bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Vivo Degradation Behavior of the Magnesium Alloy LANd442 in Rabbit Tibiae
Authors: Ullmann Berit , Reifenrath Janin , Dziuba Dina , Seitz Jan-Marten , Bormann Dirk , Meyer-Lindenberg Andrea
Published: December 2011

In former studies the magnesium alloy LAE442 showed promising in vivo degradation behavior and biocompatibility. However, reproducibility might be enhanced by replacement of the rare earth composition metal “E” by only a single rare earth element. Therefore, it was the aim of this study to examine whether the substitution of “E” by neodymium (“Nd”) had an influence on the in vivo degradation rate. LANd442 implants were inserted into rabbit tibiae and rabbits were euthanized after 4, 8, 13 and 26 weeks postoperatively. In vivo µCT was performed to evaluate the in vivo implant degradation behaviour by calculation of implant volume, density true 3-D thickness and corrosion rates. Additionally, weight loss, type of corrosion and mechanical stability were appraised by SEM/EDS-analysis and three-point bending tests. Implant volume, density and true 3-D thickness decreased over time, whereas the variance of the maximum diameters within an implant as well as the corrosion rate and weight loss increased. SEM examination revealed mainly pitting corrosion after 26 weeks. The maximum bending forces decreased over time. In comparison to LAE442, the new alloy showed a slower, but more uneven degradation behavior and less mechanical stability. To summarize, LANd442 appeared suitable for low weight bearing bones but is inferior to LAE442 regarding its degradation morphology and strength.
Synthesis and Antibacterial Activities of Novel 2,5-Diphenylindolo[2,3-e] Pyrazolo[1',5':3",4"]pyrimido[2",1"-c] [1,2,4]triazines
Authors: Atta Kamal F.M. , Farahat Omaima O.M. , Ghobashy Somaya M. , Marei Mohamed G.
Published: December 2011

The formation of (E)-3-{2-(2,5-diphenylpyrazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-7-yl)hydrazono}indolin-2-ones 3 has been achieved by condensation of equimolar amounts of 7-hydrazino-2,5-diphenylpyrazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine (1) and isatin (or isatin derivatives) 2 at room temperature. The (E)-products could be isomerized into corresponding the (Z)-3 isomers. Reactions of the latter fused heterocyclic hydrazones towards different electro-philic reagents yielded the corresponding 3-substituted derivatives 4–7. Dehydrative cyclisation of the hydrazones 3 using phosphorus oxychloride afforded the 2,5-diphenyl- indolo[2,3-e]pyrazolo[1',5':3",4"]pyrimido[2",1"-c][1,2,4] triazines 13. The polyfused heterocyclic ring system 13 underwent electrophilic substitution reactions at position 4 rather than at position 3. The 3-bromo isomer of 17 was prepared by a sequence of reactions starting from 2,5-diphenylpyrazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine-7(6H)-thione (11). The orientation of the electrophilic attack was supported by spectroscopic and chemical evidence. Some of the synthesized compounds were found to possess slight to moderate activity against the microorganisms Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Acute renal failure due to Brucella melitensis
Authors: Dagli Ozgur , Dokur Mehmet , Guzeldag Gulcihan , Ozmen Yelda
Published: December 2011

We present the case of a 42-year-old male patient who applied to the emergency department of our hospital with clinical nephritis, orchitis, acute renal failure without endocarditis, and a low-grade fever. Brucella agglutinin titers were 1:160, Rose Bengal test was positive and Brucella melitensis was isolated from urine and blood cultures.. A combination of oral rifampin (600 mg/day) and doxycycline (200 mg/day) was administered along with supportive treatment leading to resolution of his clinical status by eight weeks. This was a rare complication of severe renal involvement due to brucellosis which resolved with antibiotic treatment.
Adverse reproductive outcome induced by Parvovirus B19 and TORCH infections in women with high-risk pregnancy
Authors: Kishore Janak , Misra Richa , Paisal Abhiruchi , Pradeep Yashodhra
Published: December 2011

Introduction: The frequency of fetopathogenic viruses and Toxoplasma gondii infections in the TORCH group (Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus) together with Parvovirus B19 (B19) in pregnant women with bad obstetric history (BOH) and/or concurrent pregnancy complications was investigated. Methodology: Sixty women (20-35 years) with BOH and/or antecedent pregnancy complications were studied. Twenty-nine healthy pregnant women matched for age, parity and gestational age served as controls. Sera were analyzed for IgM antibodies for B19 and TORCH agents by ELISA. Cord blood and 33 placental tissues from six malformed newborns were tested for B19 DNA by PCR. Results: Out of 60 high-risk pregnant women, 47 (78%) had BOH while 23 (38.3%) had underlying complications including polyhydramnios (n=10), oligohydramnios (n=6) and intrauterine growth restriction (n=7). Adverse outcomes occurred in 36 (60%) high-risk cases.  All 16 cases with polyhydramnios/oligohydramnios resulted in preterm stillbirths while the remaining 20 cases resulted in seven abortions, six newborns with congenital malformations, four full-term stillbirths and three cases of non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF). IgM positivity to T. gondii, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus and B19 virus was 8.3%, 15%, 30%, 3.3% and 13.6% respectively. B19 infection caused NIHF in three cases and cardiac anomaly in one. All placental tissues and cord blood were negative for B19 DNA. None of the controls had IgM antibodies to any pathogen. Conclusions: Women with BOH and/or pregnancy complications had a high frequency of TORCH and parvovirus B19 infections causing fetal wastage, IUGR, NIHF and congenital malformations.
A case report and literature review: osteomyelitis caused by community-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Uluğ Mehmet , Ayaz Celal , Celen Mustafa Kemal
Published: December 2011

