bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, Structure and Characterization of Dinuclear Pentacoordinate Molybdenum(V) Complexes with Thiosemicarbazone Ligands
Authors: Vrdoljak Višnja , Milić Dalibor , Cindrić Marina , Matković‐Čalogović Dubravka , Pisk Jana , Marković Marina , Novak Predrag
Published: May 2009

New dinuclear pentacoordinate molybdenum(V) complexes, [Mo2VO3L2] [L = thiosemicarbazonato ligand: C6H4(O)CH:NN:C(S)NHR′ and C10H6(O)CH:NN:C(S)NHR′; R′ = H, CH3, C6H5) were obtained either by oxygen atom abstraction from MoVIO2L with triphenylphosphine or by using [Mo2O3(acac)4] in the reaction with the corresponding ligands H2L. Crystal and molecular structure of [Mo2O3{C6H4(O)CH:NN:C(S)NHC6H5}2]·CH3CN has been determined by the single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction method.
Microwave Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Magnetic Behavior of a Schiff Base Trinuclear Nickel Cluster
Authors: Zhang Shu‐Hua , Tang Ming‐Feng , Ge Cheng‐Min
Published: May 2009

The reaction of Ni(ClO4)2·6H2O with 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde and an aqueous solution of methylamine in acetonitrile/MeOH under microwave irradiation and controlled temperature/pressure leads to formation of trinuclear cluster [Ni3(mimp)5(CH3CN)]ClO4 (1; mimp = 2‐methyliminomethylphenolate anion) in only 29 min and also results in higher yields in contrast to other synthesis methods. Complex 1 displays dominant ferromagnetic interactions through μ3‐O (oxidophenyl) and μ2‐O (oxidophenyl) binding modes.
Studies of Radii‐Dependent Lanthanide Coordination Behavior with 4‐Acetamidobenzoate and 1,10‐Phenanthroline
Authors: Wang Zhi‐Hong , Fan Jun , Zhang Wei‐Guang
Published: May 2009

A series of new lanthanide complexes [Ln(aba)3(Haba)(phen)2(H2O)] [Ln = La, (1), Pr (2), and Nd (3)] and [Ln2(aba)4(phen)2(NO3)2]·2C2H5OH [Ln = Eu (4) and Er (5)] (aba = 4‐acetamidobenzoate; phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline) were synthesized by solvothermal reaction and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, IR spectra, and thermal analysis. These complexes exhibit two typical structure features attributed to the lanthanide contraction effect: complexes 1–3 possess one‐dimensional chain structures linked by intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the mononuclear units, and 4 and 5 have two‐dimensional layer structures, which are formed by intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the dinuclear units. The aba molecules adopt four coordination modes in these complexes. Furthermore, the luminescent properties of complex 4 in the solid state were investigated at room temperature.
Hydrothermal Reduction Synthesis, Structure, and Photoluminescent Properties of Copper(I) Halide and Pseudohalide Complexes
Authors: Yao Hua‐Gang , Zhou Peng , Ji Shou‐Hua , Ji Min , An Yong‐Lin , Ning Gui‐ling
Published: May 2009

Copper(I) complexes, [Cu2Cl2(phen)]∞ (1; phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline), [Cu2(SCN)(CN)(phen)2]∞ (2), and [Cu(SCN)(bipy)]∞ (3; bipy = 2,2′‐bipyridine) were synthesized by hydrothermal reduction with tartaric acid as reducing reagent. Compound 1 exhibits μ2‐Cl and μ3‐Cl modes that construct unique Cu3Cl3 six‐membered ring units, which form a one‐dimensional infinite chain structure by sharing common edges. Alternating CN– and SCN– ligands bridge Cu atoms to form an infinite helical chain in compound 2. Compound 3 consists of an infinite split‐stair chain formed by [Cu(bipy)]+ unit joined by SCN– groups. The IR spectra and luminescence and thermal properties of 1 and 3 were investigated at room temperature in the solid state.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Thermal, Spectroscopic and Magnetic Properties of a 2D Grid‐like Copper(II) μ‐1,1 Isocyanato Coordination Polymer with Pyrazine Bridges
Authors: Wriedt Mario , Näther Christian
Published: May 2009

Reaction of copper(II) cyanate with pyrazine leads to the formation of [Cu(NCO)2(pyrazine)]n (1), in which the Cu2+ cations are coordinated by two nitrogen atoms of the pyrazine ligands, as well as by four nitrogen atoms of the cyanate anions within a slightly distorted octahedral coordination. In the crystal structure the Cu2+ cations are connected by the pyrazine ligands into chains which are further linked by the cyanate anions through asymmetric μ‐1,1‐NCO coordination into layers. On heating compound 1 transforms quantitatively to copper(II) cyanate which decompose to elemental copper on further heating. No ligand deficent intermediates are observed. Magnetic measurements reval an antiferromagnetic ordering at lower temperatures mediated by the π‐system of the aromatic pyrazine ligand as well as net ferromagnetic interactions mediated by the μ‐1,1‐NCO bridging cyanato anions. A search in the Cambridge Crystal Structure Database shows that the terminal coordination mode in cyanato complexes as well as their azido and thiocyanato analogs is obviously energetically favored. In addition, a comparison of their symmetric and asymmetric end‐on (μ‐1,1) as well as end‐to‐end (μ‐1,3) bridging modes reveal interesting correlations.
HgII Grid‐Like Metallo‐Supramolecular Coordination Architecture presenting Acetonitrile‐π and Anion‐π Interactions with the Pyrimidine Ring
Authors: Ramírez Juan , Stadler Adrian‐Mihail
Published: May 2009

