bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kondo‐like resonance in ZnO:Eu
Authors: Blanca‐Romero A. , Berrondo M. , Rivas‐Silva J. F.
Published: October 2010

Doping ZnO with Eu results in the hybridization of the f atomic orbitals of the Eu with the bands of the host material. The strongest interaction turns out to be with the oxygen s‐p band. This hybridization manifests itself as a Kondo‐like resonance, namely, the appearance of a narrow resonant f band close to the Fermi level. Our aim in the present work is to calculate the electronic structure of ZnO:Eu in which the lanthanide ion replaces one of the Zn ions inducing a geometric relaxation on the system. We have used two reliable crystal electronic structure codes for our calculation. The program WIEN2k [Blaha, P., et al. WIEN2k, An Augmented Plane Wave + Local Orbitals Program for Calculating Crystal Properties, 2001] allows us to include the effects of the f the GGA + U model (generalized gradient approximation plus U) for the relaxed configuration. On the other hand, the program CRYSTAL06 [http://www.crystal.unito.it/] allows us to monitor the charge of the Eu ion using a judicious mix of the Hartree‐Fock nonlocal exchange term with the density functional exchange‐correlation potential. Results are presented for the density of states (both the total and the partial contribution from the f electrons), as well as maps of the spin density around the Eu ion, both clearly showing the presence of the resonant f bands. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Intrinsic minimal atomic basis representation of molecular electronic wavefunctions
Authors: Laikov Dimitri N.
Published: October 2010

The problem of finding an effective minimal atomic basis that spans the exact occupied wavefunctions of a mean‐field theory at a given molecular geometry, which has a number of special properties, is studied and a new general procedure is developed that (1) solves for a raw minimal set of strongly atom‐centered functions—products of spherical harmonics and molecule‐optimized radial parts—that approximately span the occupied molecular wavefunctions and minimize the sum of their energies, (2) uses projection operators to get a new set of deformed atom‐centered functions that exactly span the occupied space and fall into core and valence subsets, (3) applies a new zero‐bond‐dipole orthogonalization scheme to the core‐orthogonalized valence subset so that for each two‐center product of these functions the projection of its dipole moment along the line going through the two centers is zero. The resulting effective minimal atomic basis is intrinsic to the molecular problem and does not need a free‐atoms input. Some interesting features of the zero‐bond‐dipole orthogonalization are showing up in the atomic population analysis of a diverse set of molecules. The new procedure may be useful for the interpretation of electronic structure, for the construction of model Hamiltonians in terms of transferable molecular integrals, and for the definition of active valence space in the treatment of electron correlation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
The quantum theory of atoms in positronic molecules: A case study on diatomic species
Authors: Goli Mohammad , Shahbazian Shant
Published: October 2010

This article presents the first systematic study of a series of diatomic positronic species using the recently proposed regional approach: the quantum theory of atoms in positronic molecules (QTAIPM). This survey includes the LiH,e+, NaH,e+, LiF,e+, NaF,e+, BeO,e+, MgO,e+, CN−,e+, and OH−,e+species as typical examples. The computational algorithm of the whole analysis is communicated and reviewed in detail. The topological analysis of the joint density distribution reveals topological structures similar to those observed for the purely electronic systems; that is, each system decomposes into two quantum atoms. By considering some of the regional properties of these quantum atoms, it is demonstrated that the positron affects them seriously through two different mechanisms: direct and indirect contributions, the latter refers to electronic and geometric relaxations. The computational results clearly reveal the fact that the regional properties of the quantum atoms of positronic molecules are not deducible from their purely electronic counterparts; thus, an independent analysis is required for each positronic molecule. The positronic population is considered as a typical regional property showing that the attachment of a positron to a purely electronic system enhances the polarization of the electronic distribution. The concept of regional positron affinities is also introduced and discussed as a nonroutine application of the QTAIPM. The results of this article set the stage for further study on the quantum atoms of polyatomic positronic species. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Possibility of proton passage through all metal aromatic Al42− ring in HAl4−
Authors: Satpati Priyadarshi
Published: October 2010

We report theoretical investigations on HAl in which the proton can move through the Al ring similar to umbrella inversion. The potential energy for the motion is a double well, with an activation barrier of 4.45 kcal/mol. We find that excitation to v = 6 vibrational levels should lead to easy passage of H+ through the ring. After considering the tunnelling effect, inversion rate at 298 K is calculated using transition state theory and is found to be 1.3 × 1010/s−1. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Reference ranges for Doppler assessment of uterine artery resistance and pulsatility indices in dichorionic twin pregnancies
Authors: Geipel A. , Hennemann F. , Fimmers R. , Willruth A. , Lato K. , Gembruch U. , Berg C.
Published: October 2010

Objectives

To construct reference ranges of uterine artery Doppler parameters against gestation in twin pregnancies and to present charts of the pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) for clinical use.