Osteomyelitis in adolescents is a serious disease with the potential for lifelong disability. The key to successful management is early diagnosis, including bone sampling for microbiological and pathological examination to allow targeted and long-lasting antibiotic therapy. Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequently isolated microorganism in these patients. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is usually considered a nosocomial pathogen, but increasingly it is acquired in the community. We present a case of acute osteomyelitis caused by community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) who had never been hospitalized and had no other known risk factors for MRSA. The changing epidemiology of MRSA became evident when infections occurred in previously healthy patients without established risk factors. MRSA infections have been increasingly reported in pediatric patients, but they are uncommon in adults. Skin and soft tissue infections remain the most common manifestations of CA-MRSA infections. Glycopeptides can be used as initial therapy and oral trimetoprim-sulfamethoxazole as sequential therapy for these patients.
Toward a transdisciplinary understanding and a global control of emerging infectious diseases
Authors: Gonzalez Jean-Paul , Lambert Gérard , Legand Anaïs , Debré Patrice
Published: December 2011

The Franceville International Centre for Medical Research (CIRMF) organized a first international symposium on infectious diseases, environments, and biodiversity. Over 200 international experts gathered in Gabon to forecast and work to prevent the emergence of infectious diseases. This symposium aimed to strengthen the regional and international fight against the emergence of infectious diseases with high-level scientific debates. Toward this goal, it brought together experts in human and animal health, the environment, and ecology, including biologists, climatologists, microbiologists, epidemiologists, public health professionals, and human and social sciences specialists. National, regional and international participants were present to debate on the challenges related to the emergence of infectious diseases and on the responses to be implemented. The symposium was very successful, and plans for a second symposium of this kind to be held in the near future in another high-biodiversity area are already underway.
Taxonomic revision of the tropical African group of Carex subsect. Elatae (sect. Spirostachyae, Cyperaceae)
Authors: Escudero Marcial , Luceño Modesto
Published: December 2011

The tropical African monophyletic group of Carex subsect. Elatae (sect. Spirostachyae) is distributed in continental tropical Africa, Madagascar, the Mascarene archipelago, and Bioko Island (32 km off the coast of West Africa, in the Gulf of Guinea). The first monographic treatment of this Carex group, as well as of the tribe Cariceae, was published by Kükenthal (as sect. Elatae Kük.). Recently, the first molecular (nrDNA, cpDNA) phylogeny of Carex sect. Elatae has been published, which also included the species of sect. Spirostachyae. In the resulting consensus trees, most species of sect. Elatae were embedded within core Spirostachyae and so this section was joined with sect. Spirostachyae as subsect. Elatae. Within subsect. Elatae, several groups were described, one of which was termed the “tropical African group”. Here we present a taxonomic revision of this group, based on more than 280 vouchers from 29 herbaria as well as in field trips in Tropical Africa. In the revision, we recognise 12 species (16 taxa) within the tropical African group, and so have somewhat modified our previous view, in which 10 species, 12 taxa were listed. One new species from Tanzania is included in this treatment, C. uluguruensis Luceño & M. Escudero. Several combinations are made, C. cyrtosaccus is treated as a synonym of C. vallis-rosetto and, finally, the binomial C. greenwayi has been recognised.
The importance of phytoplankton production for carbon budgets in a semiarid floodplain wetland
Authors: Álvarez-Cobelas Miguel , Angeler David G. , Rojo Carmen , Cirujano Santos
Published: December 2011

Phytoplankton production (PP) in wetlands is not measured as often as that of macrophytes. A three year-study during a period of sustained high flooding was undertaken in a central Spanish floodplain wetland (Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park) to determine net PP, its spatial heterogeneity and controlling factors, and compare it with primary production in macrophyte communities. This enabled us to estimate carbon budgets for each community. All PP variables showed high spatial and temporal variability among sites, resulting in low coherence even when flooding connected all sites. Net PP corresponded to 25- 36% of submerged plant production and 3-10% of helophyte production. Net PP was controlled by different size fractions of phytoplankton biomass at different wetland sites. Neither nutrients nor zooplankton affected net PP or productivity. A high spatiotemporal variability of PP in wetlands occurs arising from complex processes that affect the underwater light field. Carbon budgets of phytoplankton often exceeded those of submerged macrophytes and attained between 4 and 37% of helophyte budgets. Although usually considered to be marginal, our study shows that PP in the open water of wetlands should be taken into account for determining accurate wetland carbon budgets, mostly in periods of high flooding, which often result in changing the carbon budget of primary producers.
Two new species of Euphorbia sect. Nummulariopsis (Euphorbiaceae) from South America
Authors: Carrillo-Reyes Pablo , Steinmann Victor W.
Published: December 2011

