bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of temperature on urethra to bladder micturition reflex in the awake ewe
Authors: Combrisson Helene , Allix Sebastien , Robain Gilberte
Published: October 2006

Aims

The flow of fluid along the urethra is known to facilitate detrusor contraction during micturition. This reflex, previously described in awake ewes, helps to achieve complete bladder emptying. In anesthetized cats, another urethra to bladder reflex involving urethral cold receptors has been described. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the urethral reflex first described in awake ewes could also be temperature‐dependent.

Methods

Experiments were performed on 10 healthy ewes. Urethral flows were performed by injecting 10 ml saline (ranging from 17 to 43°C) at the level of the proximal urethra. Catheterization of the bladder was performed so that detrusor pressure was continually recorded during the experiments.

Results

Urethral flows using body temperature saline (37–39°C) consistently evoked detrusor contraction. Urethral flows using saline at temperatures between 40 and 43°C induced detrusor contractions that were not significantly different from those observed at 37–39°C. Urethral flows using saline at temperatures below 37–39°C (17–36°C) resulted in a weaker or absent detrusor contraction.

Conclusions

In ewes, we have shown that urethral to bladder micturition reflex involving mechanoreceptors is decreased at temperatures below the physiological range. It is suggested that transient receptor potential vanilloid cation channels (e.g., TRPV4 which is activated by sheer/stress flows at near‐body temperature) could be involved in this urethra to bladder reflex. In humans, this reflex has hardly been described and is still a matter of debate. Our results reinforce that its full investigation may require systematic use of a range of saline flows at different temperatures. Neurourol. Urodynam. 26:290–295, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Differential expression and pathological significance of autocrine motility factor/glucose‐6‐phosphate isomerase expression in human lung carcinomas
Authors: Dobashi Y , Watanabe H , Sato Y , Hirashima S , Yanagawa T , Matsubara H , Ooi A
Published: October 2006

To clarify the involvement of autocrine motility factor (AMF) in the phenotype and biological profiles of human lung carcinomas, we analysed protein and mRNA expression in a total of 180 cases. Immunohistochemistry revealed positive staining in 67.2%, with the highest frequency in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; 90.8%) and the lowest in small cell carcinoma (SmCC; 27.8%). In SCC, the staining frequency and intensity correlated with the degree of morphological differentiation. Generally, the expression levels in immunoblotting analysis corresponded well with immunohistochemical positivity. However, there was less agreement between protein and mRNA levels: in SmCC and large cell carcinomas (LCCs), mRNA showed higher, but protein showed lower expression. Among non‐small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs), AMF protein levels correlated inversely with tumour size, but tumours exhibiting lymph node metastasis showed higher mRNA expression. In cultured lung carcinoma cells which comprised all histological subtypes, AMF was detected in the lysates of all ten cell lines. Secreted AMF protein was detected in the conditioned media from six cell lines, most of which were SmCC or LCC. Thus, a particular subset of lung carcinomas secrete AMF, which may promote cell motility via autocrine stimulation through its cognate receptor and cause the biological aggressiveness seen in SmCC and LCC. Moreover, treatment by proteasome inhibitors resulted in increased cellular AMF in five cell lines, suggesting that intracellular AMF levels are regulated by both secretion and proteasome‐dependent degradation. In conclusion, AMF was detected in a major proportion of lung carcinomas, and may play a part not only in proliferation and/or progression of the tumours, but also, possibly, in the differentiation of SCC. Furthermore, higher mRNA expression may be related to the high metastatic potential of NSCLC and increased protein secretion, leading to a more aggressive phenotype, such as the invasiveness of SmCC and LCC. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pulmonary dysfunction in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients: Overview, diagnostic considerations, and infectious complications
Authors: Collaco J. Michael , Gower W. Adam , Mogayzel Peter J.
Published: October 2006

Pulmonary complications are among the most common and serious sequelae seen in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. This two‐part review addresses the incidence and impact of pulmonary complications in pediatric HSCT patients. In this first part we review the available data for the use of diagnostic modalities in this population, including flexible bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and open lung biopsy (OLB). We also review the many infectious pulmonary complications that may occur in pediatric HSCT recipients, utilizing the traditional chronologic divisions of neutropenic phase (0–30 days following HSCT), early phase (30–100 days), and late phase (>100 days). Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:117–126. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of a new subfamily of HNH nucleases and experimental characterization of a representative member, HphI restriction endonuclease
Authors: Cymerman Iwona A. , Obarska Agnieszka , Skowronek Krzysztof J. , Lubys Arvydas , Bujnicki Janusz M.
Published: October 2006