Solid‐state X‐ray crystal structure of the HgII grid‐like complex [Hg414](CF3SO3)8 of the bis‐tridentate ligand 1 obtained by condensation of bis(methylhydrazino)phenylpyrimidine with pyridine‐2‐carboxaldehyde was determined. It confirms the previous structure determined on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR studies. The amplitude of the extension of the ligand as a result of the formation of the grid was found to be of around 15 Å. The distance between the nitrogen atom of a molecule of acetonitrile and the centroid of the closest pyrimidine ring, and the distance between the oxygen atom of a triflate and the centroid of the closest pyrimidine ring are of about 3 Å, thus suggesting acetonitrile‐π, respectively triflate‐π interactions.
An Alternative Synthesis of the Oligoalumosiloxane [Ph2SiO]8[Al(O)OH]4 and its Alcohol Adducts
Authors: Veith Michael , Rammo Andreas , Huch Volker
Published: May 2009

The oligoalumosiloxanes {[Ph2SiO]8[Al(O)OH]4·2,5Et2O·HOtBu} (6) and {[Ph2SiO]8[Al(O)OH]4·2Et2O·2HOiPr} (7) have been obtained from the reaction of diphenylsilanediol with aluminium‐tri‐tert‐butoxide and aluminium‐tri‐iso‐propoxide in ethyl ether with reasonable yields. In a 1:1 molar mixture of toluene and the respective alcohol (iso‐propanol or tert‐butanol), the ethyl ether molecules in {[Ph2SiO]8[Al(O)OH]4·4Et2O}, in 6 or 7 can be completely displaced forming the compounds [Ph2SiO]8[Al(O)OH]4·4HOiPr (8) and [Ph2SiO]8[Al(O)OH]4·nHOtBu (9). Whereas 6, 7 and 8 are crystalline, 9 is obtained as a viscous liquid. An X‐ray structure determination on {[Ph2SiO]8[Al(O)OH]4·3Et2O·HOtBu} reveals different bonding modes of the diethyl ether molecules to the oligoalumosiloxane compared to the tert‐butanol, which forms two hydrogen bonds (one to the OH‐group of the inner Al4(OH)4 cycle and one through the alcohol OH‐group to a Si–O–Al moiety. The alcohol adducts have been characterized in solution through 1H‐, 13C‐ and 29Si‐NMR and show dynamic equilibria between the oligoalumosiloxane [Ph2SiO]8[Al(O)OH]4 and the alcohol molecules.
Using behavioral observations and keeper questionnaires to assess social relationships among captive female African elephants
Authors: Freeman Elizabeth W. , Schulte Bruce A. , Brown Janine L.
Published: May 2009

Free‐ranging African elephants are highly social animals that live in a society where age, size, kinship, and disposition all contribute to social rank. Although captive elephant herds are small and largely comprises of unrelated females, dominance hierarchies are common. The goal of this study was to delineate how the behavior of captive female African elephants varies with respect to age and social rank based on a combination of keeper questionnaires and behavioral observations. “Body movements” and “trunk to” behaviors of 33 nonpregnant female African elephants housed at 14 North American zoos were recorded over 8 hr. Keepers at each facility also rated each elephant based on a series of questions about interactions with herdmates. The assessment of social rank based on observations correlated strongly with ranks assigned by keepers via the questionnaires. Observations and questionnaire responses indicated that body weight of the female, and to a lesser extent age, were significantly related to rates and types of “body movements” and that these demographic factors dictate the captive elephant hierarchy, similar to that observed in the wild. Many of the observed “body movements,” such as back away, displace, push, and present, were correlated with keeper questionnaire responses about elephant interactions. However, none of the “trunk to” behaviors were related to age, size, or questionnaire responses even though they occurred frequently. In conclusion, we demonstrated that short‐term behavioral observations and keeper questionnaires provided similar behavioral profiles for female African elephants housed in North American zoos. Zoo Biol 29:140–153, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vocal communication in African Elephants (Loxodonta africana)
Authors: Soltis Joseph
Published: May 2009

Research on vocal communication in African elephants has increased in recent years, both in the wild and in captivity, providing an opportunity to present a comprehensive review of research related to their vocal behavior. Current data indicate that the vocal repertoire consists of perhaps nine acoustically distinct call types, “rumbles” being the most common and acoustically variable. Large vocal production anatomy is responsible for the low‐frequency nature of rumbles, with fundamental frequencies in the infrasonic range. Additionally, resonant frequencies of rumbles implicate the trunk in addition to the oral cavity in shaping the acoustic structure of rumbles. Long‐distance communication is thought possible because low‐frequency sounds propagate more faithfully than high‐frequency sounds, and elephants respond to rumbles at distances of up to 2.5 km. Elephant ear anatomy appears designed for detecting low frequencies, and experiments demonstrate that elephants can detect infrasonic tones and discriminate small frequency differences. Two vocal communication functions in the African elephant now have reasonable empirical support. First, closely bonded but spatially separated females engage in rumble exchanges, or “contact calls,” that function to coordinate movement or reunite animals. Second, both males and females produce “mate attraction” rumbles that may advertise reproductive states to the opposite sex. Additionally, there is evidence that the structural variation in rumbles reflects the individual identity, reproductive state, and emotional state of callers. Growth in knowledge about the communication system of the African elephant has occurred from a rich combination of research on wild elephants in national parks and captive elephants in zoological parks. Zoo Biol 29:192–209, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Learning from nature: bottlenose dolphin care and husbandry
Authors: Wells Randall S.
Published: May 2009

