bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression of tumour‐suppressing chemokine BRAK/CXCL14 reduces cell migration rate of HSC‐3 tongue carcinoma cells and stimulates attachment to collagen and formation of elongated focal adhesions in vitro
Authors: Sato Kaori , Ozawa Shigeyuki , Izukuri Kazuhito , Kato Yasumasa , Hata Ryu‐Ichiro
Published: January 2010

BRAK/CXCL14 (breast‐ and kidney‐expressed chemokine/CXC chemokine ligand 14) is a chemokine that is expressed in many normal cells and tissues but is absent from or expressed at very low levels in transformed cells and cancerous tissues, including HNSCC (head and neck squamous cell carcinoma). We reported previously that the forced expression of BRAK/CXCL14 in HNSCC (HSC‐3 BRAK) cells decreased the rate of tumour formation and size of tumour xenografts compared with mock‐vector‐introduced (HSC‐3 Mock) cells in athymic nude mice, even though the growth rates of these cells were the same under in vitro culture conditions, suggesting that high‐level expression of the gene is important for the suppression of tumour establishment in vivo. For the first step to study the mechanisms of BRAK‐dependent tumour suppression, we compared characteristics between HSC‐3 BRAK and HSC‐3 Mock cells under in vitro culture conditions. The cell migration rate was lower in HSC‐3 BRAK cells than in HSC‐3 Mock cells. Also, HSC‐3 BRAK cells showed more rapid adhesion than HSC‐3 Mock cells when cultured on type I collagen‐coated dishes but not on fibronectin or laminin 1‐coated ones. This adhesion was mediated by α2β1 integrin. Immunofluorescent analysis of the cells cultured on type I collagen showed that HSC‐3 BRAK cells formed much more elongated focal adhesions co‐localized with paxillin and actin stress fibres than did HSC‐3 Mock cells. Treatment of parental HSC‐3 cells with recombinant BRAK stimulated the activation of Rap1, which is a ras family small GTPase, and formation of elongated focal adhesions, indicating that the difference in cell character observed between HSC‐3 Mock and HSC‐3 BRAK was not due to selection of clones of different character but due to expression of BRAK in the cells. The characteristic morphology of focal adhesions in HSC‐3 BRAK cells was perturbed by the introduction of an expression vector of the Rap‐binding domain of the Ral guanine nucleotide dissociation stimulator, a target of Rap1, into HSC‐3 BRAK cells, suggesting that Rap1 regulated the formation of the morphology of the focal adhesions. These data indicate that the expression of BRAK stimulated the formation of elongated focal adhesions of the HSC‐3 cells in an autocrine or paracrine fashion, in which stimulation may be responsible for the reduced migration of the cells.
Comparative studies of different cryopreservation methods for mesenchymal stem cells derived from human fetal liver
Authors: Todorov Plamen , Hristova Elena , Konakchieva Rossitza , Michova Antoaneta , Dimitrov Josif
Published: January 2010

Fetal stem cells possess some intriguing characteristics, which delineate them as promising cellular therapeutics. They are less immunogenic, at lower stage of differentiation and have higher potential for repopulation and migration. Furthermore, the fetal stem cells secrete a set of cytokines and growth factors, which stimulate the regeneration of the recipient tissue. The present study indicated that the adhesive fraction of human fetal liver cells possessed the morphological characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells, as well as potential to differentiate into adipocyte and osteoblast lineages. The immunophenotypic analysis showed that the cells expressed CD13, CD73, CD90 and CD105 (typical for mesenchymal stem cells) and lacked the haematopoietic lineage markers CD34 and CD45. Addressing the issue of the low‐temperature storage of the human fetal liver cells, four different methods for cryopreservation were assessed: conventional slow freezing, program freezing and two vitrification protocols. The obtained results demonstrated that the cells were cryotolerant and maintained their properties and differentiation potential after thawing. Program freezing showed to be the most efficient method for cryopreservation of the investigated cells.
Proximity and Perceived Safety as Determinants of Urban Trail Use: Findings from a Three-City Study
Authors: Wolch Jennifer R , Tatalovich Zaria , Spruijt-Metz Donna , Byrne Jason , Jerrett Michael , Chou Chih-Ping , Weaver Susan , Wang Lili , Fulton William , Reynolds Kim
Published: January 2010

In this study we focus on individual and environmental determinants of urban trail use in three diverse urban settings: Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles. Explanatory factors include individual psychosocial and health characteristics, distance between home and trail, and land-use and social characteristics of trailside neighborhoods. Model results suggest that intrinsic motivation, general health status, perceived trail safety, perceived miles between home and trail, and neighborhood connectivity were significantly related to probability of trail use and extent of trail use, while working-class status, commuting distance, and physical barriers to the trail were negatively related. Efforts to increase perceived trail safety, accessibility, and awareness about trails thus may result in a higher rate of trail use and more time spent on urban trails.
Locating Biopiracy: Geographically and Culturally Situated Knowledges
Authors: Robinson Daniel F
Published: January 2010

