bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The GYF domain
Authors: Kofler Michael M. , Freund Christian
Published: December 2005

GYF domains are small, versatile adaptor domains that recognize proline‐rich sequences (PRS). They are present in most eukaryotic species sequenced so far, but in contrast to other PRS‐recognition domains (PRD), GYF domains have not experienced the same amplification in metazoa during evolution. Mutational and structural analysis has shown the conserved signature W‐X‐Y‐X6‐11‐GPF‐X4‐M‐X2‐W‐X3‐GYF to be the site of interaction with proline‐rich peptides. In contrast, composition and length of the C‐terminal half of GYF domains are not conserved. Similar to other PRD, GYF domains bind to many different PRS that converge on a minimal consensus sequence. All GYF domains analyzed so far selected for the core motif PPG, whereas amino‐acid preferences adjacent to this motif vary. As a result of this analysis, two subfamilies have been identified: CD2BP2‐type and SMY2‐type GYF domains. The latter subfamily comprises most GYF domains and is characterized by a shorter β1–β2 loop and an aspartate instead of the tryptophan found at position 8 in CD2BP2‐type GYF domains. Recent analysis of binding specificities for GYF domains allowed identification of novel interaction partners. Thereby proteomics has contributed to a functional understanding of GYF domain‐containing proteins and sets the stage for a more systematic investigation of their functions in vivo.
A simple method for estimating nitrate nitrogen concentrations of standing Sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf) and Sudan‐type sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench ×S. sudanense) at the heading stage by the nitrate nitrogen concentration of the stem juice and the dry matter ratio
Authors: Sunaga Yoshihito , Harada Hisatomi , Hatanaka Tetsuya
Published: December 2005

A simple method for estimating the nitrate nitrogen (NO3‐N) concentrations of standing Sudangrass and Sudan‐type sorghum at the heading stage was developed. It has been reported that the NO3‐N concentrations on a dry matter basis of these crops could be estimated from multiplying the concentration factors (CF) by the dilution factors (DF): CF was the NO3‐N concentration of the stem on a fresh matter basis and DF was the dry matter partitioning ratio of the stem divided by the dry matter ratio of the stem. In the present study, the methods for estimating the CF by NO3‐N analysis of the stem juice and the DF by the dry matter ratio of the whole crop were examined. One half of all 68 harvests was used for the CF and DF predictions, and the other half was used to validate these and NO3‐N concentration estimations. The regression equation for estimating the CF from NO3‐N concentrations of the stem juice was: CF (g kg−1 FM) = 0.61 × NO3‐N concentrations of the stem juice at the 25% position (g L−1), which means at a position corresponding to 25% of the total stem length from the bottom, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.908. The quadratic equation obtained from the relationship between the DF and the dry matter ratio of the whole crop (DM%) was: DF = 0.00652DM%2 − 0.492DM% + 11.29, and R2 = 0.953. In a comparison between the estimates and the actual CF and DF measurements for the validation samples, the CF and DF could be estimated with a high degree of accuracy from each estimate equation with an R2 of 0.845 and 0.958, respectively. The NO3‐N concentration estimates, calculated by multiplying the estimated CF by the estimated DF, corresponded to the analytical values by the established method with an R2 of 0.893.
Age‐related increase in levels of insecticidal protein in the progenies of transgenic oilseed rape and its efficacy against a susceptible strain of diamondback moth
Authors: Wei W. , Schuler T.H. , Clark S.J. , Stewart C.N. , Poppy G.M.
Published: December 2005

Many crops transformed with insecticidal genes isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) show resistance to targeted insect pests. The concentration of Bt endotoxin proteins in plants is very important in transgenic crop efficacy and risk assessment. In the present study, changes in levels of Cry1Ac protein in the leaves of transgenic Bt oilseed rape (Brassica napus) carrying a Bt cry1Ac gene under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter were quantified during vegetative growth by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Plants were grown in a glasshouse, sampled at 2, 4, 5 and 6 weeks, and the concentration of Cry1Ac was quantified in basal, top and previous top leaves. The mean concentration differed between sowing dates when Cry1Ac concentration was expressed as ng g−1 fresh leaf weight but not when expressed as ng mg−1 total soluble protein. It was demonstrated that Cry1Ac concentration increased significantly as the leaf aged, while the total soluble plant protein decreased significantly. Levels of Cry1Ac were therefore higher in leaves at the base of the plants than in leaves close to the growing point. However, even young leaves with very low Cry1Ac concentrations caused high mortality in the larvae of a Cry1Ac‐susceptible laboratory strain of the diamondback moth. The feeding area of leaves consumed by larvae in vivo and in situ was similar. Leaf damage caused by sampling (i.e. artificially) or by feeding of larvae did not affect the levels of Cry1Ac in the leaves under the experimental conditions in this study.
Effects of 2‐benzoxazolinone on the germination, early growth and morphogenetic response of mung bean (Phaseolus aureus)
Authors: Singh H.P. , Batish D.R. , Kaur S. , Setia N. , Kohli R.K.
Published: December 2005