Methods

This was an observational study of the uterine circulation in 557 women with dichorionic twin pregnancies at 17–38 weeks' gestation. Uterine artery measurements were performed by color and pulsed Doppler imaging. The uterine artery PI and RI were calculated as a mean of both sides. Reference ranges were constructed by regression of each index on gestational age. For this purpose, a regression model with fractional polynomials was fitted to the data. Furthermore, the presence of uterine artery notching was recorded.

Results

New reference curves and tables of percentiles of the uterine artery PI and RI are presented. The calculated indices both showed a significant decrease with gestational age. Compared with singleton values, mean twin PI values were lower during the whole course of pregnancy. The prevalence of bilateral notching was 4.6% at 17–19 weeks' gestation and 3.1% at 20–24 weeks.

Conclusions

Uterine artery Doppler indices in twin pregnancies are lower than in singleton pregnancies. Therefore, the use of uterine artery reference ranges adapted to twin gestations seems more appropriate for identifying low‐ and high‐risk groups. Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Linking energy and climate (before 1974)
Authors: Shulman Peter A.
Published: October 2010

Establishing a link between the consumption of fossil fuels and global climate change has depended both on scientific research as well as assumptions about the pace of social change, technological innovation, and economic growth. Late 19th century research into the role of carbon dioxide and climate focused on explaining the historical cooling of the ice ages; consideration of future warming as a result of energy use remained theoretical and focused on benefits centuries away. After declining scientific interest in the carbon dioxide theory in the early 20th century, it was revived again in the late 1930s, gradually stimulating further research that led to a more sophisticated understanding of the global carbon cycle and prospects for future warming. This research began incorporating more realistic expectations of future energy growth. In the early 1970s, scientists, politicians, and the general public began paying more attention to research into anthropogenic climate change, in part due to a renewed attention to the social costs of energy systems alongside a growing focus on global environmental issues. Future historical research into energy and climate change should examine the role of predictions and expectations of social change in shaping the agenda of scientific research.WIREs Clim Change2010 1 773–780 DOI: 10.1002/wcc.78

This article is categorized under:

Climate, History, Society, Culture > Technological Aspects and Ideas
Addressing sustainable development and climate change together using sustainomics
Authors: Munasinghe Mohan
Published: October 2010

This paper seeks to practically address two major global challenges—sustainable development and climate change. Developmental problems such as poverty are already formidable. Climate change is the ultimate risk multiplier, exacerbating the other crises too. Its worst impacts fall on the poor who are least responsible for the problem. The world currently faces multiple economic, social, and environmental threats. The economic collapse is the most urgent. The social crisis arises from global poverty, inequity, and inappropriate governance. Finally, mankind has caused severe environmental damage, including climate change. Present trends could destabilize global society. The way forward requires better use of economic stimulus packages to support green investments, social safety nets, and better price policies. A long‐term vision goes beyond our current focus on surface level indicators. Instead, deeper issues need to be addressed systematically by focusing on both the immediate drivers and underlying pressures. The most effective approach is to integrate climate change policies into national sustainable development strategy, using the sustainomics framework. First is the practical, step‐by‐step approach of ‘making development more sustainable’ (MDMS). Second, we need a balanced and integrated analysis from three main perspectives: social, economic, and environmental. Third, the analysis must transcend conventional boundaries imposed by values, discipline, space, time, stakeholder viewpoints, and operationality. Finally, sustainomics provides many practical tools. This approach is applied globally to reconcile climate change risk management and development aspirations. Some practical national level applications are also described involving integration of adaptation and mitigation policies into sustainable development strategy. Specific cases include macroeconomic policy adjustment, sustainable pricing policies, renewable energy projects, and climate impacts on food security, agriculture, and water. Although the issues are complex and serious, both the climate change and sustainable development problems could be solved together, provided we begin immediately. WIREs Clim Change 2011 2 7–18 DOI: 10.1002/wcc.86

