bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intra-guild vs extra-guild prey: effect on predator fitness and preference of Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
Authors: Buitenhuis R. , Shipp L. , Scott-Dupree C.
Published: May 2009

The relationships between the predatory mites, Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), and their prey, western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), were investigated to determine the effects of predation on intra-guild or extra-guild prey and predator preference. Life history characteristics of both predatory mites were measured when fed eggs and larvae of the other predator species and compared to data obtained when the predators were fed thrips larvae. In addition, choice tests were conducted to determine if the predators had a preference for different prey or if they were indiscriminate predators. Amblyseius swirskii appears to be an important intra-guild predator of N. cucumeris juveniles because of a high predation rate and a preference for N. cucumeris juveniles over thrips. Neoseiulus cucumeris is also an intra-guild predator of A. swirskii juveniles; however, it has a lower predation rate than A. swirskii. Contrary to intra-guild predation theory, intra-guild prey was an equally good or better food source than thrips (extra-guild prey) for both predators, based on high oviposition rates and fast development times. The results of this study indicate a high potential for negative interactions between A. swirskii and N. cucumeris when used together in biological control of thrips.
Phonetics in the free market of scientific ideas and results
Authors: Ohala John
Published: May 2009

Klaus Kohler has presented a thoughtful account of the history of the development of phonetics and proposals for the consolidation of phonetics pedagogy (Kohler 2001). As a student of the history of phonetics (Ohala 1992; Ohala, Bronstein, Busa, Lewis, & Weigel 1999) I very much appreciate his contributions.
Phonation types in production of phonological tone: the case of Green Mong
Authors: Andruski Jean E. , Ratliff Martha
Published: May 2009

This study looks at the relative importance of phonation type in identifying tones in languages with a ‘mixed’ pitch/phonation tone system. Green Mong is a tone language with an inventory of 7 contrastive tones and a tonal system that incorporates both fundamental frequency (FO) and phonation type distinctions. The study examines 3 Green Mong tones, which have similar FO contours and are characterized by the distinctive use of breathy, creaky and modal phonation. Acoustic analyses of 3 male and 3 female speakers' productions indicate that the tones are distinguished by their FO, relative amplitude of lower and higher harmonics (H1-H2), vowel duration, vowel quality and voice onset times. Discriminant analyses, used to estimate the relative value of these different cues, indicate that H1-H2 is the best predictor of tone category membership. This is the case for both high and low vowels, although the magnitude of the H1-H2 difference is substantially smaller for high vowels. The 2 predictor variables which are next most strongly correlated with the discriminant functions also relate to phonation type. However, FO does continue to play a role in classification of tokens into tone categories.
Monophthongal vowel changes in Received Pronunciation: an acoustic analysis of the Queen's Christmas broadcasts
Authors: Harrington Jonathan , Palethorpe Sallyanne , Watson Catherine
Published: May 2009

In this paper we analyse the extent to which an adult's vowel space is affected by vowel changes to the community using a database of nine Christmas broadcasts made by Queen Elizabeth II spanning three time periods (the 1950's; the late 1960's/early 70's; the 1980's). An analysis of the monophthongal formant space showed that the first formant frequency was generally higher for open vowels, and lower for mid-high vowels in the 1960's and 1980's data than in the 1950's data, which we interpret as an expansion of phonetic height from earlier to later years. The second formant frequency showed a more modest compression in later, compared with earlier years: in general, front vowels had a decreased F2 in later years, while F2 of the back vowels was unchanged except for [u] which had a higher F2 in the 1960's and 1980's data. We also show that the majority of these Fl and F2 changes were in the direction of the vowel positions of 1980's Standard Southern British speakers reported in Deterding (1997). Our general conclusion is that there is evidence of accent change within the same individual over time and that the Queen's vowels in the Christmas broadcasts have shifted in the direction of a more mainstream form of Received Pronunciation.
Spokane
Authors: Carlson Barry F. , Esling John H.
Published: May 2009

Spokane and Kalispel (NpoqÉ ånišcn, Qalispé), both located in eastern Washington State, and Montana Salish (Flathead), are nearly identical dialects of an Interior Salish language now spoken by only a handful of elders. Grammatical sketches are available for Spokane (Carlson 1972) and Kalispel (Vogt 1940). There is no modern grammar of Montana Salish; Black (1996) uses both Spokane and Montana Salish material in her doctoral dissertation. Thompson (1973) and Czaykowska-Higgins & Kinkade (1998) provide general Salish research summaries.
Neural correlates of worry in generalized anxiety disorder and in normal controls: a functional MRI study
Authors: Paulesu E. , Sambugaro E. , Torti T. , Danelli L. , Ferri F. , Scialfa G. , Sberna M. , Ruggiero G. M. , Bottini G. , Sassaroli S.
Published: May 2009

Background

Worry is considered a key feature of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), whose neural correlates are poorly understood. It is not known whether the brain regions involved in pathological worry are similar to those involved in worry-like mental activity in normal subjects or whether brain areas associated with worry are the same for different triggers such as verbal stimuli or faces. This study was designed to clarify these issues.

Method

Eight subjects with GAD and 12 normal controls underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) mood induction paradigms based on spoken sentences or faces. Sentences were either neutral or designed to induce worry. Faces conveyed a sad or a neutral mood and subjects were instructed to empathize with those moods.