2‐Benzoxazolinone (BOA), a type of hydroxamic acid present in cereals and implicated in allelopathy, is now being viewed as a potential candidate for the development of natural herbicides. A study was conducted to determine the effect of BOA on mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) through a multitude of bioassays to understand its physiological and biochemical action. It was observed that BOA significantly decreased the germination of mung bean and its early growth (measured in terms of seedling length and dry weight). A typical dose–response relationship was observed with BOA treatment, and I50 values (concentrations at which 50% inhibition occurs) for germination, seedling length and seedling dry weight were calculated to be 4.3, 0.71 and 0.77 mM, respectively. There was therefore a greater inhibitory effect on seedling growth than on germination. Treated seedlings were characterised by a loss of chlorophyll and decreased respiratory activity, indicating a possible adverse effect of BOA on photosynthetic and respiratory metabolism. Mitotic activity in root‐tip cells of onion (Allium cepa) was completely arrested in response to BOA treatment, and the cells exhibited abnormality in shape and size. BOA also adversely affected rhizogenesis in hypocotyl cuttings of mung bean, indicating an impact on morphogenetic potential. It was associated with significant changes in the protein content and activities of proteases and polyphenol oxidases during the root development phase. This study concludes that BOA interfered with essential biochemical processes in mung bean. Such studies provide useful information on the biochemical and physiological modes of actions of BOA, with a view to its use as a herbicidal compound.
An Overview of Regular Dialysis Treatment in Japan as of 31 December 2003
Authors:   Patient Registration Committee, Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy
Published: December 2005

Abstract: A statistical survey of 3750 nationwide dialysis facilities was carried out by the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy (JSDT) at the end of 2003, with answers to the questionnaires received from 3717 facilities (99.12%). The population of dialysis patients in Japan at the end of 2003 was 237,710, and the number of dialysis patients per million people was 1862.7. The crude death rate during a 1‐year period from the end of 2002 to the end of 2003 was 9.3%. The mean age of patients newly introduced to dialysis was 65.4 years, and the mean age of the entire dialysis population was 62.3 years. The primary diseases in the patients newly introduced to dialysis in 2003 included diabetic nephropathy (41.0% of patients) and chronic glomerulonephritis (29.1% of patients). The mean serum neutral fat concentration for all the dialysis patients was 113.9 ± 71.7 mg/dL (± SD). The mean serum low density lipoprotein (LDL)‐cholesterol concentration was 90.8 ± 30.9 mg/dL. Dialysate calcium concentrations ranging from 3.0 mEq/L to less than 3.5 mEq/L were used for majority of the dialysis patients (55.4%). Among anticoagulants given to the dialysis patients, heparins were the most commonly used in 79.3% of the dialysis patients. The relationship between blood pressure during dialysis and life expectancy for 1 year was analyzed for 43 465 patients who had undergone dialysis three times per week at the end of 2001. Results showed a significantly high mortality risk for patients who had systolic blood pressure of less than 100 mm Hg at the start of dialysis, systolic blood pressure of less than 100 mm Hg at the end of dialysis, and the greatest decrease (lowest) in systolic blood pressure of less than 120 mm Hg during dialysis. Patients who received vasopressor therapy during dialysis had a higher mortality risk than those who received no vasopressor therapy.
Integrated Geophysical and Chemical Study of Saline Water Intrusion
Authors: Choudhury Kalpan , Saha D.K.
Published: December 2005

Surface geophysical surveys provide an effective way to image the subsurface and the ground water zone without a large number of observation wells. DC resistivity sounding generally identifies the subsurface formations—the aquifer zone as well as the formations saturated with saline/brackish water. However, the method has serious ambiguities in distinguishing the geological formations of similar resistivities such as saline sand and saline clay, or water quality such as fresh or saline, in a low resistivity formation. In order to minimize the ambiguity and ascertain the efficacy of data integration techniques in ground water and saline contamination studies, a combined geophysical survey and periodic chemical analysis of ground water were carried out employing DC resistivity profiling, resistivity sounding, and shallow seismic refraction methods. By constraining resistivity interpretation with inputs from seismic refraction and chemical analysis, the data integration study proved to be a powerful method for identification of the subsurface formations, ground water zones, the subsurface saline/brackish water zones, and the probable mode and cause of saline water intrusion in an inland aquifer. A case study presented here illustrates these principles. Resistivity sounding alone had earlier failed to identify the different formations in the saline environment. Data integration and resistivity interpretation constrained by water quality analysis led to a new concept of minimum resistivity for ground water‐bearing zones, which is the optimum value of resistivity of a subsurface formation in an area below which ground water contained in it is saline/brackish and unsuitable for drinking.
Full‐Bayesian Inversion of the Edwards Aquifer
Authors: Jiang Yefang , Woodbury Allan D. , Painter Scott
Published: December 2005

The Bayesian inverse approach proposed by Woodbury and Ulrych (2000) is extended to estimate the transmissivity fields of highly heterogeneous aquifers for steady state ground water flow. Boundary conditions are Dirichlet and Neumann type, and sink and source terms are included. A first‐order approximation of Taylor's series for the exponential terms introduced by sinks and sources or the Neumann condition in the governing equation is adopted. Such a treatment leads to a linear finite element formulation between hydraulic head and the logarithm of the transmissivity—denoted as ln(T)—perturbations. An updating procedure similar to that of Woodbury and Ulrych (2000) can be performed. This new algorithm is examined against a generic example. It is found that the linearized solution approximates the true solution with an R2 coefficient = 0.96 for an ln(T) variance of 9 for the test case. The addition of hydraulic head data is shown to improve the ln(T) estimates, in comparison to simply interpolating the sparse ln(T) data alone. The new Bayesian code is also employed to calibrate a high‐resolution finite difference MODFLOW model of the Edwards Aquifer in southwest Texas. The posterior ln(T) field from this application yields better head fit when compared to the prior ln(T) field determined from upscaling and cokriging. We believe that traditional MODFLOW grids could be imported into the new Bayes code fairly seamlessly and thereby enhance existing calibration of many aquifers.
Defining and Managing Sustainable Yield
Authors: Maimone Mark
Published: December 2005