This article is categorized under:

Climate and Development > Social Justice and the Politics of Development
Pseudogrand tour
Authors: Moustafa Rida E.
Published: October 2010

The pseudogrand tour (PGT) is an approximate version of the grand tour (GT), and an example of the dynamic data visualization methods that assist in exploring hyperdimensional data through a continuous sequence of lower dimensional projections. The PGT adds the time dimensionality to the visualization process which in turn increases the human interaction with the data and reveals comprehensive views of the data. The PGT has some clear advantage suitable for the dynamic data visualization—such as the fast and easy computation, can be constructed using many orthogonal bases (interpolation functions), and the flexibility to visualize the projections as a sequence of scatterplot frames changing over time or a static profile plots of interpolated projections. This article focuses on the implementations of the PGT, the use of interpolation functions, the extensions to higher dimensions, and the scalability to large data points. WIREs Comp Stat 2010 2 711–718 DOI: 10.1002/wics.133

This article is categorized under:

Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Exploratory Data Analysis

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Statistical Graphics and Visualization
BH4 therapy impacts the nutrition status and intake in children with phenylketonuria: 2‐year follow‐up
Authors: Singh Rani H. , Quirk Meghan E. , Douglas Teresa D. , Brauchla Mary C.
Published: October 2010

The impact of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) treatment on phenylalanine tolerance, medical‐food consumption, and nutrition status in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) was investigated. Six children (5–12 years) with well‐controlled PKU, responding to a BH4 dose of 20 mg/kg per day, were assessed for 24 months. Mean dietary phenylalanine tolerance increased from 421 ± 128 to 1470 ± 455 mg/day. Height Z scores significantly improved from 0.25 ± 0.99 at baseline to 0.53 ± 1.16 at 24 months (p for trend < 0.001). Patients tolerated more phenylalanine and more intact protein and required less medical food (protein supplement). Improved linear growth and nutrition status was seen over the course of the 24‐month follow‐up. Due to the variation in phenylalanine tolerance, dietary recommendations should be tailored to the patient's individual requirements.
Sample Size Determination for Rasch Model Tests
Authors: Draxler Clemens
Published: October 2010

This paper is concerned with supplementing statistical tests for the Rasch model so that additionally to the probability of the error of the first kind (Type I probability) the probability of the error of the second kind (Type II probability) can be controlled at a predetermined level by basing the test on the appropriate number of observations. An approach to determining a practically meaningful extent of model deviation is proposed, and the approximate distribution of the Wald test is derived under the extent of model deviation of interest.
Production of PUFA Concentrates from Poultry and Fish Processing Waste
Authors: Patil Dipak , Nag Ahindra
Published: October 2010

In fish and poultry processing, viscera are generally considered as a waste product and often discarded. Chicken and hilsa fish (Hilsa ilisa) viscera were used for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) linoleic (18:2n‐6), eicosapentaenoic (EPA; 20:5n‐3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n‐3). Free fatty acids (FFA) were extracted by alkaline hydrolysis of chicken and fish viscera; yields were 5.2 and 5.9% (w/w) respectively. PUFA concentrates were obtained by a two step process—deduction of saturated fatty acids (FA) by low temperature crystallization in acetone followed by urea inclusion compound‐based fractionation. Acetone treatment removed 90 and 96% of saturated FA in chicken and fish viscera respectively with FA to acetone ratio of 1:12 (w/v). Using an urea to FA ratio (w/w) of 4.0, chicken viscera produced a maximum of 84.1% of PUFA concentrates containing 82.1% of linoleic acid with a yield of 10% where as in the case of fish viscera the maximum PUFA concentrates were 91.3% containing 78.2% of EPA‐DHA with the yield of 11%. Thus, the utilization of poultry and fish processing waste into the production of PUFA concentrates has been shown.
MRI of the central nervous system in MS patients with and without pain
Authors: Svendsenl Kristina Bacher , Sørensenl Leif , Jensenl Troels Stahelin , Hansenl Hans Jacob , Bachl Flemming Winther
Published: October 2010

Background: Central pain (CP) is a common symptom in MS. Multiple theories are present about the mechanism of CP. Previous studies suggested that lesion of the spinothalamic tract is a necessary condition for development of CP. No previous study has in detail evaluated the association between the specific site of demyelinations and the presence of CP in MS.

