bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inorganic fertilization improves Agave potatorum Zucc growth and nutrition
Authors:   NovaUniversitas (México), Sánchez-Mendoza Saúl
Published: December 2022

Agave potatorum Zucc is a wild agave used for mezcal (a traditional alcoholic beverage) production in Oaxaca, Mexico, but little information is available on its response to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization. The effect of different N (0, 23.7, 47.5, and 71.2 mg N per kg soil) and P (0, 14.1, 28.3, and 42.5 mg P per kg soil) doses on A. potatorum growth, nutrition and total soluble solid in stem (TSS) was assessed using a two-factor completely randomized design under nursery conditions. Relative to the control, the highest increase in response variables was unfolded leaf number (UL) 37.3%, leaf relative chlorophyll (LRCC) 9.6% and leaf nitrate content (LNO) 42.7% with 71.2 mg N per kg soil; plant height (PH) 39.1%, stem diameter (SD) 17.2%, and leaf dry weight (LDW) 70.2% with 47.5 mg N per kg soil; leaf P content (LP) 78.2% with 23.7 mg N per kg soil; root density (RD) 28.5% and LRCC 5.5% with 28.3 mg P per kg soil; LP 34.7%, LNO 16.8% with 14.1 mg P per kg soil; and TSS 19.0% with 42.5 mg P per kg soil. The combined application of N and P also enhanced stem dry weight, root dry weight, root length, SD, LDW, PH, UL, LP, TSS, LNO and LCRR. The application of N and P favors growth, nutrition and TSS in A. potatorum; therefore, it could be an important alternative for agronomic management of this agave species under nursery conditions. Further research is recommended to assess the response of A. potatorum to N and P fertilization under field conditions.
Decrease in durum wheat area and varietal change in Spain from 1888-1963
Authors:   University of Seville (Spain), Martínez-Moreno Fernando
Published: December 2022

Durum wheat is a wheat species traditionally cultivated in southern and eastern Spain. Its cultivated area in the country before 1964 is unknown. In this study, an estimation of the Spanish acreage of durum wheat from 1888-1963 was reckoned using several sources of information: wheat area by province, descriptions of the prevailing wheat varieties in each province, and estimations from the Servicio Nacional del Trigo (National Service of the Wheat). Six reference seasons were examined (1888, 1898, 1920, 1935, 1950, and 1957). In 1888-1950, the durum wheat cultivated area was estimated to be approximately 16-19% of the total wheat cultivated in Spain (approximately 700,000 ha), which decreased after 1950. This decrease was caused by the introduction of new varieties of bread wheat and the removal of durum wheat varieties of inferior quality. In addition, a species similar to durum, rivet wheat, was also cultivated, of which there were approximately 140,000 by the end of the 19th century, which gradually decreased to almost null by the 1970s
Constitutive Feelings for the Life of the State: Edith Stein’s Political Phenomenology
Authors:   King's University College - Western University. Canadá, Calcagno Antonio
Published: December 2022

Aunque cada vez haya más estudios sobre la forma en que Edith Stein entendía el estado, especialmente en lo que respecta a las cuestiones de autonomía, del derecho a priori y de la vida social y comunitaria del estado, hay pocos estudios sobre el sentimiento o el afecto en la estructura del estado. Este ensayo, siguiendo la idea de Anneliese Meis Wörmer sobre la importancia central del sentimiento en la filosofía de Stein, sostiene que el estado debe permitir también la posibilidad del sentimiento. Para ello, considero que el estado se constituye en parte por los sentimientos de solidaridad y el sentimiento por la justicia o por lo recto [Rechtsgefühl]. El primer aspecto forma parte de la vida social y comunitaria del estado, mientras que el segundo debe entenderse como concomitante con la estructura misma de la ley como expresión de la soberanía estatal.
La ipseidad y la configuración del alma en la persona humana; un acercamiento desde la obra Potenz und Akt de Edith Stein
Authors:   Facultad de Teología. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Nuñez Duran Cristian Felipe
Published: December 2022

El artículo pretende abordar la manera en que se da la configuración del alma en la persona humana, a partir del aporte de la noción de identidad/ipse y las reflexiones que Edith Stein realiza sobre la persona humana en su obra Acto y Potencia. En concreto, el estudio comienza asumiendo la noción que Paul Ricoeur tiene de la ipseidad en cuanto conciencia reflexiva de sí, y a partir de ello realiza un viaje por todas las dimensiones de la estructura humana que se develan en la obra steiniana. En dicho viaje, surgen las características propias del alma humana, elevada al espíritu, a diferencia de los animales y las plantas, pero unida a la materia por la sensibilidad, a diferencia de los espíritus puros. Y a través de la dilucidación de estas peculiaridades se descubre progresivamente el dinamismo por el cual el alma se configura en el mundo, edificando su propia identidad, alimentándose de aquello que puede captar tanto del mundo material como del espiritual.
Oralidade e escrita em Eva Luna de Isabel Allende: alusão à transição das mulheres entre o silêncio e a voz
Authors:   Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Antunes de Oliveira Basso , Schenatto Cleiser ,   Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná
Published: December 2022

