bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibodies to parvovirus, distemper virus and adenovirus conferred to household dogs using commercial combination vaccines containing Leptospira bacterin
Authors: Taguchi M. , Namikawa K. , Maruo T. , Lynch J. , Sahara H.
Published: December 2010

To examine how the inclusion (+) or exclusion (–) of inactivated Leptospira antigens in a vaccine for canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV‐2), canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine adenovirus type 2 (CAdV‐2) affects antibody titres to CPV‐2, CDV and CAdV‐1 antigens, household dogs were vaccinated with commercially available vaccines from one of three manufacturers. CPV‐2, CDV and CAdV‐1 antibody titres were measured 11 to 13 months later and compared within three different age groups and three different bodyweight groups. There were significant differences between CPV‐2 antibody titres in dogs vaccinated with (+) vaccine and those vaccinated with (–) vaccine for two products in the two‐year‐old group and for one product in the greater than seven‐year‐old group; no significant differences were seen that could be attributed to bodyweight. No differences in CDV antibody titres were observed within age groups, but a significant difference was seen in the 11 to 20 kg weight group for one product. Significant differences in CAdV‐1 antibody titres were seen for one product in both the two‐year‐old group and the ≤10 kg weight group.
Different factors govern the performance of three closely related and ecologically similarDryopterisspecies with contrastingly different abundance in a transplant experiment
Authors: Rünk Kai , Zobel Martin , Zobel Kristjan
Published: December 2010

We conducted a transplant experiment to address aspects of the contrasting ecological performance of three forest ferns with similar habitat preferences: Dryopteris carthusiana (Vill.) H.P. Fuchs (common in Estonia), Dryopteris expansa (C. Presl) Fraser-Jenkins & Jermy (less common in Estonia), and Dryopteris dilatata (Hoffm.) A. Gray (rare in Estonia). Sporophytes of the three species were reciprocally planted in pots of soil in three neighbouring sites, where only (i) the most common, (ii) two more common, or (iii) all three grow naturally. The experimental design allowed the grouping of the possible limiting factors: light-related, soil-related, and effect of locale (factors associated with a particular locality but not directly related to light or soil). D. expansa (less common) was vulnerable to edaphic conditions: its performance was significantly poorer in soil from the site where it was naturally absent. D. dilatata (rare) was unaffected by soil conditions, indicating that either limited dispersal or effect of locale is responsible for its rarity. Our results indicate that even for taxonomically close and ecologically similar species, the forces that shape plants’ distribution and abundance can be markedly different.
Procambium–cambium transition during vascular meristem development inDiospyros lotus
Authors: Myśkow Elżbieta
Published: December 2010

Trees owe their growth in girth to cambial activity that gives rise to secondary conducting tissues. Since cambium originates from the primary vascular meristem, called procambium, the main objective of the present study was to analyse the changes occurring during transition from procambium to cambium in Diospyros lotus L., characterized by the occurrence of double-storied cambium. In this species, procambium and primary vascular tissues are present only within the bud, whereas just below this level, cambium and secondary vascular tissues occur. Procambium differentiates as a continuous cylinder, which as a whole transforms into cambium during further development. Commonly used criteria distinguishing procambium and cambium — that is, the appearance of periclinal divisions, intrusive growth of meristematic cells, presence of rays, and primary versus secondary nature of derived vascular tissues — were analysed in D. lotus. All these features, however, were present in procambium, making the sharp distinction between both stages of vascular meristem based on these criteria difficult. In addition, the formation of fusiform and ray initial storeys in D. lotus was shown to appear in the third year of cambium activity and become more distinct with cambium age. The double-storied structure may result from the genetic control of cell fate and (or) the presence of epigenetic patterns determining cellular arrangement.
New information on olenelline trilobites from the Cambrian Sekwi Formation in northwestern Canada
Authors: Abe Francine R. , Lieberman Bruce S. , Pope Michael C. , Dilliard Kelly
Published: December 2010

A new species of olenelline trilobite, Nevadella keelensis , is described from the Early Cambrian (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 3) in the Sekwi Formation, Mackenzie Mountains, Canada. The difficulty in discerning between Nevadia Walcott, 1910 and Nevadella Raw, 1936 is discussed, and a revision of the two genera is suggested, particularly with the addition of Nevadella keelensis n. sp. A holmiid trilobite, perhaps conspecific with Esmeraldina rowei (Walcott, 1910), was also confirmed from the same locality. The E. sp. aff. rowei represents the narrow form of a species known for great variability in cephalic form. The trilobite material comes from a low diversity, shallow water, peritidal facies that was not sampled in previous studies of Cambrian fossils in the area, and could prove useful in facilitating biostratigraphic correlation across the Selwyn Basin and with other parts of Laurentia as well.
The Duck Pond and Boundary Cu–Zn deposits, Newfoundland: new insights into the ages of host rocks and the timing of VHMS mineralization
Authors: McNicoll Vicki , Squires Gerry , Kerr Andrew , Moore Paul
Published: December 2010