The restriction endonuclease (REase) R. HphI is a Type IIS enzyme that recognizes the asymmetric target DNA sequence 5′‐GGTGA‐3′ and in the presence of Mg2+ hydrolyzes phosphodiester bonds in both strands of the DNA at a distance of 8 nucleotides towards the 3′ side of the target, producing a 1 nucleotide 3′‐staggered cut in an unspecified sequence at this position. REases are typically ORFans that exhibit little similarity to each other and to any proteins in the database. However, bioinformatics analyses revealed that R.HphI is a member of a relatively big sequence family with a conserved C‐terminal domain and a variable N‐terminal domain. We predict that the C‐terminal domains of proteins from this family correspond to the nuclease domain of the HNH superfamily rather than to the most common PD‐(D/E)XK superfamily of nucleases. We constructed a three‐dimensional model of the R.HphI catalytic domain and validated our predictions by site‐directed mutagenesis and studies of DNA‐binding and catalytic activities of the mutant proteins. We also analyzed the genomic neighborhood of R.HphI homologs and found that putative nucleases accompanied by a DNA methyltransferase (i.e. predicted REases) do not form a single group on a phylogenetic tree, but are dispersed among free‐standing putative nucleases. This suggests that nucleases from the HNH superfamily were independently recruited to become REases in the context of RM systems multiple times in the evolution and that members of the HNH superfamily may be much more frequent among the so far unassigned REase sequences than previously thought. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Room temperature ferromagnetism in Mn ion implanted epitaxial ZnO films
Authors: Hill D. H. , Arena D. A. , Bartynski R. A. , Wu P. , Saraf G. , Lu Y. , Wielunski L. , Gateau R. , Dvorak J. , Moodenbaugh A. , Yeo Yung Kee
Published: October 2006

Epitaxial ZnO films of ∼450 nm thicknesses were grown by MOCVD on r‐sapphire and doped by implantation of 200 keV Mn ions to a dose of 5 × 1016 ions/cm2. The structural, chemical, and magnetic properties of the films were investigated with X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and SQUID magnetometry. XRD and RBS show both Mn‐doped ZnO and pure ZnO epitaxial layers in the as‐implanted film, which is ferromagnetic at 5 K but nonmagnetic at room temperature. For the as‐implanted materials, only Mn2+ ions are observed with XAS. Post‐implantation annealing partially recovers the lattice damage and redistributes Mn into the entire ZnO film; in addition, Mn2+ ions are converted to a mixture of Mn3+ and Mn4+, and ferromagnetism is now observed above 300 K. Our results show that ion implantation is a viable route for achieving room temperature ferromagnetism in epitaxial ZnO films. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Electron paramagnetic resonance study of phosphorus‐doped n‐type homoepitaxial diamond films grown by chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Katagiri M. , Isoya J. , Koizumi S. , Kanda H.
Published: October 2006

Electron paramagnetic resonance technique has been applied to identify the microscopic origin of the n‐type conductivity in phosphorus‐doped {111}‐homoepitaxial diamond films grown by chemical vapor deposition. The NIMS‐1 center having the D 2d symmetry with g || = 1.9983, g ^ = 2.0072 and the 31P hyperfine interaction of A || = 5.77 mT, A ⊥ = 1.21 mT at 30 K is identified to be arising from the phosphorus donors based on the number of spins which matches to the number of the electrically active phosphorus atoms in the films. The wave function of the unpaired electron is localized by 12% on the phosphorus atom with a predominant p‐character. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Thermoluminescence and other optical studies on RbBr:Tb3+ crystals
Authors: Manimozhi P. K. , Muralidharan G. , Selvasekarapandian S. , Malathi J.
Published: October 2006

Optical absorption, photoluminescence, photostimulated luminescence (PSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) studies on RbBr:Tb3+ crystals irradiated with X‐rays is reported. The optical absorption in the UV region confirms the presence of terbium in the host matrix in the trivalent state. Photoluminescence of these crystals exhibits characteristic Tb3+ emissions due to transitions from the 5D3 and 5D4 levels to various levels of the 7F septet. On F‐bleaching X‐irradiated crystals Z3 centers are observed. The TL glow curve indicates a two‐step thermal annihilation process for the radiatively created defects. The presence of the characteristic emissions due to terbium ions in the photostimulation at the F band confirms the participation of Tb ions in the defect‐production process. Trap parameters for the TL process are calculated and presented. Emissions under the TL glow peaks contain the characteristic emissions of Tb3+ in addition to the emission due to the recombination of the F electron with V‐type centers. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Pore Conductivity Control at the Hundred‐Nanometer Scale: An Experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Létant Sonia E. , Schaldach Charlene M. , Johnson Mackenzie R. , Sawvel April , Bourcier William L. , Wilson William D.
Published: October 2006

We report on the observation of an unexpected mechanism that controls conductivity at the 100‐nm scale on track‐etched polycarbonate membranes. Transport measurements of positively charged methyl viologen performed by absorption spectroscopy under various pH conditions demonstrate that for 100‐nm‐diameter pores at pH 2 conductivity is blocked, while at pH 5 the ions move through the membrane according to diffusion laws. An oppositely charged molecular ion, naphthalene disulfonate, in the same membrane, shows the opposite trend: diffusion of the negative ion at pH 2 and very low conductivity at pH 5. The influence of parameters such as ionic strength and membrane surface coating are also investigated. A theoretical study of the system shows that at the 100‐nm scale the magnitude of the electric field in the vicinity of the pores is too small to account for the experimental observations; rather, it is the surface trapping of the mobile ion (Cl− or Na+) that gives rise to the observed control of the conductivity. This surprising effect has potential applications for high‐throughput separation of large molecules and bio‐organisms.
Studies on the Critical Micellar Concentration and Phase Transitions of Stearoylcarnitine
Authors: Kamlekar Ravi Kanth , Swamy Musti J.
Published: October 2006