Este trabalho analisou a obra Eva Luna (2010), de Isabel Allende, a fim de compreender a relação entre as experiências da protagonista-narradora e o percurso das mulheres ocidentais entre silêncio e voz. No que se refere ao silenciamento feminino a partir da democratização da escrita, os estudos de Ria Lemaire (1994) foram imprescindíveis. A contribuição do acesso à escrita e à literatura para a resistência feminina perante o patriarcado foi evidenciada, principalmente por meio da perspectiva de Lúcia Osana Zolin (2005). Constatou-se que a obra em questão faz alusão à obtenção de direitos das mulheres a partir da alfabetização.
Poéticas del caminar y la errancia en Poema de Chile de Gabriela Mistral y A pie por Chile de Manuel Rojas
Authors:   Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Barros Cruz María José
Published: December 2022

En este artículo propongo una lectura en diálogo de Poema de Chile de Gabriela Mistral y A pie por Chile de Manuel Rojas, escritores chilenos que llevaron una vida errante y que hicieron de ese tipo de desplazamiento una poética. Entendiendo el caminar como una práctica histórica y cultural, la hipótesis es que en ambos textos el ejercicio de escribir la caminata por el territorio nacional implica la elaboración de una geografía corporeizada, que pone en el centro la experiencia revitalizadora del cuerpo y una ética colectiva del caminar. De esta manera, tanto Mistral como Rojas abordan las vicisitudes de sus vidas errantes y celebran el caminar como un acto creativo y liberador, que potencia el encuentro con la naturaleza y los otros.
Del género al feminismo. Crítica antipatriarcal de autoras indígenas contemporáneas
Authors:   Universidad de Chile, Zapata Claudia
Published: December 2022

Este artículo analiza la crítica antipatriarcal elaborada por autoras indígenas contemporáneas en América Latina, con particular interés en los diálogos críticos que ellas desarrollan con quienes asoman en estas escrituras como sus principales interlocutores: los movimientos feministas y los movimientos indígenas. Para este propósito se ha reunido un corpus de textos ensayísticos producido por estas autoras, a partir del cual se identifica este campo de crítica antipatriarcal y sus características, para luego ejemplificar con textos de autoras mayas, xincas y mapuche.
Prior Incubation as a Tool to Overcome Understaining of Leishman Stain: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Tata Sneha , Mannem Chethana
Published: December 2022

Introduction: A well stained peripheral smear is an integral part in the diagnosis and management of many clinicohematologic conditions. Leishman stain is recommended universally by the International Committee for Standardisation in Haematology (ICSH). However, a commonly encountered problem in tropical countries, especially during the rainy season, is under staining by Leishman stain as a result of interference by the atmospheric moisture. Hence, incubation of slides and/or buffer prior to standard Leishman staining protocol could bring out best staining qualities. Aim: To assess the effects of prior incubation of slides and/or buffer on standard Leishman staining technique. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of 8 weeks in the Central Laboratory, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore in the months of October 2020 to November 2020. Blood samples were received in the central laboratory for routine haematological investigations. Total of 100 samples of left over non haemolysed Dipotassium Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (K2-EDTA) anticoagulated blood irrespective of age, gender and cell counts were included in the study. Slides were stained following prior incubation of slides and/or buffer at 37° C and compared with the standard staining technique. The staining characteristics of nucleus, cytoplasm and granules of White Blood Cells (WBCs), platelets and erythrocytes were observed. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test and p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant and higher f value (>104.35152) rejected the null hypothesis. Results: Prior incubation of slides and/or buffer resulted in better stained smears which were found to be statistically significant (p-value<0.05) as compared to standard Leishman staining technique. Conclusion: Minor modifications when applied to standard Leishman staining technique such as prior incubation of slides and/ or buffer at 37° Centigrade produced best staining characteristics to overcome the effects of humidity which normally interfere with staining of slides.
Efficient Elliptic Curve Arithmetic for Lightweight Cryptographic Schemes for IoT Applications
Authors: Abukari Zakaria , Baagyere Edward Yellakuor , Iddrisu Mohammed Muniru
Published: December 2022

The Internet of Things’ (IoT) market is expected to grow exponentially at the global level in the coming years, due to the proliferation of more reliable and faster networks resulting from the extensive rollout of 5 to 10 G mobile networks. By 2025, it is expected that worldwide projection of IoT connected devices will be pegged at 30.9 billion units. Despite the potential benefits of the new technology, security in IoT is a major threat. According to HP, 70% of IoT devices are vulnerable to sniffing attacks and reliable solution is yet to be found. The standard cryptographic algorithms such as RSA and AES provide good security but their utilization in IoT is questionably due to hardware and energy constraints for computationally expensive encryption schemes. However, elliptic curve- based cryptography, a recent paradigm in public key cryptography, achieves the same level of security with smaller key sizes. On the other hand, the total score of performance of an elliptic curve-based cryptosystem depends largely on the efficiency of the arithmetic operations performed in it. It is against this background that this paper proposes efficient elliptic curve arithmetic for implementing ECC based schemes suitable for IoT systems implementations. Elliptic curve point arithmetic implementations in projective coordinate systems over binary extension fields introduce higher efficiencies in software. In this regard, this paper has proposed an improved López-Dahab point arithmetic methods on non-supersingular elliptic curves over . The results show 69.20% improvement in Point Doubling, 44.68% in Point Addition and the scalar point multiplication execution time is decreased by 48.80%.
Residential Water Tanks with IoT: A Solution for Household Water Consumption Monitoring
Authors: Irianto Kurniawan D.
Published: December 2022