The Duck Pond Cu–Zn–Pb–Ag–Au deposit in Newfoundland is hosted by volcanic rocks of the Cambrian Tally Pond group in the Victoria Lake supergroup. In conjunction with the nearby Boundary deposit, it contains 4.1 million tonnes of ore at 3.3% Cu, 5.7% Zn, 0.9% Pb, 59 g/t Ag, and 0.9 g/t Au. The deposits are hosted by altered felsic flows, tuffs, and volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks, and the sulphide ores formed in part by pervasive replacement of unconsolidated host rocks. U–Pb geochronological studies confirm a long-suspected correlation between the Duck Pond and Boundary deposits, which appear to be structurally displaced portions of a much larger mineralizing system developed at 509 ± 3 Ma. Altered aphyric flows in the immediate footwall of the Duck Pond deposit contained no zircon for dating, but footwall stringer-style and disseminated mineralization affects rocks as old as 514 ± 3 Ma at greater depths below the ore sequence. Unaltered mafic to felsic volcanic rocks that occur structurally above the orebodies were dated at 514 ± 2 Ma, and hypabyssal intrusive rocks that cut these were dated at 512 ± 2 Ma. Some felsic samples contain inherited (xenocrystic) zircons with ages of ca. 563 Ma. In conjunction with Sm–Nd isotopic data, these results suggest that the Tally Pond group was developed upon older continental or thickened arc crust, rather than in the ensimatic (oceanic) setting suggested by previous studies.
Evidence of farm-induced parasite infestations on wild juvenile salmon in multiple regions of coastal British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Price M. H.H. , Morton A. , Reynolds J. D.
Published: December 2010

Salmon farms are spatially concentrated reservoirs of fish host populations that can disrupt natural salmonid host–parasite dynamics. Sea lice frequently infect farm salmon and parasitize sympatric wild juvenile salmonids, with negative impacts on survival in Europe and Pacific Canada. We examined louse parasitism of wild juvenile chum salmon ( Oncorhynchus keta ) and pink salmon ( Oncorhynchus gorbuscha ) from three salmon farming regions in British Columbia (Finlayson, Broughton Archipelago, and Georgia Strait). We compared sites of low and high exposure to farms and included an area without farms (Bella Bella) to assess baseline infection levels. Louse prevalence and abundance were lowest and most similar to natural baseline levels at low-exposure sites and highest at high-exposure sites in all farm regions. A significantly greater proportion of the lice were Lepeophtheirus salmonis at high-exposure sites. Exposure to salmon farms was the only consistently significant factor to explain the variation in prevalence data, with a secondary role played by salinity. Our results support the hypothesis that salmon farms are a major source of sea lice on juvenile wild salmon in salmon farming regions and underscore the importance of using management techniques that mitigate threats to wild stocks.
Influence of zebra (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga (Dreissena rostriformis) mussel invasions on benthic nutrient and oxygen dynamics
Authors: Turner Caroline B.
Published: December 2010

Although invasive zebra ( Dreissena polymorpha ) and quagga ( Dreissena rostriformis ) mussels are known to increase water column concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, the relative roles of direct nutrient release by the mussels and mussel-induced alterations to sediment fluxes are little understood. In short-term microcosm experiments comparing the presence and absence of mussels on sediments from Oneida Lake, New York, USA, both dreissenid species approximately doubled benthic oxygen consumption and fluxes of ammonium. The impact on soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) flux varied from 40% to 140% depending on whether mussels were located in the water column or directly on sediments. The additional flux was attributable directly to release by the mussels, with fluxes from the sediments remaining largely unchanged. However, mussels located directly on sediment surfaces released twice as much SRP as mussels located higher in the water column, with a molar N:P ratio as low as 4:1. The high rate of SRP release by mussels on sediment, possibly caused by mobilization of iron-bound phosphorus from sediment particles in the anoxic guts of the mussels, could contribute to observed increases in SRP, abundance of nuisance algae such as Cladophora , and abundance and toxicity of the cyanobacteria Microcystis in dreissenid invaded ecosystems.
Ecological periodic tables for nekton usage of four US Pacific Northwest estuarine habitats
Authors: Ferraro Steven P. , Cole Faith A.
Published: December 2010

We compared the species composition and abundance of the total nekton community, using the Bray–Curtis similarity coefficient, and mean total nekton, fish and crab species richness, abundance and biomass, and shrimp abundance across four intertidal habitats in a US Pacific Northwest estuary: (i) eelgrass ( Zostera marina ); (ii) burrowing mud shrimp ( Upogebia pugettensis ); (iii) burrowing ghost shrimp ( Neotrypaea californiensis ); and (iv) unvegetated sand. Field sampling was conducted during daytime high tides, and was quantitative, stratified-by-habitat, randomized, and estuary-wide. More than 10 000 nekton specimens belonging to 64 taxa were collected in 454 samples during 10 sampling periods, each approximately one-month-long (from June to November), over 3 years (1998–2000). Non-metric multidimensional scaling analyses revealed annually recurring across-habitat patterns in total nekton Bray–Curtis similarity. Two-way (habitat, year) analyses of variance revealed annually recurring across-habitat patterns on 10 indicators of nekton-habitat quality and preference. Total nekton species richness, abundance, and biomass were, respectively, on average, 8 ×, 25 ×, and 25× greater in eelgrass, 4 ×, 6 ×, and 5× greater in mud shrimp, and 2 ×, 3 ×, and 2× greater in ghost shrimp, than in sand habitat. Our findings validate the ecological relevance of our habitats to nekton, and suggest they can serve as elements in ecological periodic tables of nekton habitat usage.
Fishing catch shares in the face of global change: a framework for integrating cumulative impacts and single species management
Authors: Kaplan Isaac C. , Levin Phillip S. , Burden Merrick , Fulton Elizabeth A.
Published: December 2010