Ground water resource management programs are paying increasing attention to the integration of ground water and surface water in the planning process. Many plans, however, show a sophistication in approach and presentation that masks a fundamental weakness in the overall analysis. The plans usually discuss issues of demand and yield, yet never directly address a fundamental issue behind the plan—how to define sustainable yield of an aquifer system. This paper points out a number of considerations that must be addressed in defining sustainable yield in order to make the definition more useful in practical water resource planning studies. These include consideration for the spatial and temporal aspects of the problem, the development of a conceptual water balance, the influence of boundaries and changes in technology on the definition, the need to examine water demand as well as available supply, the need for stakeholder involvement, and the issue of uncertainty in our understanding of the components of the hydrologic system.
The effects of the myosin‐II inhibitor N‐benzyl‐p‐toluene sulphonamide on fatigue in mouse single intact toe muscle fibres
Authors: Bruton J. , Pinniger G. J. , Lännergren J. , Westerblad H.
Published: December 2005

Aim:  This study determined whether fatigue in skeletal muscle is primarily due to the repeated elevations of myoplasmic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) or to metabolite accumulation.

Methods:  We examined the effects of N‐benzyl‐p‐toluene sulphonamide (BTS) which is a potent and specific inhibitor of fast muscle myosin‐II on the development of fatigue in mouse flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) muscle fibres. Single intact FDB fibres were micro‐injected with indo‐1 to monitor changes in [Ca2+]i and stimulated repeatedly for a maximum of 150 tetani or until force declined to 40%.

Results:  BTS markedly reduced tetanic force but had no effect on the tetanic [Ca2+]i transients. When fatigue was induced in the presence of BTS, the reduction in [Ca2+]i and force transients occurred much more slowly than in the absence of BTS. The extent of force depression was similar after induction of fatigue in fibres exposed to Tyrode only or to BTS and force recovered to the same extent.

Conclusion:  The results suggest that the decrease in tetanic [Ca2+]i and force caused during fatigue are due mainly to accumulated metabolic changes.
Counteracting venous stasis during acute lower leg immobilization
Authors: Poelkens F. , Thijssen D. H. J. , Kersten B. , Scheurwater H. , van Laarhoven E. W. , Hopman M. T. E.
Published: December 2005

Aim:  During lower limb immobilization, patients are at risk to develop deep venous thrombosis. Recently, a water‐pad was developed that should counteract venous stasis. The water‐pad, located under the plaster, mobilizes water from the foot to the calf during weight bearing and, thereby, imitates muscle pump function. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of the water‐pad on venous pump function in healthy individuals.

Methods:  In 21 healthy subjects (10 men and11 women) both legs were plastered. Venous pump function was assessed by plethysmography measuring lower leg venous ejection fraction and volume. Subjects were tilted from the supine position to upright standing to determine total venous volume. Hereafter, stepping was performed to measure venous ejection fraction and volume under different filling conditions of the water‐pad (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 mL). Different sizes of water‐pads (small, medium and large) were applied to each plastered leg in order to test the effectiveness and to relate optimum size to anthropometrical data.

Results:  The venous ejection fraction increased significantly from 30 ± 17% to a maximum of 42 ± 19% during stepping with increasing filling condition (RM anova; P = 0.009). Ejection volume also enhanced significantly during stepping with increasing filling condition from 1.3 ± 0.7 to 1.9 ± 0.9 mL (100 mL)−1 (RM anova; P = 0.006). The optimal filling condition of the water‐pad depended on the water‐pad size, while body height was the best predictive value for the water‐pad size (Pearson's R = 0.72, P < 0.001).

Conclusion:  The filled water‐pad markedly increased the venous ejection fraction and volume of the lower leg during stepping, hereby counteracting stasis of venous blood in the immobilized lower leg. Therefore, the water‐pad seems to be a promising tool to prevent deep venous thrombosis during periods of lower leg immobilization.
Exposure affects the risk of an owl being mobbed – experimental evidence
Authors: K. Hendrichsen Ditte , Christiansen Peter , K. Nielsen Elsemarie , Dabelsteen Torben , Sunde Peter
Published: December 2005

Mobbing is a widespread anti‐predator strategy in birds, and predators are generally expected to avoid mobbing. For example, observational studies suggest that the cryptic roosting behaviour of nocturnal predators, such as many owls, may be a strategy to limit mobbing. In this paper, we present the results of the first experimental study investigating to what degree roost exposure influences the risk of being mobbed, and the intensity of a mobbing incidence once initiated. To determine these factors, we used an experimental setup with taxidermic mounts of tawny owls Strix aluco in Grib Skov forest, Denmark. The risk of an owl being mobbed during a 50 min morning survey period increased with the exposure of its roosting position, from 24% when hidden to 85% when openly exposed. The corresponding increase in the afternoon was from 6% to 36%. This suggests that an owl may minimize the mobbing rate by reducing the encounter rate with potential mobbers through its choice of roost. Once initiated, the duration of the mobbing (a proxy for the presumed cost of being mobbed) was independent of the roosting position of the mounted owl, but was positively correlated with the number of birds in the mob.
Assessing the influence of environmental heterogeneity on bird spacing patterns: a case study with two raptors
Authors: Cornulier Thomas , Bretagnolle Vincent
Published: December 2005