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the location of plaques in MS patients with CP including a group of MS patients without pain as a reference group.

Methods: All patients underwent a bedside sensory examination and MRI of the brain and spinal cord. MR imaging was acquired on an 1.5 Tesla MR equipment. A trained neuroradiologist, blinded to pain status, evaluated the MRI.

Results: Thirteen MS patients with CP and 10 MS patients without pain were included. Allodynia and/or dysesthesia were more frequent in pain patients (11/13 vs. 1/10, P <0.01). No difference was found in the number of patients with plaques in spinothalamic tract, dorsal column‐medial lemniscus, dorsolateral funiculus, grey substance, thalamus or capsula interna. A non‐significantly lower number of pain patients had lesions in thalamo‐cortical pathways (8/13 vs. 10/10, P =0.027).

Conclusions: No association between CP and site of demyelinations was found, although a trend toward a higher prevalence of intact thalamo‐cortical pathways was seen in pain patients. CP was associated with allodynia, suggesting central hyperexcitability.
Altered nociceptive C fibre input to primary somatosensory cortex in an animal model of hyperalgesia
Authors: Jensenl Tanja , Granmo Marcus , Schouenborg Jens
Published: October 2010

Evaluating potentially analgesic effects of drugs and various treatments is critically dependent on valid animal models of pain. Since primary somatosensory (SI) cortex is likely to play an important role in processing sensory aspects of pain, we here assess whether monitoring SI cortex nociceptive C fibre evoked potentials can provide useful information about central changes related to hyperalgesia in rats. Recordings of tactile and CO2‐laser C fibre evoked potentials (LCEPs) in forelimb and hind limb SI cortex were made 20–24 h after UV‐B irradiation of the heel at a dose that produced behavioural signs of hyperalgesia.

LCEPs from irradiated skin increased significantly in duration but showed no significant change in magnitude, measured as area under curve (AUC). By contrast, LCEPs in hind limb SI cortex from skin sites nearby the irradiated skin showed no increase in duration or onset latency but increased significantly in magnitude after UV‐B irradiation. The LCEPs in forelimb or hind limb SI cortex elicited from forelimb skin did not change in magnitude, but were significantly delayed in hind limb SI cortex. Tramadol, a centrally acting analgesic known to reduce hyperalgesia, induced changes that counteracted the changes produced by UV‐B irradiation on transmission to SI cortex from the hind paw, but had no significant effect on time course of LCEPs from forelimb skin. Tactile evoked potentials were not affected by UV‐B irradiation or tramadol. We conclude that altered sensory processing related to hyperalgesia is reflected in altered LCEPs in SI cortex.
A subcutaneous polymeric opioid delivery system for the treatment of cancer pain
Authors: Grossman Stuart A. , Nesbit Suzanne
Published: October 2010

The optimal control of pain related to cancer requires the use of potent opioid analgesics. Despite significant efforts by the World Health Organization and other international agencies, oral morphine and other opioids remain largely unavailable to 80% of the world's population. As more cancer cases are being diagnosed in the developing world than elsewhere, large numbers of patients worldwide suffer from cancer‐related pain without reasonable therapeutic options. This manuscript describes a polymeric opioid delivery system designed to provide opioids subcutaneously at a continuous rate for 1–3 months alleviating concerns regarding compliance, misuse, diversion and costs. This approach to opioid administration could substantially impact the global treatment of patients with cancer pain.
Metabolic changes in visual cortex of neonatal monocular enucleated rat: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study
Authors: Chow April M. , Zhou Iris Y. , Fan Shu Juan , Chan Kannie W.Y. , Chan Kevin C. , Wu Ed X.
Published: October 2010