The critical micellar concentration (CMC) of stearoylcarnitine was determined at different pH values at room temperature by fluorescence spectroscopy, monitoring the spectral changes of 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate (ANS). The CMC was found to vary with pH, increasing from about 10 μM at pH 3.0 to ca. 25 μM at pH 7.0, but decreasing slightly with further increase in pH to approximately 19 μM at pH 10.0. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) shows that stearoylcarnitine dispersed in water at low concentration undergoes a broad thermotropic phase transition at 44.5°C, with a transition enthalpy of 15.0 kcal/mol. The transition temperature (Tt) shifts to ca. 50.5°C in the presence of 1 mM EDTA or when the concentration is increased significantly. The turbidity of aqueous dispersions of stearoylcarnitine was found to be considerably high at low temperatures, which decreases quite abruptly over a short temperature range, indicating that a transition occurs from a phase of large aggregates to one of much smaller aggregates, most likely micelles. The phase transition temperature was determined as 29.1°C at pH 3.0, which increased with increasing pH up to a value of 55.3°C at pH 8.6 and remains nearly constant thereafter up to pH 11.2. The pH dependence of CMC and Ttsuggest that the pKa of the carboxyl group of long chain acylcarnitines shifts to higher temperatures upon aggregation (micelles or bilayer membranes).
Genes and the Environment in Neurodegeneration
Authors: Coppedè Fabio , Mancuso Michelangelo , Siciliano Gabriele , Migliore Lucia , Murri Luigi
Published: October 2006

Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of pathologies which includes complex multifactorial diseases, monogenic disorders and disorders for which inherited, sporadic and transmissible forms are known. Factors associated with predisposition and vulnerability to neurodegenerative disorders may be described usefully within the context of gene–environment interplay. There are many identified genetic determinants for neurodegeneration, and it is possible to duplicate many elements of recognized human neurodegenerative disorders in animal models of the disease. However, there are similarly several identifiable environmental influences on outcomes of the genetic defects; and the course of a progressive neurodegenerative disorder can be greatly modified by environmental elements. In this review we highlight some of the major neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and prion diseases.) and discuss possible links of gene–environment interplay including, where implicated, mitochondrial genes.
Prevalence and prognostic significance of atrial fibrillation in outpatients with heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction
Authors: Corell Pernille , Gustafsson Finn , Schou Morten , Markenvard John , Nielsen Tonny , Hildebrandt Per
Published: October 2006

Introduction:

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in patients with heart failure (HF) due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), with conflicting prognostic data. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence and incidence of AF in patients with HF and to determine the prognostic impact of baseline AF and the development of new onset AF.

Methods and results:

We included 1019 outpatients with HF due to LVSD; follow‐up time ranged from 3 to 64months. At baseline 26.4% of patients had AF. Of the 284 patients with a follow‐up ECG and baseline SR, 18.7% developed new onset AF.

Patients with AF were older (p<0.001), more often male (p=0.04), and more likely to have a history of stroke (p=0.03), but were less likely to have IHD (p<0.001). Baseline rhythm was independent of LVEF and NYHA‐class. Baseline AF was associated with increased all‐cause mortality (HR 1.38; CI 1.07–1.78, p=0.01) and all‐cause mortality/hospitalisation (HR 1.43; CI 1.22–1.68, p<0.001). When adjusted for baseline covariates, baseline AF was independently associated with an increased risk of experiencing the combined endpoint (HR 1.29; CI 1.05–1.58; p=0.02), but did not predict all‐cause mortality. By multivariable analyses, new‐onset AF was associated with increased risk of all‐cause mortality/hospitalisation (HR 1.45; CI 1.05–2.00; p=0.02).

Conclusion:

In outpatients with HF due to LVSD, AF is a common co‐morbidity, which adversely affects morbidity and mortality outcomes.
Uteroglobin suppresses allergen‐induced TH2 differentiation by down‐regulating the expression of serum amyloid A and SOCS‐3 genes
Authors: Ray Rabindranath , Zhang Zhongjian , Lee Yi-Ching , Gao Ji-Liang , Mukherjee Anil B.
Published: October 2006

Allergen‐induced airway inflammation may lead to allergic asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory system. Despite its high incidence, the majority of the world's population is unaffected by allergic airway inflammation most likely due to innate protective mechanism(s) in the respiratory system. The mammalian airway epithelia constitutively express uteroglobin (UG), a protein with potent anti‐inflammatory and anti‐chemotactic properties. We report here that UG binds to FPR2, a G‐protein coupled receptor, inhibits chemotaxis, down‐regulates SOCS‐3 gene expression and STAT‐1 activation, which are critical for the differentiation of T‐helper 2 (TH2) cells that secrete pro‐inflammatory TH2 cytokines. We propose that UG suppresses allergen‐mediated activation of TH2 response by down‐regulating the expression of genes that are critical for TH2 differentiation.
Biochemical and electron microscopic characterization of the F1F0 ATP Synthase from the hyperthermophilic eubacterium Aquifex aeolicus
Authors: Peng Guohong , Bostina Mihnea , Radermacher Michael , Rais Isam , Karas Michael , Michel Hartmut
Published: October 2006