Two new species of sect. Nummulariopsis, Euphorbia guaraniorum and E. cordeiroae, are described and illustrated. Euphorbia guaraniorum appears to be related to E. portulacoides and is distinguished by its densely arranged ensiform leaves. It is known only from the Yacyretá and Ybycui Islands in southern Paraguay. Euphorbia cordeiroae, occurs in the state of Goiás, Brazil, and is similar to E. stenophylla, from which it differs in its higher stature and very narrow and loosely arranged leaves.
Induction of Regulatory T Cells by a Murine β-Defensin
Authors: Navid Fatemeh , Boniotto Michele , Walker Catherine , Ahrens Kerstin , Proksch Ehrhardt , Sparwasser Tim , Müller Werner , Schwarz Thomas , Schwarz Agatha
Published: December 2011

β-Defensins are antimicrobial peptides of the innate immune system produced in the skin by various stimuli, including proinflammatory cytokines, bacterial infection, and exposure to UV radiation (UVR). In this study we demonstrate that the UVR-inducible antimicrobial peptide murine β-defensin-14 (mBD-14) switches CD4+CD25− T cells into a regulatory phenotype by inducing the expression of specific markers like Foxp3 and CTLA-4. This is functionally relevant because mBD-14–treated T cells inhibit sensitization upon adoptive transfer into naive C57BL/6 mice. Accordingly, injection of mBD-14, comparable to UVR, suppresses the induction of contact hypersensitivity and induces Ag-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs). Further evidence for the ability of mBD-14 to induce Foxp3+ T cells is provided using DEREG (depletion of Tregs) mice in which Foxp3-expressing cells can be depleted by injecting diphtheria toxin. mBD-14 does not suppress sensitization in IL-10 knockout mice, suggesting involvement of IL-10 in mBD-14–mediated immunosuppression. However, unlike UVR, mBD-14 does not appear to mediate its immunosuppressive effects by affecting dendritic cells. Accordingly, UVR-induced immunosuppression is not abrogated in mBD-14 knockout mice. Together, these data suggest that mBD-14, like UVR, has the capacity to induce Tregs but does not appear to play a major role in UVR-induced immunosuppression. Through this capacity, mBD-14 may protect the host from microbial attacks on the one hand, but tame T cell-driven reactions on the other hand, thereby enabling an antimicrobial defense without collateral damage by the adaptive immune system.
Targeting the Vaginal Mucosa with Human Papillomavirus Pseudovirion Vaccines Delivering Simian Immunodeficiency Virus DNA
Authors: Gordon Shari N. , Kines Rhonda C. , Kutsyna Galyna , Ma Zhong-Min , Hryniewicz Anna , Roberts Jeffery N. , Fenizia Claudio , Hidajat Rachmat , Brocca-Cofano Egidio , Cuburu Nicolas , Buck Christopher B. , Bernardo Marcelino L. , Robert-Guroff Marjorie , Miller Christopher J. , Graham Barney S. , Lowy Douglas R. , Schiller John T. , Franchini Genoveffa
Published: December 2011

The majority of HIV infections occur via mucosal transmission. Vaccines that induce memory T and B cells in the female genital tract may prevent the establishment and systemic dissemination of HIV. We tested the immunogenicity of a vaccine that uses human papillomavirus (HPV)-based gene transfer vectors, also called pseudovirions (PsVs), to deliver SIV genes to the vaginal epithelium. Our findings demonstrate that this vaccine platform induces gene expression in the genital tract in both cynomolgus and rhesus macaques. Intravaginal vaccination with HPV16, HPV45, and HPV58 PsVs delivering SIV Gag DNA induced Gag-specific Abs in serum and the vaginal tract, and T cell responses in blood, vaginal mucosa, and draining lymph nodes that rapidly expanded following intravaginal exposure to SIVmac251. HPV PsV-based vehicles are immunogenic, which warrant further testing as vaccine candidates for HIV and may provide a useful model to evaluate the benefits and risks of inducing high levels of SIV-specific immune responses at mucosal sites prior to SIV infection.
Identifying HIV infection in South African women: How does a fourth generation HIV rapid test perform?
Authors: Bhowan Kapila , Kalk Emma , Khan Sonjiha , Sherman Gayle
Published: December 2011