The issue of ‘biopiracy’ inevitably evokes a wide variety of responses and emotions. It is likely that, for this reason, few academic articles have adequately or fully explored the discourse and/or issue. In this paper I analyse the strategic employment of the term and counterarguments generated by different parties including activists, nongovernmental organisations, academics, industry, and government representatives. Using the concept of ‘situated knowledges’ I explore how epistemic communities with intellectual property (IP) interests have generated one set of powerful and even hypocritical rhetorics and ‘harmonised’ them as global and universal truths. I then illustrate the political and cultural contingence of these IP discourses through a discussion of biopiracy cases and politics in Thailand, where IP laws have been rapidly and coercively imposed. Ultimately, I argue that the cultural, historical, and geographical specifics have been lost and obscured in an international debate that all too often employs ubiquitous understandings of ‘traditional knowledge’, ‘genetic resources’, and ‘protection.’
Participatory Planning, Justice, and Climate Change in Durban, South Africa
Authors: Aylett Alex
Published: January 2010

A changing climate seriously challenges our sociopolitical and economic systems. Elaborating on one possible element of a successful human response, this paper looks at how participatory governance is treated in the literatures on social justice and climate change. This paper applies the works of Habermas and Foucault, as well as recent work from the fields of urban and environmental planning, to clarify how the balance between structure, power, and agency influences attempts to address social inequality and climate change. Applying this general framework to a case study of Durban, South Africa, the paper then discusses the effectiveness of participatory structures in practice. This case study provides a productive space to study the intersection of social and environmental concerns. It also allows us to explore how interactions between formal and informal participation expose the limits both of confrontational (Foucauldian) and of consensus-based (Habermassian) approaches to governance. These limitations are instructive as we attempt to create cities that are both socially just and environmentally sustainable.
The Genesis of Texts: Planning and Interior Language
Authors: Anokhina Olga
Published: January 2010

Abstract: Based upon the observation of writers’ manuscripts, I set out to define the logic of textualization implemented during the writing process. I address in particular the question of the texts’ planning, as well as that of their progressive transformation within the restrictions of textual coherence which weigh upon the writer from the onset of translating. Moreover, I examine the interest of the notion of interior language for researches in the domains of genetic criticism and textual linguistics. I shall compare three approaches: the genetic approach of writers’ manuscripts, the modeling of written production according to cognitive psychology and the theory of language as explained by the Russian psychologist, Lev Vygotski. Studying the working documents of writers will allow us to understand the logic of textualization as it appears during the transformations of different language forms. We will note in particular that different stages of written production defined by cognitive psychology as conceptual planning, translating (textualization) and reviewing are intertwined and are ruled by a non-linear logic of production. We shall see that if translating occurs very early, even during the stage of planning, conversely the process of conceptualization is constantly present.
Which Structural Markers to Identify in Texts?
Authors: Guibert Gaëll
Published: January 2010

Abstract: We define a text-object by pinpointing the differences between “a text” and “some text”. Our objective is “to make the text speak by itself”, by the means of a textual analysis able, when the object is “a text”, to highlight “one” meaning. We present the theoretical framework of Applicative (actions and operations) and Cognitive (abstract and conceptual representations) Grammar (GA&C), in which this textual analysis is carried out. “One” meaning can be proposed regarding the text, both locally and at a more global level. Then, to fulfil this objective, we propose a textual analysis method, based on identification of the markers from a “point of view”, or a main language operation. An epistemological control of the results is necessary, added to the method of analysis, to make clearer the main concepts and actions in the text. We focus here both on determining the “point of view” to identify predication with relevant markers, and at a conceptual level, from the identified markers of this “point of view”, with two examples of cartography from the first chapter of the European Constitution.
Sur la nature et la structure des consécutives intégrées
Authors: Molinier Christian
Published: January 2010

This paper offers an analysis of the French integrated consecutive (result) construction, starting out from the correlative system observed in the ancient Indo-European languages, in particular the one which J. Haudry terms « dyptique inverse ». It is shown that the morpheme que, a relative marker, has a content that is identifiable on the basis of the main clause (as in the case of canonical relative clauses) but which functions as a causal principle in relation to the subordinate clause. At the same time, it is also shown that sentences containing consecutive subordinate clauses involve two distinct structures superimposed one on the other: one of these is defined in terms of the hierarchical constituents of distributional analysis, and the other in terms of two independent clauses. The latter structure makes it possible to account for certain ambiguities that may be found in their interpretation. In that respect as well, consecutive clauses are similar to canonical relatives.
À propos des paramètres de la prédication nominale à support en tchèque
Authors: Radimský Jan
Published: January 2010

The contribution offers a critical review of existing works on nominal predication with light verbs in Czech. It proposes also three key elements in which the principles of nominal predication in Czech differs from Romance languages: absence of nominal determination, obligatory marking of aspectuality and double system of case marking. Analyse of these elements shows that in Czech, variability of light verbs has a high degree of dynamics synchrony.
Constructions pronominales dans Dicovalence et le lexique-grammaire
Authors: Danlos Laurence , Sagot Benoît
Published: January 2010

