajan Kaliappa , Bhide Shashanka
Published: June 2005

Manufacturing played an important part in sustaining India's economic growth in the 1970s and 1980s. The economic reforms of the early 1990s did not lead to sustained growth of the manufacturing sector. After an acceleration in the mid-1990s, growth slowed in the decade's second half. The analysis presented in this paper reveals that manufacturing-sector growth in the postreform period is “input driven” rather than “efficiency driven,” with significant levels of technical inefficiency. The paper advocates policies to improve production efficiency by encouraging investment in research and development, technical training for workers, and technology-aided managerial processes.
Economic Growth and Employment Growth in China (1978–2001)
Authors: Hu Angang
Published: June 2005

The creation of more jobs for China's massive labor force is the foremost economic development objective for the Chinese government. This paper analyzes the relations between economic growth and employment growth, between capital growth and employment growth, and between wage growth and employment growth in China. The solution to China's unemployment problem requires not only changes in China's macroeconomic and employment policies, but also a change in the priorities of the country's economic growth model from output growth toward employment growth. Moreover, it will be necessary to handle correctly the relations between labor-intensive industries and capital-intensive industries, balance the interests of laborers and the interests of capital, and support the expansion of domestic demand and the creation of employment opportunities.
Famine and Reform in North Korea
Authors: Noland Marcus
Published: June 2005

North Korea has been in a food emergency for more than a decade and in the 1990s experienced a famine that may have claimed one million lives. The crisis is distinguished by its protracted nature, and although conditions have eased somewhat in recent years, the situation remains precarious, and the country could lapse back into famine. This paper reviews the origins of the North Korean food crisis, the impact of the 1990s famine, and the prospects for resolution of the emergency in light of economic reforms initiated in 2002 and the subsequent diplomatic confrontation over the country's nuclear weapons program.
A molecular phylogenetic approach to Longidoridae (Nematoda: Dorylaimida)
Authors: He Yu , Subbotin Sergei A. , Rubtsova Tatiana V. , Lamberti Franco , Brown Derek J.F. , Moens Maurice
Published: June 2005

The Longidoridae are a group of ectoparasitic nematodes including two
subfamilies and six genera with hundreds of species. Sequences of the D2 and
D3 expansion region of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA nuclear gene were
amplified and used to reconstruct the phylogeny of longidorids. Phylogenetic
analyses with maximum parsimony (MP), maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian
inference (BI) were performed with one outgroup taxon and 62 longidorid
sequences. Confidence of inferred clades was assessed by non-parametric
bootstrapping for MP and Bayesian posterior probability for ML. All analyses
placed Paralongidorus species as an inner group within the otherwise
monophyletic genus Longidorus. The genus Xiphinema, except for X.
americanum-group species, was placed as the sister group of Longidorus with
strong support from the ML and BI analyses. The X. americanum-group was
strongly supported as an exclusive clade to other genus Xiphinema species.
The position of the Xiphidorus clade was not well resolved and the
phylogenetic analyses did not support it as a sister group to Longidorus as
previously inferred from morphology. Secondary structure models were
constructed for the D2/D3 region of LSU rRNA for all studied species. It was
found that sequence-based and structural morphometric rRNA phylogenies were
incongruent.
Plant-parasitic nematodes of the genus Xiphinema (Nematoda: Longidoridae) in the vineyards of the Czech Republic
Authors: Kumari Shesh , Polák Jaroslav , Choutka Roman
Published: June 2005

The occurrence and geographic distribution of Xiphinema species were
investigated during a nematological survey in the rhizosphere of grapevine.
Sixty eight samples from 28 vineyards from South Moravia, and one vineyard
from Central Bohemia, were studied. Four Xiphinema species (X. brevicollum,
X. diversicaudatum, X. pachtaicum and X. vuittenezi) were recorded. One of
the described species, X. vuittenezi, is widespread, occurring in 27 out of
29 vineyards. Xiphinema vuittenezi and X. diversicaudatum were also detected
by PCR-based methodology.
Evaluation of adjuvants for foliar application of Steinernema carpocapsae against larvae of the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella)
Authors: Schroer Sibylle , Yi Xiaoli , Ehlers Ralf-Udo
Published: June 2005