Any fishery management scheme, such as individual fishing quotas (IFQs) or marine protected areas, should be designed to be robust to potential shifts in the biophysical system. Here we couple possible catch scenarios under an IFQ scheme with ocean acidification impacts on shelled benthos and plankton, using an Atlantis ecosystem model for the US West Coast. IFQ harvest scenarios alone, in most cases, did not have strong impacts on the food web, beyond the direct effects on harvested species. However, when we added the impacts of ocean acidification, the abundance of commercially important groundfish such as English sole ( Pleuronectes vetulus ), arrowtooth flounder ( Atheresthes stomias ), and yellowtail rockfish ( Sebastes flavidus ) declined up to 20%–80%, owing to the loss of shelled prey items from their diet. English sole exhibited a 10-fold decline in potential catch and economic yield when confronted with strong acidification impacts on shelled benthos. Therefore, it seems prudent to complement IFQs with careful consideration of potential global change effects such as acidification. Our analysis provides an example of how new ecosystem modeling tools that evaluate cumulative impacts can be integrated with established management reference points and decision mechanisms.
The effect of sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) on juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) swimming endurance
Authors: Mages Paul A. , Dill Lawrence M.
Published: December 2010

The swimming endurance of naturally and experimentally infected juvenile pink salmon ( Oncorhynchus gorbuscha ) was measured to determine the effects of sea lice ( Lepeophtheirus salmonis ). Salmon naturally infected with adult male and preadult stage lice did not appear to have a reduced swim performance, but when experimentally infected with adult female lice, juvenile salmon showed a reduced ability to swim compared with uninfected control fish, and this effect increased with lice load. A reduced swimming endurance is not only likely to influence predation risk for salmon, but may have other ecological implications, such as slower seaward migration.
The importance of freshwater feeding in mature Pacific salmon: a reply to the comment by Armstrong on “Egg consumption in mature Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.)”Appears in Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 66(9): 1546–1553.
Authors: Garner Shawn R. , Heath John W. , Neff Bryan D.
Published: December 2010

Armstrong has questioned the biological relevance of the feeding observations that we presented in the study “Egg consumption in mature Pacific salmon ( Oncorhynchus  spp.)” (Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 66(9): 1546–1553). Here we discuss his arguments and show that feeding can provide substantial energetic gains, which would, for example, allow feeding salmon to maintain body condition for up to an additional 23 days. Many consequences of feeding by mature Pacific salmon remain to be explored, but our study shows that these fish do feed in fresh water and that the benefits can be substantial.
Theoretical study of the stereo-dynamics of the H + HeH+(v = 0, j = 0) → H2+ + He reaction
Authors: Lv Juanjuan , Liu Xinguo , Liang Jingjuan , Sun Haizhu
Published: December 2010

Theoretical study of the stereo-dynamics of the reaction, H + HeH+ (v = 0,  j = 0) → H 2+  + He, have been performed with quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) method at different collision energies on a new ab initio potential energy surface. The distributions of P(θr), P(ϕr) and four generalized polarization-dependent differential cross-sections have been calculated. The results indicate that both the orientation and alignment of the rotational angular momentum are impacted by collision energies. With the collision energy increases, the rotation of the product molecule has a preference of changing from the “in-plane” reaction mechanism to the “out-of-plane” mechanism. Although the reaction is mainly dominated by the direct reaction mechanism, the indirect mechanism plays a role while the collision energy is very low.
Stability analysis for discrete-time stochastic neural networks with mixed time delays and impulsive effects
Authors: Raja R. , Sakthivel R. , Anthoni S. Marshal
Published: December 2010

This paper investigates the stability issues for a class of discrete-time stochastic neural networks with mixed time delays and impulsive effects. By constructing a new Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional and combining with the linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach, a novel set of sufficient conditions are derived to ensure the global asymptotic stability of the equilibrium point for the addressed discrete-time neural networks. Then the result is extended to address the problem of robust stability of uncertain discrete-time stochastic neural networks with impulsive effects. One important feature in this paper is that the stability of the equilibrium point is proved under mild conditions on the activation functions, and it is not required to be differentiable or strictly monotonic. In addition, two numerical examples are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed method, while being less conservative.
Analytic formula for charged particle impact ionization cross-section
Authors: Sahlaoui Mohammed , Bouamoud Mammar
Published: December 2010

We derive an analytical formula for the first Born approximation amplitude for the ionization of general neutral atomic targets by charged particle impact. An orthogonalized Coulomb wave function is used to describe the ejected electron. The triple differential cross-section is written in a computationally efficient analytic form.
Series solution for flow of a second-grade fluid in a divergent–convergent channel
Authors: Hayat T. , Nawaz M. , Asghar S. , Hendi Awatif A.
Published: December 2010