Wasting water has been a big problem in human society throughout the world. It can happen either in developed or developing countries. They tend to waste the water without knowing it. Moreover, people's awareness of the importance of using water wisely is still low. While they think the source of water is limitless, in fact, it is not. In contrast, the availability of freshwater in the world is limited. Furthermore, if the water is overused without reservation, it can trigger the phenomenon of water scarcity. However, the problem of wasting water can be reduced by using the water wisely and efficiently. With the growth of Internet of Things technology, it can help people use water efficiently by monitoring their water consumption. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of real-world items that may communicate with other electronic devices and systems via the internet by using sensors, software, and other technologies. IoT devices can be used for the purpose of household or the industrial. This paper focuses on designing and implementing a residential water tank system embedded with the Internet of Things technology for monitoring the water consumption in a household. The system will measure the water consumption from the residential water tank and send the data to a cloud server. Users will then be able to monitor it using a mobile device. With the data, users could change their habits of using water and start to use it wisely. Thus, the water shortage can be prevented.
Effect of Liquid Organic Manures on Larval and Cocoon Traits of Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.)
Authors: Chandrashekhar S. , Hemavathi S. U. , Kumar M. Arun
Published: December 2022

The Study was carried out at Department of Sericulture, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru under irrigated condition during the 2020-21 to study the effect of soil application liquid organic manures in mulberry and its effect on larval and cocoon traits of silkworm, V-1 mulberry variety planted at 90+150 × 60 cm spacing. Three different liquid organic manures were tested against recommended dose of fertilizer (control), leaf quality was assessed via feeding to silkworm. Significantly increased fifth instar larval weight (27.66 and 41.15 g/10 larvae, respectively) was recorded in both cross breed (PM x CSR2) and double hybrid (FC1 x FC2) silkworms fed with mulberry leaves produced from soil application of bio digested liquid organic manure equivalent to 150 % N ha-1 (T9). Double hybrid (FC1 x FC2) silkworm fed with treatment (T9) showed significantly higher cocoon weight (24.76 g/10 cocoons), shell weight (5.89 g/10 shells), cocoon shell ratio (23.78 %), single cocoon filament length (1138.80 m) and filament denier (3.65).
Benthic Macroinvertebrates Structure of Two Agropastoral Dams, Nanan and Zatta: Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire
Authors: Sylvie N’da Amalan , Koné Naminata , Coulibaly Siaka , Odoukpé Kadio Saint Guillaume , Berté Siaka
Published: December 2022

Aims: We are investigating benthic macroinvertebrates in two rice-growing dams and assessing their pollution levels.

Place and Duration of Study: Nanan and Zatta Dams of Yamoussoukro in Côte d’Ivoire from April 2021 to March 2022.

Methodology: Samples were collected monthly with a Van Veen bucket and a dip net and the environmental variables measured.

Results: The values of the physico-chemical variables show that the waters are warm and more mineralized at Nanan than at Zatta. The species richness is higher at Zatta with 75 taxa present against 42 taxa at Nanan. The population is globally dominated by insects at Zatta, but a strong representation of Molluscs is observed at Nanan. The abundance of Molluscs indicates organic pollution in the Nanan dam. The water pollution tolerance index between the two dams showed a predominance at Zatta, of the Ephemeroptera group which are polluo-sensitive organisms against a predominance at Nanan, of the Diptera group which are polluo-resistant. The Shannon index and the others indexes of the two sites confirm a clear water pollution in Nanan compared to Zatta.

Conclusion: These results suggest that the Zatta dam is in better condition than the Nanan dam. However, these two dams must be bio-monitored.
Energy Resources, Investment Channels and Economic Growth
Authors: Akonji Danmola Rasaq , Olusegun Atoyebi Kehinde , Oluwayemisi Ologban Folashade
Published: December 2022

The research investigated whether energy resources increase the possibility for investment promotion and how they affect economic growth. In other words, the article explored whether energy could be used to support economic growth in Nigeria through investment. The analysis utilized secondary source of data from the World Bank's Development Indicators. The variables employed in the study included; Gross Domestic Product (GDP) being the dependent variable, Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Electricity and Natural Gas Rent (ENGR) and Openness (OPEN) spanning through 1980-2021. The methodology used in this study was dependent on the type of data collected and whose analysis was econometric in nature. The study performed a pre-estimation test via Ordinary Least Squares, and it was found that the result cannot be used for policy purposes due to some of the inherent problems associated with the estimation. This problem includes auto-correlation issues, multi-collinearity and others. This further propelled the study to conduct a post estimation test using the ADF statistics and the ARDL techniques of estimation and afterwards, the results showed a short run and long run impact of explanatory variables on economic growth. The study therefore recommended that the government should provide an enabling environment that will attract foreign direct investment, stimulate trade openness and also boost economic growth in Nigeria.
A Study on The Effects of Long-Term Tidal Constituents on Surge Forecasting Along The Coasts of Korean Peninsula
Authors: Kim Jiha , Chang Pil-Hun , Kang Hyun-Suk
Published: December 2022