Results

We found that the anterior cingulate and dorsal medial prefrontal cortex [Brodmann area (BA) 32/23 and BA 10/11] were associated with worry triggered by sentences in both subjects with GAD and normal controls. However, GAD subjects showed a persistent activation of these areas even during resting state scans that followed the worrying phase, activation that correlated with scores on the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). This region was activated during the empathy experiment for sad faces.

Conclusions

The results show that worry in normal subjects and in subjects with GAD is based on activation of the medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate regions, known to be involved in mentalization and introspective thinking. A dysregulation of the activity of this region and its circuitry may underpin the inability of GAD patients to stop worrying.
Dissociation of long-term verbal memory and fronto-executive impairment in first-episode psychosis
Authors: Leeson V. C. , Robbins T. W. , Franklin C. , Harrison M. , Harrison I. , Ron M. A. , Barnes T. R. E. , Joyce E. M.
Published: May 2009

Background

Verbal memory is frequently and severely affected in schizophrenia and has been implicated as a mediator of poor clinical outcome. Whereas encoding deficits are well demonstrated, it is unclear whether retention is impaired. This distinction is important because accelerated forgetting implies impaired consolidation attributable to medial temporal lobe (MTL) dysfunction whereas impaired encoding and retrieval implicates involvement of prefrontal cortex.

Method

We assessed a group of healthy volunteers (n=97) and pre-morbid IQ- and sex-matched first-episode psychosis patients (n=97), the majority of whom developed schizophrenia. We compared performance of verbal learning and recall with measures of visuospatial working memory, planning and attentional set-shifting, and also current IQ.

Results

All measures of performance, including verbal memory retention, a memory savings score that accounted for learning impairments, were significantly impaired in the schizophrenia group. The difference between groups for delayed recall remained even after the influence of learning and recall was accounted for. Factor analyses showed that, in patients, all variables except verbal memory retention loaded on a single factor, whereas in controls verbal memory and fronto-executive measures were separable.

Conclusions

The results suggest that IQ, executive function and verbal learning deficits in schizophrenia may reflect a common abnormality of information processing in prefrontal cortex rather than specific impairments in different cognitive domains. Verbal memory retention impairments, however, may have a different aetiology.
Can the restrictive harvest period policy conserve mopane worms in southern Africa? A bioeconomic modelling approach
Authors: AKPALU WISDOM , MUCHAPONDWA EDWIN , ZIKHALI PRECIOUS
Published: May 2009

The mopane worm, which is the caterpillar form of the Saturnid moth Imbrasia belina Westwood, is – like other edible insects and caterpillars – a vital source of protein in southern African countries. The worms live and graze on mopane trees, which have alternative uses. With increasing commercialization of the worm, its management, which was hitherto organized as a common property resource, has been degraded to almost open access. This paper uses a bioeconomic modelling approach to show that for some optimal allocation of the mopane forest stock, the restrictive harvest period policy advocated by community leaders may not lead to sustainable harvesting of the worm.
Distribution neutral abatement policy in a model of trade and environment
Authors: DAS MONICA , DAS SANDWIP K.
Published: May 2009

The Pollution Haven Hypothesis (PHH) states that with weak environmental policies a country can create comparative advantage in the polluting sector. This paper formulates a 3-good-3-factor model where the abatement input is a pure intermediate good. In our model, the PHH as well as the neoclassical trade theorems are valid only when environmental policies are distribution neutral. Inspired by the US Clean Air Act, we develop and estimate a dynamic panel model. We find that US environmental policies are consistent with distribution neutrality. Our results indicate that lowering abatement standards in all industries is the only way the US can become a pollution haven. In the context of our model, the PHH has damaging implications for the world environment.
‘Fair’ policies for the coffee trade – protecting people or biodiversity?
Authors: KITTI MITRI , HEIKKILÄ JAAKKO , HUHTALA ANNI
Published: May 2009

We investigate the role that economic instruments can play in promoting economic sustainability and the preservation of biodiversity in agroforestry management in coffee production. Most of the world's coffee producers live in poverty and manage agro-ecosystems in regions that are culturally and biologically among the most diverse on the globe. Despite the relatively recent finding that bees may augment pollination and boost coffee crop yields, the short-term revenues from intense monoculture drive land-use decisions that destroy the forest strips serving as habitats for pollinating insects. Our study investigates whether farmers specialize in environmentally detrimental (sun-grown) or sustainable (shade-grown) farming, or both practices coexist. We calibrate an empirical model to characterize the equilibria and investigate the ecological and economic impacts of three alternative policy instruments: conservation fees, price premiums, and minimum wages.
Determinants of economic performance for coastal managed areas in central-southern Chile
Authors: SOBENES CATTERINA , CHÁVEZ CARLOS
Published: May 2009

We study the economic performance of Benthic Resource Management Areas (BRMAs) in central-southern Chile. The analysis considers 26 managed areas with Agreements of Use declaring Chilean abalone (Concholepas concholepas) to be the main exploited benthic resource from 2001 to 2003. Our analysis explores the role played by several characteristics thought to be potential BRMA performance determinants. These variables were defined and grouped into four types: economic, environmental–biological, institutional–organizational, and organizational leader. Our results indicate that the price of Chilean abalone, the size of the habitable area, the target resource density, the density of other resources, and leader experience are determinant factors for the economic performance of the BRMAs under study.
Evaluation of USDA Lupinus sp. collection for seed-borne potyviruses
Authors: Robertson N. L. , Coyne C. J.
Published: May 2009