Neonatal monocular enucleation (ME) is often employed to study the developmental mechanisms underlying visual perception and the cross‐modal changes in the central nervous system caused by early loss of the visual input. However, underlying biochemical or metabolic mechanisms that accompany the morphological, physiological and behavioral changes after ME are not fully understood. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats (N = 14) were prepared and divided into 2 groups. The enucleated group (N = 8) underwent right ME (right eye removal) at postnatal day 10, while the normal group (N = 6) was intact and served as a control. Three weeks after ME, single voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) was performed over the visual cortex of each hemisphere in all animals with a point‐resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) sequence at 7 T. The taurine (Tau) and N‐acetylaspartate (NAA) levels were found to be significantly lower in the left visual cortex (contralateral to enucleated eye) for enucleated animals. Such metabolic changes measured in vivo likely reflected the cortical degeneration associated with the reduction of neurons, axon terminals and overall neuronal activity. This study also demonstrated that 1H MRS approach has the potential to characterize neonatal ME and other developmental neuroplasticity models noninvasively for the biochemical and metabolic processes involved.
Decreasing strain on the surgeon in gynecologic minimally invasive surgery by using semi‐active robotics
Authors: Tchartchian Garri , Dietzel Joanna , Bojahr Bernd , Hackethal Andreas , De Wilde Rudy
Published: October 2010

Objective

To assess the advantages of a surgeon‐controlled robotic endoscope holder in gynecologic minimally invasive solo‐surgery as compared with conventional assistance with a second surgeon.

Methods

One hundred gynecologic laparoscopies were consecutively allocated to surgery with either a robot as the surgical assistant or a conventional assistant surgeon. Total operation time, image stability, and frequency of corrective maneuvers of the camera, in addition to the surgeon's satisfaction regarding the ergonomics of the intervention, were recorded. All interventions were performed by the same surgeon. All laparoscopic surgery was classified as either easy or advanced surgery.

Results

The image stability score was significantly higher (10 vs 7; P < 0.001) and fewer corrective maneuvers of the robotic endoscope were necessary (1 vs 5; P < 0.001) with the robotic laparoscope holder; in addition, the surgeon recorded a significantly higher satisfaction score for the ergonomics of the semi‐active robot (10 vs 7; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The robot does not prolong total operation time and increases the surgeon's comfort by improving image stability and laparoscope handling. It could provide major benefit, especially in complex gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.
Intrarenal Epidermal Cyst
Authors: Dadali Mümtaz , Emir Levent , Sunay Melih , Özer Elif , Erol Demokan
Published: October 2010

Although renal cystic formations are seen frequently and arise with diverse symptoms, epidermal cyst is a very unusual cause of renal masses. A50‐year‐old woman was admitted to our clinic because of lumbar pain, hematuria and dysuria that lasted for 2 months. An atrophic and dysfunctional right kidney was identified. Transperitoneal laparoscopic simple nephrectomy was performed. Microscopic examination revealed typical findings of epidermoid cyst. According to the literature, intrarenal epidermal cysts are usually treated by nephrectomy because they cannot be differentiated from renal masses. To the best of our knowledge, this case report of an epider‐moid cyst located in the renal parenchyma of a female patient is the first in the English‐language literature.
Primary Ocular Caruncular Basal Cell Carcinoma in a Chinese Patient
Authors: Lee Chia‐Ling , Hsu Shiuh‐Liang , Chang Cheng‐Hsien
Published: October 2010

Although basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common eyelid neoplasm, BCC that originates from the lacrimal caruncle is extremely rare. To the best of our knowledge, only seven cases have been reported and here we report the first documented primary caruncular BCC in an Oriental patient. A 73‐year‐old Chinese man presented with a telangiectatic, multilobulated, pigmented tumor that measured 5×5 mm, which had arisen from the lacrimal caruncle of the left eye 3 months previously. The patient underwent tumor excision, and histopathological examination revealed BCC. He received adjuvant chemotherapy with intra‐arterial methotrexate (30 mg/m2). A nodular pigmented BCC recurred in the bulbar conjunctiva close to the original tumor 3 months later, and he underwent a second excision. Bleomycin (8.5 mg/m2 monthly) was added to the chemotherapy regimen, which was changed to fluorouracil (300 mg/m2 monthly) 2 months later. The tumor did not recur during follow‐up of 22 months. Malignant tumors of the caruncle are infrequent. BCC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a pigmented caruncular lesion.
An investigation of the power for separating closely linked QTL in experimental populations
Authors: KAO CHEN-HUNG , ZENG MIAO-HUI
Published: October 2010