Background: HIV rapid tests (RT) play an important role in tackling the HIV pandemic in South Africa. Third generation RT that detect HIV antibodies are currently used to diagnose HIV infection at the point of care. Determine Combo (DC) is the first fourth generation RT that detects both p24 antigen (p24Ag) and HIV antibodies (Ab), theoretically reducing the window period and increasing detection rates. Early detection of maternal HIV infection is important to mitigate the high risk of vertical transmission associated with acute maternal infection. Objectives: We assessed the performance of the DC RT against third generation RT in antenatal and post-partum women. Methods: Third generation RT Advance Quality and Acon were used in a serial algorithm to diagnose HIV infection in antenatal and post-partum women over six months at a tertiary hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. This data provided the reference against which the DC RT was compared on plasma and whole blood samples. Results: The 1019 participants comprised 345 (34%) antenatal and 674 (66%) post-partum women. Ninety women (8.8%) tested HIV-positive of whom 59 (66%) were tested antenatally, and 31 (34%) post-partum yielding prevalence rates of 17.1% and 4.6% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the Ab component of DC on plasma antenatally was 100% (93.8% – 100%) and 100% (98.6% – 100%) respectively and post-partum was 100% (88.9% – 100%) and 99.6% (98.8% – 99.9%) respectively. One false positive and not a single true positive p24Ag was detected. Of 505 post-partum women who tested HIV-negative 6–12 months prior to enrolment, 12 (2.4%) seroconverted. Conclusion: The fourth generation DC offered no advantage over current third generation RT in the diagnosis of HIV infection.
Culturable autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria population and nitrification potential in a sheep grazing intensity gradient in a grassland on the Loess Plateau of Northwest China
Authors: Liu Tianzeng , Nan Zhibiao , Hou Fujiang
Published: December 2011

Liu, T., Nan, Z. and Hou, F. 2011. Culturable autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria population and nitrification potential in a sheep grazing intensity gradient in a grassland on the Loess Plateau of Northwest China. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 925–934. Grazing is known to enhance the activity of soil microbial communities in many types of grasslands; however, the potential impacts of rotational grazing activity on soil microbial functional groups remain poorly understood. We investigated the effects of 9 yr of rotational grazing by livestock on culturable autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) population size, nitrification potential and soil properties in a semi-arid grassland of the Loess Plateau in Northwest China. Three stocking rate treatments of 2.7, 5.3 and 8.7 wether lambs ha−1were evaluated in geographically separated paddocks. Grazing increased nitrification potential and culturable AOB populations compared with ungrazed treatments. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria populations increased from 155 bacteria g−1dry soil with 0 sheep ha−1to 16 218 bacteria g−1dry soil with 8.7 sheep ha−1. Grazing led to an increase in population of AOB at 0–10 cm soil depth, but had no effect on AOB at 10–20 cm soil depth. Nitrification potential increased from 1.21 mg NO3-N kg−1soil d−1in ungrazed treatments to 2.86 mg NO3-N kg−1soil d−1at the highest stocking rate. Soil ammonium and nitrate concentrations increased; however, total soil nitrogen and soil moisture content decreased with increased stocking rate for both sampling depths (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm). Soil organic matter was not affected by grazing treatments. Soil nitrification potential and the size of culturable AOB populations were dependent on grazing intensity, soil depth and season. This information is potentially important for the optimal selection of stocking rate for grazed ecosystems.
Estimation of decay constants for crop residues measured over 15 years in conventional and reduced tillage systems in a coarse-textured soil in southern Ontario
Authors: Beyaert Ron , Paul Voroney R.
Published: December 2011