In this paper, we describe how pronominal constructions are represented in Dicovalence and in the lexicon-grammar. We introduce a method for extracting and merging lexical syntactic information about these constructions, and integrating it in the Lefff NLP lexicon.
We have a place in a long story
Authors: Shenhav Shaul R.
Published: January 2010

The article discusses the relevance of narrative theory to the study of politics. It claims that the structure of narratives creates a sense of continuity, which is central to the construction of community. Following this claim, the article demonstrates the potential value of combining the study of political narratives with a study of political actions of empowering those who construct them. It presents a study of the closing statements of US presidential debates as a source of narratives related by politicians, and voting records as an indicator of the power given by the people to those politicians. This study explores the correlation between narrative structure as a textual means of constructing continuity and the power given, by the public, to politicians who produce the narratives. It shows that this correlation tends to be higher in counties located in the eastern US and in counties that tend to be more Republican. This finding, the article suggests, indicates the establishment of different Interpretive Communities in the US.
I have a student who…
Authors: Young Kathryn S.
Published: January 2010

This article investigates the use of co-constructed narrative strands to better understand the function of institutional narratives in teacher education. It uses data drawn from a large ethnographic study of talk in interaction in teacher education coursework. The analysis demonstrates how a series of similar small stories functions together to create a larger message about social categories in schooling. Narratives created by preservice teachers, through shared understanding of category systems like gender and disability, penetrate stories told in coursework and impact understandings of students in schools.
Narractivity and the narrative database
Authors: Booth Paul
Published: January 2010

Wikis, websites designed for the communal creation of media content, have previously been theorized using the work of Levy (1997) as knowledge communities. In this conception, wikis are seen as storehouses of data that communities can use to organize and explicate their encyclopedic “communal intelligence.” In this paper, I expand on Levy’s argument to examine the narratological possibilities of wikis. Using as examples fan-created wikis for the cult television shows Lost and Heroes, I show that these media-based wikis highlight the fan community’s interactive construction of a narratological database. Using the interactivity omnipresent in wikis, fans articulate a new conception of narrative construction, a conception I term “narractivity.”
The pre-linguistic basis of grammaticalisation
Authors: Höfler Stefan H. , Smith Andrew D.M.
Published: January 2010

Traditionally, grammaticalisation has been described as being based on phenomena specific to language such as metaphorical extension or reanalysis. This characterisation is somewhat in contrast to claims that grammaticalisation is involved in the much more general process of the initial emergence of language. In this article, we provide a unified analysis of both the metaphor-based and the reanalysis-based account of grammaticalisation which is grounded in the cognitive mechanisms underlying ostensive-inferential communication. We are thus able to show that the process of grammaticalisation is an instantiation of a domain-general pre-linguistic phenomenon.
The syntax of postpositional phrases in Wan, an “SOVX” language
Authors: Nikitina Tatiana
Published: January 2010

In the study of word order typology, the SOVX word order pattern of Mande is often viewed as exceptional and explained diachronically as a “type in transition”. This paper argues against that view based on analysis of the sentence structure of Wan (Southeastern Mande). I show that the SOVX word order of Wan is a consequence of an unusual syntactic behavior of postpositional arguments, which do not form a syntactic constituent with their verb but instead appear in a fixed position outside of the VP. The analysis has typological implications, suggesting that the SOVX pattern of this kind should be treated separately from types where PP arguments are syntactically dependent on their verb.
The phonology and grammar of Galo “words”
Authors: Post Mark W.
Published: January 2010

“Words” may be independently defined and identified in Galo (Tibeto-Burman > Western Tani) in terms of relatively consistent and functionally well-motivated sets of phonological and grammatical criteria. However, these criteria very often fail to converge upon identification of the same formal unit; instead, we frequently find phonological “words” which consist of two grammatical “words”, and grammatical “words” which consist of two phonological “words”, etc. The resulting “mismatch” between “phonological words” and “grammatical words” in Galo is argued to be theoretically non-trivial, in that its existence is capable of explaining a variety of otherwise seemingly disparate facts in the synchronic and diachronic organization of Galo grammar. The facts from Galo thus support a view of language in which “word” is independently defined in phonological and grammatical terms, and in which neither type of “word” necessarily corresponds to (or is projected by) the other. Although there might be said to exist a very generalized functional pressure towards “unification” of “phonological words” and “grammatical words”, such a pressure would not be expressible as a formal constraint on language grammar.
Plasma-chemical reactions: low pressure acetylene plasmas
Authors: Benedikt J
Published: January 2010