The world's longest‐running study of a wild dolphin population, operated by the Chicago Zoological Society since 1989, has focused on the multi‐generational resident community of about 160 bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida, since 1970. Observational and capture‐release research on the biology, behavior, life history, ecology, and health of individually identifiable bay residents of up to 59 years of age and spanning five generations has helped to inform collection managers at the Brookfield Zoo and partner institutions. Age, sex, and genetic compositions of colonies at cooperating institutions have been based on observations of social structure and genetic paternity testing in Sarasota Bay to optimize breeding success. Breeding success, including calf survivorship, is evaluated relative to individual wild dolphin reproductive histories, spanning as many as nine calves and four decades. Individual rearing patterns for wild dolphins provide guidance for determining how long to keep mothers and calves together, and help to define the next steps in the calves' social development. Health assessments provide data on expected ranges of blood, milk and urine values, morphometrics, and body condition relative to age, sex, and reproductive condition. Calf growth can be compared with wild values. Target weights and blubber thicknesses for specific age and sex classes in specified water temperatures are available for wild dolphins, and caloric intakes can be adjusted accordingly to meet the targets. A strength of the program is the ability to monitor individuals throughout their lives, and to be able to define individual ranges of variability through ontogenetic stages. Zoo Biol 28:635–651, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessing animal welfare: different philosophies, different scientific approaches
Authors: Fraser David
Published: May 2009

Attempts to improve animal welfare have commonly centered around three broad objectives: (1) to ensure good physical health and functioning of animals, (2) to minimize unpleasant “affective states” (pain, fear, etc.) and to allow animals normal pleasures, and (3) to allow animals to develop and live in ways that are natural for the species. Each of these objectives has given rise to scientific approaches for assessing animal welfare. An emphasis on health and functioning has led to assessment methods based on rates of disease, injury, mortality, and reproductive success. An emphasis on affective states has led to assessment methods based on indicators of pain, fear, distress, frustration and similar experiences. An emphasis on natural living has led to research on the natural behavior of animals and on the strength of animals' motivation to perform different elements of their behavior. All three approaches have yielded practical ways to improve animal welfare, and the three objectives are often correlated. However, under captive conditions, where the evolved adaptations of animals may not match the challenges of their current circumstances, the single‐minded pursuit of any one criterion may lead to poor welfare as judged by the others. Furthermore, the three objectives arise from different philosophical views about what constitutes a good life—an area of disagreement that is deeply embedded in Western culture and that is not resolved by scientific research. If efforts to improve animal welfare are to achieve widespread acceptance, they need to strike a balance among the different animal welfare objectives. Zoo Biol 28:507–518, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Political Economy of American Racism – Nonblack Decision-Making and Black Economic Status
Authors: Vowels Robert C.
Published: May 2009

To detach oneself and treat others like so many objects is not to be value-free but to choose to devalue others.

Charles Hampden-Turner Radical Man, The Process of Psycho-Social Development
Fragile x syndrome and autism: from disease model to therapeutic targets
Authors: Dölen Gül , Bear Mark F.
Published: May 2009

Autism is an umbrella diagnosis with several different etiologies. Fragile X syndrome (FXS), one of the first identified and leading causes of autism, has been modeled in mice using molecular genetic manipulation. These Fmr1 knockout mice have recently been used to identify a new putative therapeutic target, the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5), for the treatment of FXS. Moreover, mGluR5 signaling cascades interact with a number of synaptic proteins, many of which have been implicated in autism, raising the possibility that therapeutic targets identified for FXS may have efficacy in treating multiple other causes of autism.
Production of High Oleic Palm Oils on a Pilot Scale
Authors: Ramli Muhamad Roddy , Siew Wai Lin , Cheah Kien Yoo
Published: May 2009

Refined, bleached and deodorized palm olein (RBD POo) with an iodine value (IV) of 62 was chemically interesterified with methyl oleate (MO) at a ratio of 50:50 (w/w). The reaction was carried out at 110 °C in the presence of sodium methoxide as a catalyst using a 100‐kg pilot scale reactor. Randomization between 15 and 30 min resulted in less free fatty acid (FFA) formation and higher oleic content in the interesterified product as compared to longer reaction time of 60–90 min. Sodium methoxide‐catalyzed ester interchange increased the oleic content of the interesterified product to more than 57% from its initial content of 45%. The product obtained also has an IV of more than 75. The interesterified oil was then subjected to dry fractionation in a 200‐kg De Smet jacketed crystallizer at 8 °C to further enhance the oleic content of the liquid olein fraction. The resulted olein had an improved cloud point and higher IV of 81. The solid stearin had a slightly higher IV and oleic content as compared to normal palm stearin. The solid fat content was comparable to normal palm oil. The pilot scale study has proven a successful conversion of laboratory findings to a larger scale production and gave the most realistic information for possible commercialization.
Proteomic Profiling of Cerebrospinal Fluid by 8-Plex iTRAQ Reveals Potential Biomarker Candidates of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Guerreiro N. , Gomez-Mancilla B. , Williamson B. , Minkoff M. , Guertin S.
Published: May 2009

Introduction

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) poses specific challenges for drug development. It has a slow and variable clinical course, an insidious onset, and symptom expression is only observed when a significant proportion of neurons are already lost.