This study explores the flow of a second-grade fluid in divergent–convergent channel. The problem formulation is first developed, and then the corresponding nonlinear problem is solved by homotopy analysis method (HAM). The effects of different physical parameters on the velocity profile are shown. The numerical values of the skin friction coefficient for different values of parameters are tabulated.
First-principles calculations of intrinsic defects in the p-type semiconductor CuAlO2
Authors: Huang Dan , Pan Yuanming
Published: December 2010

Intrinsic defects, including vacancies at the Cu and Al sites (VCu and VAl), substitutional Cu at the Al site (CuAl), and interstitial O (Oi), have been proposed to be responsible for the p-type conductivity in CuAlO2. We have investigated the formation energies of these and other intrinsic defects in CuAlO2 using GGA+U calculations. Our results support previous studies that the potential alignment and image charge correction are required in the calculation of defect formation energies by using the supercell approach. In CuAlO2, these p-type defects (VCu, VAl, CuAl, and Oi) invariably have lower formation energies than their n-type counterparts. Particularly, VCu and CuAl have the lowest formation energies among intrinsic defects, and therefore are most likely responsible for the p-type conductivity. However, the transition levels of the VCu and CuAl defects are deep, which are responsible for the poor p-type conductivity in CuAlO2.
Baylis–Hillman reaction under solvent-free conditions — Remarkable rate acceleration and yield enhancement
Authors: Saikia Monmi , Sarma Jadab C.
Published: December 2010

A simple and efficient method has been developed for remarkable rate acceleration and yield enhancement of the Baylis–Hillman reaction under solvent-free “neat conditions” and solvent-less isolation of products. Reaction of equimolar quantities of aldehyde and olefin in the presence of 20 mol% of DABCO under neat conditions affords the highest yield in most cases within the shortest reaction time, giving support to the mechanisms of proton transfer in protic and aprotic solvents. Solvent-free conditions are found to be especially fast, selective, and high yielding for aromatic aldehydes.
Theoretical analysis of trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(thiazole)] and trans-[PtCl2(thiazole)2] binding to biological targets — Factors influence binding kinetics and adduct stability
Authors: Zhang Dongdong , Ren Xiuli , Zhou Lixin
Published: December 2010

Full reaction energy profiles for trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(thiazole)] and trans-[PtCl2(thiazole)2] binding to sulfur- and nitrogen-containing biorelevant ligands were constructed by the density functional theory (DFT) method. Calculated results demonstrate that trans-platinum complexes can interact with biological targets, affording cis and trans products via very similar transition states. For different substituents, sulfur-containing ligands constitute kinetically preferred targets for platination, whereas the platination of nitrogen-containing ligands is more favorable thermodynamically. This is consistent with previous experimental studies. Calculated results also suggest that the trans effect, the influence of the ligand, the size of the ligand, and hydrogen bonding play important roles in binding kinetics and stabilizing adducts.
Spectrophotometric study of the selective binding behavior of aliphatic oligopeptides by bridged bis(β-cyclodextrin) linked by a 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl disulfide tether
Authors: Yong-Cun Yang , Shao-Ming Chi , Ming-Hua Liu , Rong Huang , Yu-Fei Wang , Bi Jing , Yan Zhao
Published: December 2010

The conformation and binding behavior of 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl disulfide bridged bis(β-cyclodextrin) (1) towards representative aliphatic oligopeptides, i.e., Leu-Gly, Gly-Leu, Glu-Glu, Met-Met, Gly-Gly, Gly-Gly-Gly, and Gly-Pro, were investigated by circular dichroism, fluorescence, and 1H and 2D NMR spectroscopy at 25 °C in phosphate buffer (pH 7.20). The results indicated that 1 acts as an efficient fluorescent sensor and displays remarkable fluorescence enhancement upon addition of optically inert oligopeptides. Owing to the cooperative host–linker–guest binding mode in which the linker and guest are coincluded in the two cyclodextrin cavities, the bis(β-cyclodextrin) 1 gives high binding constants of up to 103–104 (mol/L)–1 for oligopeptides. The bis(β-cyclodextrin) 1 can recognize not only the size and shape of oligopeptides but also the hydrophobicity, giving an exciting residue selectivity of up to 61.3 for the Gly-Leu/Glu-Glu pair. These phenomena are discussed from the viewpoints of multiple recognition and induce-fit interactions between host and guest.
Towards the development of new subtype-specific muscarinic receptor radiopharmaceuticals — Radiosynthesis and ex vivo biodistribution of [18F]3-(4-(2-(2-(2-fluoroethoxy)ethoxy)ethylthio)-1,2,5-thiadiazol-3-yl)-1-methyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine
Authors: van Oosten Erik M. , Wilson Alan A. , Mamo David C. , Pollock Bruce G. , Mulsant Benoit H. , Houle Sylvain , Vasdev Neil
Published: December 2010

Muscarinic receptors have been implicated in neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and schizophrenia. Nineteen derivatives of thiadiazolyltetrahydropyridine (TZTP), a core that has previously shown high affinities towards muscarinic receptor subtypes, were synthesized and evaluated via in vitro binding assays. The title compound, a fluoro-polyethyleneglycol analog of TZTP (4c), was subsequently labelled with fluorine-18. Fluorine-18-labelled 4c was produced, via an automated synthesis, in an average radiochemical yield of 36% (uncorrected for decay), with high radiochemical purity (>99%) and high specific activity (326 GBq/µmol; end-of-bombardment), within 40 min (n = 3). Ex vivo biodistribution studies following tail-vein injection of [18F]4c in conscious rats displayed sufficient brain uptake (0.4%–0.7% injected dose / gram of wet tissue in all brain regions at 5 min post injection); however, there were substantial polar metabolites present in the brain, thereby precluding future use of [18F]4c for imaging in the central nervous system.
Water availability and genetic effects on wood properties of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)
Authors: Gonzalez-Benecke C. A. , Martin T. A. , Clark A. , Peter G. F.
Published: December 2010