Increasing resistance to chemical insecticides in field populations of the
diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) has stimulated research on
alternative control measures. The entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema
carpocapsae may be one such alternative, particularly against the third
larval instar of P. xylostella. The LC50 for the second instar is 38, the
third 13 and the fourth 22 nematodes/larva. Plutella xylostella pupae were
not affected by the nematodes, although mortality in leaf disk bioassays
after application of nematodes in water seldom surpassed 50%. Therefore,
additives were tested to improve nematode performance. Only Triton X-100
(0.3%) caused phytotoxic effects. The addition of xanthan gum or potassium
alginate resulted in a two-fold increase of insect mortality at 80% relative
humidity (RH) and a five-fold increase at 60% RH. Mixtures of 0.3% xanthan
or alginate with 0.3% surfactants further improved efficacy. In water the
LT50 for S. carpocapsae against P. xylostella larvae was > 40 h. Using a
mixture of 0.3% xanthan or 0.3% alginate with 0.3% surfactant, the LT50 was
reduced to < 25 h.
Terrestrial nematodes from the Galápagos Archipelago. 10. Morphological and taxonomical analysis of Carcharolaimus ramirezi Thorne, 1967 (Dorylaimida: Qudsianematidae)
Authors: De Ley Paul , Van Driessche Rita , Coomans August
Published: June 2005

Carcharolaimus ramirezi was found in six soil samples from four islands of the Galápagos Archipelago. It is described for the first time since its original discovery, with particular emphasis on the morphology of its anterior end as seen under light microscope and SEM. Six large, but thin, liplets overhang the labial basket, which consists of thick plates ornamented with irregular ridges and denticles. Posterior to the labial basket, six pillars form a postlabial cage and provide attachment for eight dilatatores buccae. The species can survive desiccation and is probably well adapted to arid soils. Paratypes of C. bediensis were also studied and revealed that this species is actually synonymous with C. banaticus, rather than being very close to C. ramirezi as suggested by previous descriptions. The recently proposed genus Carcharodiscus is rejected, and the possible synonymy of Carcharolaimus with the senior genus Antholaimus is noted. A compendium to the genus Carcharolaimus is provided.
Efficacy of the fungi Hirsutella minnesotensis and H. rhossiliensis from liquid culture for control of the soybean cyst nematode Heterodera glycines
Authors: Liu Shufen , Chen Senyu
Published: June 2005

Hirsutella minnesotensis and H. rhossiliensis are endoparasites of nematodes, and their biological control potential against Heterodera glycines when cultured and applied on corn grits has been reported. In this study, the potential of liquid cultures of the two fungi was evaluated in two glasshouse experiments. Both liquid culture at 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 g of fresh mycelium/300 cm3 soil (per pot) and solid culture at 1% (corn grits: soil, w/w) reduced nematode egg population densities in both autoclaved and unheated soils as compared with soil-only control or corn-grits control. However, the liquid culture at 0.2–0.8 g of mycelium/pot appeared to be more effective in reducing the nematode population than the solid culture of 1%. Hirsutella rhossiliensis resulted in lower nematode population density than H. minnesotensis only in unheated soil in one experiment. The soil heat treatment generally increased the nematode population density but did not affect percentage reduction of the nematode population density as compared with respective controls, except that reduction by H. rhossiliensis was greater in unheated soil than heat-treated soil in one experiment. Percentage of second-stage juveniles (J2) parasitised by fungi at the end of the experiment (60 days after planting) was generally higher with H. minnesotensis than with H. rhossiliensis. The percentage parasitism was positively correlated with initial fungal inoculation level. The soil heat treatment increased fungal parasitism in one experiment but not in the other. Plant growth was unaffected by treatments except that the soil heat treatment increased plant shoot weight as compared with unheated soil in one experiment.
In vitro culturing of the predatory soil nematode Clarkus papillatus
Authors: Salinas Kimberley A. , Kotcon James
Published: June 2005

Clarkus papillatus is a widely distributed predatory soil nematode and is of
interest in the study of soil ecology, yet very little information exists on
its in vitro culturing. In this investigation, an artificial environment was
created to maintain C. papillatus for multi-generational studies. The mean
number of C. papillatus increased significantly over time when starting the
cultures with three adults per plate. Clarkus papillatus had a significantly
higher median fecundity at 20, 25 and 28°C than at five other temperatures.
Juvenile C. papillatus could not survive without adults in culture and,
therefore, may require adult maceration of prey nematodes to survive in
vitro.
Analysis of expressed sequence tags from the ectoparasitic nematode Xiphinema index
Authors: Furlanetto Cleber , Cardle Linda , Brown Derek J.F. , Jones John T.
Published: June 2005