The F1F0 ATP synthase has been purified from the hyperthermophilic eubacterium Aquifex aeolicus and characterized. Its subunits have been identified by MALDI‐mass spectrometry through peptide mass fingerprinting and MS/MS. It contains the canonical subunits α, β, γ, δ and ε of F1 and subunits a and c of F0. Two versions of the b subunit were found, which show a low sequence homology to each other. Most likely they form a heterodimer. An electron microscopic single particle analysis revealed clear structural details, including two stalks connecting F1 and F0. In several orientations the central stalk appears to be tilted and/or kinked. It is unclear whether there is a direct connection between the peripheral stalk and the δ subunit.
Flashbulb memories of menarche and adult menstrual distress
Authors: Pillemer David B. , Koff Elissa , Rhinehart Elizabeth D. , Rierdan Jill
Published: October 2006

Ninety‐nine female college students completed a questionnaire in which they recounted their memories of menarche, described menarcheal circumstances, and completed the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ). Consistent with previous research, inadequate emotional preparation for menstruation was associated with negative feelings at menarche. However, menarcheal circumstances were not strongly predictive of adult MDQ scores. Consistent with memory theory, the amount of information in memories of menarche was negatively related to adequacy of prior knowledge about menstruation: Women who reported feeling less knowledgeable at menarche provided more information about the first episode. While memories of menarche contain information that is relevant to subsequent menstrual experiences, the relationship between menarcheal events and adult menstrual distress appears to be minor.
Some effects of Indian English on the language as it is used in Oman
Authors: Poole Brian
Published: October 2006

Distinctive developments in an Arab sultanate. Relatively few people around the world react with instant recognition when the Sultanate of Oman is mentioned. This may however be changing as international news media focus ever more strongly on events in the Arab world and on the strategic significance of the Persian Gulf. There are many who misunderstand the spoken word ‘Oman’ as ‘Amman’ and therefore think erroneously of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Oman, however, is a beautiful and hospitable country possessing white sand beaches, rugged mountain ranges, breathtaking cave systems, a long and somewhat surprising history, and an English of its own.
Does Cameroonian English have grammatical norms?
Authors: Sala Bonaventure M.
Published: October 2006

This paper attempts to answer some questions that are likely to be useful in electing a norm for English at the syntactic level, such as how to distinguish between a norm and an error, where to start talking of indigenized English within a continuum, and whether the insistence on recurrence as yardstick is appropriate. I challenge the educated-usage criteria and assert that mainstream Cameroon English can only be elected in terms of the democratic and least-effort criterion. This criterion favours what I have called Community English, as against Institutional English.
Introduction: The Nordic Countries and the German Question after 1945
Authors: LAMMERS KARL CHRISTIAN
Published: October 2006

This article introduces Scandinavia (or the Norden, as the region is sometimes called) and describes the position of the five Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, during the Cold War. The Cold War created a new political situation in the Nordic region, and to some degree divided the Nordic countries between East and West and also on the German question. The introduction analyses how the Nordic countries dealt with Germany – that is with the two German states, the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic, and also describes the role of the Soviet Union and how it tried to influence the Nordic stance on the German question.
East Germany's North European Policy prior to International Recognition of the German Democratic Republic
Authors: SCHOLZ MICHAEL F.
Published: October 2006

The main aim of the GDR's foreign policy was to promote the survival and stabilisation of the SED dictatorship, and the so-called ‘worldwide revolution’, by seeking external recognition. After it was granted full sovereignty in 1954–5 the East German state carefully cultivated relations with Western countries. The Scandinavian countries received special attention on the basis of common history, natural economic and transport links, a close relationship with their respective communist parties and East German conformity to Soviet policy in the Baltic region. Up to the 1970s the GDR's main aim was to end its own international isolation. Despite a few spectacular successes, not even Sweden was won over and the final breakthrough did not come until the government of the FRG embarked on its new and successful Ostpolitik. In 1972–3 the Scandinavian countries were among the first officially to recognise the GDR.
Lernstörungen
Authors: Lauth Gerhard W. , Mackowiak Katja
Published: October 2006

Zusammenfassung. Lernstörungen sind ein weit verbreitetes Phänomen unter Kindern und Jugendlichen, das oft mit langfristigen Folgen für die Betroffenen einhergeht. Vor dem Hintergrund eines verhaltenstheoretischen Bedingungsmodells erweisen sich Defizite in den Lernvoraussetzungen und Vorkenntnissen, ein Mangel an geeigneten Lernaktivitäten sowie ungünstige Umweltbedingungen in Elternhaus und Schule als wesentlich für die Entwicklung einer Lernstörung. Störungsnahe Interventionen müssen folglich an diesen Faktoren ansetzen, um die Schulleistungen zu verbessern. Als nützliche Maßnahmen empfehlen sich erstens die systematische Förderung von Lernvoraussetzungen und die Vermittlung von inhaltlichen Kenntnissen, zweitens die Förderung von Lernaktivitäten (beispielsweise durch die direkte Vermittlung von Lernstrategien) sowie drittens die stärkere Einbeziehung der Eltern in solche Programme und das Bestreben, Übergänge zwischen Elternhaus und Schule zu erleichtern.
Lernkompetenztraining bei leistungsschwachen Grundschülern
Authors: Lauth Gerhard W. , Husein Suheil , Spieß Ralf
Published: October 2006