We studied the effect of water availability on basal area growth and wood properties of 11-year-old loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) trees from contrasting Florida (FL) (a mix of half-sib families) and South Carolina coastal plain (SC) (a single, half-sib family) genetic material. Increasing soil water availability via irrigation increased average whole-core specific gravity (SG) and latewood percentage (LW%) by 0.036 and 6.93%, respectively. Irrigation did not affect latewood SG or wood stiffness, but irrigated FL and SC trees had more latewood due to a 29 day longer growing season. Irrigation did not affect the length of corewood production, but irrigated trees had earlier transition ages, producing outerwood ~3 years before rainfed trees. The increase in whole-core SG and LW% was moderate because irrigation promoted earlywood growth in corewood formed before canopy closure, but after year 7, rain-fed and irrigated trees had similar earlywood growth but irrigated trees had more latewood growth, increasing ring SG and LW%. The SC half-sib family had higher SG and greater LW% than trees from FL independent of irrigation due to greater yearly latewood growth. Thus, absence of soil water stress extended seasonal diameter cessation date but did not change latewood SG or wood stiffness.
Post-harvest seedling recruitment following mountain pine beetle infestation of Colorado lodgepole pine stands: a comparison using historic survey records
Authors: Collins Byron J. , Rhoades Charles C. , Underhill Jeffery , Hubbard Robert M.
Published: December 2010

The extent and severity of overstory lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. ex Wats.) mortality from mountain pine beetle ( Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) has created management concerns associated with forest regeneration, wildfire risk, human safety, and scenic, wildlife, and watershed resources in western North America. Owing to the unprecedented nature of the outbreak and associated management in the southern Rocky Mountains, it is unknown if the forests that regenerate after this current period of extensive change will differ from those that regenerated in the past. Here, we compare the density and species composition of post-harvest seedling recruits in pre-outbreak (1980–1996) and outbreak stands (2002–2007). Lodgepole pine accounted for more than 95% of post-harvest seedling recruitment and the density of seedlings colonizing clearcuts was equal during both the pre-outbreak and outbreak periods. Compared with harvested areas, the density of tree regeneration was 75% lower in uncut forests and was more evenly distributed among subalpine fir ( Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) and lodgepole pine. This comparison provides evidence that the density of seedling recruitment will be at least as high after extensive pine beetle caused mortality as under healthy, pre-outbreak conditions and that the species composition of stands regenerating after this outbreak will differ between treated and untreated areas.
Relationship between wood-inhabiting fungi determined by molecular analysis (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) and quality of decaying logs
Authors: Rajala Tiina , Peltoniemi Mikko , Pennanen Taina , Mäkipää Raisa
Published: December 2010

We investigated the fungal communities inhabiting decaying logs in a seminatural boreal forest stand in relation to host tree species, stage of decay, density, diameter, moisture, C to N ratio, Klason lignin content, and water- and ethanol-soluble extractives. Communities were profiled using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprinting of the rDNA ITS1 region coupled with sequencing of fungal DNA extracted directly from the wood. In addition, polypore fruit bodies were inventoried. Logs from different tree species had different fungal communities and different physicochemical properties (e.g., C to N ratio, density, ethanol extractives, and diameter). Ascomycetes comprised a larger portion of communities inhabiting deciduous birch ( Betula spp.) and European aspen ( Populus tremula L.) logs compared with those living on coniferous Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.). A relationship between mycelial community structure and density of decaying spruce logs suggested a succession of fungi with mass loss of wood. The fruit body inventory underestimated fungal diversity in comparison with the culture-free denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis that also detected inconspicuous but important species inhabiting decaying wood.
Using preference information in developing alternative forest plans
Authors: Eyvindson Kyle , Kangas Annika , Kurttila Mikko , Hujala Teppo
Published: December 2010

The development of new alternative plans based on applying multicriteria decision making (MCDM) techniques in discrete choice situations has received little attention in the context of forest planning. This article proposes a two-stage approach to be applied in participatory decision-making situations in which a specific number of initial alternatives are evaluated by the decision makers (DMs) using MCDM analysis. The preference information, obtained from these analyses in the form of target values, is then used for generating still more efficient forest plans. This paper concentrates on the latter stage and tests nine different goal programming (GP) formulations. This paper uses the formulas and preference information obtained from a case study of three forest owners to generate new forest plans. Among the tested techniques, formulas with a penalty function provided the most appropriate plans. These GP formulations could enhance the participatory planning processes in which a discrete number of alternatives are evaluated. With further development, this process could be applied to a variety of forest ownership types and could be a useful tool in supporting group decision making. This proposed approach could facilitate an increase in the DMs’ satisfaction and an increased commitment towards the derived decision.
Forest processes from stands to landscapes: exploring model forecast uncertainties using cross-scale model comparison
Authors: Papaik Michael J. , Fall Andrew , Sturtevant Brian , Kneeshaw Daniel , Messier Christian , Fortin Marie-Josée , Simon Neal
Published: December 2010