Hu & Xu (2008) developed a statistical method for computing the statistical power for detecting a quantitative trait locus (QTL) located in a marker interval. Their method is based on the regression interval mapping method and allows experimenters to effectively investigate the power for detecting a QTL in a population. This paper continues to work on the power analysis of separating multiple-linked QTLs. We propose simple formulae to calculate the power of separating closely linked QTLs located in marker intervals. The proposed formulae are simple functions of information numbers, variance inflation factors and genetic parameters of a statistical model in a population. Both regression and maximum likelihood interval mappings suitable for detecting QTL in the marker intervals are considered. In addition, the issue of separating linked QTLs in the progeny populations from anF2subject to further self and/or random mating is also touched upon. One of the primary keys to our approach is to derive the genotypic distributions of three and four loci for evaluating the correlation structures between pairwise unobservable QTLs in the model across populations. The proposed formulae allow us to predict the power of separation when several factors, such as sample sizes, sizes and directions of QTL effects, distances between QTLs, interval sizes and relative QTL positions in the intervals, are considered together at a time in different experimental populations. Numerical justifications and Monte Carlo simulations were provided for confirmation and illustration.
A quantitative genetic study of starvation resistance at different geographic scales in natural populations ofDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: GOENAGA JULIETA , JOSÉ FANARA JUAN , HASSON ESTEBAN
Published: October 2010

Food shortage is a stress factor that commonly affects organisms in nature. Resistance to food shortage or starvation resistance (SR) is a complex quantitative trait with direct implications on fitness. However, surveys of natural genetic variation in SR at different geographic scales are scarce. Here, we have measured variation in SR in sets of lines derived from nine natural populations ofDrosophila melanogastercollected in western Argentina. Our study shows that within population variation explained a larger proportion of overall phenotypic variance (80%) than among populations (7·2%). We also noticed that an important fraction of variation was sex-specific. Overall females were more resistant to starvation than males; however, the magnitude of the sexual dimorphism (SD) in SR varied among lines and explained a significant fraction of phenotypic variance in all populations. Estimates of cross-sex genetic correlations suggest that the genetic architecture of SR is only partially shared between sexes in the populations examined, thus, facilitating further evolution of the SD.
Maternal impairment of transposon regulation inDrosophila melanogasterby mutations in the genesaubergine,piwiandSuppressor of variegation 205
Authors: SIMMONS MICHAEL J. , THORP MICHAEL W. , BUSCHETTE JARED T. , PETERSON KATHERINE , CROSS ERIC W. , BJORKLUND ERIKA L.
Published: October 2010

TP5, aPelement inserted in the telomere-associated sequences of the X chromosome, represses the excision of otherPelements in the germ line through a combination of maternal and zygotic effects. The maternal component of this repression is impaired by heterozygous mutations in theaubergineandSuppressor of variegation 205genes; one mutation in thepiwigene also appears to impair repression. In the female germ line, the level ofTP5mRNA is increased by these impairing mutations. The impairingaubergineandpiwimutations also increase the level of germ-line mRNA fromCP, a transgene that encodes theP-element transposase; however, theSuppressor of variegation 205mutation does not. These findings are discussed in terms of a model ofP-element regulation that involves post-transcriptional and chromatin re-organizing events mediated by maternally transmitted small RNAs derived from the telomericPelement.
Video analysis of host–parasite interactions in nests of Darwin’s finches
Authors: O’Connor Jody A. , Robertson Jeremy , Kleindorfer Sonia
Published: October 2010

Parasites place their hosts under strong selection for adaptive traits that increase parasite resistance. The initial impact of invasive parasites has rarely been observed and can be particularly strong on naïve hosts with limited prior exposure to parasites.Philornis downsiis an introduced fly to the Galapagos Islands whose parasitic larvae cause high mortality in nestlings of Darwin's finches. We used a within-nest camera system and nest monitoring data to examine this new host–parasite interaction in the wild. ManyP. downsiflies entered finch nests with incubated eggs or nestlings but only when parent finches were not present. ParasiticP. downsilarvae were observed to emerge from the nest base at night to feed both internally and externally on nestlings. Adult and nestling Darwin’s finches exhibit grooming and avoidance behaviours in the presence ofP. downsiparasites. Specifically, in nests with high parasite intensity, nestlings increased self-preening behaviour, ate larvae and stood on top of one another. Female finches probed into their nestling’s nares (first instar larvae reside in the nares) and probed into the nest base (second and third larvae reside in the nest base during the day). These findings shed light on the emergence of anti-parasite behaviour as well as host–parasite relationships after recent parasitism in a naïve host.
Population size and habitat preference of the Vulnerable Bale monkeyChlorocebus djamdjamensisin Odobullu Forest and its distribution across the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia
Authors: Mekonnen Addisu , Bekele Afework , Hemson Graham , Teshome Eyob , Atickem Anagaw
Published: October 2010