Zusammenfassung. Ausgehend von einem Good-strategy-user-Modell wird die Wirksamkeit eines Trainings allgemeiner Lernkompetenzen untersucht. 23 lernschwache, jedoch durchschnittlich intelligente Grundschüler (2., 3. und 4. Klasse; Altersdurchschnitt 9.5 Jahre), erhielten ein Training, das ihnen Lernstrategien und die dafür notwendigen Voraussetzungen (Begriffsbildung, Textverständnis, Gedächtnisstrategien) vermittelte. 15 Kinder blieben als Kontrolle ohne jede Behandlung. Vor und nach dem Training wurden die Schulleistung, die kognitiven Lernvoraussetzungen und das Lernverhalten aus Sicht des Klassenlehrers, der Eltern und der Kinder selbst ermittelt. Die Trainingsgruppe verbesserte sich gegenüber der Kontrollgruppe in allen Variablen; es werden hochsignifikante Interaktionseffekte zugunsten der Trainingsgruppe mit jeweils großen Effektstärken (d zwischen 0.8 und 2.2) erreicht. Im Einzelnen verbesserte sich die Schulleistung substanziell (d = 1.3) und das Lernverhalten der Kinder wird von Eltern, Lehrern und den Kindern als deutlich verbessert eingeschätzt. Die Ergebnisse werden als Beleg für die Wirksamkeit des allgemeinen Lerntrainings und als indirekte Bestätigung des Good-strategy-user-Modells interpretiert.
Psychosoziale Aspekte und Gesundheitsverhalten bei Herzinsuffizienz
Authors: Spaderna Heike , Weidner Gerdi
Published: October 2006

Zusammenfassung. Für die steigende Zahl von Patienten mit Herzinsuffizienz stehen verschiedene medizinische Behandlungsansätze zur Verfügung, darunter als letzte Option die Herztransplantation (HTX). Ergänzende psychosoziale und behaviorale Interventionen erscheinen aus verschiedenen Gründen auch für Patienten auf der HTX-Warteliste sinnvoll. Unser Literaturüberblick zeigt, dass bekannte psychosoziale koronare Risikofaktoren wie Depressivität und soziale Isolation auch bei Herzinsuffizienz Morbidität und Mortalität erhöhen. Körperliche Aktivität wirkt sich dagegen günstig auf subjektive und objektive Parameter aus. Diese Faktoren stellen erste Ansatzpunkte für verhaltensorientierte Interventionen dar. Welche Rolle andere koronare Risikofaktoren (z.B. Feindseligkeit, Ärger, Ernährung und Gewichtsreduktion) spielen, ist bislang ungeklärt. Ausblickend werden einige viel versprechende Forschungsansätze skizziert.
Precollision tilt of crustal blocks in rifted island arcs: Structural evidence from the Kohistan Arc
Authors: Burg Jean‐Pierre , Jagoutz Oliver , Dawood Hamid , Hussain S. Shahid
Published: October 2006

We describe results from field and microstructural investigations in the unusually large Chilas plutonic complex, which was emplaced within the Mesozoic Kohistan island arc (northern Pakistan). Magmatic and deformational fabrics of the Chilas gabbronorite are concordant with magmatic fabrics of associated gabbros, diorites, and tonalites and show that this reportedly huge intrusion is composed of juxtaposed plutonic bodies with predominantly SSW dipping flow structures over the northeastern part of the complex, which turn to SW‐NE striking, subvertical attitudes to the west. Evidence for multiple intrusions includes concordant and discordant intrusive and/or mylonitic contacts between gabbronorites and associated rocks. Owing to structural and kinematic consistency, we attribute transitions from magmatic to more localized mylonitic fabrics to higher finite strain (and/or strain rate) produced from drag of magma against its margin. We discuss this structural pattern and conclude that the Chilas gabbronorite emplaced incrementally into generally south dipping listric faults that dominated arc extension about 85 Ma. In addition, several sets of hornblende pegmatite indicate that brittle deformation occurred in the presence of residual melt during consolidation of the main body. The latest pegmatite set is composed of variably striking, vertical extensional veins that show no relationship to the magmatic fabric. We argue that the original attitude of these veins, along with that of the enclosing Chilas Complex, has been mostly preserved. We hypothesize that the northward dip of the southern side of the Kohistan is inherited from late Cretaceous rotation of crustal blocks in the hanging wall of the listric faults.
Identification of error sources in convective planetary boundary layer cloud forecasts using SIRTA observations
Authors: Mathieu A. , Piriou J.‐M. , Haeffelin M. , Drobinski P. , Vinit F. , Bouyssel F.
Published: October 2006

In this study, errors in cloud base height predicted by two numerical weather prediction models is evaluated using observations from the French instrumented site SIRTA. Results show that a significant portion of the error is due to errors in predicted surface relative humidity. These errors are in turn thought to be caused by the convection schemes.
Ionospheric evidence of thermosphere‐to‐stratosphere descent of polar NOX
Authors: Clilverd Mark A. , Seppälä Annika , Rodger Craig J. , Verronen Pekka T. , Thomson Neil R.
Published: October 2006