Plant viruses pose a threat to the acquisition, maintenance and distribution of lupin germplasm (genusLupinus, familyFabaceae). The availability of sufficient quantities of healthy and virus-free seeds from maintained lupin collections is mandatory for conducting lupin research. The objective of this research was to determine which lupin species were potentially infected with potyviruses (presumably seed-borne) upon germination in the greenhouse. The procedure for screening lupin seedlings in the greenhouse for potyviruses incorporated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay followed by elimination or segregation of infected seedlings from the population before transplantation into the field plots for regeneration and accession characterization. None of the accessions in this evaluation had been tested previously for virus. From 2002 to 2005, 15 perennial (30 accessions) and 6 annual lupin species (213 accessions) were evaluated on site at the Western Regional Plant Introduction Station in Pullman, WA, USA. While none of the greenhouse perennial seedlings tested positive for potyvirus, seedlings in three annual species (Lupinus albus,Lupinus angustifoliusandLupinus luteus) were infected by potyviruses, presumably by seed transmission. Future testing may focus on the annual species, thus saving limited germplasm maintenance resources.
Recueil d’Associations Verbales chez des Enfants de 5 à 11 Ans pour 76 Verbes d’Action en Langue Française
Authors: Duscherer Katia , Khan Aris , Mounoud Pierre
Published: May 2009

Cet article présente des normes d’associations verbales relatives à 76 verbes d’action français pour quatre groupes de 50 enfants scolarisés dans le canton de Genève dans les classes de 1ère enfantine (5 ans), 1ère primaire (7 ans), 3ème primaire (9 ans), et de 5ème primaire (11 ans), respectivement. Ces normes ont été établies au moyen d’une procédure d’association verbale libre, oralement pour les enfants des degrés inférieurs, par écrit pour les enfants des degrés supérieurs. Ces normes remédient à l’absence de telles données pour les verbes concernant les enfants d’âge scolaire. Elles seront particulièrement utiles pour les études portant sur l’acquisition du vocabulaire, sur le développement conceptuel ou sur les représentations des verbes et des actions.
Conformity and Identity Threat
Authors: Falomir-Pichastor Juan M. , Gabarrot Fabrice , Mugny Gabriel
Published: May 2009

Two studies investigated the impact of national (Swiss) identification, perceived threat to ingroup identity, and pro- vs. antidiscrimination ingroup norms on discrimination against foreigners. As expected, ingroup identification was positively related to discrimination when perceived threat was high, but not when it was low: those with high ingroup identification conformed to the prodiscrimination norm, but counterconformed to the antidiscrimination norm. These findings suggest that group members do not conform blindly to group norms, but that they selectively follow the norms that are in line with their personal motivations (i.e., the extent of ingroup identification) and intergroup context (i.e., perceived intergroup threat). When norms clash with group members’ perceptions and personal motivations, they can even give rise to counterconformity dynamics.
Social Representations of Rights and Duties in Young Italians and Albanians
Authors: Passini Stefano , Emiliani Francesca
Published: May 2009

Rights and duties are normative social representations that organize social interactions. In this article, representations of rights and duties were analyzed in Italy and Albania, focusing on their social anchoring in culture and values. Italians underlined the priority of their individual rights over duties to others. Conversely, Albanians defined rights as focusing on the protection of fundamental individual freedoms and defined duties emphasizing the responsibilities of the individual and the family. The anchoring in value-types shows that people who attach importance to individualistic values conceived of rights in a self-centered manner, while those who attach importance to egalitarian values underscored their personal responsibilities in rights and duties.
A Meta-Analysis of Judgment Achievement as Defined by the Lens Model Equation
Authors: Kaufmann Esther , Athanasou James A.
Published: May 2009

This research determined the extent of judgment achievement (i.e., accuracy) across different decision-making domains (e.g., medicine, business, education, psychology). Judgment achievement was examined in terms of the lens model equation ( Tucker, 1964 ). A meta-analysis of 29 studies incorporating 1,032 people across 43 judgment tasks was performed. Overall judgment achievement across different tasks was found to be moderate (r = .42), ranging from .22 for studies in the area of psychology to .58 for those in other professional areas. Methodological moderator factors (type of correlation, database) used in task analysis or the number of cues used in tasks were also considered. The findings indicated that research on judgment achievement should examine judgment tasks relating to specific research areas.
Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyper- aktivitätsstörungen von Kindern und Jugendlichen im Elternurteil
Authors: Görtz-Dorten Anja , Döpfner Manfred
Published: May 2009