Beyaert, R. P. and Voroney, R. P. 2011. Estimation of decay constants for crops residues measured over 15 years in conventional and reduced tillage systems in a coarse-textured soil in southern Ontario. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 985–995. Crop residues are the primary means of sustaining soil organic matter levels in agricultural soils. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of tillage practices on the rate of decomposition of crop residues over a 15-yr period under field conditions in southern Ontario. Microplots were amended with14C-labelled above-ground residues of five annual agricultural crops: corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), winter rye (Secale cereale L.) and tobacco (Nicotiana tobaccum L.). The crop residues were added to the soil immediately following harvest during the 1990 growing season using a simulated conventional mouldboard plough–disc management (CT) or conservation tillage management (RT), and the amounts of crop residues remaining were measured periodically. The rate of decomposition of the labile C was positively correlated to the levels of hot-water soluble C and N content and negatively correlated to the C:N ratio and hemicellulose concentration of the residues. Decomposition of the residue C was greater under CT during the initial phase of decomposition, indicating that the incorporated residues were exposed to a more favourable environment for microbial activity compared with surface-applied residues. Kinetic analysis of residue decomposition showed that residues managed under CT had a larger labile component and faster rate of decomposition and a smaller resistant component with a slower decomposition rate than RT. Comparisons of models describing the decomposition of combined crops/tillage practices did not describe the decomposition process as well as models for individual crop/tillage combinations.
Flight-based chemical characterization of biomass burning aerosols within two prescribed burn smoke plumes
Authors: Pratt K. A. , Murphy S. M. , Subramanian R. , DeMott P. J. , Kok G. L. , Campos T. , Rogers D. C. , Prenni A. J. , Heymsfield A. J. , Seinfeld J. H. , Prather K. A.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. Biomass burning represents a major global source of aerosols impacting direct radiative forcing and cloud properties. Thus, the goal of a number of current studies involves developing a better understanding of how the chemical composition and mixing state of biomass burning aerosols evolve during atmospheric aging processes. During the Ice in Clouds Experiment-Layer Clouds (ICE-L) in the fall of 2007, smoke plumes from two small Wyoming Bureau of Land Management prescribed burns were measured by on-line aerosol instrumentation aboard a C-130 aircraft, providing a detailed chemical characterization of the particles. After ~2–4 min of aging, submicron smoke particles, produced primarily from sagebrush combustion, consisted predominantly of organics by mass, but were comprised primarily of internal mixtures of organic carbon, elemental carbon, potassium chloride, and potassium sulfate. Significantly, the fresh biomass burning particles contained minor mass fractions of nitrate and sulfate, suggesting that hygroscopic material is incorporated very near or at the point of emission. The mass fractions of ammonium, sulfate, and nitrate increased with aging up to ~81–88 min and resulted in acidic particles. Decreasing black carbon mass concentrations occurred due to dilution of the plume. Increases in the fraction of oxygenated organic carbon and the presence of dicarboxylic acids, in particular, were observed with aging. Cloud condensation nuclei measurements suggested all particles >100 nm were active at 0.5% water supersaturation in the smoke plumes, confirming the relatively high hygroscopicity of the freshly emitted particles. For immersion/condensation freezing, ice nuclei measurements at −32 °C suggested activation of ~0.03–0.07% of the particles with diameters greater than 500 nm.
A statistical analysis of North East Atlantic (submicron) aerosol size distributions
Authors: Dall'Osto M. , Monahan C. , Greaney R. , Beddows D. C. S. , Harrison R. M. , Ceburnis D. , O'Dowd C. D.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. The Global Atmospheric Watch research station at Mace Head (Ireland) offers the possibility to sample some of the cleanest air masses being imported into Europe as well as some of the most polluted being exported out of Europe. We present a statistical cluster analysis of the physical characteristics of aerosol size distributions in air ranging from the cleanest to the most polluted for the year 2008. Data coverage achieved was 75% throughout the year. By applying the Hartigan-Wong k-Means method, 12 clusters were identified as systematically occurring. These 12 clusters could be further combined into 4 categories with similar characteristics, namely: coastal nucleation category (occurring 21.3 % of the time), open ocean nucleation category (occurring 32.6% of the time), background clean marine category (occurring 26.1% of the time) and anthropogenic category (occurring 20% of the time) aerosol size distributions. The coastal nucleation category is characterised by a clear and dominant nucleation mode at sizes less than 10 nm while the open ocean nucleation category is characterised by a dominant Aitken mode between 15 nm and 50 nm. The background clean marine aerosol exhibited a clear bimodality in the sub-micron size distribution, with although it should be noted that either the Aitken mode or the accumulation mode may dominate the number concentration. However, peculiar background clean marine size distributions with coarser accumulation modes are also observed during winter months. By contrast, the continentally-influenced size distributions are generally more monomodal (accumulation), albeit with traces of bimodality. The open ocean category occurs more often during May, June and July, corresponding with the North East (NE) Atlantic high biological period. Combined with the relatively high percentage frequency of occurrence (32.6%), this suggests that the marine biota is an important source of new nano aerosol particles in NE Atlantic Air.
OH clock determination by proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry at an environmental chamber
Authors: Barmet P. , Dommen J. , DeCarlo P. F. , Tritscher T. , Praplan A. P. , Platt S. M. , Prévôt A. S. H. , Donahue N. M. , Baltensperger U.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. The hydroxyl free radical (OH) is the major oxidizing species in the lower atmosphere. Measuring the OH concentration is generally difficult and involves elaborate, expensive, custom-made experimental setups. Thus other more economical techniques, capable of determining OH concentrations at environmental chambers, would be valuable. This work is based on an indirect method of OH concentration measurement, by monitoring an appropriate OH tracer by proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS). 3-pentanol, 3-pentanone and pinonaldehyde (PA) were used as OH tracers in α-pinene (AP) secondary organic aerosol (SOA) aging studies. In addition we tested butanol-d9 as potential "universal" OH tracer and determined its reaction rate constant with OH: kbutanol-d9 = 3.4(±0.88) · 10−12 cm3molecule−1s−1. In order to make the chamber studies more comparable among each other as well as to atmospheric measurements we suggest the use of a chemical (time) dimension:~the OH clock, which corresponds to the integrated OH concentration over time.
Implications of albedo changes following afforestation on the benefits of forests as carbon sinks
Authors: Kirschbaum M. U. F. , Whitehead D. , Dean S. M. , Beets P. N. , Shepherd J. D. , Ausseil A.-G. E.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. Increased carbon storage with afforestation leads to a decrease in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and thus decreases radiative forcing and cools the Earth. However, afforestation also changes the reflective properties of the surface vegetation from more reflective pasture to relatively less reflective forest cover. This increase in radiation absorption by the forest constitutes an increase in radiative forcing, with a warming effect. The net effect of decreased albedo and carbon storage on radiative forcing depends on the relative magnitude of these two opposing processes. We used data from an intensively studied site in New Zealand's Central North Island that has long-term, ground-based measurements of albedo over the full short-wave spectrum from a developing Pinus radiata forest. Data from this site were supplemented with satellite-derived albedo estimates from New Zealand pastures. The albedo of a well-established forest was measured as 13 % and pasture albedo as 20 %. We used these data to calculate the direct radiative forcing effect of changing albedo as the forest grew. We calculated the radiative forcing resulting from the removal of carbon from the atmosphere as a decrease in radiative forcing of −104 GJ tC−1 yr−1. We also showed that the observed change in albedo constituted a direct radiative forcing of 2759 GJ ha−1 yr−1. Thus, following afforestation, 26.5 tC ha−1 needs to be stored in a growing forest to balance the increase in radiative forcing resulting from the observed albedo change. Measurements of tree biomass and albedo were used to estimate the net change in radiative forcing as the newly planted forest grew. Albedo and carbon-storage effects were of similar magnitude for the first four to five years after tree planting, but as the stand grew older, the carbon storage effect increasingly dominated. Averaged over the whole length of the rotation, the changes in albedo negated the benefits from increased carbon storage by 17–24 %.
A Novel GPU-Based Deformation Pipeline
Authors: Movania Muhammad Mobeen , Feng Lin
Published: December 2011