Forest management practices conducted primarily at the stand scale result in simplified forests with regeneration problems and low structural and biological diversity. Landscape models have been used to help design management strategies to address these problems. However, there remains a great deal of uncertainty that the actual management practices result in the desired sustainable landscape structure. To investigate our ability to meet sustainable forest management goals across scales, we assessed how two models of forest dynamics, a scaled-up individual-tree model and a landscape model, simulate forest dynamics under three types of harvesting regimes: clearcut, gap, and uniform thinning. Althougth 50–100 year forecasts predicted average successional patterns that differed by less than 20% between models, understory dynamics of the landscape model were simplified relative to the scaled-up tree model, whereas successional patterns of the scaled-up tree model deviated from empirical studies on the driest and wettest landtypes. The scale dependencies of both models revealed important weaknesses when the models were used alone; however, when used together, they could provide a heuristic method that could improve our ability to design sustainable forest management practices.
BUCKLING AND FLUTTER OF A COLUMN ENHANCED BY PIEZOELECTRIC LAYERS AND LUMPED MASS UNDER A FOLLOWER FORCE
Authors: FAZELZADEH S. A. , EGHTESAD M. , AZADI M.
Published: December 2010

In this paper, enhancement of the buckling and flutter capacities of a column by the attachment of an arbitrary lumped mass and a pair of piezoelectric layers on the column sides are studied. The column is subjected to a follower force, with one end fixed and the other end elastically restrained by a spring. To investigate the effects of the piezoelectric layers on the column instability capacity and frequency, parameters such as the follower force, spring stiffness, and mass ratio and attachment location are included in the analysis based on the generalized function theory and Lagrange–Rayleigh–Ritz technique. The numerical results reveal that if each of the design parameters of the piezoelectric layers, follower force, spring stiffness, or external mass exceeds a certain critical value, the column will undergo buckling and flutter instabilities. Besides, comparisons are made with available results in the literature and excellent agreement is observed.
EFFECT OF SUPPORT STIFFNESS ON STABILITY OF SHALLOW ARCHES
Authors: CAI JIANGUO , FENG JIAN
Published: December 2010

The nonlinear behavior and in-plane stability of parabolic shallow arches with elastic rotational supports are investigated. A central concentrated load is applied to create the compression in the supports. Nonlinear buckling analysis based on the virtual work formulation is carried out to obtain the critical load for both symmetric snap-through buckling and anti-symmetric bifurcation buckling. It is found that the effect of rotational stiffness of the elastic supports on the critical loads is significant. The critical load increases as either the initial stiffness coefficient α or the stiffening rate β increases. The effect of the stiffening rate β on the critical loads decreases, as the initial stiffness coefficient α increases. In addition, the influence of rotational stiffness on the bifurcation buckling is larger than that on the snap-through buckling. The limit of the geometric parameter λ between the bifurcation and snap-through buckling modes also increases with the increase in the stiffening rate β. In addition, the snap-through buckling mode governs the buckling of the arch with larger stiffening rates.
FE-PML MODELING OF 3D SCATTERING OF TRANSIENT ELASTIC WAVES IN CRACKED PLATE WITH RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION
Authors: MAHMOUD ABDEL-RAHMAN , RATTANAWANGCHAROEN NIPON , LUO YUNHUA , WANG QUAN
Published: December 2010

This paper proposes a finite-element (FE) and perfectly matched layer (PML)modeling of three-dimensional (3D) scattering of transient elastic waves in a cracked infinite plate with rectangular cross-section. The FE predictions are validated against 3D semi-analytical literature results. The effects of PML parameters on a root-mean-square error estimate are measured against the reference FE predictions computed using extended meshes. The proposed model is shown, through the numerical examples, to offer huge saving in real run-time at a slight degradation in accuracy. Practical applications indicate its potential in modeling elastic-wave-based nondestructive evaluation of engineering structures.
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF AlGaN/GaN HETEROSTRUCTURE FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS (HFETs) WITH AND WITHOUT Mg-DOPED CARRIER CONFINEMENT LAYER
Authors: Sh. HUSSEIN A. , HASSAN Z. , HASSAN H. ABU , THAHAB S. M.
Published: December 2010

AlGaN/GaN -based heterostructure field-effect transistors (HFETs) with and without Mg -doped semi-insulating carrier confinement layer were simulated by using ISE TCAD software, respectively. The detailed study on the electrical properties of these samples was performed. The effect of inserting Mg -doped GaN layer on the source–drain (S–D) leakage current was investigated. Higher values of drain current and extrinsic transconductance were achieved with conventional HFETs (without Mg -doped). The source-to-drain (S–D) leakage current of conventional HFETs was also higher. However, the S–D leakage current was reduced with the insertion of the Mg -doped semi-insulating carrier confinement layer. Our results are in good agreement with the experimental results obtained by other researchers.
EFFECT OF ANCHORING GROUPS ON ELECTRON TRANSPORT IN SINGLE MOLECULAR JUNCTIONS
Authors: PRIYA P. ARUNA , KALA C. PREFERENCIAL , MUTHAMIZHCHELVAN C. , THIRUVADIGAL D. JOHN
Published: December 2010