In this study we investigated the characteristics of long-term tidal constituents based on 30 tidal gauge data along the coasts of Korea and its the effects on total water level (TWL) forecasts. The results show that the solar annual (a) and semiannual (sa) tides were dominant among long-term tidal constituents, and they are relatively large in western coast of Korea peninsula. To investigate the effect of long-term tidal constituents on TWL forecasts, we produced predicted tides in 2021 with and without long-term tidal constituents. The TWL forecasts with and without long-term tidal constituents are then calculated by adding surge forecasts into predicted tides. Comparing with the TWL without long-term tidal constituents, the results with long-term tidal constituents reveals small bias in summer and relatively large negative bias in winter. It is concluded that the large error found in winter generally caused by double-counting of meteorological factors in predicted tides and surge forecasts. The predicted surge for 2021 based on the harmonic analysis shows seasonality, and it reduces the large negative bias shown in winter when it subtracted from the TWL forecasts with long-term tidal constituents.
Hydrodynamic Response Analysis of Hybrid Floating Structure according to Length of Damping Plate
Authors: Park Min Su , Jeong Youn Ju , Kim Young Taek
Published: December 2022

New businesses such as marine leisure and floating construction have recently flourished on the coast. As a result, consideration is given to a floating structure appropriate for marine environments. In this study, we applied a damping plate to increase the stability of a hybrid floating structure that was expanded by vertical and horizontal stacking of mobile unit modules. In the numerical analysis using ANSYS AQWA, the behavioral characteristics of the floating structure were analyzed according to the length change of the damping plate. However, the wave forces acting on a floating structure are excessively calculated by the resonance of fluid surrounded by the structure in the numerical analysis using potential flow. Therefore, we used the damping zone option of the ANSYS AQWA in the frequency domain analysis.
A Case Study on the Preliminary Study for Disaster Prevention of Storm Surge: Arrangement of Structures
Authors: Park Young Hyun , Park Woo-Sun
Published: December 2022

Climate change is accelerating worldwide due to the recent rise in global temperature, and the intensity of typhoons is increasing due to the rise in seawater temperature around the Korean Peninsula. An increase in typhoon intensity is expected to increase not only wind damage, but also coastal damage caused by storm surge. Accordingly, in this study, a study of the method of reducing storm surges was conducted for the purpose of disaster prevention in order to respond to the increasing damage from storm surges. Storm surges caused by typhoons can be expected to be affected by structures located on the track of typhoon, and the effects of storm surges were studied by the eastern coast and the barrier island along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico in the United States. This study focused on this aspect and conducted related research, considering that storm surges in the southern coastal area of the Korean Peninsula could be directly or indirectly affected by Jeju Island, which is located on the track of typhoon. In order to analyze the impact of Jeju Island on storm surges, simulations were performed in various situations using a numerical analysis model. The results of using Jeju Island are thought to be able to be used to study new disaster prevention structures that respond to super typhoons.
Prediction of early pregnancy outcomes
Authors: Lin Y.S. , Liu C.H.
Published: July 2002

Objective: A prospective study was performed on the conception hormones of early pregnancy in order to examine their sensitivity and predictability for early pregnancy loss. Method: The serum levels of progesterone, estradiol and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were measured and analyzed at 5–8 weeks of gestation in pregnancies occurring both with and without ovarian stimulation. Results: If a level of < 10 ng/ml of progesterone was chosen as the cut‐off value for the prediction of early pregnancy loss, the sensitivity and specificity were 56% and 98%, respectively. The optimal cut‐off value was chosen at < 0.5 multiples of the median (MoM) and < 0.4 MoM for estradiol and hCG, respectively. This gave a sensitivity of 80% for estradiol and 85% for hCG, and a specificity of 93% for estradiol and 81% for hCG at week 8 of gestation. Conclusion: The combined determination of conception hormones is an efficacious method of monitoring early pregnancy and may be used for predicting outcome.
Delayed fluorescence emitted from light harvesting complex II and photosystem II of higher plants in the 100 ns–5 μs time domain
Authors: Christen G. , Steffen R. , Renger G.
Published: July 2002

This study presents the first report on delayed fluorescence (DF) emitted from spinach thylakoids, D1/D2/Cytb‐559 preparations and solubilized light harvesting complex II (LHCII) in the ns time domain after excitation with saturating laser flashes. The use of a new commercially available multichannel plate with rapid gating permitted a sufficient suppression of detector distortions due to the strong prompt fluorescence. The following results were obtained: (a) in dark‐adapted thylakoids, the DF amplitudes at 100 ns and 5 μs after each flash of a train of saturating actinic pulses exhibit characteristic period four oscillations of opposite sign: the DF amplitudes at 100 ns oscillate in the same manner as the quantum yield of prompt fluorescence, whereas those at 5 μs resemble the oscillation of the μs kinetics of P680+
reduction in samples with an intact water oxidizing complex, (b) the quantum yield of total DF emission in the range up to a few μs is estimated to be <10−4 for thylakoids, (c) the DF of D1/D2/Cytb‐559 exhibits a monophasic decay with τ≈50 ns, (d) DF emission is also observed in isolated LHCII with biphasic decay kinetics characterized by τ values of 65 ns and about 800 ns, (e) in contrast to thylakoids, the amplitudes of DF in D1/D2/Cytb‐559 preparations and solubilized LHCII do not exhibit any oscillation pattern and (f) all spectra of DF from the different sample types are characteristic for emission from the lowest excited singlet state of chlorophyll a. The implications of these findings and problems to be addressed in future research are briefly discussed.
Improvement of CHO Cell Culture Medium Formulation: Simultaneous Substitution of Glucose and Glutamine
Authors: Altamirano C. , Paredes C. , Cairó J. J. , Gòdia F.
Published: July 2002