We present a new deformation pipeline that is independent of the integration solver used and allows fast rendering of deformable soft bodies on the GPU. The proposed method exploits the transform feedback mechanism of the modern GPU to bypass the CPU read-back, thus, reusing the modified positions and/or velocities of the deformable object in a single pass in real time. The whole process is being carried out on the GPU. Prior approaches have resorted to CPU read-back along with the GPGPU mechanism. In contrast, our approach does not require these steps thus saving the GPU bandwidth for other tasks. We describe our algorithm along with implementation details on the modern GPU and finally conclude with a look at the experimental results. We show how easy it is to integrate any existing integration solver into the proposed pipeline by implementing explicit Euler integration in the vertex shader on the GPU.
Verification of Chemicals Related to the Chemical Weapons ConventionUpdate based on original article by Markku Mesilaakso, Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry, © 2000, John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Authors: Vanninen Paula
Published: December 2011

This article gives a short historical review of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), discusses the tasks of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) related to chemical analysis, and lists the chemicals scheduled in the CWC. The Recommended Operating Procedures (ROPs) proposed originally by Finland and subsequently developed further in international cooperation as well as the work instructions (WIs) of the OPCW are briefly discussed. Strategy for analysis of CWC‐related chemicals in an off‐site laboratory is presented. The international interlaboratory comparison (round‐robin) and proficiency tests as well as future prospects are discussed.
Laser‐induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Authors: Cremers David A. , Multari Rosalie A. , Knight Andrew K.
Published: December 2011

Laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a novel method of elemental analysis based on a laser‐generated plasma. Pulses from a laser are focused on a sample to atomize a small amount of material resulting in the formation of a microplasma. Because of the high plasma temperature, the resulting atoms are electronically excited to emit light. The plasma light is spectrally resolved and detected to determine the elemental composition of the sample based on the unique emission spectrum of each element. Because of the simplicity of the method, it is suited for analyses that cannot be carried out using conventional methods of atomic emission spectroscopy (AES). This is particularly true for measurements that must be conducted outside of an analytical laboratory. A particular advantage of LIBS is the ability to analyze most types of samples without any preparation. This allows the interrogation of samples in situ, providing rapid measurement capability, permitting the method to be used in the analysis of gases, liquids, and solids in a variety of different sampling configurations. Although LIBS provides sensitive detection for many elements, it is not an ultrasensitive detection technique. In addition, under field conditions, the method typically does not provide the high accuracy and precision offered by laboratory‐based methods of AES. Although basically an element detection method, chemometric methods of analysis are being developed to analyze the LIBS spectrum to provide identification of chemical substances (e.g. explosives, pathogens, and chemical agents).
The Comet Assay: A Sensitive and Quantitative Method for Analysis ofDNADamage
Authors: Azqueta Amaya , Collins Andrew R.
Published: December 2011

The comet assay (single‐cell gel electrophoresis) is a simple method for measuring DNA strand breaks in cells that are embedded in agarose and lysed to remove membranes and soluble cell constituents (including most histones). The assay depends on the ability of breaks to relax supercoiling, which allows DNA still attached to a nuclear matrix to move toward the anode under electrophoresis, forming a ‘comet tail’ when viewed by fluorescence microscopy. The percentage of DNA in the tail indicates the frequency of DNA breaks. An additional step — digestion with lesion‐specific endonucleases — is introduced after lysis in order to detect different kinds of DNA damage. The assay can be calibrated to give quantitative measures of DNA damage. It has been widely used in genotoxicity testing and human biomonitoring, and also in ecogenotoxicology, as well as in basic research. We here discuss the development of the method, its principles, applications, and limitations, and attempt to dispel some fallacies that trouble the assay. We provide a detailed protocol, including a recent modification that increases the assay's throughput.
Next‐generationDNASequencing Technologies
Authors: Turner Daniel J.
Published: December 2011

The sequencing of multiple polynucleotide templates in parallel, termednext‐generation sequencing, has enabled us to generate vast quantities of sequence data very rapidly. As a consequence, large‐scale sequencing projects can be undertaken that would not have been feasible previously because the expense and time taken would have been prohibitive. Next‐generation technologies can be applied to diverse areas ranging from the de novo genome sequencing of mixed bacterial populations to characterization of the human transcriptome.