The introduction of new molecular states originating from the anchoring groups has a profound effect on the transport properties of molecular junctions for nanodevice applications. In this work, a bipyridine molecule is anchored via dithiocarbamate, thiocarboxylate, and carboxylate end groups and is analyzed to explore the effect of these anchoring groups on transmission. Also asymmetric anchoring of molecule with Au electrodes is studied. We adopt a transport model for molecular conduction involving an extended Huckel theoretical treatment combined with nonequilibrium Green's function. We observed that the molecule with carbodithiolate linker yields significant broadening of peaks in the transmission spectra and improves significantly electron transport properties of the molecular junction. These theoretical results will help to design and fabricate future molecular devices.
ELECTRON TRANSPORT INVESTIGATION OF METAL–MOLECULE–METAL INTERFACE FOR NANOELECTRONICS
Authors: KALA C. PREFERENCIAL , THIRUVADIGAL D. JOHN , PRIYA P. ARUNA
Published: December 2010

Theoretical understanding of electron transport phenomena through single molecules is of great importance for the design of future devices and materials in molecular electronics. Nonequilibrium Green's function (NEGF) formalism combined with extended Huckel (EHT) theory is used to investigate the electron transport characteristics of Au –benzene– Au , Au –borazine– Au , and Au –BCN– Au systems with selenium (Se) as terminal group. It is observed that the energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of borazine ring is higher than the benzene and BCN does. Our result shows that for the terminal group selenium borazine is the best core molecule than benzene and BCN systems.
INFLUENCE OF I2 CONCENTRATION AND CATIONS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF QUASI-SOLID-STATE DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS WITH THERMOSETTING POLYMER GEL ELECTROLYTE
Authors: LI X. D. , YIN X. J. , LIN C. F. , ZHANG D. W. , WANG Z. A. , SUN Z. , HUANG S. M.
Published: December 2010

Thermosetting polymer gel electrolytes (TPGEs) based on poly(acrylic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PAA-PEG) hybrid were prepared and applied to fabricate dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) and γ-butyrolactone (GBL) were used as solvents for liquid electrolytes and LiI and KI as iodide source, separately. The microstructure of PAA-PEG shows a well swelling ability in liquid electrolyte and excellent stability of the swollen hybrid. The TPGE was optimized in terms of the liquid electrolyte absorbency and ionic conductivity photovoltaic performance. Quasi-solid-state DSCs containing TPGE with optimized KI electrolyte show higher efficiency, voltage, fill factor, and lower photocurrent than those with LiI electrolyte. The related mechanism was discussed. A quasi-solid-state DSC fabricated with optimized polymer gel electrolyte obtained an overall energy conversion efficiency of 4.90% under irradiation of 100 mW/cm2 (AM1.5).
TiO2 NANOTUBE AS ADDITIVE TO TiO2 FILM FOR IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS
Authors: LI X. D. , ZHANG D. W. , WANG Z. A. , SUN Z. , HUANG S. M. , YIN X. J. , LIN C. F.
Published: December 2010

The titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiNTs) were directly prepared from commercial P25 TiO2 powder via alkali hydrothermal transformation. The fabricated nanotubes had an average outer diameter of 8–10 nm and the inner diameter of 4–6 nm with several hundred nanometers in length. The prepared nanotubes were added into TiO2 nanoporous electrodes for the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The photoelectrochemical characteristics and dye-adsorption properties were investigated by varying the proportion of the nanotubes incorporated into TiO2 working electrodes. The electron transport resistance, electron life time, and dye adsorption properties were evaluated in terms of electrochemical impedance spectra and photovoltaic characteristics of the solar cells. Compared to DSCs based on TiO2 nanoparticles, the fill factor, open-voltage, and photocurrent based on TiNT /P25 hybrid increased significantly. High conversion efficiency of light-to-electricity of 7.41% under illumination of simulated AM 1.5 sunlight (100 mW/cm2) was achieved for DSCs using optimized proportions of TiO2 nanotubes incorporated into TiO2 electrodes. The studies provided a promising method for the development of high efficiency and low cost DSCs.
FABRICATION OF DISTRIBUTED FEEDBACK GRATING FROM HYBRID POLYMER WHICH EXHIBITS PHOTO-PUMPED LASING ACTION
Authors: HIDAYAT RAHMAT , HERMAN  , FITRILAWATI  , OJIMA MASAYOSHI , OZAKI MASANORI
Published: December 2010

We have studied the preparation of hybrid organic–inorganic polymers and the fabrication of distributed feedback grating using those hybrid polymers. The hybrid polymer precursors were prepared from ester-modified silicon alkoxide by using sol–gel technique. The gel precursor can be then polymerized into a solid film by photo-polymerization. The gratings were fabricated by interference laser technique by employing Lloyd's mirror configuration. The Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) image shows the formation of corrugated grating structure. Although the grating depth is relatively shallow compared to the thickness of the layer, the photo-pumped lasing action has been observed in those structures. In a film without grating structure, only Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) was observed.
COMPARISON OF THE HYDROTHERMAL AND VPT GROWN ZnO NANOWIRE FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTORS
Authors: WANG YE , SUN XIAO WEI , ZHAO JUNLIANG , GOH GREGORY KIA LIANG , CHEN LANLAN , LIEW LAURA-LYNN , QIU JIJUN , HWANG YOON-HWAE
Published: December 2010