The formulation of the culture medium for a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line has been investigated in terms of the simultaneous replacement of glucose and glutamine, the most commonly employed carbon and nitrogen sources, pursuing the objective of achieving a more efficient use of these compounds, simultaneously avoiding the accumulation of lactate and ammonium in the medium. The key factor in this process is the selection of compounds that are slowly metabolized. Among the different compounds studied, galactose and glutamate provide the best results, allowing support of cell growth with an optimal balance between nutrient uptake and cell requirements and the generation of minimal quantities of lactate and ammonium. The attained results also highlight the capacity of the cells to redistribute their metabolism as a response to the changes in medium composition.
Evaluation of Petri dish sampling for assessment of cat allergen in airborne dust
Authors: Karlsson A.‐S. , Hedrén M. , Almqvist C. , Larsson K. , Renström A.
Published: July 2002

Background: Dust reservoir sampling is the most commonly used method for assessment of indirect allergen exposure. Because assessment of personal exposure using person‐carried pumps is time‐consuming and expensive we evaluated the Petri dish sampling method for measurement of airborne cat allergen in classrooms.

Methods: Petri dish sampling was evaluated in three study parts. Part I: by comparison between Petri dish sampling and personal air sampling in 44 classrooms with many (≥ 20%) and few (≤ 10%) cat owners and by additional Petri dish sampling in 40 pet‐free homes. Part II: by sampling with duplicate Petri dishes in 28 classrooms. Part III: by sampling in three classrooms at four sampling heights during different sampling times. All samples were analyzed for cat allergen (Fel d 1) content with a monoclonal antibody two‐site ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), using signal amplification when necessary.

Results: There was a significant correlation between Petri dish sampling and personal air sampling (r = 0.66; P < 0.0001). Levels were five‐fold higher in classes with many cat owners than in classes with few cat owners, regardless of method. A corresponding difference was found in the homes. Duplicate sample values were in fair agreement (Bland‐Altman test) and were correlated (r = 0.77; P < 0.0001). Cumulative levels collected weekly in one Petri dish were lower than using five daily Petri dishes, regardless of sampling height.

Conclusions: Petri dish sampling can be useful as an alternative method to personal air sampling of airborne allergens.
Characterization of Chloroplast Clp proteins in Arabidopsis: Localization, tissue specificity and stress responses
Authors: Zheng Bo , Halperin Tami , Hruskova‐Heidingsfeldova Olga , Adam Zach , Clarke Adrian K.
Published: July 2002

The ATP‐dependent Clp protease is one of the newly identified proteolytic systems in plant organelles that incorporate the activity of molecular chaperones to target specific polypeptide substrates and avoid inadvertent degradation of others. We describe new nuclear‐encoded ClpC (ClpC1) and ClpP (ClpP3–5) isomers in Arabidopsis thaliana that raise the total number of identified Clp proteins to 19. The extra Clp proteins are localized within the stroma of chloroplasts along with the ClpD, –P1 and –P6 proteins. Potential differential regulation among these Clp proteins was analysed at both the mRNA and protein level. A comparison between different tissues showed increasing amounts of all plastid Clp proteins from roots to stems to leaves suggested the greatest abundance of proteins was in chloroplasts. The increases in protein were mirrored at the mRNA level for most ClpP isomers (ClpP1, −3, −4 and −6) but not for the three Hsp100 proteins (ClpC1, –C2 and –D) and ClpP5, which exhibited little change in transcript levels, suggesting post‐transcriptional/translational regulation. Potential stress induction was also tested for all chloroplast Clp proteins by a series of brief and prolonged stress conditions. Short‐term moderate and severe stresses (desiccation, high salt, cold, heat, oxidation, wounding and high light) all failed to elicit significant or rapid increases in any chloroplast Clp protein. However, increases in mRNA and protein content for ClpD and several ClpP isomers did occur during long‐term high light and cold acclimation of Arabidopsis plants. These results reveal the great complexity of Clp proteins within the stroma of plant chloroplasts, and that these proteins, rather than being rapidly induced stress proteins, are primarily constitutive proteins that may also be involved in plant acclimation to different physiological conditions.
Lysosome-associated protein transmembrane 4α (LAPTM4α) requires two tandemly arranged tyrosine-based signals for sorting to lysosomes
Authors: HOGUE Douglas L. , NASH Colin , LING Victor , HOBMAN Tom C.
Published: July 2002