Reactive plasmas are a well-known tool for material synthesis and surface modification. They offer a unique combination of non-equilibrium electron and ion driven plasma chemistry, energetic ions accelerated in the plasma sheath at the plasma–surface interface, high fluxes of reactive species towards surfaces and a friendly environment for thermolabile objects. Additionally, small negatively charged clusters can be generated, because they are confined in the positive plasma potential. Plasmas in hydrocarbon gases, and especially in acetylene, are a good example for the discussion of different plasma-chemical processes. These plasmas are involved in a plethora of possible applications ranging from fuel conversion to formation of single wall carbon nanotubes. This paper provides a concise overview of plasma-chemical reactions (PCRs) in low pressure reactive plasmas and discusses possible experimental and theoretical methods for the investigation of their plasma chemistry. An up-to-date summary of the knowledge about low pressure acetylene plasmas is given and two particular examples are discussed in detail: (a) Ar/C2H2 expanding thermal plasmas with electron temperatures below 0.3 eV and with a plasma chemistry initiated by charge transfer reactions and (b) radio frequency C2H2 plasmas, in which the energetic electrons mainly control PCRs.
New examination of the magnetic properties of cobalt-doped ZnO diluted magnetic semiconductors
Authors: Toulemonde O , Gaudon M
Published: January 2010

Polycrystalline Zn1−x
Co
x
O diluted magnetic semiconductors were prepared within a large doping concentration range from 0.5% to 10%. Thanks to a model based on the co-existence of two magnetic populations, our analysis of the magnetization measurements brings new evidence about the competition between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic mean field within the ZnO diamagnetic matrix. It is a temperature activated phenomenon that supports the alignment of individual Co2+ ions into superparamagnetic clusters. At the same time, the refined effective number of antiferromagnetically coupled Co2+ ions is equal to the probability of Co2+ ions belonging to a dimer.
Current-induced domain wall motion in Ni80Fe20 nanowires with low depinning fields
Authors: Malinowski Grégory , Lörincz Andreas , Krzyk Stephen , Möhrke Philipp , Bedau Daniel , Boulle Olivier , Rhensius Jan , Heyderman Laura J , Cho Young Jin , Seo Sunae , Kläui Mathias
Published: January 2010

In this paper, we report on domain wall (DW) motion induced by current pulses at variable temperature in 900 nm wide and 25 nm thick Ni80Fe20 wires with low pinning fields. By using Ar ion milling to pattern our wires rather than the conventional lift-off technique, a depinning field as low as ∼2–3 Oe at room temperature is obtained. Comparison with previous results acquired on similar wires with much higher pinning shows that the critical current density scales with the depinning field, leading to a critical current density of ∼2.5 × 1011 A m−2 at 250 K. Moreover, when a current pulse with a current density larger than the critical current density is injected, the DW is not necessarily depinned but it can undergo a modification of its spin structure which hinders current-induced DW motion. Hence, reliable propagation of the DW requires an accurate adjustment of the pulsed current density.
Optimization and magnetic-field tunability of quantum cascade laser for applications in trace gas detection and monitoring
Authors: Daničić A , Radovanović J , Milanović V , Indjin D , Ikonić Z
Published: January 2010

We explore the possibilities of using advanced tools for global optimization, namely the genetic algorithm, to obtain structural parameters of gain-maximized quantum cascade laser (QCL) emitting at specified wavelengths, suitable for detection of pollutant gasses, such as SO2, HNO3, CH4 and NH3, in the ambient air. Upon completing this initial optimization stage, we introduce a strong external magnetic field perpendicular to the epitaxial layers, to fine tune the laser output properties. This magnetic field alters the electron energy spectrum by splitting the continuous energy subbands into discrete Landau levels whose arrangement influences the magnitude of the optical gain. In addition, strong effects of band nonparabolicity result in subtle changes in the lasing wavelength at magnetic fields which maximize the gain, thus allowing us to explore the prospects of multi-wavelength emission of the given structure, and achieving resonance with additional compounds, absorbing at wavelengths close to the original one. Numerical results are presented for GaAs/Al
x
Ga1−x
As based QCL structures designed for operation in the mid-infrared part of the spectrum.
Metal–insulator–semiconductor–insulator–metal structured titanium dioxide ultraviolet photodetector
Authors: Wang W J , Shan C X , Zhu H , Ma F Y , Shen D Z , Fan X W , Choy K L
Published: January 2010

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films were prepared by an atomic layer deposition technique and a metal–insulator–semiconductor–insulator–metal structured ultraviolet photodetector was fabricated from the TiO2 thin films. Meanwhile, a metal–semiconductor–metal structured photodetector was also fabricated under the same condition for comparison. By measuring their photoresponse properties, it was found that the existence of an insulation layer is effective in improving the photodetector's responsivity. The mechanism for the improvement has been attributed to the carrier multiplication occurring in the insulation layer under a high electric field.
Analysis of decomposition process of BrCN with microwave discharge flow of Ar
Authors: Wada Akira , Araki Hitoshi , Ito Haruhiko
Published: January 2010