Testing for aggregation or regularity in point patterns is difficult in the presence of spatial variation in abundance due to environmental heterogeneity. Using a recently developed method generalizing Ripley's K function for non homogeneous point patterns, we test the aggregation of the nests in two species of birds (little owl and Montagu's harrier) exhibiting heterogeneous distributions in response to landscape structure. We compare the results obtained under different null models accounting for environmental heterogeneity at large and/or small spatial scales.

Whereas both species were initially found to form clusters at some scale, taking spatial heterogeneity into account revealed that 1) territorial little owls showed no clustering of territories when habitat availability was considered; 2) semi‐colonial harriers still formed significant clusters, but part of the aggregation in this species could be explained by landscape structure alone. Our results highlight that it is feasible and highly recommended to account for non‐stationarity when testing for aggregation. Further, provided that sufficient knowledge of the study system is available, this approach helps to identify behavioural and environmental components of spatial variation in abundance. Additionally, we demonstrate that accounting for large or small‐scale heterogeneity affects the perception of spacing behaviours differently, so that both need to be considered.
Spatial and temporal variation in the morphology (and thus, predicted impact) of an invasive species in Australia
Authors: L. Phillips Ben , Shine Richard
Published: December 2005

The impact of an invasive species is unlikely to be uniform in space or time, due to variation in key traits of the invader (e.g. morphology, physiology, behaviour) as well as in resilience of the local ecosystem. The weak phylogeographic structure typical of an invasive population suggests that much of the variation in an invading taxon is likely to be generated by the environment and recent colonisation history. Here we describe effects of the environment and colonisation history on key morphological traits of an invader (the cane toad Bufo marinus). These “key traits” (body size and relative toxicity) mediate the impact of toads on Australian native predators, which often die as a consequence of ingesting a fatal dose of toad toxin. Measurements of museum specimens collected over >60 yr from a wide area show that seasonal variation in toad body size (due to seasonal recruitment) effectively swamps much of the spatial variance in this trait. However, relative toxicity of toads showed strong spatial variation and little seasonal variation. Thus, the risk to a native predator ingesting a toad will vary on both spatial and temporal scales. For native predators capable of eating a wide range of toad sizes (e.g. quolls, varanid lizards), seasonal variation in overall toad size will be the most significant predictor of risk. In contrast, gape‐limited predators restricted to a specific range of toad sizes (such as snakes) will be most strongly affected by the relative toxicity of toads. Gape‐limited predators will thus experience strong spatial variation in risk from toad consumption.
Extrapair paternity and hybridization in birds
Authors: Randler Christoph
Published: December 2005

Hybridization in birds is a widely acknowledged phenomenon. It often occurs when one species is absent or rare which leads to mixed pairings between different species (Hubb's principle). However, Hubb's principle cannot explain hybridization in one of the most common Passeriform hybrids, barn swallowHirundo rustica×house martinDelichon urbica, since these hybrids usually occurred in areas where both species were common. Such hybrids were often found as singletons between true barn swallows siblings suggesting that extrapair copulations, and not mixed breeding pairs, might be the reason for the existence of these hybrids. Extrapair copulations are common in both these species. Here, I tested the idea, that EPP and hybridization may be linked on a macro‐evolutionary scale across species. I used data on EPP from review studies and assigned each species a dichotomous variable whether it has produced hybrids or not. Hybridizing species did not show a higher percentage of extrapair copulations compared to non‐hybridizing species. However, while these data did not show any influence on the macro‐ecological scale, these factors could, nevertheless, facilitate hybridization in some species pairs as in the example of the swallows.
Postnatal dispersal of wandering albatrossesDiomedea exulans: implications for the conservation of the species
Authors: Weimerskirch Henri , Åkesson Susanne , Pinaud David
Published: December 2005

Many large marine vertebrates are today threatened by human activities and it is therefore crucial to obtain information on their distribution and behaviour at sea. In particular little is known about the time necessary for juveniles to acquire the foraging skills of adults. We tracked 13 juvenile wandering albatrossesDiomedea exulansby satellite telemetry during their first year at sea. They covered an average distance of 184,000 km during the first year and restricted their dispersal to the unproductive waters of the subtropical Indian Ocean and Tasman Sea. This region of low wind velocities does not overlap with the foraging areas used by adults. After an innate phase of rapid dispersal with a fixed flight direction, young birds progressively increased their daily flight distances and attained adult flight efficiency within their first six months at sea. The complete overlap of the juveniles’ foraging ranges with major long‐line fisheries in the subtropical waters constitutes a major threat that could jeopardize the long term recovery ability of populations of the endangered wandering albatross in the Indian Ocean.
Taxation with Representation
Authors: Piketty Thomas
Published: December 2005

Growing Public:
. Social Spending and Economic Growth Since the Eighteenth Century.
By Peter H. Lindert

Volume 1, The Story
. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2004. 396 pp. $65, £42.50. ISBN 0-521-82174-6. Paper, $24.99, £17.99. ISBN 0-521-52916-6.