Discussion

Determinants of clinical course, such as molecular biomarkers, are urgently needed for early detection and diagnosis, or for prognosis and monitoring disease-modifying therapies in stratified patient populations. Due to its proximity to the brain and clinical availability, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is likely to have the highest yield of biomarker potential for neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we examined the feasibility of using of an 8-plex isobaric tagging approach, coupled to two-dimensional liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry using the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight platform, for the discovery of potential biomarker candidates in CSF. Comparative analysis identified a number of statistically significant differences in the level of proteins when comparing AD to nondemented controls. Although the study is statistically underpowered to represent the disease population, the regulation of proteins with involvement in processes such as neuronal loss, synaptic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and tissue degeneration and remodeling reflects the ability of our method in providing biologically meaningful CSF biomarkers as candidates for larger scale biomarker verification and validation studies.
The care of the royal tombs in english cathedrals in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries: the case of the effigy of King John at Worcester
Authors: Church S D
Published: May 2009

The medieval history of the celebrated tomb of King John at Worcester is now well known. The works of Charles Alfred Stothard at the beginning of the nineteenth century, of William St John Hope in the early years of the twentieth century, and that of Jane Martindale at the end of that century, are highlights along the road of our understanding of the royal effigy in its medieval context. But all the while this work of comprehension was going on, those who had a duty of care over the tomb were engaged in a battle to offload that responsibility. The authorities at Worcester were not alone in wondering who should carry the burden of caring for royal monuments in English cathedrals. As early as 1841, the question of the care of royal tombs in Westminster Abbey had come under Parliamentary scrutiny. The deans and chapters at Canterbury and at Gloucester also sought government subvention for the care of the royal tombs in their cathedrals. The history of this debate about the care of royal sepulchral monuments forms the wider framework for the main theme of this article, which is an examination in detail of the ways in which King John’s tomb at Worcester was treated between 1872 and 1930. It reveals a remarkable story in which a catalogue of disastrous decisions came to give us the tomb and effigy as we have them today. The article concludes with a short discussion of the introduction of the 1990 Care of Cathedrals Measure which established the structures that currently exist (with subsequent amendments) for the preservation of Anglican cathedral churches in use.
Rationale for using new lipid emulsions in parenteral nutrition and a review of the trials performed in adults
Authors: Calder Philip C.
Published: May 2009

Lipids traditionally used in parenteral nutrition are based on n-6 fatty acid-rich vegetable oils such as soyabean oil. This practice may not be optimal because it may present an excessive supply of linoleic acid. Alternatives to the use of soyabean oil include its partial replacement by so-called medium-chain TAG (MCT), olive oil or fish oil, either alone or in combination. Lipid emulsions containing MCT are well established, but those containing olive oil and fish oil, although commercially available, are still undergoing trials in different patient groups. Emulsions containing olive oil or fish oil are well tolerated and without adverse effects in a wide range of adult patients. An olive oil–soyabean oil emulsion has been used in quite small studies in critically-ill patients and in patients with trauma or burns with little real evidence of advantage over soyabean oil or MCT–soyabean oil. Fish oil-containing lipid emulsions have been used in adult patients post surgery (mainly gastrointestinal). This approach has been associated with alterations in patterns of inflammatory mediators and in immune function and, in some studies, a reduction in the length of stay in the intensive care unit and in hospital. One study indicates that peri-operative administration of fish oil may be superior to post-operative administration. Fish oil has been used in critically-ill adults. Here, the influence on inflammatory processes, immune function and clinical end points is not clear, since there are too few studies and those that are available report contradictory findings. One important factor is the dose of fish oil required to influence clinical outcomes. Further studies that are properly designed and adequately powered are required in order to strengthen the evidence base relating to the use of lipid emulsions that include olive oil and fish oil in critically-ill patients and in patients post surgery.
Hugh Hale Bellot
Authors: R. A. H.
Published: May 2009

Hugh hale bellot, who died at the age of 79 on 18 February 1969, became a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 1928, and served it as a member of Council, to which he was elected in February 1931, as Honorary Secretary (1934–52), and finally as President (1952–56), for more than twenty-five years. He was primarily responsible for the transformation of the library from the miscellaneous collection it was into the efficient tool for the student of British history it now is. Texts and Calendars: an analytical guide to serial publications, edited by E. L. C. Mullins, provided in 1958 the guide he had proposed to one of the re-organized sections of the library, and Council properly associated it with his name. He was wholly responsible for initiating and, in the face of great difficulties, for carrying through to completion, the series of bibliographies of Writings on British History from 1901 to 1945, devoting much of the last years of his life to editing the volumes for 1901 to 1933 and donating £1,000 to the Society in aid of their publication. It was a source of great satisfaction to him that the Institute of Historical Research should have agreed in 1965 to assume the task of continuing the series.
Presidential Addres: The Peoples of Britain and Ireland 1100–1400 II Names, Boundaries and Regnal Solidarities
Authors: Davies R. R.
Published: May 2009