Fragestellung: Der Fremdbeurteilungsbogen für Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörung (FBB-ADHS) ist Bestandteil des Diagnostik-Systems für psychische Störungen im Kindes- und Jugendalter nach ICD-10 und DSM-IV (DISYPS-II). Er erfasst in 20 Items die Symptomkriterien nach ICD-10 und DSM-IV und enthält zusätzlich 6 Kompetenzitems. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht in einer repräsentativen Stichprobe auf der Basis der Elternurteile Symptom- und Diagnoseprävalenzen, Reliabilität und faktorielle Validität, Korrelationen mit anderen Auffälligkeiten, Komorbiditätsraten sowie Alters- und Geschlechtseffekte. Methodik: Der Fragebogen wurde in einer per Zufall ausgewählten Feldstichprobe von N = 713 Eltern von Kindern und Jugendlichen im Alter von 4;0 bis 17;11 Jahren beantwortet. Ergebnisse: Laut Elternurteil schwanken die Symptomprävalenzen zwischen 4.5 % und 22.3 %. Die Diagnoseprävalenzen auf der Basis der Symptomkriterien nach DSM-IV liegen bei 11.5 %; nach ICD-10 bei 3.4 %. Bei Berücksichtigung von Funktionseinschränkungen sinken die Prävalenzraten auf 7.9 % bzw. 3.0 %. Die Reliabilitäten der Subskalen sind zufrieden stellend bis sehr gut. In den exploratorischen Faktorenanalysen ließ sich sowohl die Einteilung nach DSM-IV (Unaufmerksamkeit versus Impulsivität/Hyperaktivität) als auch die Aufteilung nach ICD-10 mit drei Faktoren (Hyperaktivität, Impulsivität und Unaufmerksamkeit) replizieren. Signifikante Alters-/Geschlechtseffekte zeigen sich auf den meisten Skalen. Zu den Elternurteilen über Störungen des Sozialverhaltens, Angst- und depressive Störungen fanden sich mittlere Korrelationen und Komorbiditätsraten zwischen 7 % und 39 %. Schlussfolgerungen: Die ermittelten Prävalenzraten entsprechen den Ergebnissen internationaler Studien. Der FBB-ADHS ist als Elternfragebogen ein intern konsistentes und valides Verfahren. Mit der Vorlage von Normen kann er in der Praxis gut eingesetzt werden.
Medizinische Probleme nach intensivmedizinischer Behandlung
Authors: Lienhardt  , Rudiger
Published: May 2009

Die Nachbetreuung von Patienten nach Behandlung auf einer Intensivstation gewinnt zunehmend an Bedeutung. Nach Spitalentlassung stehen meistens Beschwerden im Vordergrund, die nicht mehr mit der Grunderkrankung im Zusammenhang stehen. Das häufigste Problem ist die teils schmerzhafte Muskelschwäche, die «Critical Illness»-Polyneuromyopathie. Gelenkskontrakturen und Druckneuropathien können die Mobilität ebenfalls beeinträchtigen. Auch schmerzhafte Narben, Nagelveränderungen oder Alopezie sind häufig. Chronische Heiserkeit kann ein Problem darstellen, ebenso kann sich eine Tracheomalazie oder Trachealstenose ausbilden. Gelegentlich persistiert eine Niereninsuffizienz. Beschrieben werden posttraumatische Belastungsstörungen, Angstzustände und anhaltende Schlafstörungen. Viele dieser Beschwerden können über Monate anhalten, die Therapie ist oft langwierig und sollte falls nötig interdisziplinär erfolgen. Als Konsequenz davon bleibt die Lebensqualität der betroffenen Patienten anhaltend tiefer als bei der Normalbevölkerung.
Allgemeine Intelligenz und beruflicher Erfolg in Deutschland
Authors: Kramer Jochen
Published: May 2009

Zusammenfassung. Die Zusammenhänge von Intelligenz (general mental ability, GMA) mit den Karriereerfolgsindikatoren Einkommen und berufliche Entwicklung werden erstmals anhand von Studien aus Deutschland spezifiziert. Darüber hinaus stellen die vorliegenden Metaanalysen Updates früherer Analysen dar, die die Validität von GMA in Bezug auf subjektiv bewertete Arbeitsleistung und berufsbezogene Lernleistung in Deutschland untersucht haben. Die Anzahl der inkludierten Studien zu beiden Leistungsbereichen konnte mehr als verdoppelt werden. Die vorliegenden Analysen werden nach der Methode von Hunter und Schmidt (2004) vorgenommen. Methodische Neuerungen sind die Berücksichtigung insignifikanter nicht berichteter Korrelationen mit Hilfe eines Substitutionsverfahrens und die indirekte Korrektur der Varianzeinschränkung im Prädiktor. Dadurch werden akkuratere Schätzungen der Validität von GMA im Hinblick auf die zwei Leistungsbereiche ermöglicht. Die Ergebnisse zur operationalen Validität von GMA in Bezug auf subjektiv bewertete Arbeitsleistung (operationale Validität = .66, k = 18, N = 2 739), berufsbezogene Lernleistung (.62, k = 210, N = 30 451), das Einkommen (.35, k = 7, N = 1 980) und die berufliche Entwicklung (.33, k = 9, N = 1 817) in Deutschland werden auf mögliche Veröffentlichungs- und Quellenverzerrungen hin untersucht. Implikationen der Befunde für die weitere Forschung (z.B. zu welchen Testverfahren, Kriterien und Berufsgruppen Validierungsstudien fehlen) und die Praxis der Personalauswahl werden besprochen.
Low lower crustal velocity across Ethiopia: Is the Main Ethiopian Rift a narrow rift in a hot craton?
Authors: Keranen Katie M. , Klemperer Simon L. , Julia Jordi , Lawrence Jesse F. , Nyblade Andy A.
Published: May 2009

The Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) is a classic narrow rift that developed in hot, weak lithosphere, not in the initially cold, thick, and strong lithosphere that would be predicted by common models of rift mode formation. Our new 1‐D seismic velocity profiles from Rayleigh wave/receiver function joint inversion across the MER and the Ethiopian Plateau indicate that hot lower crust and upper mantle are present throughout the broad region affected by Oligocene flood basalt volcanism, including both the present rift and the adjacent Ethiopian Plateau hundreds of kilometers from the rift valley. The region of hot lithosphere closely corresponds to the region of flood basalt volcanism, and we interpret that the volcanism and thermal perturbation were jointly caused by impingement of the Afar plume head. Across the affected region, Vs is 3.6–3.8 km/s in the lowermost crust and ≤4.3 km/s in the uppermost mantle, both ∼0.3 km/s lower than in the eastern and western branches of the East African Rift System to the south. We interpret the low Vs in the lower crust and upper mantle as indicative of hot lithosphere with partial melt. Our results lead to a hybrid rift mode, in which the brittle upper crust has developed as a narrow rift along the Neoproterozoic suture between East and West Gondwana, while at depth lithospheric deformation is distributed over the broad region (∼400 km wide) thermally perturbed by the broad thermal upwelling associated with the Afar plume head. Development of both the East African Rift System to the south (in cold, strong lithosphere) and the MER to the north (in hot, weak lithosphere) as narrow rifts, despite their vastly different initial thermal states and depth‐integrated lithospheric strength, indicates that common models of rift mode formation that focus only on temperature, thickness, and vertical strength profiles do not apply to these classic continental rifts. Instead, inherited structure and associated lithospheric weaknesses are the primary control on the mode of extension.
Updated archeomagnetic data set of the past 8 millennia from the Sofia laboratory, Bulgaria
Authors: Kovacheva M. , Boyadziev Y. , Kostadinova‐Avramova M. , Jordanova N. , Donadini F.
Published: May 2009

This data brief reports the latest updates of archeomagnetic data obtained at the Sofia palaeomagnetic laboratory of the Geophysical Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The current data set consists of measurements from 284 Bulgarian archeological sites covering the past 8000 years. There are also 54 sites from other European regions, namely, Serbia, Kossovo, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, Finland, and Russian Karelia, as well as five sites from Morocco in North Africa. The update of the archeomagnetic results consisted of a thorough revision of all geomagnetic field measurements as well as dating these measurements that were published in the original papers or in previous compilations. The updated results can be found in GEOMAGIA (http://geomagia.ucsd.edu) or as an Excel spreadsheet at the EarthRef.org Digital Archive (http://earthref.org/cgi‐bin/erda.cgi?n = 946).
Possible evidence of virtual resonance in the dayside magnetosphere
Authors: Takahashi Kazue , Berube David , Lee Dong‐Hun , Goldstein Jerry , Singer Howard J. , Honary Farideh , Moldwin Mark B.
Published: May 2009

On day 108, 2001, the Sub‐Auroral Magnetometer Network (SAMNET) and Magnetometers along the Eastern Atlantic Seaboard for Undergraduate Research and Education (MEASURE) magnetometer arrays detected dayside magnetic pulsations at a common frequency of ∼15 mHz at all locations below L = 4. This global pulsation event was associated with alignment of the interplanetary magnetic field with the Sun‐Earth axis, a condition known to generate ultralow‐frequency (ULF) waves in front of the bow shock. The event occurred during the early recovery phase of a geomagnetic storm. Magnetic field measured by the GOES 8 geostationary satellite on the dayside indicated elevated broadband (7–80 mHz) ULF power in the compressional component without a strong peak at 15 mHz. These observations suggest that the global pulsations originated from a compressional magnetohydrodynamic eigenmode oscillation of the inner magnetosphere stimulated by a broadband external disturbance. The equatorial Alfvén velocity corresponding to the toroidal frequencies that were determined with the cross‐phase analysis of SAMNET and MEASURE data showed a gradual decrease of the velocity with L without a clear signature of a plasmapause. The observed properties of the global pulsations are consistent with virtual resonance in the inner magnetosphere.
Experiments on dust transport in plasma to investigate the origin of the lunar horizon glow
Authors: Wang X. , Horányi M. , Robertson S.
Published: May 2009

Dust grains on the lunar surface are exposed to UV radiation and solar wind plasma and can collect electrical charges, leading to their possible lift‐off and transport in the presence of near‐surface electric fields. Motivated by the long‐standing open questions about the physics of electrostatic lunar dust transport, we investigated the dynamics of dust grains on a conducting surface in a laboratory plasma. The dust used in these experiments was a nonconducting JSC‐Mars‐1 sample with particle size of less than 25 microns. We found that dust grains placed on a conducting surface, which is biased more negatively than its floating potential, charge positively, and an initial pile spreads to form a dust ring. Dust particles were observed to land on insulating blocks, indicating the height of their hopping motion. The measured electrostatic potential distribution above the dust pile shows that an outward pointing electric field near the edge of the pile is responsible for spreading the positively charged grains. A nonmonotonic potential dip was measured in the sheath above an insulating patch, indicating a localized upward electric field causing the dust lift‐off from the surface. Faraday cup measurements showed that the grains near the boundary of the dust pile collect more charge than those closer to the center of the dust pile and can be more readily lifted and moved in the radial direction, leading to the formation of a spreading ring.
Boltzmann H function and entropy in the plasma sheet
Authors: Kaufmann Richard L. , Paterson William R.
Published: May 2009