The Bale monkeyChlorocebus djamdjamensisis a little-known primate endemic to the south-eastern highlands of Ethiopia. From August 2007 to May 2008 we surveyed to determine the species' habitat preferences and population size in the Odobullu Forest and its range across the Bale Mountains. In Odobullu Forest a total of 136 transects of 1.8–3.0 km were surveyed over a total distance of 280 km. Bale monkey groups were encountered only in bamboo forest, suggesting that the species is a bamboo forest specialist. The density and population size of the Bale monkey in the bamboo forest of Odobullu Forest were estimated to be 121–141 km-2and 1,718–2,002, respectively. At a larger scale, we assessed the distribution of the Bale monkey in 40% of the bamboo forest across the Bale Mountains within the species’ altitudinal range of 2,400–3,250 m. We identified the areas to be surveyed using a 200 m digital elevation model and a 10-m resolution satellite image. We found the Bale monkey in five areas, three of which are previously unrecorded locations for the species. The Bale monkey is now categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, partly based on the results of our surveys. Although extensive, our surveys did not cover all of the species’ potential habitat and further surveys are required across all of the bamboo forest of the Bale Mountains and Sidamo region (the western extension of the Bale Mountains).
Would masking the smell of ripening paddy-fields help mitigate human–elephant conflict in Sri Lanka?
Authors: Santiapillai Charles , Read Bruce
Published: October 2010

Despite its small size and high human population Sri Lanka is home to c. 4,400 wild Asian elephantsElephas maximus. Human–elephant conflict around agriculture is severe, with > 100 elephants and c. 50 people killed annually. Elephants appear to be able to time their raiding of paddy-fields in Sri Lanka with the harvesting of the rice, as if they are responding to an olfactory trigger. It is the elephant’s sophisticated chemosensory system that may hold the key to resolving human–elephant conflict. Research is required to determine the odours associated with the various development stages of rice, using gas chromatography, and to find a suitable substance that could be used to mask the specific odour of ripening rice. The use of chemosensory-based methods, if feasible, will not be a universal panacea for the mitigation of human–elephant conflict but, in combination with other methods, could reduce conflict and make it easier for farmers to harvest their crops in safety. Such a combination of methods could be useful across the range of both Asian and African elephants.
The Endangered yellow-headed parrotAmazona oratrixalong the Pacific coast of Mexico
Authors: Monterrubio-Rico Tiberio Cesar , Renton Katherine , Ortega-Rodríguez Juan Manuel , Pérez-Arteaga Alejandro , Cancino-Murillo Ramón
Published: October 2010

The yellow-headed parrotAmazona oratrixis categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List but little is known about its distribution, particularly along the Pacific coast of Mexico. We used ecological niche models, with presence records from museum collections and historical sightings, overlain on vegetation maps, to predict the historical range of the yellow-headed parrot along the Pacific coast of Mexico. We compared this with the current range of the species, estimated with ecological niche models using presence–absence data from surveys during 2003–2008. We estimate that the range of the yellow-headed parrot along Mexico’s Pacific coast has contracted by 79%. The current range may now cover only 18,957 km2, in three main areas. At one of these, a small isolated area on the coast of Jalisco, the species may be vulnerable to extirpation or genetic endogamy. There is a lack of conserved tropical semi-deciduous forest, which provides optimal habitat for reproduction of this parrot, within the current range of the species. Only the south, along the coast of Oaxaca, has extensive areas of this habitat. There are only three, small, protected areas within the species’ current range. Conservation strategies need to be implemented to restore connectivity between the three main areas of the current range of the yellow-headed parrot on the Pacific coast of Mexico.
Setting conservation priorities for the Moroccan herpetofauna: the utility of regional red lists
Authors: Pleguezuelos Juan M. , Brito José C. , Fahd Soumía , Feriche Mónica , Mateo José A. , Moreno-Rueda Gregorio , Reques Ricardo , Santos Xavier
Published: October 2010