During1301 the propaganda war between the king of England and the Guardians of the kingdom of Scotland reached a climax in a welter of claims and counter-claims submitted to the Pope. Differing historical mythologies were part of the arguments deployed by both parties. The English case was based on a gloss placed on one of the wondrous legends recorded in Geoffrey of Monmouth'sHistory of the Kings of Britain. Britain, according to the legend, had been divided by its illustrious eponymous ruler, Brutus, between his three sons, Locrine, Albanact and Camber. Scotland, originally known as Albany, was Albanact's portion; but—and here we come to the gloss placed on the legend—he was to be subordinate to his elder brother and first-born son of Brutus, Locrine, to whom alone the royal dignity was reserved. Such was the ultimate historical basis for Edward I's claim to superior lordship over Scotland. The Scots could not be expected to accept such a tall story lying down. They did not. They countered with their own even taller tale. They insisted that Brutus's three sons were of equal standing, ‘so that none of them was subject to another’; they even queried whether Albany had ever been equated with the whole of what we know as Scotland, suggesting instead that it was the part of the original Britain which stretched from the Humber to the Forth, but no further north. They then went on the offensive, asserting that a lady called Scota, daughter of Pharaoh of Egypt, had conquered the northern part of Britain (if indeed it was such), expelled the Britons and renamed it Scotland in honour of herself.
Presidential Address: The People of Britain and Ireland, 1100–1400, 1.Identities
Authors: Davies R. R.
Published: May 2009

PEOPLES are back on the historian's agenda. Their return to the historical limelight, or at least out of the historical shadows, is doubtless in part a response to the growing awareness of the power of ethnicity in our own contemporary world. So it is with changes of historical fashion at all times. But it also no doubt arises in part from the growing recognition that the centrality that academic historians have so long given to the unitary nation state as the natural, inevitable and indeed desirable unit of human power and political organisation is itself a reflection of the intellectual climate in which modern academic historiography was forged in the nineteenth century. The linear development of the nation state is no longer of necessity the overarching theme and organising principle in the study of the past that it once was. Once our historical gaze could be shifted from the state and its institutions and from the seductive appeal of its prolific archives, other solidarities and collectivities could come more clearly into historical focus. Some of them seemed to have as great, if not occasionally greater, depth and historical resilience than did the nation state. At the very least they deserve to be studied alongside it. Not least in prominence among such collectivities are the peoples of Europe.
Popper's Severity of Test as an intuitive probabilistic model of hypothesis testing
Authors: Poletiek Fenna H.
Published: May 2009

Severity of Test (SoT) is an alternative to Popper's logical falsification that solves a number of problems of the logical view. It was presented by Popper himself in 1963. SoT is a less sophisticated probabilistic model of hypothesis testing than Oaksford & Chater's (O&C's) information gain model, but it has a number of striking similarities. Moreover, it captures the intuition of everyday hypothesis testing.
Norovirus outbreaks in nursing homes: the evaluation of infection control measures
Authors: FRIESEMA I. H. M. , VENNEMA H. , HEIJNE J. C. M. , de JAGER C. M. , MORROY G. , van den KERKHOF J. H. T. C. , de COSTER E. J. M. , WOLTERS B. A. , ter WAARBEEK H. L. G. , FANOY E. B. , TEUNIS P. F. M. , van der LINDE R. , van DUYNHOVEN Y. T. H. P.
Published: May 2009

Effective infection control measures during norovirus outbreaks are urgently needed in places where vulnerable individuals gather. In the present study, the effect of a number of measures was investigated in daily practice. Forty-nine Dutch nursing homes were monitored prospectively for norovirus outbreaks during two winter seasons. A total of 37 norovirus outbreaks were registered. Control measures were most effective when implemented within 3 days after onset of disease of the first patient. Measures targeted at reduced transmission between persons, via aerosols, and via contaminated surfaces reduced illness in staff and in residents. Reducing illness in staff results in fewer costs for sick leave and substitution of staff and less disruption in the care of residents. The effect of control measures on outbreak duration was limited. This is the first intervention study examining the effect of control measures. Further research is needed to extend and refine the conclusions.
Determination of the pore fluid pressure ratio at seismogenic megathrusts in subduction zones: Implications for strength of asperities and Andean‐type mountain building
Authors: Seno Tetsuzo
Published: May 2009