Lysosome-associated protein transmembrane 4α (LAPTM4α) and homologues comprise a family of conserved proteins, which are found in mammals, insects and nematodes. LAPTM4α functions to regulate the intracellular compartmentalization of amphipathic solutes and possibly the sensitivity of cells toward anthracyclines, antibiotics, ionophores, nucleobases and organic cations. This is similar to the multidrug-resistance phenotype exhibited by cells synthesizing high levels of P-glycoprotein. Accordingly, it is possible that LAPTM4α may be a suitable target for development of novel chemotherapeutic agents. LAPTM4α contains four putative membrane-spanning domains and a 55 amino acid C-terminal region that faces the cytoplasm. Localization of LAPTM4α to endosomes and lysosomes appears to be tightly controlled as transient high-level expression of LAPTM4α in cultured cells resulted in no detectable protein on the cell surface. Mutagenic analysis of the C-terminus of LAPTM4α indicated that two tandomly arranged tyrosine-containing motifs in the cytoplasmic domain are required for efficient localization of LAPTM4α to vesicles containing the lysosomal marker lysosomal glycoprotein 120. Although a number of membrane proteins that localize to endosomes/lysosomes contain more than one independently functioning sorting signal, to our knowledge, LAPTM4α is the first example of a membrane protein that requires two tandemly arranged tyrosine-based sorting signals for efficient localization in these compartments.
A new missense mutation in the calcium‐sensing receptor in familial benign hypercalcaemia associated with partial lipoatrophy and insulin resistant diabetes
Authors: Vigouroux C. , Bourut C. , Guerci B. , Ziegler O. , Magré J. , Capeau J. , Meyer L.
Published: July 2002

We studied two patients (a 54‐year‐old woman and her 16‐year‐old son) with familial benign hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia (FBHH) associated with severe insulin resistant diabetes in the context of a partial lipodystrophic syndrome. Sequencing of the entire coding sequence of the calcium‐sensing receptor (CaR) gene revealed a novel heterozygous mutation at codon 395, leading to the substitution of a cysteine by an arginine residue (Cys395Arg) in the extracellular ligand‐binding domain. This mutation was absent in two normocalcaemic relatives and in 54 control subjects. It was recently shown, in transfection studies, that the substitution of this amino acid results in incomplete receptor processing, a severe decrease in cell surface expression and altered signal transduction (Fan et al., 1998). This mutation is therefore likely to be responsible of the FBHH phenotype. A pathophysiological link between this mutation and insulin resistance remains unclear.
Leishmania donovani Infection of a Susceptible Host Results in CD4+ T‐Cell Apoptosis and Decreased Th1 Cytokine Production
Authors: DAS G. , VOHRA H. , RAO K. , SAHA B. , MISHRA G. C.
Published: July 2002

The disease visceral leishmaniasis is caused by a protozoan parasite, Leishmania donovani and is characterized by depressed cell‐mediated immunity (CMI) and unhindered parasite growth in a susceptible host. The opposite trend is observed in a resistant host. However, the mechanism of this loss of CMI during the progressive disease is unknown as yet. In this report, we demonstrate that more than 40% of CD4+ T cells from a susceptible host undergo apoptosis resulting in a significant decrease in interleukin (IL)‐2 and interferon (IFN)‐γ secretion, leaving IL‐4 secretion unaffected. These changes are not apparent in the case of CD4+ T cells derived from a resistant host. The data reported here suggest that experimental Leishmania donovani infection leads to selective deletion of the IL‐2 and IFN‐γ‐secreting cells but not Th2‐like cells in a susceptible but not a resistant host.
Searching for new possibilities to care: a qualitative analysis of family caring involvement in nursing homes
Authors: Kellett U. M.
Published: July 2002

This paper explores families’ experience of searching for new possibilities to continue caring which emerged as a significant aspect of a larger hermeneutic phenomenological study of family caring in nursing homes. Hermeneutic analysis of in‐depth interview transcripts and observation field notes of 14 family carers’ experiences of caring uncovered eight shared meanings: feeling duty‐bound; setting up possibilities for human connection; possessing special knowledge and skills; providing the personal approach; acting as an advocate; living with hope of improvement and recovery; feeling satisfied when care experienced was deemed to be quality care; and possessing a sense of worth through making a useful and positive contribution. Being engaged in new caring activities and relationships in the nursing home context assisted family members in coping with the changes in their situation. This paper highlights how finding new ways of caring for their relatives was important as everyday involvement in care set up possibilities through which meaning could be attributed to their existence.
Utilization of Essential Medications by Vulnerable Older People After a Drug Benefit Cap: Importance of Mental Disorders, Chronic Pain, and Practice Setting
Authors: Fortess Eric E. , Soumerai Stephen B. , McLaughlin Thomas J. , Ross‐Degnan Dennis
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVE: To identify specific characteristics of patients, physicians, and treatment settings associated with decreased receipt of essential medications in a chronically ill, older population following a Medicaid three‐prescription monthly reimbursement limit (cap).

DESIGN: Quasi‐experiment with bivariate and multivariate regression.

SETTING: Patients in the New Hampshire Medicaid program and their regular prescribing physicians.

PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred and forty‐three chronically ill Medicaid enrollees with regular use of essential medications for heart disease, asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, seizure, or coagulation disorders who received an average of three or more prescriptions per month during the baseline year.

MEASUREMENTS: Postcap patient‐level change in standard monthly dose of essential medications compared with the baseline period, presence of 11 comorbidities (defined by regular use of specific indicator drugs), practice setting, and location of regular prescribing physician.