This article discusses how sequencing technology has evolved over the past four decades, and the impact that this has had on biological research.
Subcritical Water Chromatography — An Economical and Green Separation Technique
Authors: Yang Yu , Kapalavavi Brahmam
Published: December 2011

Subcritical water chromatography (SBWC) refers to a new reversed‐phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) technique where high‐temperature water is used as the sole mobile phase component. The major advantage of SBWC is the elimination of toxic mobile phase organic solvents required in traditional RPLC. These organic solvents are not only expensive in terms of purchasing price but also costly in their waste disposal. Therefore, the SBWC technique offers both economical and environmental benefits. Additional advantages of SBWC are fast analysis time; temperature‐dependent efficiency, selectivity, and resolution; temperature‐programmed elution; and ability to accommodate both gas‐ and liquid‐phase detectors. Most importantly, after years of academic studies, industry started paying attention to this economical and green separation technique. For example, Procter & Gamble has recently funded an SBWC project in developing green SBWC methods for the analysis of skincare products.
Electrospray Mass Spectrometry of Arsenic Compounds and Thiol–Arsenic Complexes
Authors: McKnight‐Whitford Anthony , Le X. Chris
Published: December 2011

This article reviews the identification and quantification of arsenic species and their complexes using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS). Topics covered include accurate mass determination, select ion monitoring (SIM) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), isotopic ratios, common fragmentation patterns, transition ratios, wrong‐way‐round ionization, crosstalk, ion interference, and matrix effects. The analytical methods range from direct‐infusion ESI‐MS and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), to the coupling of the ESI‐MS to high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation, and finally to combined analysis using HPLC separation with both inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) and HPLC/ESI‐MS detections. The combination of both ICP‐MS and ESI‐MS is especially powerful, benefiting from the established, robust, and sensitive element‐specific detection of ICP‐MS, and the molecular detection of ESI‐MS. Using the various mass spectrometry (MS) techniques, a variety of biological and environmental samples have been studied, including the urine of humans and animals, food and plants grown on arsenic‐contaminated soil, surface water, and contaminated groundwater. This article also discusses recent studies on the formation of thiol‐arsenic complexes between select arsenic species and thiols such as glutathione (GSH) and metallothionein (MT). The use of ESI‐MS contributes to determining the stoichiometry and binding location, monitoring the reaction in real time, and evaluating binding constants. Information from binding studies has helped the development of improved ESI‐MS methods through derivatization of arsenic species with thiols.
Firearms: Striae Matching, Basic Concepts of
Authors: Heard Brian J.
Published: December 2011

Basic concepts of striae matching including class and individual characteristics, purposeful eradication of individual characteristics, life expectancy of individual characteristics, both on bullets and cartridge cases. Including some case examples
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Postmortem Investigation and Risk Factors
Authors: Cohen Marta C.
Published: December 2011

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the largest single “category” of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) in babies over 1 month old in developed countries. SIDS is defined as the sudden death of an infant under 1 year of age, which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history.

SIDS is, consequently, a diagnosis by exclusion and the result of a “negative” postmortem. The investigation of any case of SUDI is best conducted using a multidisciplinary approach. Only when the recognized causes of death are excluded is it appropriate to label the death as due to SIDS. In addition, it is best to arrive at this conclusion after a multidisciplinary inquiry.

As data accumulates, the percentage of cases ascribed to SIDS diminishes.
Thermochemistry of Organoselenium and Organotellurium Compounds
Authors: Liebman Joel F. , Slayden Suzanne W.
Published: December 2011

The current study deals with the thermochemistry of organoselenium and organotellurium compounds in which we focus on the enthalpy of formation, with additional mention of other quantities such as Gibbs free energy, chemical equilibria and bond energies. The chapter starts with a discussion of the energetics of binary carbon selenides and tellurides and related ternary species, proceeds to aliphatic selenides and tellurides, then the oxygen‐containing selenoxides, selenones, telluroxides, tellurones, selenenates and tellurenates, and concludes with aronmatic selenides and tellurides including aryl selenides, selenophenes and tellurium counterparts.
Recent Advances in Analytical Chemistry and Mass Spectrometry for Organic Selenium and Tellurium Compounds
Authors: Far Johann , Pauw Edwin De , Eppe Gauthier
Published: December 2011

The objective of this chapter is to present the recent developments in mass spectrometry for selenium (Se) and tellurium (Te) analysis. The state‐of‐the‐art of mass spectrometry‐based techniques available is critically evaluated with particular emphasis on ion sources and mass analyzers. The complexity of identification and characterization of Se, Te species including their speciation in the environment or in biological materials requires methodologies not only limited to mass spectrometry. Particular attention is given to sample preparation and hyphenated techniques with mass spectrometry for a comprehensive characterization of these trace elements. All these aspects are illustrated with up‐to‐date applications from the literature. Finally, future trends in mass spectrometry give the readers new insights into Se and Te species detection.
Aircraft Thermal Management
Authors: Ahlers Mark F.
Published: December 2011

Aircraft thermal management is increasingly important to the safe and efficient design and operation of commercial and military aircraft due to the continually increasing heat loads from expanded avionic functionality, more electrical systems architectures, and the greater temperature sensitivity of composite material systems relative to traditional metallic designs. Military aircraft designers face the additional challenges of removing the waste heat from advanced weapon systems. This article provides an overview of the multiple thermal design issues faced in maintaining an acceptable temperature environment for the flight crew, passengers, cargo, and airplane structure and systems on a modern commercial aircraft.
Pressure‐ and Temperature‐Sensitive Paints
Authors: Liu Tianshu
Published: December 2011