Volume 2, Further Evidence
. 240 pp. $75, £50. ISBN 0-521-82175-4.

In this exploration of the evolution of social spending, the author shows that, contrary to common claims, taxes and transfers contribute to rather than inhibit economic growth.
SLC24A5, a Putative Cation Exchanger, Affects Pigmentation in Zebrafish and Humans
Authors: Lamason Rebecca L. , Mohideen Manzoor-Ali P.K. , Mest Jason R. , Wong Andrew C. , Norton Heather L. , Aros Michele C. , Jurynec Michael J. , Mao Xianyun , Humphreville Vanessa R. , Humbert Jasper E. , Sinha Soniya , Moore Jessica L. , Jagadeeswaran Pudur , Zhao Wei , Ning Gang , Makalowska Izabela , McKeigue Paul M. , O'Donnell David , Kittles Rick , Parra Esteban J. , Mangini Nancy J. , Grunwald David J. , Shriver Mark D. , Canfield Victor A. , Cheng Keith C.
Published: December 2005

Lighter variations of pigmentation in humans are associated with diminished number, size, and density of melanosomes, the pigmented organelles of melanocytes. Here we show that zebrafish
golden
mutants share these melanosomal changes and that
golden
encodes a putative cation exchanger slc24a5 (nckx5) that localizes to an intracellular membrane, likely the melanosome or its precursor. The human ortholog is highly similar in sequence and functional in zebrafish. The evolutionarily conserved ancestral allele of a human coding polymorphism predominates in African and East Asian populations. In contrast, the variant allele is nearly fixed in European populations, is associated with a substantial reduction in regional heterozygosity, and correlates with lighter skin pigmentation in admixed populations, suggesting a key role for the
SLC24A5
gene in human pigmentation.
Animal Evolution and the Molecular Signature of Radiations Compressed in Time
Authors: Rokas Antonis , Krüger Dirk , Carroll Sean B.
Published: December 2005

The phylogenetic relationships among most metazoan phyla remain uncertain. We obtained large numbers of gene sequences from metazoans, including key understudied taxa. Despite the amount of data and breadth of taxa analyzed, relationships among most metazoan phyla remained unresolved. In contrast, the same genes robustly resolved phylogenetic relationships within a major clade of Fungi of approximately the same age as the Metazoa. The differences in resolution within the two kingdoms suggest that the early history of metazoans was a radiation compressed in time, a finding that is in agreement with paleontological inferences. Furthermore, simulation analyses as well as studies of other radiations in deep time indicate that, given adequate sequence data, the lack of resolution in phylogenetic trees is a signature of closely spaced series of cladogenetic events.
Hormones in the Middle
Authors: Ketterson Ellen D.
Published: December 2005

Hormones and Animal Social Behavior
.
By Elizabeth Adkins-Regan
Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2005. 429 pp. $79.50, £51.95. ISBN 0-691-09246-X. Paper, $45, £29.95. ISBN 0-691-09247-8. Monographs in Behavior and Ecology.

Writing for researchers and graduate students, the writer examines the connections between steroid and peptide hormones and the social behavior of animals.
Complete Photo-Induced Breakup of the H
2
Molecule as a Probe of Molecular Electron Correlation
Authors: Vanroose Wim , Martín Fernando , Rescigno Thomas N. , McCurdy C. William
Published: December 2005

Despite decades of progress in quantum mechanics, electron correlation effects are still only partially understood. Experiments in which both electrons are ejected from an oriented hydrogen molecule by absorption of a single photon have recently demonstrated a puzzling phenomenon: The ejection pattern of the electrons depends sensitively on the bond distance between the two nuclei as they vibrate in their ground state. Here, we report a complete numerical solution of the Schrödinger equation for the double photoionization of H
2
. The results suggest that the distribution of photoelectrons emitted from aligned molecules reflects electron correlation effects that are purely molecular in origin.
Learning to Say "Enough"
Authors: Myers Norman
Published: December 2005

The Logic of Sufficiency
.
By Thomas Princen
. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 2005. 417 pp. $72, £46.95. ISBN 0-262-16232-6. Paper, $29, £18.95. ISBN 0-262-66190-X.

The author argues for the principle of sufficiency as an antidote to the resource depletion and overconsumption that economic efficiency can promote.
Equitable treatment for HIV/AIDS clinical trial participants: a focus group study of patients, clinician researchers, and administrators in western Kenya
Authors: Shaffer D N , Yebei V N , Ballidawa J B , Sidle J E , Greene J Y , Meslin E M , Kimaiyo S J N , Tierney W M
Published: December 2005

Objectives:To describe the concerns and priorities of key stakeholders in a developing country regarding ethical obligations held by researchers and perceptions of equity or “what is fair” for study participants in an HIV/AIDS clinical drug trial.

Design:Qualitative study with focus groups.

Setting:Teaching and referral hospital and rural health centre in western Kenya.

Participants:Potential HIV/AIDS clinical trial participants, clinician researchers, and administrators.