During the northern hemisphere winter of 2003–2004 significant levels of stratospheric odd nitrogen (NOX) were observed descending from the mesosphere. Here we study subionospheric radio wave propagation data from Ny Ålesund, Svalbard, Norway to determine the origin of the mesospheric NOX. A clear change in the radio wave diurnal variation is observed, starting on January 13, 2004, lasting for 37 days. The behavior is consistent with the ionization, by Lyman‐α, of thermospheric NOX descending into the mesosphere from altitudes above 90 km. Estimates of the concentration of NOX required to produce the observed ionization changes are consistent with the levels of previously published stratospheric mixing ratios after the NOX has descended into the stratosphere. The radio wave data shows that no significant proton or electron precipitation events into the mesosphere occurred at this time, and the mesospheric effects of the large storms in October/November 2003 had abated by late December 2003.
Observations of the width of cloud droplet spectra in stratocumulus
Authors: Pawlowska H. , Grabowski W. W. , Brenguier J.‐L.
Published: October 2006

This paper discusses in‐situ aircraft observations of cloud microphysics in eight cases of marine stratocumulus investigated during the Second Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE2) in the eastern subtropical Atlantic. The emphasis is on the spectral width of cloud droplet spectra, an important parameter affecting radiative properties of clouds and the development of drizzle and rain. For a given flight (i.e., for given characteristics of the cloud condensation nuclei, CCN), local droplet concentration varies considerably. The standard deviation of the cloud droplet spectra, σ, is typically in the range of 1 to 2 μm. It does not vary systematically between maritime and polluted clouds, and shows a surprisingly small difference between near‐adiabatic and diluted cloud samples. The relative dispersion d, the ratio between σ and the mean radius is between 0.1 and 0.4. In agreement with previous studies, larger values are typically associated with polluted clouds, mostly because such clouds have smaller droplets. For all flights, d either decreases with height or does not change significantly. Based on these observations, a simple parameterization of the relative dispersion d is proposed.
First results of artificial stimulation of the ionospheric Alfvén resonator at 78°N
Authors: Scoffield H. C. , Yeoman T. K. , Robinson T. R. , Baddeley L. J. , Dhillon R. S. , Wright D. M. , Raita T. , Turunen T.
Published: October 2006

On 2 December 2005 a modulated X‐mode ionospheric modification experiment was carried out using the Space Plasma Exploration by Active Radar (SPEAR) high power facility on Svalbard (78.15°N, 16.05°E), with the intention of artificially stimulating the Ionospheric Alfvén Resonator (IAR). A modulation frequency of 3 Hz was superimposed on a 20 minute on/off cycle. Local ionograms showed an E region ionosphere of sufficient plasma density for the SPEAR beam to strongly interact with the low‐altitude ionospheric plasma. The Barentsburg pulsation magnetometer monitored the resulting wave activity in the 0.5–5 Hz frequency range. Clear enhancements of the spectral power at 3 Hz were observed in the D component data, when SPEAR was transmitting and there was little natural Pc1 wave activity. During part of the interval, when high power substorm‐associated Pc1 waves occurred, the polarisation of the artificially‐stimulated wave rotated from the D to the H component.
Acetylation is important for MyoD function in adult mice
Authors: Duquet Arnaud , Polesskaya Anna , Cuvellier Sylvain , Ait‐Si‐Ali Slimane , Héry Patrick , Pritchard Linda L , Gerard Matthieu , Harel‐Bellan Annick
Published: October 2006

Acetylation is a post‐translational modification that influences the activity of numerous proteins in vitro. Among them, the myogenic transcription factor MyoD shows an increased transcriptional activity in vitro when acetylated on two lysines (K): lysines 99 and 102. Here, we have investigated the biological relevance of this acetylation in vivo. Using specific antibodies, we show that endogenous MyoD is acetylated on lysines 99 and 102 in myoblasts. Moreover, we show the functional importance of acetylation in live animals by using a mutant of MyoD in which lysines 99 and 102 were replaced by arginines (R). Knock‐in embryos homozygous for the MyoDR99,102 allele expressed slightly reduced levels of MyoD but developed normally. However, the knock‐in homozygous adult mice showed a phenotype that was almost identical to that of MyoD‐knockout animals, including delayed muscle regeneration in vivo and an increased number of myoblasts but with reduced differentiation potential in vitro. Together, these results show the importance of MyoD acetylation for adult myogenesis.
Crossed molecular beam studies on the reaction dynamics of O(D1)+N2O
Authors: Lu Yu-Ju , Liang Chi-Wei , Lin Jim J.
Published: October 2006

The reaction of oxygen atom in its first singlet excited state with nitrous oxide was investigated under the crossed molecular beam condition. This reaction has two major product channels, NO+NO and N2+O2. The product translational energy distributions and angular distributions of both channels were determined. Using oxygen-18 isotope labeled O(D1) reactant, the newly formed NO can be distinguished from the remaining NO that was contained in the reactant N2O. Both channels have asymmetric and forward-biased angular distributions, suggesting that there is no long-lived collision complex with lifetime longer than its rotational period. The translational energy release of the N2+O2 channel (fT=0.57) is much higher than that of the NO+NO channel (fT=0.31). The product energy partitioning into translational, rotational, and vibrational degrees of freedom is discussed to learn more about the reaction mechanism. The branching ratio between the two product channels was estimated. The N246O product of the isotope exchange channel, O18+N244O→O16+N246O, was below the detection limit and therefore, the upper limit of its yield was estimated to be 0.8%.
248
nm
photolysis of CH2Br2 by using cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy: Br2 molecular elimination at room temperature
Authors: Wei Pei-Ying , Chang Yuan-Ping , Lee Wei-Bin , Hu Zhengfa , Huang Hong-Yi , Lin King-Chuen , Chen K. T. , Chang A. H. H.
Published: October 2006