CN(X 
2Σ+) radicals were produced from the dissociative excitation reaction of BrCN with the microwave discharge flow of Ar. This plasma reaction was studied by the combined analysis of the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and electrostatic-probe measurements. The Ar pressure, P
Ar, was in the range 0.2–0.5 Torr. The absolute densities of CN(X 
2Σ+) radicals, n
CN(X), and that of the metastable state of Ar atoms, n
M, were determined by observing the CN(A 
2Πi–X 
2Σ+) and Ar(3P1–3P2) transitions, respectively. The temperature, T
e, and the density, n
e, of free electrons were determined from the electrostatic-probe measurement. When a trace amount of H2O vapour was introduced into the reaction system, n
CN(X), n
M, T
e and n
e were varied. By comparing the decrements of n
CN(X), n
M and n
e upon the addition of H2O vapour into the reaction system, the production process of CN(X 
2Σ+) was found, predominantly, to be the energy transfer from the metastable state of Ar atoms.
Single particle simulations of electron transport in the near-field of Hall thrusters
Authors: Smith A W , Cappelli M A
Published: January 2010

The results of 3D, single particle electron trajectory calculations are presented for the near-field of a laboratory
E
×
B
Hall plasma thruster. For a prescribed static magnetic and electric field distribution, single electrons are launched and tracked from a simulated cathode. Collisions with external thruster surfaces are accounted for; however, field fluctuations are disregarded. Bulk statistics including the channel to beam electron current ratio, electron lifetimes and spatial distributions of the number density, mean energy, energy distributions, velocity distributions and velocity component ratios are catalogued. For conditions typical of a moderate power Hall thruster, the mean lifetime of electrons in the domain of axial scale length, L = 0.3 m, is approximately 120 ns. Electrons which eventually enter the channel are found to strike the thruster ∼103 times as frequently as electrons which exit the domain in the plume. For the static
E
and
B
field distributions used in this study, the channel to beam current ratio is found to be on the order of 0.1 and the velocity ratio, V
E/V

E
×
B

, over the channel has a mean of ∼0.5, with higher values driven largely by collisions with the thruster indicating the importance of such events in driving transport into the channel.
A novel and inexpensive technique for creating superhydrophobic surfaces using Teflon and sandpaper
Authors: Nilsson Michael A , Daniello Robert J , Rothstein Jonathan P
Published: January 2010

Considerable efforts have been spent over the last decade developing hydrophobic surfaces exhibiting very large contact angles with water. Many of these methods require complex and expensive fabrication techniques. We demonstrate that sanding Teflon can produce superhydrophobic surfaces with advancing contact angles of up to 151° and contact angle hysteresis of less than 4°. Furthermore, we show that a wide range of both advancing contact angles and contact angle hysteresis can be achieved by varying the grit size of the sandpaper, allowing for future hysteresis and contact angle studies. Scanning electron microscopy images of the roughened surfaces depict the range and amplitude of length scales imparted on the surface by the sandpaper, which leads to deeper understanding of the state of wetting on the surface.
Optical emission and its decay time of type-II InP/GaAs quantum dots
Authors: Gomes P F , de Godoy M P F , Dias G O , Iikawa F , Brasil M J S P , Cotta M A , Madureira J R
Published: January 2010

We investigated the optical emission at 2 K from InP quantum dots (QDs) grown on GaAs with and without a GaAs capping layer. Uncapped QDs present relatively long emission decay times (4–14 ns). In contrast, dots covered with a GaAs layer present much shorter lifetimes (∼1 ns). We analyse those results considering the effects of surface states (non-radiative recombination channel) and intermixing at the interfaces (affecting the electron–hole wave-function overlap). The continuous-wave optical emission spectrum from uncapped dots does not reproduce straightforwardly the dot size distributions obtained by atomic force microscopy measurements, showing an enhancement of the emission from small dots. The result is attributed to the strong dependence of the electron–hole wave-function overlap with the dot size obtained by our calculations.
Structural characterization of indium oxide nanostructures: a Raman analysis
Authors: Berengue Olivia M , Rodrigues Ariano D , Dalmaschio Cleocir J , Lanfredi Alexandre J C , Leite Edson R , Chiquito Adenilson J
Published: January 2010

In this work we report on structural and Raman spectroscopy measurements of pure and Sn-doped In2O3 nanowires. Both samples were found to be cubic and high quality single crystals. Raman analysis was performed to obtain the phonon modes of the nanowires and to confirm the compositional and structural information given by structural characterization. Cubic-like phonon modes were detected in both samples and their distinct phase was evidenced by the presence of tin doping. As a consequence, disorder effects were detected evidenced by the break of the Raman selection rules.
Self-assembly of wires in acrylate monomer via nanoparticle dielectrophoresis
Authors: Slopek Ryan P , Gilchrist James F
Published: January 2010

This study investigates morphology and bulk growth rate of wires using dielectrophoresis in non-aqueous suspensions of carbon black nanoparticles dispersed in a diacrylate monomer. Growing anisotropic structures in adhesives to enhance thermal or electrical conductivity is highly desirable for many applications including semiconductor packing. As in aqueous suspensions, the wire growth threshold and growth rate depend on applied voltage and electrode separation. While assembly rate depends less on applied frequency than other field aspects, the morphology of assembled wires transitions from linear to fractal morphology with increasing frequency. Additionally, the wire growth rate in non-aqueous suspensions is temperature dependent and exhibits an upper threshold temperature for wire assembly.
Influence of Microwave Heating on Biological Activities and Electrophoretic Pattern of Albumin Fraction of Wheat Grain
Authors: Warchalewski J. R. , Gralik J.
Published: January 2010