RESULTS: The mean percentage change in standard doses of essential medications following the cap was −34.4%. Larger changes were significantly associated with several baseline measures: greater numbers of precap medications, greater numbers of comorbidities, longer hospitalizations, and greater use of ambulatory services. The three comorbidities associated with the largest relative reduction in essential drug use were psychoses/bipolar disorders, anxiety/sleep problems, and chronic pain. Patients of physicians in group practices, clinics, or hospitals tended to have smaller dose reductions than those whose physicians were in solo or small‐group practice.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients most at risk of reduced access to essential medications because of a reimbursement cap include those with multiple chronic illnesses requiring drug therapy, especially illnesses with a mental health component. Physicians in clinics or large group practices may have maintained patient medication regimens more effectively.
Peripheral Blood Markers of Inflammation Predict Mortality and Functional Decline in High‐Functioning Community‐Dwelling Older Persons
Authors: Reuben David B. , Cheh Anna I. , Harris Tamara B. , Ferrucci Luigi , Rowe John W. , Tracy Russell P. , Seeman Teresa E.
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVES: Several peripheral blood markers of inflammation have demonstrated prognostic ability, but the value of combining multiple markers as a measure of inflammatory burden remains unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic value of combining four peripheral blood measures of inflammation in healthy older persons.

DESIGN: Inception cohort study with 7 years of follow‐up.

SETTING: Three communities.

PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred seventy high‐functioning subjects aged 70 to 79 who had serum albumin, cholesterol, interleukin (IL)‐6, and C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels measured at baseline.

MEASUREMENTS: Three‐ and 7‐year mortality and Rosow‐ Breslau functional decline.

RESULTS: A summary score was created that assigned one point each for the following blood levels: albumin <3.8 g/dL, cholesterol <170 mg/dL (bottom decile), IL‐6>3.8 pg/mL (top tertile), and CRP>2.65 mg/L (top tertile). By 3 years, 6% of subjects had died, and, by 7 years, 23% had died. In subjects with three or four markers of inflammation, the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for 3‐ and 7‐year mortality were 6.6 and 3.2, respectively, compared with those who had no abnormal markers. Subjects with one or two markers were at more moderate and statistically insignificant increased risk of 3‐ and 7‐year mortality with AORs of 1.5 and 1.3, respectively. The risks for functional decline at 3‐ and 7‐years were generally small (AOR = 1.1–1.9) and not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: In high‐functioning older persons, a measure of inflammation can identify those at a much higher risk of mortality and a possibly higher risk of functional decline. Whether therapies directed at reducing inflammation can attenuate such risk remains to be determined.
Time course of UVA‐ and UVB‐induced inflammation and hyperalgesia in human skin
Authors: Hoffmann R.T. , Schmelz M.
Published: July 2002

Dose‐dependency and time course of hyperalgesia and erythema following UVA (16.8 and 36 J/cm2) and UVB (one and three times the minimum erythema threshold) irradiation was investigated in 10 healthy human subjects. Skin patches (1.5 cm in diameter) on the ventral side of the upper leg were irradiated with UVA or UVB light. Hyperaemia (Laser Doppler flowmetry, infrared thermography), thermal hyperalgesia to radiant heat stimuli, and mechanical hyperalgesia to controlled impact stimuli were tested at 1, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 96 h after irradiation. Dose‐dependent delayed hyperaemia and hyperalgesia was induced only by UVB irradiation. UVB‐induced increase in blood flow peaked at 12 h after irradiation and normalized by 96 h. Although superficial blood flow, as measured by Laser Doppler flowmetry, increased up to eight‐fold, no significant increase of skin temperature was detected using infrared thermography. Development of mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia was delayed and reached a plateau between 24 and 48 h. In contrast to UVB, UVA irradiation of up to 36 J/cm2, sufficient to produce intense tanning of the skin, did not induce significant hyperalgesia or delayed hyperaemia. It is concluded that UVB‐ but not UVA‐irradiation is a suitable experimental model of subacute thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia. The different time courses of erythema and hyperalgesia indicate that inflammatory mediators responsible for vasodilatation are not identical with those inducing hyperalgesia.
Identification of Factors that Cause Heterophylly in Ludwigia arcuata Walt. (Onagraceae)
Authors: Kuwabara A. , Tsukaya H. , Nagata T.
Published: July 2002

Abstract: The submerged leaves of Ludwigia arcuata are much narrower than the terrestrial leaves. Such heterophyllous changes in leaf shape have been observed in other aquatic angiosperms, such as Callitriche heterophylla, Hippuris vulgaris and Ranunculus flabellaris, but the cause of the formation of heterophyllous leaves in L. arcuata seems to be quite different. In contrast to other species, in which the shapes of epidermal cells have been changed, the change of leaf shape in L. arcuata was found to be due to changes in the numbers of epidermal cells aligned in transverse sections. The susceptibility of leaves to changes in shape above and below the water is dependent on the developmental stages: leaves younger than the fourth leaf responded to a change in environment, while leaves older than the fifth leaf did not. Treatment with ACC (1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid), a precursor to ethylene, induced the formation of submerged‐type leaves on terrestrial shoots, implying that ethylene might be the endogenous factor responsible for the change in leaf shape. The results are discussed with reference to the significance of the acclimation of plants to environmental changes.
The Genetics of Evolutionary Change in Senecio vulgaris L.: A QTL Mapping Approach
Authors: Moritz D. M. L. , Kadereit J. W.
Published: July 2002