We report the results of a small-scale expressed sequence tag project performed on the ectoparasitic nematode Xiphinema index. Approximately 1400 genes were sequenced, 70% from a cDNA library generated from dissected basal bulbs (containing the pharyngeal gland cells) and 30% from cDNA libraries generated from whole mixed stage nematodes. A large portion of the bulb library (48%) was composed of proteins with no matches in the database. Further analysis of these genes revealed that a total of 51 contigs were present, half of which encoded novel secreted proteins. By contrast, the whole nematode library contained more housekeeping and nematode-specific genes. Only one of the novel genes from the whole nematode library had a predicted signal peptide at the N-terminus. Genes encoding transthyretin-like proteins were abundant in the bulb library and in situ hybridisation confirmed that one of these is expressed in the basal bulb. Genes encoding a variety of proteases, which were shown using in situ hybridisation to be expressed in the gut, were also identified.
Phylogenetic relationships of Nygolaimina and Dorylaimina (Nematoda: Dorylaimida) inferred from small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences
Authors: Mullin Peter G. , Harris Timothy S. , Powers Thomas O.
Published: June 2005

Phylogenetic reconstructions based on 18S rDNA sequence data indicate that
Dorylaimida, comprising the suborders Nygolaimina and Dorylaimina, is a
monophyletic lineage, but that there is a deep division within Nygolaimina,
giving rise to the possibility that Nygolaimina is paraphyletic. A
well-supported clade comprising members of the traditional orders Mermithida
and Mononchida (including Bathyodontina) forms the sister taxon to the
Dorylaimida. Inferred relationships within this clade indicate that
Mermithida shares more recent common ancestry with Mononchina than does
Bathyodontina. Vertebrate parasites within Dorylaimia (Dioctophymida and
Trichinellida) are reconstructed in a sister-taxon relationship with the
Mononchida/Dorylaimida lineage. The enigmatic order Isolaimida (represented
by Isolaimium) appears to be ancestral to all other Dorylaimia sampled.
Expanded taxon sampling for phylogenetic analyses of the subclass raises new
possibilities for the reconstruction of hypothetical character states in the
common ancestor of Dorylaimia.
Plant-parasitic nematodes in soil-less culture systems
Authors: Hallmann Johannes , Hänisch Detlef , Braunsmann Jörg , Klenner Michael
Published: June 2005

The development from growing plants in field soil to soil-less culture
systems has not resulted in the elimination of problems caused by
plant-parasitic nematodes. Species of Meloidogyne and Radopholus have been
reported to occur in soil-less culture systems, such as flower crops. The
reasons for initial nematode infestation are numerous but the primary reason
is likely to be infested plant material. Since nematodes are not expected in
soil-less systems, they are often overlooked. However, extension specialists
report an increasing occurrence of plant-parasitic nematodes in soil-less
culture systems and nematodes seem to be more prevalent than is often
thought likely. In an attempt to increase the awareness of the prevalence of
plant-parasitic nematodes in soil-less culture systems, this short paper
summarises incidences of nematode detections and reviews methods for their
detection and strategies for their control.
Cultural Context and Psychological Needs in Canada and Brazil
Authors: Chirkov Valery I. , Ryan Richard M. , Willness Chelsea
Published: June 2005

Brazilian and Canadian students reported on the importance and frequency of cultural practices and values reflecting Triandis’s cultural model of individualistic-collectivistic and horizontal-vertical orientations. They also rated their relative autonomy for these practices and the degree to which parents and teachers supported self-determination theory’s psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. It was predicted that in both samples, despite the mean differences, greater relative autonomy and need support would be associated with greater well-being and cultural identity. It was also expected that vertical cultural orientations would be less well internalized in both Brazilian and Canadian groups. Means and covariance structure analyses verified measurement comparability. Results generally supported the hypotheses. Discussion focuses on the importance of internalization across cultural forms, the differentiation of autonomy from individualism and independence, and the relations between horizontal cultural orientations and psychological needs support.
A Cross-Cultural Study of the Levels and Correlates of Life Satisfaction among Adolescents
Authors: Park Nansook , Huebner E. Scott
Published: June 2005

Cross-cultural differences in the perceived levels and correlates of life satisfaction were investigated with 472 Korean and 543 U.S. adolescents. Korean adolescents reported lower global life satisfaction than U.S. adolescents, as well as lower satisfaction with family, friends, school, self, and living environment. Although satisfaction with family, self, and living environment contributed significant and unique variance to the global life satisfaction of adolescents in both cultures, satisfaction with school contributed significantly to global life satisfaction only for Korean adolescents. Level of satisfaction with self was a stronger correlate of global life satisfaction for U.S. adolescents than it was for Korean adolescents. The findings are discussed in terms of individualistic versus collectivistic culture frameworks within the value as moderator model of subjective well-being. Implications for future research and culturally sensitive well-being interventions are also presented.
Values and their Relationship to Environmental Concern and Conservation Behavior
Authors: Schultz P. Wesley , Gouveia Valdiney V. , Cameron Linda D. , Tankha Geetika , Schmuck Peter , Franěk Marek
Published: June 2005