Boltzmann's H function was evaluated using 10 years of 1‐min distribution functions. These results were used to study the long‐term averaged spatial distributions of four entropy parameters. The average entropy density sa(x), where a = i for ions and a = e for electrons, increased when moving Earthward or toward the flanks. The magnitudes of these entropy changes were similar for ions and electrons. The entropy per unit flux tube Sf,a(x) decreased when moving Earthward or toward midnight. The spatial changes of sa(x) and of Sf,a(x) were attributed primarily to variations of the particle density na(x) and of the particle content of each unit flux tube Nf(x), respectively. A dimensionless parameter (S/Ncv)H,i that is proportional to the average entropy per ion increased when moving Earthward or toward midnight near the neutral sheet. The dimensionless parameter proportional to the entropy per ion that would exist in a plasma with the measured pressure and density but with a Maxwellian distribution function (S/Ncv)P,i was also calculated. Differences between (S/Ncv)P,i and (S/Ncv)H,i showed that the plasma was closer to equilibrium near the neutral sheet at x = −10 RE than at x = −28 RE. These gradients of the entropy per ion and of the deviations from equilibrium suggest that nonadiabatic processes and particle scattering are significant throughout the region studied.
Exposed plate interface in the European Alps reveals fabric styles and gradients related to an ancient seismogenic coupling zone
Authors: Bachmann Raik , Oncken Onno , Glodny Johannes , Seifert Wolfgang , Georgieva Viktoria , Sudo Masafumi
Published: May 2009

We present observations from a continuous exposure of an ancient plate interface in the depth range of its former seismogenic zone in the central Alps of Europe related to Late Cretaceous‐early Tertiary subduction and accretion of the South Penninic lower plate underneath the Adriatic upper plate. The material forming the exposed plate interface zone has experienced flow and fracturing over an extended period of time followed by syncollisional exhumation, thus reflecting a multistage evolution. Fabric formation and metamorphism, however, chiefly record the deformation conditions of the precollisional setting along the plate interface. We identify an unstable slip domain from pseudotachylytes occurring in the temperature range between 200 and 300°C. This zone coincides with a domain of intense veining in the subduction mélange with mineral growth into open cavities, indicating fast, possibly seismic, rupture. Evidence for transient near‐lithostatic fluid pressure as well as brittle fractures competing with mylonitic shear zones continues into the region below the occurrence of pseudotachylytes, possibly reflecting a zone of conditionally stable slip. The zone above the unstable slip area is devoid of veins but displays ample evidence of fluid‐assisted processes similar to the deeper zone: solution‐precipitation creep and dehydration reactions in the mélange matrix, hydration, and sealing of the base of the upper plate. Seismic rupture here is possibly expressed by ubiquitous localized deformation zones. We hypothesize that trenchward sealing of parts of the plate interface as well as reaction‐enhanced destruction of upper plate permeability is an important component, localizing the unstable slip zone. This relation may result from the competition of the pervasive, presumably interseismic, pressure solution creep destroying permeability and building elevated fluid pressure until the strength threshold is reached with seismic failure.
Faceted spurs at normal fault scarps: Insights from numerical modeling
Authors: Petit C. , Gunnell Y. , Gonga‐Saholiariliva N. , Meyer B. , Séguinot J.
Published: May 2009

We present a combined surface processes and tectonic model which allows us to determine the climatic and tectonic parameters that control the development of faceted spurs at normal fault scarps. Sensitivity tests to climatic parameter values are performed. For a given precipitation rate, when hillslope diffusion is high and channel bedrock is highly resistant to erosion, the scarp is smooth and undissected. When, instead, the bedrock is easily eroded and diffusion is limited, numerous channels develop and the scarp becomes deeply incised. Between these two end‐member states, diffusion and incision compete to produce a range of scarp morphologies, including faceted spurs. The sensitivity tests allow us to determine a dimensionless ratio of erosion, f, for which faceted spurs can develop. This study evidences a strong dependence of facet slope angle on throw rate for throw rates between 0.4 and 0.7 mm/a. Facet height is also shown to be a linear function of fault throw rate. Model performance is tested on the Wasatch Fault, Utah, using topographic, geologic, and seismologic data. A Monte Carlo inversion on the topography of a portion of the Weber segment shows that the 5 Ma long development of this scarp has been dominated by a low effective precipitation rate (∼1.1 m/a) and a moderate diffusion coefficient (0.13 m2/a). Results demonstrate the ability of our model to estimate normal fault throw rates from the height of triangular facets and to retrieve the average long‐term diffusion and incision parameters that prevailed during scarp evolution using an accurate 2‐D misfit criterion.
Clustering and synchronization of lightning flashes in adjacent thunderstorm cells from lightning location networks data
Authors: Yair Yoav Y. , Aviv Reuven , Ravid Gilad
Published: May 2009