The foundations of pressure‐ and temperature‐sensitive paints (PSP and TSP) for aerodynamic measurements are the oxygen and thermal quenching mechanisms of thin luminescent polymer coatings applied to a solid surface. The technical aspects of PSP and TSP include the photophysics, paint formulations, calibration, measurement systems, image/data processing, measurement uncertainty, and applications in wind tunnel testing. Since PSP and TSP as luminescent molecule sensors have similar measurement systems and image/data processing procedures, they are companion techniques in applications. PSP and TSP have become powerful measurement techniques to obtain high‐resolution surface pressure and temperature (heat flux) fields on air vehicle models in various wind tunnels. This article provides a concise exposition of the main technical aspects of PSP and TSP.
Can Questioning Induce Forgetting? Retrieval‐Induced Forgetting of Eyewitness Information
Authors: Camp Gino , Wesstein Henrieke , de Bruin Anique B. H.
Published: December 2011

In eyewitness situations, questioning can be seen as a form of retrieval practice that may have detrimental effects on eyewitness memory. Memory research has demonstrated that retrieval practice may not only enhance memory for practiced information but also induce forgetting of related information. The present study examined the effect of retrieval practice on forgetting in eyewitness memory. First, we investigated whether asking questions about particular offender characteristics can induce forgetting of other offender characteristics. Second, we examined whether this forgetting effect is limited to information from the practiced offender or may also influence memory for characteristics of others present in the crime scene. Third, we studied whether forgetting of eyewitness information occurs in the absence of output interference effects. We found that questioning induced forgetting of offender characteristics. Moreover, the forgetting effect was not limited to information about the practiced offender. Finally, forgetting was found even when output order was experimentally controlled. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Globally asymptotic adaptive controller/observer for tracking in robots without velocity measurement
Authors: Malagari Srinivasulu , Driessen Brian J.
Published: December 2011

In this work, we present an adaptive observer/controller for a multiple degree of freedom robotic plant without velocity measurement and without knowledge of plant parameter values. For this considered plant, we propose and present an adaptive observer/controller that estimates or observes the velocity and drives the position tracking error to zero. We prove that the combined tracking error and observer error converges to zero globally asymptotically and that all closed‐loop signals remain bounded. A contribution of the present paper, as compared with previous work for this same plant, can be deemed to be the fact that, to the best of our knowledge, the present paper is the first proven globally asymptotic result for this plant for which the size of the control torque does not increase exponentially with respect to the size of the tracking error. The control torque is discontinuous, however, only at isolated time instants. No sliding modes are used. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recursive Gauss–Seidel algorithm for direct self‐tuning control
Authors: Hatun Metin , Koçal Osman Hilmi
Published: December 2011

A recursive algorithm based on the use of Gauss–Seidel iterations is introduced to adjust the parameters of a self‐tuning controller for minimum phase and a class of nonminimum phase discrete‐time systems. The proposed algorithm is called the Recursive Gauss–Seidel (RGS) algorithm and is used to update the controller parameters directly. The use of the RGS algorithm with a generalized minimum variance control law is also given for nonminimum phase systems, and a forgetting factor is used to track the time‐varying parameters. Furthermore, the overall stability of the closed‐loop system is proven by using the Lyapunov stability theory. Using computer simulations, the performance of the RGS algorithm is examined and compared with the widely used recursive least squares algorithm.Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Luminescence of Nanodiamond Driven by Atomic Functionalization: Towards Novel Detection Principles
Authors: Petráková Vladimíra , Taylor Andrew , Kratochvílová Irena , Fendrych František , Vacík Jiří , Kučka Jan , Štursa Jan , Cígler Petr , Ledvina Miroslav , Fišerová Anna , Kneppo Peter , Nesládek Miloš
Published: December 2011

High biocompatibility, variable size ranging from ≈5 nm, stable luminescence from its color centers, and simple carbon chemistry for biomolecule grafting make nanodiamond (ND) particles an attractive alternative to molecular dyes for drug‐delivery. A novel method is presented that can be used for remote monitoring of chemical processes in biological environments based on color changes from photoluminescent (PL) nitrogen‐vacancy (NV) centers in ND. The NV luminescence is driven chemically by alternating the surface chemical potential by interacting atoms and molecules with the diamond surface. Due to the small ND size, the changes of the surface chemical potential modify the electric field profile at the diamond surfaces (i.e., band bending) and intermingle with the electronic NV states. This leads to changes in NV−/NV° PL ratio and allows construction of optical chemo‐biosensors operating in cells, with PL visible in classical confocal microscopes. This phenomenon is demonstrated on single crystal diamond containing engineered NV centers and on oxidized and hydrogenated ND in liquid physiological buffers for variously sized ND particles. Hydrogenation of NDs leads to quenching of luminescence related to negatively charged (NV−) centers and as a result produces color shifts from NV− (638 nm) to neutral NV° (575 nm) luminescence. How the reduction of diamond size increases the magnitude of the NV color shift phenomena is modeled.