Recent research has examined the relationship between values and attitudes about environmental issues. Findings from these studies have found values of self-transcendence (positively) and self-enhancement (negatively) to predict general concern for environmental problems. Other recent findings have differentiated between environmental attitudes based on concern for self (egoistic), concern for other people (social-altruistic), and concern for plants and animals (biospheric).This article reports the results from a study of the relationship between values and environmental attitudes in six countries: Brazil, Czech Republic, Germany, India, New Zealand, and Russia. Results show strong support for the cross-cultural generalizability of the relationship between values and attitudes and on the structure of environmental concern. In addition, analyses of the relationship between values and environmental behavior show evidence for norm activation only for self-transcendence; results for self-enhancement show a consistently negative relationship.
Investigating Implicit Trait Theories Across Cultures
Authors: Church A. Timothy , Katigbak Marcia S. , Ortiz Fernando A. , Del Prado Alicia M. , De Jesús Vargas-Flores José , Ibáñez-Reyes Joselina , Reyes Jose Alberto S. , Pe-Pua Rogelia , Cabrera Helena F.
Published: June 2005

Implicit trait and contextual theories encompass lay people’s beliefs about the longitudinal stability (vs. instability) of traits; the cross-situational consistency (vs. variability) of behavior; the ability to predict (vs. not predict) individuals’ behavior from their traits; the ability to infer traits from few behavioral instances (vs. the difficulty of doing so); and the importance of traits in understanding people (vs. the greater importance of contextual factors such as roles and relationships). Implicit trait and contextual beliefs were investigated in two individualistic cultures, the United States and Australia, and two collectivistic cultures, Mexico and the Philippines. Hypotheses based on an integration of trait and cultural psychology perspectives were supported. The structure of implicit beliefs replicated well, and trait beliefs predicted judgments about cross-situational consistency of behavior in all four cultures. Implicit trait beliefs were stronger, and implicit contextual beliefs weaker, in the United States as compared to Mexico and the Philippines.
Towards a weighted average framework for evaluating the quality of web-located health information
Authors: Sellitto Carmine , Burgess Stephen
Published: June 2005

This article proposes a framework for evaluating the quality of web-located health information. A set of affirmative response evaluation features are identified across four quality categories -currency/authority, accuracy, objectivity and privacy -and are used as the basis for determining the fundamental quality of web-located health information. Furthermore, the researchers add a value dimension to the framework by using a weighted average technique allowing information features to be scored proportionally -a feature that other assessment frameworks tend to overlook. The framework was used to access 56 health information documents published on the web, concluding that only four pages addressed all the core criteria proposed in the framework. The study also found that a relatively high number of commercial health sites intermixed health information with product promotion and advertising. The study was exploratory and because sampling was not probabilistic, it is difficult to claim generalizability at this stage. However, some notable results identified in this study may serve as the foundations for future research.
Internal learning climate, knowledge management process and perceived knowledge management satisfaction
Authors: Chou Tzu-Chuan , Chang Pao-Long , Tsai Chien-Tzu , Cheng Yih-Ping
Published: June 2005

Effective knowledge management (KM) has been a topic of great interest and extensively studied by organization researchers. Yet there is little research that attempts to explain the organizational KM performance in terms of employees’ satisfaction. To address this gap, this paper proposes a path model employing a number of constructs: innovativeness, interfunctional coordination, the KM processes of socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization, and employees’ perceived KM satisfaction. Empirical testing of the model is based on a sample of 157 enterprises from the Taiwanese information service industry. The results show that 10 of the 16 hypothesized relationships are supported by empirical data. The implications of these findings for knowledge management are discussed.
Information hub blogs
Authors: Bar-Ilan Judit
Published: June 2005

Blogging has become an important activity on the web; the number of web blogs is growing extremely fast, and thus this phenomenon cannot be ignored. This paper monitors a set of blogs for a two-month period in September-October 2003 and characterizes these blogs based on descriptive statistics and content analysis. We have chosen a set of ‘topic-oriented’ blogs, i.e. blogs whose purpose is to convey professional information. Our findings show that most of these blogs are excellent information hubs, i.e. provide short summaries (sometimes with a personal touch) with links to further information on major issues related to the topic of the blog.
Mapping interdisciplinarity in demography: a journal network analysis
Authors: Liu Zao , Wang Chengzhi
Published: June 2005