We analyzed sequences of lightning flashes in several thunderstorms on the basis of data from various ground‐based lightning location systems. We identified patterns of clustering and synchronicity of flashes in separate thunderstorm cells, distanced by tens to hundreds of kilometers from each other. This is in‐line with our early findings of lightning synchronicity based on space shuttle images (Yair et al., 2006), hinting at a possible mutual electromagnetic coupling of remote thunderstorms. We developed a theoretical model that is based on the leaky integrate‐and‐fire concept commonly used in models of neural activity, in order to simulate the flashing behavior of a coupled network of thunderstorm cells. In this type of network, the intensity of the electric field Ei within a specific region of thunderstorm (i) grows with time until it reaches the critical breakdown value and generates a lightning flash while its electric field drops to zero, simultaneously adding a delta E to the intensity of the internal electric field in all thundercloud cells (Ej,k,l…) that are linked to it. The value of ΔE is inversely proportional to the distance between the “firing” cell i and its neighbors j, k, l; we assumed that thunderstorm cells are not identical and occupy a grid with random spacing and organization. Several topologies of the thunderstorm network were tested with varying degrees of coupling, assuming a predetermined probability of links between active cells. The results suggest that when the group coupling in the network is higher than a certain threshold value, all thunderstorm cells will flash in a synchronized manner.
Cirrus observations in the tropical tropopause layer over the western Pacific
Authors: Fujiwara M. , Iwasaki S. , Shimizu A. , Inai Y. , Shiotani M. , Hasebe F. , Matsui I. , Sugimoto N. , Okamoto H. , Nishi N. , Hamada A. , Sakazaki T. , Yoneyama K.
Published: May 2009

A polarization lidar was continuously operated aboard the research vessel Mirai in the tropical western Pacific over three northern winters: at 2.0°N, 138.0°E during November and December 2001; at 2.0°N, 138.5°E during November and December 2002; and at 7.5°N, 134.0°E during December 2004 and January 2005. Intensive radiosonde soundings were made from the vessel at 3‐h intervals during all three campaigns. The mechanisms that underlie the observed variations in cirrus in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) are discussed from the viewpoint of large‐scale dynamics and transport. During the 2001 campaign, the tropopause region was cold, but the TTL was often clear, with only some subvisual cirrus. Potential vorticity data and trajectories show that the TTL during this period was strongly affected by dry air transport from the northern midlatitude lower stratosphere. During the 2002 campaign, a packet of large‐amplitude equatorial Kelvin waves was the primary control on the generation and disappearance of cirrus in the TTL. During the 2004–2005 campaign, a cold phase of large‐scale waves resulted in cirrus generation in the TTL in late December of 2004, similar to that observed during the 2002 campaign. Outflow from the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) caused optically thick cirrus in the TTL, particularly during early January 2005, when we also observed regular diurnal variations in cirrus development within the TTL, that is, apparent sedimentation during the nighttime. We investigated two possible controlling processes, namely, horizontal advection together with diurnal variations in convective activity within the SPCZ and diurnal variations in local temperature due to tides and gravity waves. In the equatorial western Pacific, equatorial Kelvin waves are the important dynamical process that controls cirrus variations in the TTL. Dry‐air horizontal transport from the midlatitude lower stratosphere and wet‐air vertical transport near the tropical convergence regions should also be considered in fully explaining the cirrus observations in the TTL.
Evaluation of precipitation from the ERA‐40, NCEP‐1, and NCEP‐2 Reanalyses and CMAP‐1, CMAP‐2, and GPCP‐2 with ground‐based measurements in China
Authors: Ma Lijuan , Zhang Tingjun , Frauenfeld Oliver W. , Ye Baisheng , Yang Daqing , Qin Dahe
Published: May 2009

We assess the correspondence between precipitation products from atmospheric reanalyses (ERA‐40, NCEP‐1, and NCEP‐2), the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Merged Analyses of Precipitation (CMAP‐1 and CMAP‐2), and the Global Precipitation Climatology Project Version 2 (GPCP‐2) with adjusted observational precipitation (AOP) from China for 1979–2001 and also for ERA‐40 and NCEP‐1 over 1958–1978. In general, we conclude that CMAP‐1 and GPCP‐2 agree more closely with AOP than the reanalysis products do, although ERA‐40 data agree more closely with AOP than NCEP data. The percentages of precipitation differences (PPDs) across China between annual ERA‐40, NCEP‐1, NCEP‐2, CMAP‐1, CMAP‐2, and GPCP‐2 data and AOP are −12, 22, 14, −8, −7, and −15%, respectively, for 1979–2001. Although relatively small biases are evident for China as a whole, maximum PPDs, usually occurring around the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau, can exceed 1000%, indicating a strong terrain dependence of gridded precipitation data. GPCP‐2, although characterized by greater underestimation for most of China compared with CMAP‐1, exhibits a smaller biases range and hence may be better than CMAP‐1. Compared with the NCEP‐1 system, NCEP‐2 represents an improvement as NCEP‐2 precipitation agrees more closely with AOP than NCEP‐1 data. However, the coherence of NCEP‐2 precipitation needs further improvement. In addition, we find worse consistency and accuracy and larger positive biases in some parts of China for CMAP‐2 versus CMAP‐1, illustrating an advantage of including reanalysis data in CMAP, as CMAP‐1 does. CMAP‐1 could be further improved if they used the more skillful ERA‐40 precipitation instead of the NCEP/NCAR data.
Developing vaccines against minor capsid antigen L2 to prevent papillomavirus infection
Authors: Karanam Balasubramanyam , Jagu Subhashini , Huh Warner K , Roden Richard B S
Published: May 2009