Following photodissociation of CH2Br2 at 248nm, Br2 molecular elimination is detected by using a tunable laser beam, as crossed perpendicular to the photolyzing laser beam in a ring-down cell, probing the Br2 fragment in the BΠou+3-XΣg+1 transition. The nascent vibrational population is obtained, yielding a population ratio of Br2(v=1)∕Br2(v=0) to be 0.7±0.2. The quantum yield for the Br2 elimination reaction is determined to be 0.2±0.1. Nevertheless, when CH2Br2 is prepared in a supersonic molecular beam under cold temperature, photofragmentation gives no Br2 detectable in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. With the aid of ab initio potential energy calculations, a plausible pathway is proposed. Upon excitation to the B11 or B13 state, C–Br bond elongation may change the molecular symmetry of Cs and enhance the resultant 1A′1,3-X̃A′1 (or 1B11,3-X̃A11 as C2v is used) coupling to facilitate the process of internal conversion, followed by asynchronous concerted photodissociation. Temperature dependence measurements lend support to the proposed pathway.
Preliminary results from the soft x-ray crystal spectrometer on Alcator C-Mod
Authors: Ince-Cushman A. , Rice J. E. , Lee S. G. , Bitter M. , Reinke M. , Podpaly Y.
Published: October 2006

A high resolution (λ∕Δλ∼2000) soft x-ray spectrometer has been installed on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak. The system was designed to measure emission line spectra from heliumlike neon (1s12p1→1s2) in a narrow spectral band centered on λ=13.5Å (920eV). The instrument is mounted with a poloidal view 20cm below the midplane (r∕a∼0.85). In addition to the neon emission lines, strong fluorine, xenon, iron, and manganese lines have been observed.
Horizontal, vertical, and radial high-energy particle distribution measurement system in Large Helical Device
Authors: Ozaki T. , Goncharov P. , Sudo S. , Seki T. ,   LHD Experimental Group, Murakami S. , Veschev E. , Lyon J.
Published: October 2006

A horizontal, vertical, and radial high-energy particle distribution measurement system, which consists of the time-of-flight neutral particle analyzer (TOF-NPA), the silicon detector neutral particle analyzer (SD-NPA), and pellet charge exchange (PCX) analyzers, is successfully installed in the Large Helical Device (LHD). In a horizontal scan, it is interesting to measure the pitch angle distribution and to investigate the loss cone feature obtained by it. The pitch angle distribution from 40° to 100° can be obtained by horizontal scanning of the TOF-NPA during a long discharge of over 100 s sustained by the NBI2 (coinjection) at the magnetic axis of 3.6 m. With a vertical scan, the heating deposition profile of the ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICH) has been discussed. The deposition profile can be obtained by the vertical scan of the SD-NPA. The region where the high-energy particle is generated agrees with the location of the resonance layer of the ICH. Similar results can be obtained by the PCX measurement, which gives radial information of the high-energy particle distribution in a short discharge.
Quasiclassical trajectory study of the reaction H+CH4(ν3=,1)→CH3+H2 using a new ab initio potential energy surface
Authors: Xie Zhen , Bowman Joel M. , Zhang Xiubin
Published: October 2006

Detailed quasiclassical trajectory calculations of the reaction H+CH4(ν3=0,1)→CH3+H2 using a slightly updated version of a recent ab initio-based CH5 potential energy surface [X. Zhang et al., J. Chem. Phys. 124, 021104 (2006)] are reported. The reaction cross sections are calculated at initial relative translational energies of 1.52, 1.85, and 2.20eV in order to make direct comparison with experiment. The relative reaction cross section enhancement ratio due to the excitation of the C–H antisymmetric stretch varies from 2.2 to 3.0 over this energy range, in good agreement with the experimental result of 3.0±1.5 [J. P. Camden et al., J. Chem. Phys. 123, 134301 (2005)]. The laboratory-frame speed and center-of-mass angular distributions of CH3 are calculated as are the vibrational and rotational distributions of H2 and CH3. We confirm that this reaction occurs with a combination of stripping and rebound mechanisms by presenting the impact parameter dependence of these distributions and also by direct examination of trajectories.
Increase in the embedding dimension in the heart rate variability associated with left ventricular abnormalities
Authors: Andrés D. S. , Irurzun I. M. , Mitelman J. , Mola E. E.
Published: October 2006

In the present study, the authors report evidence that the existence of premature ventricular contractions increases the embedding dimension of the cardiac dynamics. They also analyze patients with congestive heart failure, a severe clinical condition associated with abnormal left ventricular function. Results also show an increase in the embedding dimension of the heart rate variability. They used electrocardiograms collected by themselves with quality standards that make them comparable with other databases.
Perturbed plasma equilibria
Authors: Boozer Allen H. , Nührenberg Carolin
Published: October 2006

The force balance, or equilibrium, of an axisymmetric toroidal plasma with a scalar pressure can be relatively simply calculated. However, equilibrium calculations present fundamental difficulties when either the geometry or the plasma forces are more complicated. Many of these issues, such as the loss of magnetic surfaces and complicated plasma forces, can be addressed by perturbation theory using ideal magnetohydrodynamics stability codes. This paper outlines the procedure for carrying out such calculations and demonstrates the method by applying it to a problem with a known solution, an axisymmetric tokamak in which the pressure is increased by 15%.
Analysis of the through-focus images with boundary-element method in high resolution optical metrology
Authors: Shyu Deh-Ming , Lu Mao-Hong
Published: October 2006