Abstract: The cosmopolitan weed Senecio vulgaris var. vulgaris is likely to have originated from the non‐weedy S. vulgaris ssp. denticulatus from which it differs by showing no seed dormancy, by completing its life cycle from germination to seed formation much faster and by lacking ray florets. An F2 generation of 120 individuals obtained through selfing of one hybrid individual between var. vulgaris and ssp. denticulatus was used to construct a linkage map based on RAPD polymorphisms and the presence or absence of ray florets. This linkage map was used for a QTL analysis of 12 characters distinguishing the two taxa. For seven of these 12 characters, three significant QTLs could be found. One of these QTLs controls the speed of development, height of plants, leaf number, number of lateral branches and number of outer involucral bracts. A second QTL, located in the same linkage group, coincides with the ray floret locus and controls the number of disc florets. Plant height and leaf number are controlled by a third QTL in a different linkage group. Considering earlier evidence on the genetics of seed dormancy, it is argued that probably only three chromosomal regions, or even genetic loci, control seed dormancy, speed of development and presence or absence of ray florets as the ecologically most important differences between var. vulgaris and ssp. denticulatus. These findings have important implications for the genetics of evolutionary change and speciation.
Raman scattering by optical phonons in In1−y−zAlyGazAs lattice matched to InP
Authors: Borroff R. , Merlin R. , Chin A. , Bhattacharya P. K.
Published: July 2002

We report on Raman scattering by longitudinal optical phonons in In1−y−zAlyGazAs (1−y−z=0.53) lattice matched to InP. The quaternary alloys were grown on (001) InP by molecular beam epitaxy. The phonon spectra exhibit three-mode behavior. The frequencies of AlAs- and GaAs-like modes vary linearly with the concentration of Al (or Ga) while the position of the InAs-like phonon remains nearly constant. The data show no evidence of alloy clustering.
Neutron-treated, ultrafast, photoconductor detectors
Authors: Wang C. L. , Pocha M. D. , Morse J. D. , Singh M. S. , Davis B. A.
Published: July 2002

We have investigated homogeneous, photoconductive semiconductors as very fast radiation detectors. We irradiated GaAs, Cr-doped GaAs, and Fe-doped InP crystals with 14 MeV neutrons to produce lattice defects that act as fast recombination centers for electrons and holes. Using short-pulse lasers and 17 MeV linear-accelerator electrons and bremsstrahlung x rays, we measured the temporal response and sensitivity of these photoconductors as functions of fluence ranging from 1012 to 1016 neutrons/cm2. The carrier lifetime and mobility decrease monotonically as the neutron fluence increases, resulting in faster detector response at the expense of sensitivity. A resolving time of less than 30 ps (full width at half maximum) was measured for the above photoconductors irradiated with ∼1015 neutrons/cm2.
Band offsets for pseudomorphic InP/GaAs
Authors: Nolte D. D.
Published: July 2002

Recently determined band-edge hydrostatic deformation potentials are used to predict heterojunction band offsets for the pseudomorphic GaAs-InP system. The calculations include GaAs/InP, InP/GaAs, and strained-layer GaAs-InP superlattices for both [100] and [111] oriented epitaxial growth. The offsets are type II for the unstrained case. The large hydrostatic contributions to the stress-induced band offsets can convert the offsets to type I. This conversion is especially apparent for growth in the [111] direction because of the small Poisson ratio for biaxial stress in the (111) plane.
Hydrogen incorporation in silicon thin films deposited with a remote hydrogen plasma
Authors: Johnson N. M. , Walker J. , Doland C. M. , Winer K. , Street R. A.
Published: July 2002

Results are presented on the effects of growth conditions on hydrogen incorporation in Si thin films deposited with a remote hydrogen plasma. Oxygen contamination of the films was significantly reduced by replacement of the quartz tube that is commonly used to contain the hydrogen plasma with an alumina tube, with a concomitant increase in the electrical conductivity of P-doped a-Si:H films. Hydrogen incorporation was examined with a remote deuterium plasma and downstream injection of SiH4. As the gas flow ratio D2:SiH4 increases, the ratio D:H in the film changes as a consequence of the increasing flux of D at the growing surface. High silane dilution also promotes the formation of microcrystalline silicon, which itself affects H incorporation.
Thermonuclear burn time and duration in laser-driven high-aspect-ratio targets
Authors: Azechi H. , Miyanaga N. , Stapf R. O. , Takabe H. , Nishiguchi A. , Unemoto M. , Shimada Y. , Yamanaka M. , Yamanaka T. , Nakai S. , Yamanaka C. , Iguchi T. , Nakazawa M.
Published: July 2002

Thermonuclear burn time and burn duration in ablatively driven high-aspect-ratio targets have been measured. While the observed burn times were in agreement with results of a one-dimensional hydrodynamic simulation, the observed burn durations were excessively long.
Laser action of optically pumped atomic vanadium vapor
Authors: Ninomiya H. , Abe M. , Takashima N.
Published: July 2002

Vanadium vapor is generated from a vanadium metal by irradiation of a pulsed YAG laser of 2.2 J energy, and the vanadium atoms are optically pumped by a XeCl laser of 7.3 mJ energy. Laser action has been observed on the vanadium 409.5 nm (4F07/2–4D5/2) transition. This laser pulse has a pulse width of 4 ns and peak power of 1.08 W, and the optical gain is 0.46/cm.