Microwave treatment is a sufficiently alternative technique to be applied widely in food production and cereals protection against insect pests. Water‐soluble proteins were washed out from microwave‐heated wheat grain for the purpose of assaying the influence on biological activities, reducing sugars content, and SDS‐PAGE electrophoresis proteins patterns. The differences between microwave‐heated grain samples were verified by analysis of variance at the P ≤ 0.05 level of significance. Microwave heating of wheat grain within the temperature range of 28–98°C caused a decrease in water‐extractable proteins, statistically significant when grain temperature reached 79 and 98°C. Statistically significant increase in reducing sugars content was noted in grain samples heated only to 48°C; a decrease was noted above this temperature. All biological activities studied (amylolytic and inhibition activities against α‐amylases from insects (Sithophilus granarius L., Tribolium confusum Duv., Ephestia kuehniella Zell.), human saliva, hog pancreas, antitryptic activity) were distinctly diminished in grain samples heated to 79°C. At the highest grain temperature of 98°C, the loss of all biological activities were even more pronounced due to denaturation of ≈45% of extractable proteins. Among the wheat albumins studied by SDS‐PAGE, only eight and nine protein bands were detected in the grains heated to 98 and 28°C, respectively, whereas 12 bands were present in the control. The highest number of protein bands (13) was found in the grains heated to 48 and 64°C, respectively.
Freeze‐Thaw Stability of Bualoy Thai Dessert Using Waxy Rice Flour
Authors: Vatanasuchart Nednapis , Attaviboonkul Payom , Niyomwit Boonma , Varanyanond Warunee , Naivikul Onanong
Published: January 2010

Frozen food products are gaining acceptance in Thai food industry and frozen bualoy dessert is a good opportunity for marketing in domestic and for exports. One important factor affecting quality of frozen starchy foods is retrogradation of starch gels. Thus freeze‐thaw stability of a frozen bualoy made from total waxy rice flour was studied and compared among the samples modified by 20 and 30% cross‐linked tapioca starch (CTS) derivatized with phosphorylation and 0.25% propylene glycol alginate (PGA). The waxy rice flour was pregelatinized by adding boiled water before shaping as a ball, then boiled and mixed with coconut syrup. All samples were subjected to five freeze‐thaw cycles over 60 days in a conventional freezer (–18°C). Texture analysis firmness and stickiness of the nonfrozen gels substituted with 20% CTS (382 ± 43, 20.5 ± 7.1 g·f) and 30% CTS (493 ± 37, 31.1 ± 7.0 g·f) were significantly different as compared with the control (329 ± 22, 14.8 ± 3.1 g·f). Similar results were observed for the samples continuously frozen for 60 days. The effects of freeze‐thaw stability to the frozen gels of the control, CTS, and PGA substituted samples appeared after two cycles and exhibited a large increase in firmness and stickiness at the fourth cycle. The firmness values obtained from the control and the samples substituted with 20% and 30% CTS were 2,397 ± 197, 2,182 ± 203, and 2,104 ± 200 g·f, respectively. This evidence was also observed with the samples containing PGA, but the effect was slightly less. This might account for the recrystallization of amylopectin molecules induced by freeze‐thawings. With DSC, the waxy rice gels showed a significant increase in the melting enthalpy (2.39 ± 0.23 J/g) at the fifth cycle from the nonfrozen gels (0.11 ± 0.02 J/g). The sensory tests of the bualoys were correlated with textural qualities that were acceptable to the panelists when the freeze‐thawing went no further than the second cycle.
Glutenin Macropolymer in Salted and Alkaline Noodle Doughs
Authors: Ong Y. L. , Ross A. S. , Engle D. A.
Published: January 2010

An attempt was made to understand the physicochemical attributes that are the basis of physical differences between alkaline and salted noodle doughs. Flour and dough properties of one soft and three hard‐grained wheat cultivars were observed. Doughs were made with either sodium chloride or sodium carbonate. Each formulation variant was tested at both high and low water additions. Samples for glutenin macropolymer (GMP) isolation were taken at selected noodle dough processing stages. When a 1.67% w/v Na2CO3 solution was used for mixograph testing, dough characteristics were radically altered and differences between cultivars were masked. In lubricated squeezing flow (LSF) testing, hard wheat noodle doughs had significantly (P < 0.01) longer relaxation times and higher % residual force values than soft wheat doughs in both the salted and alkaline variants. LSF maximum force and biaxial viscosity were significantly higher in alkaline doughs than salted. GMP extracted from alkaline doughs was gummy and sticky, and was more opaque than GMP from salted doughs. GMP weight decreased sequentially when extracted from samples taken in the active phase (mix, compound, sheet) of noodle dough processing and decreased more in alkaline doughs. GMP weight increased more after 24 hr of dough rest in salted doughs. GMP gel strength was noticeably higher in GMP extracted from alkaline doughs. After dough resting, alkaline GMP gel strength significantly increased, whereas it decreased in GMP from salted doughs, suggesting a role for GMP in the increased stiffness of alkaline noodle doughs.
Combined bezafibrate and medroxyprogesterone acetate have efficacy without haematological toxicity in elderly and relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
Authors: Murray Jim A. , Khanim Farhat L. , Hayden Rachel E. , Craddock Charlie F. , Holyoake Tessa L. , Jackson Nick , Lumley Matthew , Bunce Chris M. , Drayson Mark T.
Published: January 2010