A subset of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes is responsible for ∼5% of all cancer deaths globally, and uterine cervical carcinoma accounts for the majority of these cases. The impact of HPV is greatest for women who do not have access to effective secondary preventive measures, and consequently over 80% of cervical cancer deaths worldwide occur in developing nations. The understanding that persistent infection by this ‘oncogenic’ subset of HPV genotypes is necessary for the development of cervical carcinoma has driven the development of preventive vaccines. Two preventive vaccines comprising recombinant HPV L1 virus‐like particles (VLPs) have been licensed. However, the current cost of these vaccines precludes sustained global delivery, and they target only two of the ∼15 known oncogenic HPV types, although ∼70% of cervical cancer cases are attributed to these two types and there is evidence for some degree of cross‐protection against other closely related types. A possible approach to broader immunity at lower cost is to consider vaccination against L2. L2 vaccines can be produced inexpensively and they also have the promise of conferring much broader cross‐type protective immunity than that observed with L1 VLP immunization. However, L2 vaccine development lags behind L1 VLP vaccines and several technical hurdles remain.
Salt marsh sediment bacteria: their distribution and response to external nutrient inputs
Authors: Bowen Jennifer L , Crump Byron C , Deegan Linda A , Hobbie John E
Published: May 2009

A primary focus among microbial ecologists in recent years has been to understand controls on the distribution of microorganisms in various habitats. Much less attention has been paid to the way that environmental disturbance interacts with processes that regulate bacterial community composition. We determined how human disturbance affected the distribution and community structure of salt marsh sediment bacteria by using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S rRNA in five different habitats in each of four salt marshes located in northeastern Massachusetts, USA. Two of the four marsh creeks were experimentally enriched 15 × above background by the addition of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers for two or more growing seasons. Our results indicate that extrinsic factors acting at broad scales do not influence the distribution of salt marsh sediment bacteria. Intrinsic factors, controlled by local-scale environmental heterogeneity, do play a role in structuring these sediment microbial communities, although nutrient enrichment did not have a consequential effect on the microbial community in most marsh habitats. Only in one habitat, a region of the marsh creek wall that is heavily colonized by filamentous algae, did we see any effect of fertilization on the microbial community structure. When similar habitats were compared among marshes, there was considerable convergence in the microbial community composition during the growing season. Environmental factors that correlated best with microbial community composition varied with habitat, suggesting that habitat-specific intrinsic forces are primarily responsible for maintaining microbial diversity in salt marsh sediments.
Isolation and characterization of low nucleic acid (LNA)-content bacteria
Authors: Wang Yingying , Hammes Frederik , Boon Nico , Chami Mohamed , Egli Thomas
Published: May 2009

Most planktonic bacteria are ‘uncultivable’ with conventional methods. Flow cytometry (FCM) is one approach that has been taken to study these bacteria. In natural aquatic environments, bacteria with high nucleic acid (HNA) and low nucleic acid (LNA) content are commonly observed with FCM after staining with fluorescent dyes. Although several studies have focused on the relative abundance and in situ activities of these two groups, knowledge on the growth of particularly LNA bacteria is largely limited. In this study, typical LNA bacteria were enriched from three different freshwater sources using extinction dilution (ED) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). We have shown for the first time that LNA bacteria can be isolated and cultivated by using sterile freshwater as a growth medium. During growth, the typical LNA characteristics (that is, low-fluorescence intensity and sideward scatter (SSC)) remained distinct from those of typical HNA bacteria. Three LNA pure cultures that are closely affiliated to the Polynucleobacter cluster according to 16S rRNA sequencing results were isolated. Owing to their small size, cells of the isolates remained intact during cryo-transmission electronic microscopy examination and showed a Gram-negative cell-wall structure. The extremely small cell volume (0.05 μm3) observed for all three isolates indicates that they are among the smallest free-living heterotrophic organisms known in culture. Their isolation and cultivation allow further detailed investigation of this group of organisms under defined laboratory conditions.
Developmental Trajectories of Girls' BMI Across Childhood and Adolescence
Authors: Ventura Alison K. , Loken Eric , Birch Leann L.
Published: May 2009

This study describes qualitatively distinct trajectories of BMI change among girls participating in a longitudinal study of non‐Hispanic, white girls (n = 182) and their parents, assessed at daughters' ages 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 years. Height, weight, body fat, fasting blood glucose and lipids, blood pressure, waist circumference, and pubertal status were measured, and participants self‐reported dietary, physical activity, and television (TV) viewing patterns. Growth mixture models were used to model heterogeneity in girls' BMI trajectories over 10 years. Statistical support was strongest for four distinct BMI trajectories: (i) upward percentile crossing (UPC; n = 25, 14%); (ii) delayed downward percentile crossing (DDPC; n = 37, 20%); (iii) 60th percentile tracking (60PT; n = 52, 29%); and (iv) 50th percentile tracking (50PT; n = 68, 37%). Girls in the UPC group had more metabolic risk factors at age 15 years, even after adjusting for concurrent weight status. Girls in the UPC group had mothers with the highest BMIs at study entry and were breast‐fed for a shorter duration. This novel approach for examining differences in growth trajectories revealed four distinct BMI trajectories that predicted adolescent metabolic health outcomes in girls. The present study provides support for BMI monitoring in girls and for the potential utility of combining data on BMI tracking with data on familial characteristics for the early identification of girls at elevated risk for obesity and metabolic syndrome.