Despite increasing interest in studying the intellectual structures of interdisciplinary fields, mapping interdisciplinarity in demography remains an unexplored topic. This paper visualizes such a demographic intellectual structure through a citation analysis of 65 demography-related journals between 2000 and 2003. The journal citation data were collected from Journal Citation Reports. The subject relatedness of the journals was revealed through a cluster analysis, a network diagram, and an analysis of citation percentages between demography journals and all selected journals. Twelve clusters of subject specialties are identified. The network diagram largely matches the result of the cluster analysis. The results reveal closer connections between the demography journals and neighboring social sciences journals than with public health and medical science journals. Correlations between the citation matrices suggest stable demographic citation patterns over time.
The limits of DeCSS posting: a comparison of internet posting of DVD circumvention devices in the European Union and China
Authors: Eschenfelder Kristin R. , Desai Anuj C. , Alderman Ian , Sin S. Joanna , Yi Shen
Published: June 2005

This study explored differences in DeCSS posting between EU member nations, the PRC, Hong Kong, and Macau. DeCSS is a software program that circumvents DVD copy and access protection systems. The study investigated the number of websites in each nation that posted DeCSS. The study also examined the degree to which website authors included political speech on their websites referring to changes in copyright law brought about by World Intellectual Property Organization Treaty requirements. It also examined whether or not websites made reference to Free/Open Source software. Results found no DeCSS posting websites in the PRC, Macau, Luxembourg, Spain or Portugal; and results found few DeCSS posting websites in Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy and Greece. Results show more DeCSS posting websites in northern EU nations, especially the Netherlands, Germany, the UK and France. The paper draws on institutional theory and collective action theory to suggest explanations for the observed differences in DeCSS posting.
Mapping the topography of couples’ daily conversation
Authors: Alberts Jess K. , Yoshimura Christina G. , Rabby Michael , Loschiavo Rose
Published: June 2005

This article reports the results of an examination of the daily conversational behaviors of 10 satisfied couples over a period of 1 week. Examination of the data revealed that couples’ conversations could productively be categorized into 13 categories (in order of frequency): self-report, observation, back-channel, other-report, TV talk, partner’s experiences, miscellaneous/uncodable, household task talk, humor, plans, narratives, positivity, and conflict. Additional analyses indicated that couples were more likely to engage in conflict, humor, household task talk, planning and observations on the weekend, whereas their weekdays were distinguished by a greater occurrence of other-report, self-report, partner’s experiences and narratives. Finally, examination of couples’ daily satisfaction indicates that Wednesdays and Saturdays were the least satisfying days, whereas Mondays were the most satisfying.
Determinants of received social support: Who gives what to managers?
Authors: Lindorff Margaret
Published: June 2005

The matching hypothesis suggests that contextual variables will influence the social support received for stressful events. This study examines the influence of supporter relationship, stressor domain (work or nonwork), recipient gender, stressor controllability, and the social nature of the stressor on the social support received by 435 managers. Some evidence is found for support matching. Emotional support is more often received for social stressors than for nonsocial stressors. It is also more often received from relationships outside the work-place than from work relationships. Work relationships provide the most tangible assistance and information for stressors that have occurred at work, but nonwork relationships provide the most assistance and information for nonwork stressors. For work stressors, superiors provide the most information and emotional support, whereas subordinates provide the most tangible assistance. However, the gender of the support recipient and the controllability of the stressor are not associated with support receipt.
Motivations for infidelity in heterosexual dating couples: The roles of gender, personality differences, and sociosexual orientation
Authors: Barta William D. , Kiene Susan M.
Published: June 2005

A motivational/individual differences model of infidelity is proposed in the course of empirically evaluating the traditional dichotomy between emotional and sexual motives. A scale assessing motivations for infidelity was developed and administered to 432 college students, 120 of whom reported past dating infidelity. Four motivations were identified and were associated as predicted with Big Five and other trait constructs; Sex was predicted by male gender, lower age, and unrestricted sociosexual orientation (SO); Dissatisfaction was predicted by female gender and Extraversion; Neglect was predicted by Neuroticism; and Anger by Neuroticism and low Agreeableness. As predicted, a two-factor model provides a poorer fit with the data than a multi-factor model. Unrestricted SO partially mediates the gender difference in endorsement of a sex motive for infidelity.