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) causes life‐threatening deficits of functional blood cells that require management using red cell and platelet transfusion and aggressive treatment of neutropenic infections. Current cytotoxic chemotherapy further worsens the problem of reduced haemopoiesis and two‐thirds of patients are too frail to tolerate intensive chemotherapy at all. Median survival amongst these patients remains at <3 months emphasizing the urgent need for anti‐AML therapies that do not suppress haemopoiesis. Our laboratory studies showed combined Bezafibrate and Medroxyprogesterone acetate (BaP) had activity against AML without toxicity to normal stem cells. Here we report the safety and efficacy of BaP in 20 patients (19 AML, 1 high‐risk myelodysplasia) for whom intensive chemotherapy was not an option. No patient exhibited haematological toxicity from BaP. Eleven patients took BaP alone for >4 weeks. One reverted from high risk myelodysplasia and remains transfusion independent after 201 weeks of therapy. Three AML patients gained major haematological improvements for 22–30 weeks; in one, marrow was available to document a partial AML response. Thus, this trial indicates that BaP therapy has potential for treatment of elderly and relapsed AML.
Managing non‐target, data‐poor species using catch limits: lessons from the Alaskan groundfish fishery
Authors: REUTER R. F. , CONNERS M. E. , DICOSIMO J. , GAICHAS S. , ORMSETH O. , TENBRINK T. T.
Published: January 2010

Abstract  The 2006 reauthorisation of the Magnuson‐Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires annual catch limits for all target and non‐target species within federally managed fisheries in the United States. In Alaska, both target and non‐target species in the Alaska groundfish fisheries have been managed using catch limits since the early 1990s. Non‐target species that are caught incidentally in a fishery require monitoring to ensure that the population is not negatively impacted by commercial fishing. Resource assessment scientists have been challenged with obtaining sufficient data to recommend an acceptable catch level for management of these species. This paper reviews three case studies where a catch limit is determined for non‐target species when certain data are limited: (1) varying levels of biomass and catch data for all species within a species group or complex; (2) adequate catch data but no biomass data; (3) emerging target fishery of data‐poor species, plus an example of how a complex of ecosystem component species is managed.
Considering recreational catch and harvest in fisheries management at the bio‐regional scale
Authors: GREINER R. , GREGG D.
Published: January 2010

Abstract  The Gulf of Carpentaria in northern Australia supports several commercial fisheries and a largely tourist‐based recreational fishery. The results of a survey of 427 recreational fishing parties visiting the main town, Karumba, between March and September 2006 were examined using the bootstrap method to estimate confidence intervals for mean tourist catch and harvest of grunter, Pomadasys kaakan (Cuvier), and other recreational target species. Tourist anglers harvested between 99.8 and 117 t of P. kaakan and 32.6–38.2 t of blue salmon, Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Shaw), during the survey period. Resident recreational anglers harvested an additional 15–35 t of P. kaakan, but very little E. tetradactylum. In comparison, commercial harvest was 19 t of P. kaakan and 64 t of E. tetradactylum in the whole of the Queensland section of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The results underscore the need for appropriately collected recreational fishing data to support integrated fisheries management at the bioregional scale, and in the case of angling‐based tourist destinations, underpin a diversification of the tourist product.
Computational modeling of dendritic tiling by diffusible extracellular suppressor
Authors: Shimono Kohei , Sugimura Kaoru , Kengaku Mineko , Uemura Tadashi , Mochizuki Atsushi
Published: January 2010

The development of neuronal class‐specific dendrites is a basis for the correct functioning of the nervous system. For instance, tiling of dendritic arbors (complete, but minimum‐overlapping innervation of a field) supports uniform reception of input stimuli. Previous studies have attempted to show the molecular and cellular basis of tiling, and it has been argued that the underlying inhibitory interaction between dendrites is realized by contact‐dependent retraction and/or by repulsion of dendrites via extracellular branch suppressors. In this study, we showed that the development and regeneration of the tiling pattern could be reproduced by two different mathematical models (the cell compartment model and the end capped‐segment model), in both of which dendrite growth is coupled with the dynamics of an extracellular suppressor that is secreted from dendrites. The analysis of the end capped‐segment model in three‐dimensional space showed that it generated both non‐overlapping arbors as well as overlapping dendritic arbors, which patterns are reminiscent of phenotypes of previously reported tiling mutantsin vivo. Moreover, the results of our numerical analysis of the 2 models suggest that tiling patterns could be achieved either by a local increase in the concentration of an intracellular branching activator or by a local decrease in the production of a suppressor at branch ends.
Fission yeast Vps1 and Atg8 contribute to oxidative stress resistance
Authors: Mikawa Takumi , Kanoh Junko , Ishikawa Fuyuki
Published: January 2010