For through-focus focus metric we build a measurement system, in which a single diffraction-limited micro lens is used for imaging and a grating with a few pitches is used as a target. In this system, the optical field is calculated by the boundary-element method, in which a new algorithm is developed to reduce the dimension of a matrix. As a result, the memory capacity required in this calculation is much reduced up to 83% in our simulation case. An optimization of the grating structure is made to obtain the highest sensitivity for the critical dimension metrology. With the optimized grating structure the simulation shows a sensitivity of less than 1nm in the through-focus focus metric.
On the stability of Alfvén discontinuity
Authors: Ilin K. I. , Trakhinin Y. L.
Published: October 2006

The stability of Alfvén discontinuities for the equations of ideal compressible magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) is studied. The Alfvén discontinuity is a characteristic discontinuity for the hyperbolic system of MHD equations but, as in the case of shock waves, there is a mass flux through its front. The Lopatinskii condition for a planar Alfvén discontinuity is tested numerically, and the domain in the space of parameters of the discontinuity where it is unstable is determined. In fact, in this domain the Alfvén discontinuity is not only unstable, but the initial-boundary-value problem for corresponding linearized equations is ill-posed in the sense of Hadamard.
Short wavelength quantum electrodynamical correction to cold plasma-wave propagation
Authors: Lundin J. , Brodin G. , Marklund M.
Published: October 2006

The effect of short wavelength quantum electrodynamic (QED) correction on plasma-wave propagation is investigated. The effect on plasma oscillations and on electromagnetic waves in an unmagnetized as well as a magnetized plasma is investigated. The effects of the short wavelength QED corrections are most evident for plasma oscillations and for extraordinary modes. In particular, the QED correction allow plasma oscillations to propagate, and the extraordinary mode loses its stop band. The significance of our results is discussed.
Exact linearized Coulomb collision operator in the moment expansion
Authors: Ji Jeong-Young , Held Eric D.
Published: October 2006

In the moment expansion, the Rosenbluth potentials, the linearized Coulomb collision operators, and the moments of the collision operators are analytically calculated for any moment. The explicit calculation of Rosenbluth potentials converts the integro-differential form of the Coulomb collision operator into a differential operator, which enables one to express the collision operator in a simple closed form for any arbitrary mass and temperature ratios. In addition, it is shown that gyrophase averaging the collision operator acting on arbitrary distribution functions is the same as the collision operator acting on the corresponding gyrophase averaged distribution functions. The moments of the collision operator are linear combinations of the fluid moments with collision coefficients parametrized by mass and temperature ratios. Useful forms involving the small mass-ratio approximation are easily found since the collision operators and their moments are expressed in terms of the mass ratio. As an application, the general moment equations are explicitly written and the higher order heat flux equation is derived.
Carrier transport properties of Al∕CdS∕GaSb structures
Authors: Sridaran Sujatha , Chavan Ashonita , Dutta Partha
Published: October 2006

Low temperature chemical bath deposited cadmium sulfide (CdS) has been used as an interfacial layer on n- and p-GaSb to overcome the limitations posed by the highly unstable GaSb surface. The electrical characteristics of Al∕CdS∕GaSb structures have been studied. The current transport in these structures is governed by the barriers at the CdS∕GaSb interface with an effective series resistance from the bulk of the interfacial CdS layer. Space charge limited current in the interfacial layer gives rise to an increase in the forward turn-on voltages. These structures demonstrate excellent characteristics in the reverse bias region such as high breakdown voltages, low surface leakage current, and good reverse current saturation. Significantly, rectifying junctions on p-GaSb have been achieved with barrier height as high as ∼0.6eV and breakdown voltages of ∼4.5V.
Nonlinear response of a relativistic plasma to intense fields: Generation of strong quasistatic magnetic fields
Authors: Lazar M. , Schlickeiser R. , Shukla P. K.
Published: October 2006

The generation of quasistatic magnetic fields by nonlinear interactions of two high-frequency waves are studied on the basis of a correct relativistic kinetic theory for a thermal plasma. The plasma response in the presence of nonlinear excitations is a nonlinear current, which is calculated here within the framework of the relativistic theory. Quasistationary magnetic fields are generated due to the magnetization current. The latter is derived solving the kinetic integrals in the long wavelength limit and it holds for arbitrary plasma temperatures. It also allows for deducing the magnetization currents at nonrelativistic or ultrarelativistic temperatures. The magnitude of quasistationary magnetic fields is estimated for fully relativistic plasma temperatures, where the relativistic contribution dominates. For typical laboratory or numerical experiments the magnetic field strength can reach values higher than 10 MG.
Precise determination of the amplitude of signal with known frequency based on correlated noise model
Authors: Wang Dian-Hong , Luo Jie , Luo Kai
Published: October 2006

Based on Gauss correlated noise model, a method is suggested to determine the uncertainty of the amplitude for a sinusoidal signal with known frequency in each period, where the correlation analysis and the weighting statistical analysis are incorporated to improve the precision of determining the amplitude of the signal. The uncertainty of determining the amplitude with this method has been improved fourfolds than before in dealing with the experimental data in determining limits on the photon mass.