Results:Eighty nine individuals participated in a total of 11 focus groups over a four month period. The desire for continued drug therapy, most often life long, following an HIV/AIDS clinical trial was the most common priority expressed in all focus groups. Patients with and without HIV/AIDS also thought subsidisation of drug therapies and education were critical forms of compensation for clinical trial participation. Financial incentives were considered important primarily for purchasing drug therapy as well as obtaining food. Patients noted a concern for the potential mismanagement of any money offered. Clinician researchers and administrators felt strongly that researchers have a moral obligation to participants following a trial to provide continued drug therapy, adverse event monitoring, and primary care. Finally, clinician researchers and administrators stressed the need for thorough informed consent to avoid coercion of study participants.

Conclusions:Kenyan patients, clinician researchers, and administrators believe that it would be unfair to stop antiretroviral therapy following an HIV/AIDS clinical trial and that researchers have a long term obligation to participants.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF FLOWS PAST A ROTATIONAL CIRCULAR CYLINDER BY TAYLOR-SERIES-EXPANSION AND LEAST SQUARES-BASED LATTICE BOLTZMANN METHOD
Authors: SHU C. , QU K. , NIU X. D. , CHEW Y. T.
Published: December 2005

An explicit Taylor series expansion and least square-based lattice Boltzmann method (TLLBM) is used to simulate the two-dimensional unsteady viscous incompressible flows. TLLBM is based on the well-known Taylor series expansion and the least square optimization. It has no limitation on mesh structure and lattice model. Its marching in time is accurate. Therefore, it is very suitable for simulation of time dependent problems. Numerical experiments are performed for simulation of flows past a rotational circular cylinder. Good agreement is achieved between the present results and available data in the literature.
MODELING FIXED-BLOCK RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEM USING CELLULAR AUTOMATA MODEL
Authors: NING BIN , LI KE-PING , GAO ZI-YOU
Published: December 2005

In this paper, we propose a new cellular automata model to simulate the railway traffic. The proposed model is based on deterministic NaSch traffic model. The signaling system adopted in this work is the three-aspect fixed-block signaling system. In order to obtain insight into the characteristic behavior of the railway signaling system, we analyze the space-time diagram of traffic flow and the trajectory of train movement etc. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed CA model can be successfully used for the simulations of railway signaling system. Some complex phenomena observed in railway system can be reproduced.
SOME ASPECTS OF HARD-SCATTERING AT RHIC VERSUS THE COMBINATIONAL APPROACH
Authors: DE BHASKAR , BHATTACHARYYA S.
Published: December 2005

The contrasting nature of the pT-spectra measured in deuteron ( D )–gold ( Au ) and gold ( Au )–gold ( Au ) collisions, both performed at RHIC-BNL at [Formula: see text], is now considered to be a very stimulating and hot topic in the domain of high energy nuclear physics. In continuation of our efforts to understand the measured data in high energy nuclear collisions in a somewhat nonstandard and alternative way, called the Combinational Approach (CA), we try here first to understand and reproduce the latest observations on deuteron–gold collisions at [Formula: see text] at mid-rapidity and some other rapidity regions with the same. Besides, (i) we also bring out the features of contrast for nuclear modification factor (NMF) in Au Au collisions at [Formula: see text]; (ii) for cross-checking of the present and previous results we also obtain the hadronic ratios measured for only the Au Au collisions at [Formula: see text], as the data on the similar ratios for D Au interactions are not yet available. Finally, we point out the implications of the approach in terms of both data-interpretation and physical insights.
HEAVY AND LIGHT QUARKS WITH LATTICE CHIRAL FERMIONS
Authors: LIU K. F. , DONG S. J.
Published: December 2005

The feasibility of using lattice chiral fermions which are free of O(a) errors for both the heavy and light quarks is examined. The fact that the effective quark propagators in these fermions have the same form as that in the continuum with the quark mass being only an additive parameter to a chirally symmetric anti-Hermitian Dirac operator is highlighted. This implies that there is no distinction between the heavy and light quarks and no mass dependent tuning of the action or operators as long as the discretization error O(m2a2) is negligible. Using the overlap fermion, we find that the O(m2a2) (and O(ma2)) errors in the dispersion relations of the pseudoscalar and vector mesons and the renormalization of the axial-vector current and scalar density are small. This suggests that the applicable range of ma may be extended to ~0.56 with only 5% error, which is a factor of ~2.4 larger than the corresponding range of the improved Wilson action. We show that the generalized Gell–Mann–Oakes–Renner relation with unequal masses can be utilized to determine the finite ma corrections in the renormalization of the matrix elements for the heavy-light decay constants and semileptonic decay constants of the B/D meson.
SELF-GRAVITATIONAL CORRECTIONS TO THE CARDY–VERLINDE FORMULA AND THE FRW BRANE COSMOLOGY IN SdS5 BULK
Authors: SETARE MOHAMMAD R. , VAGENAS ELIAS C.
Published: December 2005

The semiclassical corrections to the Cardy–Verlinde entropy of a five-dimensional Schwarzschild de-Sitter black hole ( SdS 5) are explicitly evaluated. These corrections are considered within the context of KKW analysis and arise as a result of the self-gravitation effect. In addition, a four-dimensional spacelike brane is considered as the boundary of the SdS 5 bulk background. It is already known that the induced geometry of the brane is exactly given by that of a radiation-dominated FRW universe. By exploiting the CFT/FRW-cosmology relation, we derive the self-gravitational corrections to the first Friedmann-like equation which is the equation of the brane motion. The additional term that arises due to the semiclassical analysis can be viewed as stiff matter where the self-gravitational corrections act as the source for it. This result is contrary to standard analysis that regards the charge of SdS 5 bulk black hole as the source for stiff matter. Furthermore, we rewrite the Friedmann-like equation in such a way that it represents the conservation equation of energy of a point particle moving in a one-dimensional effective potential. The self-gravitational corrections to the effective potential and, consequently, to the point particle's motion are obtained. A short analysis on the asymptotic behavior of the four-dimensional brane is presented.
BLACK HOLE PAIR CREATION AND THE STABILITY OF FLAT SPACE
Authors: GARATTINI REMO
Published: December 2005