We construct the differential stress profile across the fore arc in a subduction zone from the force balance between the shear stress, τ, at seismogenic megathrust and the lithostatic pressure. We assume that τ is written by μ (1 − λ) σn, where λ is the pore fluid pressure ratio, μ is the coefficient of static friction, and σn is the normal stress. Given a density structure of the fore‐arc wedge, we determine λ by comparing calculated fore‐arc stresses with observed ones, as 0.95–0.98 in Shikoku, Miyagi, Peru, north Chile, and south Chile and 0.90–0.93 in south Vancouver Island and Washington. The parameter τ averaged over the seismogenic megathrust is of the order of ∼10 MPa. Stress drops of great earthquakes in these zones occupy 14–87% and not a constant fraction of τ. They, on the other hand, increase linearly with 1 − λ. We propose a simple fault model in which the area of asperities as a fraction of the total fault area is proportional to 1 − λ. Variation of fractional area of asperities thus may explain the observed correlation and the regional variation of λ. Assuming that the differential stress at summit of the Andean mountains is zero, not at the coast as observed at present, we determine λ to be 0.84 in north Chile in the mountain building stage. Such a smaller value of λ, along with λ < ∼0.4 in collision zones previously obtained and >∼0.9 in subduction zones, would suggest that variation of λ controls the tectonic style of the Earth.
Constraints on deep moonquake focal mechanisms through analyses of tidal stress
Authors: Weber R. C. , Bills B. G. , Johnson C. L.
Published: May 2009

A relationship between deep moonquake occurrence and tidal forcing is suggested by the monthly periodicities observed in the occurrence times of events recorded by the Apollo Passive Seismic Experiment. In addition, the typically large S wave to P wave arrival amplitude ratios observed on deep moonquake seismograms are indicative of shear failure. Tidal stress, induced in the lunar interior by the gravitational influence of the Earth, may influence moonquake activity. We investigate the relationship between tidal stress and deep moonquake occurrence by searching for a linear combination of the normal and shear components of tidal stress that best approximates a constant value when evaluated at the times of moonquakes from 39 different moonquake clusters. We perform a grid search at each cluster location, computing the stresses resolved onto a suite of possible failure planes, to obtain the best fitting fault orientation at each location. We find that while linear combinations of stresses (and in some cases stress rates) can fit moonquake occurrence at many clusters quite well; for other clusters, the fit is not strongly dependent on plane orientation. This suggests that deep moonquakes may occur in response to factors other than, or in addition to, tidal stress. Several of our inferences support the hypothesis that deep moonquakes might be related to transformational faulting, in which shear failure is induced by mineral phase changes at depth. The occurrence of this process would have important implications for the lunar interior.
Significance of primary hilltop loess in reconstructing dust chronology, accretion rates, and sources: An example from the Negev Desert, Israel
Authors: Crouvi Onn , Amit Rivka , Porat Naomi , Gillespie Alan R. , McDonald Eric V. , Enzel Yehouda
Published: May 2009

Although high‐latitude loess sequences have been studied extensively for reconstructing past climates, loess in desert margins has been mostly overlooked. Moreover, many low‐latitude loess studies have focused on secondary, reworked sequences for which paleoclimatic inferences are complicated owing to postdepositional processes acting under local control. In this respect, the spatial distribution of the loess and its different types are crucial. In this study, we differentiate primary and secondary loess using remote sensing and field criteria. We present remote sensing and geographic information system procedures for mapping loess distribution, in general, and for identifying pristine hilltop loess sequences in particular. Then, we present the mineralogical and textural analyses combined with optically stimulated luminescence ages of one such primary, hilltop loess sequence in the Negev desert that show that the late Pleistocene Negev loess started accumulating at ∼95 ka, much earlier than previously proposed (∼70 ka). It was preceded by a previously unknown middle Pleistocene period of loess formation at ∼180–130 ka. The ages also suggest that the threshold of dust accretion rate needed for loess formation is ∼0.02 mm a−1(∼30 g m−2a−1), a factor of 2 or more lower than previously thought (0.04 to 1.0 mm a−1). Our results also provide insights into causes of late Pleistocene loess accretion and its close association with regional dune field activity. The methodology for mapping the loess distribution may potentially be generalized to help understanding loess formation in other, more remote desert areas.
Efficient and accurate computation of Green's function for the Poisson equation in rectangular waveguides
Authors: Cogollos S. , Taroncher M. , Boria V. E.
Published: May 2009

In this paper, a new algorithm for the fast and precise computation of Green's function for the 2‐D Poisson equation in rectangular waveguides is presented. For this purpose, Green's function is written in terms of Jacobian elliptic functions involving complex arguments. A new algorithm for the fast and accurate evaluation of such Green's function is detailed. The main benefit of this algorithm is successfully shown within the frame of the Boundary Integral Resonant Mode Expansion method, where a substantial reduction of the computational effort related to the evaluation of the cited Green's function is obtained.
Termite mounds as hot spots of nitrous oxide emissions in South‐Sudanian savanna of Burkina Faso (West Africa)
Authors: Brümmer Christian , Papen Hans , Wassmann Reiner , Brüggemann Nicolas
Published: May 2009

Despite a considerable knowledge of the significant role of termites in the global methane budget, very little is known about their contribution to the global nitrous oxide (N2O) budget. Release of N2O from termite (Cubitermes fungifaber) mounds was measured at a natural savanna site in the southwest of Burkina Faso from May to September 2006. Termite N2O emissions were around 20 μg N2O‐N m–2 h–1 at the end of the dry season, and up to two orders of magnitude higher than N2O emissions from the surrounding termite‐free soil after the onset of the rainy season. The average N2O emission rate from termite mounds during the observation period was 204 μg N2O‐N m–2 h–1, and termite mounds contributed 3.0% to total N2O emissions from this savanna ecosystem. However, in other tropical terrestrial ecosystems with other termite species and/or higher termite density this share might be significantly higher.
Winter interactions between weather regimes and marine surface in the North Atlantic European region
Authors: Guemas Virginie , Salas‐Mélia David , Kageyama Masa , Giordani Hervé , Voldoire Aurore , Sanchez‐Gomez Emilia
Published: May 2009