Organisms have evolved diverse means to protect themselves from oxidative stress. To better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in oxidative stress resistance, we screened fission yeast mutants sensitive to paraquat, a reagent acting on the mitochondria to generate reactive oxygen species. Among the mutants we isolated, we focused on a mutant defective in the vps1+ (vacuolar protein sorting 1) gene that encodes a dynamin‐related protein family member. vps1Δ exhibited aberrant mitochondrial and vacuolar morphology on treatment with paraquat. vps1Δ was sensitive to osmotic stress, high concentrations of Ca2+ and Fe2+. Interestingly, the deletion of atg8+, a gene essential for the autophagy pathway, exhibited strong genetic interactions with vps1Δ. The vps1Δatg8Δ double mutant was additively sensitive to oxidative stress, osmotic stress and Ca2+. The deletion of vps1+ rescued the bizarre vacuolar morphology shown by atg8Δ. Such genetic interactions were not observed with other atg mutants. Furthermore, the atg8‐G116A mutant did not show abnormal vacuolar morphology while being sensitive to nitrogen starvation, an autophagy‐related phenotype. Taken together, we conclude that atg8+ regulates vacuolar functions independently of its role in autophagy. We propose that Vps1 and Atg8 cooperatively participate in vacuolar function, thereby contributing to oxidative stress resistance.
Characterization of ecosystem responses to climatic controls using artificial neural networks
Authors: MOFFAT ANTJE M. , BECKSTEIN CLEMENS , CHURKINA GALINA , MUND MARTINA , HEIMANN MARTIN
Published: January 2010

Understanding and modeling ecosystem responses to their climatic controls is one of the major challenges for predicting the effects of global change. Usually, the responses are implemented in models as parameterized functional relationships of a fixed type. In contrast, the inductive approach presented here based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) allows the relationships to be extracteddirectly from the data. It has been developed to explore large, fragmentary, noisy, and multidimensional datasets, such as the carbon fluxes measured at the ecosystem level with the eddy covariance technique. To illustrate this, our approach has been systematically applied to the daytime carbon flux dataset of the deciduous broadleaf forest Hainich in Germany. The total explainable variability of the half‐hourly carbon fluxes from the driving climatic variables was 93.1%, showing the excellent data mining capability of the ANNs. Total photosynthetic photon flux density was identified as the dominant control of the daytime response, followed by the diffuse radiation. The vapor pressure deficit was the most important nonradiative control. From the ANNs, we were also able to deduce and visualize the dependencies and sensitivities of the response to its climatic controls. With respect to diffuse radiation, the daytime carbon response showed no saturation and the light use efficiency was three times greater for diffuse compared with direct radiation. However, with less potential radiation reaching the forest, the overall effect of diffuse radiation was slightly negative. The optimum uptake of carbon occurred at diffuse fractions between 30% and 40%. By identifying the hierarchy of the climatic controls of the ecosystem response as well as their multidimensional functional relationships, our inductive approach offers a direct interface to the data. This provides instant insight in the underlying ecosystem physiology and links the observational relationships to their representation in the modeling world.
Identification of vegetation and soil carbon pools out of equilibrium in a process model via eddy covariance and biometric constraints
Authors: CARVALHAIS NUNO , REICHSTEIN MARKUS , CIAIS PHILIPPE , COLLATZ G. JAMES , MAHECHA MIGUEL D. , MONTAGNANI LEONARDO , PAPALE DARIO , RAMBAL SERGE , SEIXAS JÚLIA
Published: January 2010

Assumptions of steady‐state conditions in biogeochemical modelling are often invoked because knowledge on the development status of the modelling domain is generally unavailable. Here, we investigate the role of vegetation pool sizes on nonequilibrium conditions through model‐data integration approaches for a set of sites using eddy covariance CO2 flux data. The study is based on the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach (CASA) model, modified (CASAG) in order to evaluate the sensitivity of simulated net ecosystem production (NEP) fluxes to vegetation pool sizes. The experimental design is based on the inverse model optimization of different parameter vectors performed at the measurement site level. Each parameter vector prescribes different simulation dynamics that embody different model structural assumptions concerning (non)steady‐state conditions in vegetation and soil carbon pools. We further explore the potential of assimilating biometric constraints through the cost function for sites where in situ information on aboveground biomass or wood pools is available. The integration of biometric data yields marked improvements in the simulation of vegetation C pools compared to single constraints with eddy flux data. Overall, it is necessary to relax both vegetation and soil carbon pools for consistency with the observed data streams. Multiple constraints approaches also leads to variable model performance among the different experimental setups and model structures. We identify and assess the limitations of various model structures and the role of multiple constraints approaches for tackling issues of equifinality. These studies emphasize the need for establishing consistent data sets of fluxes and biometric data for successful model‐data fusion.