We extend the Gross–Perry–Yaffe approach of hot flat space instability to Minkowski space. This is done by a saddle point approximation of the partition function in a Schwarzschild wormhole background which is coincident with an eternal black hole. The appearance of an instability in the whole manifold is here interpreted as a black hole pair creation.
VERY HIGH ENERGY NEUTRINOS
Authors: MOCIOIU IRINA
Published: December 2005

We discuss possible signals for very high energy neutrinos and the astrophysics and particle physics phenomena that can be probed by measuring such signals.
Al-SUBSTITUTION EFFECTS ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE COLOSSAL MAGNETORESISTANCE COMPOUNDS La0.67Ca0.33MnO3
Authors: DEAC I. G. , GIURGIU L. , DARABONT A. , TETEAN R. V. , MIRON M. , BURZO E.
Published: December 2005

We present a detailed study of the polycrystalline perovskite manganites La 0.67 Ca 0.33 Al x Mn 1-x O 3(x=0,0.1,0.15,0.5) at low temperatures and high magnetic fields, including electrical resistance, magnetization, ac susceptibility. The static magnetic susceptibility was also measured up to 1000 K. All the samples show colossal magnetoresistance behavior and the Curie temperatures decrease with Al doping. The data suggest the presence of correlated magnetic clusters near the ferromagnetic transition. This appears to be a consequence of the structural and magnetic disorder created by the random distribution of Al atoms.
OPTICAL QUASI-SOLITON SOLUTIONS FOR THE CUBIC-QUINTIC NONLINEAR SCHRÖDINGER EQUATION WITH VARIABLE COEFFICIENTS
Authors: YANG QIN , ZHANG JIE-FANG
Published: December 2005

Optical quasi-soliton solutions for the cubic-quintic nonlinear Schrödinger equation (CQNLSE) with variable coefficients are considered. Based on the extended tanh-function method, we not only successfully obtained bright and dark quasi-soliton solutions, but also obtained the kink quasi-soliton solutions under certain parametric conditions. We conclude that the quasi-solitons induced by the combined effects of the group velocity dispersion (GVD) distribution, the nonlinearity distribution, higher-order nonlinearity distribution, and the amplification or absorption coefficient are quite different from those of the solitons induced only by the combined effects of the GVD, the nonlinearity distribution, and the amplification or absorption coefficient without considering the higher-order nonlinearity distribution (i.e. α(z)=0). Furthermore, we choose appropriate optical fiber parameters D(z) and R(z) to control the velocity of quasi-soliton and time shift, and discuss the evolution behavior of the special quasi-soliton.
ADAPTIVE SWITCHING CONTROL AND SYNCHRONIZATION OF CHAOTIC SYSTEMS WITH UNCERTAINTIES
Authors: YAO JING , GUAN ZHI-HONG , HILL DAVID J.
Published: December 2005

In this paper, a new adaptive switching control scheme is presented to solve control and synchronization problems. Based on Lyapunov stability theory, an adaptive control law is applied to globally stabilize chaotic systems and achieve states synchronization of two chaotic systems whose dynamics are subjected to the system disturbances and/or some unknown parameters. Simulation examples, the chaotic Chen's system and Chua's circuit, are given to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed theory and method.
BEHAVIOR OF HARMONICS GENERATED BY A DUFFING TYPE EQUATION WITH A NONLINEAR DAMPING: PART I
Authors: KHAMMARI HÉDI , MIRA CHRISTIAN , CARCASSÉS JEAN-PIERRE
Published: December 2005

This paper is devoted to the numerical study of a two-dimensional nonautonomous ordinary differential equation with a strong cubic nonlinearity, submitted to an external periodical excitation of period τ = 2π/ω , having an amplitude E. In absence of this excitation the equation of Duffing type does not give rise to self oscillations. It may be a model of a series R-L-C electrical circuit with validity conditions in the parameter space. The purpose is essentially an analysis of the harmonics behavior of the period τ solutions according to points of the parameter plane (ω, E). Let r be the place occupied by a rank-m harmonic from an ordering based on line amplitudes of a frequency spectrum in descending order. Domains of the (ω, E) plane, for which the amplitude of the rank-m harmonic has the place r in the ordering mentioned above, are defined from properties of their boundaries. When r = 2 they are regions of predominance for the rank-m harmonic. When r = 1 they are regions of full predominance for the harmonic m, m = 2,3,4,…, which contain a set of points leading to a resonance for this harmonic. These regions fulfil the following important property: each of them is directly related to a fold bifurcation structure, called rank-mlip (two folds curves joining at two cusps), associated with a well-defined rank-m harmonic. The set of such structures, with m = 2,3,4,…, constitutes an isoordinal lips cascade. As an opening to Part II (to be published) period kτ solutions related to fractional harmonics behavior are also considered for k = 2,3.
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor increases l-arginine transport through the induction of CAT2 in bone marrow-derived macrophages
Authors: Martín Lorena , Comalada Mónica , Marti Luc , Closs Ellen I. , MacLeod Carol L. , Martín del Río Rafael , Zorzano Antonio , Modolell Manuel , Celada Antonio , Palacín Manuel , Bertran Joan
Published: December 2005