This study aims at understanding the winter marine surface/atmosphere interactions in the North Atlantic European (NAE) region on intraseasonal timescales. The CNRMOM1d ocean model coupled with the GELATO3 sea ice model is forced with the ERA40 surface fluxes over the 1959–2001 period. Composites of the simulated Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and sea ice concentration anomalies associated with each weather regime are computed. These are then prescribed to the ARPEGE Atmosphere General Circulation Model. We show that the interaction with the marine surface induces a negative feedback on the persistence of the NAO– regime, favours the transition from the Zonal regime toward the Atlantic Ridge regime and destabilizes the transition from the Blocking regime toward the Atlantic Ridge regime.
MESSENGER and Venus Express observations of the solar wind interaction with Venus
Authors: Slavin James A. , Acuña Mario H. , Anderson Brian J. , Barabash Stas , Benna Mehdi , Boardsen Scott A. , Fraenz Markus , Gloeckler George , Gold Robert E. , Ho George C. , Korth Haje , Krimigis Stamatios M. , McNutt Ralph L. , Raines Jim M. , Sarantos Menelaos , Solomon Sean C. , Zhang Tielong , Zurbuchen Thomas H.
Published: May 2009

At 23:08 UTC on 5 June 2007 the MESSENGER spacecraft reached its closest approach altitude of 338 km during its final flyby of Venus en route to its 2011 orbit insertion at Mercury. The availability of the simultaneous Venus Express solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field measurements provides a rare opportunity to examine the influence of upstream conditions on this planet's solar wind interaction. We present MESSENGER observations of new features of the Venus ‐ solar wind interaction including hot flow anomalies upstream of the bow shock, a flux rope in the near‐tail and a two‐point determination of the timescale for magnetic flux transport through this induced magnetosphere.
Dynamics of surface water storage in the Amazon inferred from measurements of inter‐satellite distance change
Authors: Han Shin‐Chan , Kim Hyungjun , Yeo In‐Young , Yeh Pat , Oki Taikan , Seo Ki‐Weon , Alsdorf Doug , Luthcke Scott B.
Published: May 2009

Terrestrial water storage in the Amazon basin and its surrounding areas is studied by exploring the instantaneous measurements of distance changes between two satellites from the GRACE mission. The surface water in the channels and floodplains can be significant in weighing total water storage. Its magnitude can be as large as soil moisture perturbing the motions of the satellites to a detectable amount by the on‐board instrument. The river runoff routing simulations indicate the effective velocity throughout the Amazon basin over the years is about 30 cm/s with significant seasonal change. The lower velocity, during rising stages and peak water season, and the faster velocity, during falling stages, are delineated from the observations. The backwater effects may impact such seasonal change on the overall flow velocity. Direct assimilation of GRACE tracking data can contribute to land surface dynamic processes by resolving the time scale of transport in rivers and streams.
Response of ions of ionospheric origin to storm time substorms: Coordinated observations over the ionosphere and in the plasma sheet
Authors: Nosé M. , Taguchi S. , Christon S. P. , Collier M. R. , Moore T. E. , Carlson C. W. , McFadden J. P.
Published: May 2009

We investigate variations of ion flux over the ionosphere and in the plasma sheet when storm time substorms are initiated, using simultaneous observations of neutral atoms in the energy range of up to a few keV measured by the low‐energy neutral atom (LENA) imager on board the Imager for Magnetopause‐to‐Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) satellite, outflowing ion flux of <1 keV measured by the ion electrostatic analyzer (IESA) on board the Fast Auroral SnapshoT (FAST) satellite, and energetic (9–210 keV/e) ion flux measured by the energetic particle and ion composition (EPIC) instrument on board the Geotail satellite. We examined three storm intervals during which the IMAGE or FAST satellite was in a suitable location to observe ionospheric ion outflow and the Geotail satellite was in the plasma sheet on the nightside. The neutral atom flux observed by IMAGE/LENA in the first interval and outflowing ion flux observed by FAST/IESA in the second and third intervals indicate that storm time substorms can cause increases of low‐energy ion flux over the ionosphere by a factor of 3–50 with time delay of less than several minutes. In the plasma sheet, the flux ratio of O+/H+ is rapidly enhanced at the storm time substorms and then increased gradually or stayed at a constant level in a time scale of ∼1 h, suggesting a mass‐dependent acceleration of ions at local dipolarization and a subsequent additional supply of O+ ions to the plasma sheet which have been extracted from the ionosphere at the substorms. These coordinated observations revealed that substorms have both an immediate effect and a delayed effect (i.e., two‐step effect) on the ion composition in the plasma sheet.
Structure—function relationships in telomerase genes
Authors: Sýkorová Eva , Fajkus Jiří
Published: May 2009

The TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase) subunit of telomerase is an intensively studied macromolecule due to its key importance in maintaining genome integrity and role in cellular aging and cancer. In an effort to provide an up‐to‐date overview of the topic, we discuss the structure ofTERTgenes, their alternative splicing products and their functions. Nucleotide databases contain more than 90 full‐length cDNA sequences of telomerase protein subunits. Numerousin silico,in vitroandin vivoexperimental techniques have revealed a great deal of structural and functional data describing particular features of the telomerase subunit in various model organisms. We explore whether particular findings are generally applicable to telomerases or species‐specific. We also discuss in an evolutionary context the role of identified functional TERT subdomains.
Breeding system and pollen limitation in two supergeneralist alien plants invading Mediterranean shrublands
Authors: Bartomeus Ignasi , Vilà Montserrat
Published: May 2009

Many widely known invasive plants are well integrated into native plant–pollinator networks. Typically, these invaders have entomophilous flowers which are visited by a diverse array of pollinators. The type of breeding system and the role that pollination services play in the reproductive success of invasive plants have, however, received little attention. We studied the breeding system and pollen limitation of two entomophilous invasive plants, Carpobrotus affine acinaciformis and Opuntia stricta, in different Mediterranean coastal localities in north-eastern Spain. Both species are, to some degree self-compatible; however, because of frequent visitation, open pollination increased the seed set in both species by at least 50%. Whereas O. stricta showed no pollen limitation, some populations of C. aff. acinaciformis had a lower seed set in open-pollinated flowers than in flowers where supplementary hand-pollination ensured out-crossing. This local pollen limitation in C. aff. acinaciformis could be due to the low efficiency of its visitors (mainly beetles) or its hybrid status. On the basis of previous studies on Carpobrotus sp. hybrid complexes, we suggest that the variability among sites in the seed set of open-pollinated flowers is caused by different degrees of hybrid introgression. Not withstanding, we found the C. aff. acinaciformis seed sets studied were higher than those reported in other regions. Further research is needed to assess the invasion potential of these hybrids in Mediterranean shrublands.
Nivicolous myxomycetes from alpine areas of south-eastern Australia
Authors: Stephenson Steven L. , Shadwick John D. L.
Published: May 2009

Nivicolous myxomycetes were collected from alpine areas of south-eastern Australia during the period of middle to late October 2004. Most collections came from the high-elevation area around Mount Kosciuszko, the highest peak on the continent at 2228 m, in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, and additional collections were obtained from two areas, Mount Buller and Mount Hotham, in the Victorian Alps of northern Victoria. Approximately 300 collections were obtained during a period of 2 weeks, including species such as Diderma alpinum, Didymium dubium, Lamproderma ovoideum, Physarum albescens and P. alpinum, not previously known to occur in mainland Australia. Lamproderma maculatum and L. zonatum were collected for the first time in the southern hemisphere, and another species of Lamproderma was described as new to science in a previous paper. In contrast to most other areas of the world where nivicolous myxomycetes have been studied, species of Diderma have been represented poorly among the collections from Australia.
JEM's 2009 Tune-up
Authors: Van Epps Heather L.
Published: May 2009

Scientific journals, like cars, require periodic tune-ups to keep them running smoothly. Effective immediately, several changes to the JEM publication policies will take effect. Our aim is to address policy issues that have arisen over the past several years and, more broadly, to maintain the quality and integrity of the research we publish. The upcoming changes to JEM policies and the impetus behind them are outlined here.
Limitations of the Efficacy of Surface Disinfection in the Healthcare Setting
Authors: Williams Gareth J. , Denyer Stephen P. , Hosein Ian K. , Hill Dylan W. , Maillard Jean-Yves
Published: May 2009

We examined the efficacy of 2 commercially available wipes to effectively remove, kill, and prevent the transfer of both methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus from contaminated surfaces. Although wipes play a role in decreasing the number of pathogenic bacteria from contaminated surfaces, they can potentially transfer bacteria to other surfaces if they are reused.
Longitudinal patterns of gambling activities and associated risk factors in college students
Authors: Goudriaan Anna E. , Slutske Wendy S. , Krull Jennifer L. , Sher Kenneth J.
Published: May 2009

Aims  To investigate which clusters of gambling activities exist within a longitudinal study of college health, how membership in gambling clusters change over time and whether particular clusters of gambling are associated with unhealthy risk behaviour.

Design  Four‐year longitudinal study (2002–2006).

Setting  Large, public university.

Participants  Undergraduate college students.

Measurements  Ten common gambling activities were measured during 4 consecutive college years (years 1–4). Clusters of gambling activities were examined using latent class analyses. Relations between gambling clusters and gender, Greek membership, alcohol use, drug use, personality indicators of behavioural undercontrol and psychological distress were examined.

Findings  Four latent gambling classes were identified: (1) a low‐gambling class, (2) a card gambling class, (3) a casino/slots gambling class and (4) an extensive gambling class. Over the first college years a high probability of transitioning from the low‐gambling class and the card gambling class into the casino/slots gambling class was present. Membership in the card, casino/slots and extensive gambling classes were associated with higher scores on alcohol/drug use, novelty seeking and self‐identified gambling problems compared to the low‐gambling class. The extensive gambling class scored higher than the other gambling classes on risk factors.

Conclusions  Extensive gamblers and card gamblers are at higher risk for problem gambling and other risky health behaviours. Prospective examinations of class membership suggested that being in the extensive and the low gambling classes was highly stable across the 4 years of college.