ZnO nanowires (NWs), grown by hydrothermal and vapor phase transport (VPT) methods, were employed as the channel layers to fabricate single nanowire Field Effect Transistors (NWFETs) with a p+-silicon as the bottom gate. The FET employing hydrothermal grown ZnO NWs shows n-type depletion mode with a field mobility of 18.27 cm2/V⋅s, an on/off ratio of 106, and a threshold voltage of -48.5 V. In comparison, the device using VPT grown NWs operates in n-type depletion mode with a field effect mobility of 36.94 cm2/V⋅s, a drain current on/off ratio of 105, and a threshold voltage of -14 V. The reason for the difference of threshold voltage and the mobility by two methods was discussed in this paper.
OPTICAL PROPERTIES AND VISIBLE ROOM TEMPERATURE PHOTOLUMINESCENCE OF AMORPHOUS SILICON RICH SILICON NITRIDE IN SiO2/SiNX QUANTUM WELL STRUCTURES
Authors: KAMYAB LOBNA , RUSLI  , YU MINGBIN , HE LINING , DUA MANIK
Published: December 2010

Two sets of multilayer structures consisting of 44 alternating layers of a- SiN x: H (~ 4 nm and 6 nm) and SiO2 (5 nm) have been fabricated using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique. The a- SiN x: H that has a lower bandgap forms the well layer, while the large bandgap SiO2 forms the barrier layer. A single bulk layer of a- SiN x: H has also been grown to serve as a reference for comparison with the multilayer structures. The samples were studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), and photoluminescence (PL) techniques. The SE data have been successfully fitted, and the complex refractive indices of the a- SiN x: H in the bulk and multilayers have been determined. The effects of quantum confinement on the optical bandgap and refractive indices of a- SiN x: H have been investigated. The results are correlated to the PL spectra of the samples.
TRANSIENT PHASE CHANGE ANALYSIS OF SCALING IN PHASE CHANGE DEVICES
Authors: YEO ENG GUAN , SHI LUPING , ZHAO RONG , CHONG CHONG TOW , ADESIDA ILESANMI
Published: December 2010

Phase Change Random Access Memory (PCRAM) is one of the next-generation nonvolatile memories with the most potential. A transient measurement method has been developed to link the transient phase change effect to its crystallization kinetics. The flexibility of this measurement method was demonstrated in this paper. This method was first applied to study scaling effects in phase change devices and it was found that scaling not only lowers programming current requirement, but also increases the phase change speed of the device. This suggests that high density and high speed phase change memory devices through scaling are achievable. The same method was applied to study the physical model of phase change and the evidence suggests that phase change in these devices does not proceed solely by nucleation, supporting the hypothesis of filament formation during phase change. This transient method would be an important analysis technique of novel phase change devices and materials.
FABRICATION OF CARBON NANOTUBE FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTORS WITH OCMC DISPERSED SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES
Authors: RAJ KUMAR , ZHANG QING , YAN LIANGYU , PARK MARY B. CHAN
Published: December 2010

We report on the fabrication of carbon nanotube field effect transistors (CNTFETs) from dispersed single-walled CNTs using OCMC (O-Carboxymethylchitosan) as the surfactant. The as-prepared devices exhibit p-type as well as ambipolar characteristics due to oxygen adsorption at the metal/nanotube contacts. The Raman scattering from the SWCNTs shows that OCMC disperses CNTs efficiently. Rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at 400°C for 5 min is found to partially remove OCMC from the surface of SWCNTs.
Hydrogen peroxide inhibits non-small cell lung cancer cell anoikis through the inhibition of caveolin-1 degradation
Authors: Rungtabnapa Pimuma , Nimmannit Ubonthip , Halim Hasseri , Rojanasakul Yon , Chanvorachote Pithi
Published: December 2010

Anoikis or detachment-induced apoptosis plays an essential role in the regulation of cancer cell metastasis. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is a key protein involved in tumor metastasis, but its role in anoikis and its regulation during cell detachment are unclear. We report here that Cav-1 plays a key role as a negative regulator of anoikis through a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent mechanism in human lung carcinoma H460 cells. During cell detachment, Cav-1 is downregulated, whereas ROS generation is upregulated. Hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical are two key ROS produced by cells during detachment. Treatment of the cells with hydrogen peroxide scavengers, catalase and N-acetylcysteine, promoted Cav-1 downregulation and anoikis during cell detachment, indicating that produced hydrogen peroxide plays a primary role in preventing anoikis by stabilizing Cav-1 protein. Catalase and N-acetylcysteine promoted ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of Cav-1, which is a major pathway of its downregulation during cell anoikis. Furthermore, addition of hydrogen peroxide exogenously to the cells inhibited Cav-1 downregulation by preventing the formation of Cav-1-ubiquitin complex, supporting the inhibitory role of endogenous hydrogen peroxide in Cav-1 degradation during cell detachment. Together, these results indicate a novel role of hydrogen peroxide as an endogenous suppressor of cell anoikis through its stabilizing effect on Cav-1.