l-Arginine transport is crucial for macrophage activation because it supplies substrate for the key enzymes nitric oxide synthase 2 and arginase I. These enzymes participate in classic and alternative activation of macrophages, respectively. Classic activation of macrophages is induced by type I cytokines, and alternative activation is induced by type II cytokines. The granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), in addition to inducing proliferation and differentiation of macrophages, activates arginase I, but its action on l-arginine transport is unknown. We studied the l-arginine transporters that are active in mouse primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) and examined the effect of GM-CSF treatment on transport activities. Under basal conditions, l-arginine entered mainly through system y+L (>75%). The remaining transport was explained by system y+ (<10%) and a diffusion component (10–15%). In response to GM-CSF treatment, transport activity increased mostly through system y+ (>10-fold), accounting for about 40% of the total l-arginine transport. The increase in y+ activity correlated with a rise in cationic amino acid transporter (CAT)-2 mRNA and protein. Furthermore, GM-CSF induced an increase in arginase activity and in the conversion of l-arginine to ornithine, citrulline, glutamate, proline, and polyamines. BMM obtained from CAT2-knockout mice responded to GM-CSF by increasing arginase activity and the expression of CAT1 mRNA, which also encodes system y+ activity. Nonetheless, the increase in CAT1 activity only partially compensated the lack of CAT2 and l-arginine metabolism was hardly stimulated. We conclude that BMM present mainly y+L activity and that, in response to GM-CSF, l-arginine transport augments through CAT2, thereby increasing the availability of this amino acid to the cell.
Role of the different isoforms of cyclooxygenase and nitric oxide synthase during gastric ulcer healing in cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 knockout mice
Authors: Schmassmann Adrian , Zoidl Georg , Peskar Brigitta M. , Waser Bea , Schmassmann-Suhijar Diana , Gebbers Jan-Olaf , Reubi Jean Claude
Published: December 2005

Traditional NSAIDs, selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors, and inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) impair the healing of preexisting gastric ulcers. However, the role of COX-1 (with or without impairment of COX-2) and the interaction between COX and NOS isoforms during healing are less clear. Thus we investigated healing and regulation of COX and NOS isoforms during ulcer healing in COX-1 and COX-2 deficiency and inhibition mouse models. In this study, female wild-type COX-1−/− and COX-2−/− mice with gastric ulcers induced by cryoprobe were treated intragastrically with vehicle, selective COX-1 (SC-560), COX-2 (celecoxib, rofecoxib, and valdedoxib), and unselective COX (piroxicam) inhibitors. Ulcer healing parameters, mRNA expression, and activity of COX and NOS were quantified. Gene disruption or inhibition of COX-1 did not impair ulcer healing. In contrast, COX-2 gene disruption and COX-2 inhibitors moderately impaired wound healing. More severe healing impairment was found in dual (SC-560 + rofecoxib) and unselective (piroxicam) COX inhibition and combined COX impairment (in COX-1−/− mice with COX-2 inhibition and COX-2−/− mice with COX-1 inhibition). In the ulcerated repair tissue, COX-2 mRNA in COX-1−/− mice, COX-1 mRNA in COX-2−/− mice, and, remarkably, NOS-2 and NOS-3 mRNA in COX-impaired mice were more upregulated than in wild-type mice. This study demonstrates that COX-2 is a key mediator in gastric wound healing. In contrast, COX-1 has no significant role in healing when COX-2 is unimpaired but becomes important when COX-2 is impaired. As counterregulatory mechanisms, mRNA of COX and NOS isoforms were increased during healing in COX-impaired mice.
Naturally arising CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells suppress the expansion of colitogenic CD4+CD44highCD62L− effector memory T cells
Authors: Kanai T. , Tanimoto K. , Nemoto Y. , Fujii R. , Makita S. , Totsuka T. , Watanabe M.
Published: December 2005

Naturally arising CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (TR) cells have been shown to prevent and cure murine T cell-mediated colitis. However, their exact mechanism of controlling colitogenic memory CD4+ T cells in in vivo systems excluding the initial process of naive T cell activation and differentiation has not been examined to date. Using the colitogenic effector memory (TEM) CD4+ cell-mediated colitis model induced by adoptive transfer of colitogenic CD4+CD44highCD62L− lamina propria (LP) T cells obtained from colitic CD4+CD45RBhigh T cell-transferred mice, we have shown in the present study that CD4+CD25+ TR cells are able not only to suppress the development of colitis, Th1 cytokine production, and the expansion of colitogenic LP CD4+ TEM cells but also to expand these cells by themselves extensively in vivo. An in vitro coculture assay revealed that CD4+CD25+ TR cells proliferated in the presence of IL-2-producing colitogenic LP CD4+ TEM cells at the early time point (48 h after culture), followed by the acquisition of suppressive activity at the late time point (96 h after culture). Collectively, these data suggest the distinct timing of the IL-2-dependent expansion of CD4+CD25+ TR cells and the their suppressive activity on colitogenic LP CD4+ TEM cells.