We assess the national conservation status of the amphibians and reptiles of Morocco by applying the IUCN Red List Criteria at the national level and assess its utility as a planning tool to establish regional priorities for conservation. We rely on the accessory data accompanying regional red lists, mainly distribution range and habitats used by, and threats affecting, species of conservation concern. We also correlated some natural history traits to examine the nature and causes of the risk of extinction. With 13 species of amphibians (31% regionally threatened) and 99 species of reptiles (14% regionally threatened), Morocco is one of the Mediterranean countries with the highest diversity of herpetofauna, mainly because of the high percentage of endemism (amphibians 31%, reptiles 24%). The relative frequencies of threatened species were found to be contingent on both taxonomic group and habitat. The overwhelming importance of the threats of small range and number of habitats used by species is different from the threats to the same species at the global level; this demonstrates the usefulness of national or regional analyses of conservation status for setting conservation priorities. The importance of regional assessment derives from the fact that the boundaries set for conservation management are mainly political rather than biogeographical.
New but nice? Do alien sacred ibisesThreskiornis aethiopicusstabilize nesting colonies of native spoonbillsPlatalea leucorodiaat Grand-Lieu Lake, France?
Authors: Clergeau Philippe , Fourcy Damien , Reeber Sébastien , Yésou Pierre
Published: October 2010

In spite of the general concerns about introduction of exotic species there are contrary arguments that introduced species could increase local biodiversity and provide ecosystem services. The assertion that native spoonbillsPlatalea leucorodiaare attracted by breeding, introduced sacred ibisesThreskiornis aethiopicus, and thus that the spoonbill colonies will be more stable, has been developed as an argument against the proposed eradication of the sacred ibis in western France. We analysed the possible interaction between these two species using information from a 5-year nest survey (2002–2006) in a large swamp in western France. We found that: (1) The spoonbills began to breed significantly earlier than ibises, by 15–25 days. (2) In an analysis using a grid of 80-m squares no site-fidelity effect was observed from one year to the next, both species preferentially using previously unused cells from which the other species was absent and cells occupied by their own species. (3) Spoonbills had a significantly greater dispersion than ibises. (4) The spoonbills almost always settled (90.3%) near a spoonbill nest. These results do not suggest any regular positive attraction of the spoonbills towards the ibises and consequently do not support the proposal that ibises attract spoonbills and play a role in the conservation of this species.
Learning to count: adapting population monitoring for Endangered huemul deer Hippocamelus bisulcus to meet conservation objectives
Authors: Wittmer Heiko U. , Corti Paulo , Saucedo Cristián , Galaz José Luis
Published: October 2010

Considerable efforts have been invested in recent years to improve methods for both data collection and analyses required for population monitoring. Where historical or current estimates of population size are not adjusted for detection probabilities they may be too inaccurate to provide meaningful estimates of trends and thus monitoring methods need to be adapted. Here, we use data from the Endangered huemul deer Hippocamelus bisulcus to outline a framework to develop accurate robust estimates of detection probabilities that can be incorporated into new surveys in a cost-effective way and applied to existing survey data sets. In particular, by retroactively estimating detection probabilities for surveys of huemul, we show that current survey methods for huemul are inadequate to determine population trends reliably. Based on these results we propose a new monitoring method for the huemul and discuss the importance of estimating accuracies of historical survey data to ensure that changes in the abundance of the species reflect real population trends and are not an artefact of variation over time in the accuracy of survey data.
Predictors of onset of depression and anxiety in the year after diagnosis of breast cancer
Authors: Hill J. , Holcombe C. , Clark L. , Boothby M. R. K. , Hincks A. , Fisher J. , Tufail S. , Salmon P.
Published: October 2010

Background

Depression and anxiety are common after diagnosis of breast cancer. We examined to what extent these are recurrences of previous disorder and, controlling for this, whether shame, self-blame and low social support after diagnosis predicted onset of depression and anxiety subsequently.

Method

Women with primary breast cancer who had been treated surgically self-reported shame, self-blame, social support and emotional distress post-operatively. Psychiatric interview 12 months later identified those with adult lifetime episodes of major depression (MD) or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) before diagnosis and onset over the subsequent year. Statistical analysis examined predictors of each disorder in that year.

Results

Of the patients, two-thirds with episodes of MD and 40% with episodes of GAD during the year after diagnosis were experiencing recurrence of previous disorder. Although low social support, self-blame and shame were each associated with both MD and GAD after diagnosis, they did not mediate the relationship of disorder after diagnosis with previous disorder. Low social support, but not shame or self-blame, predicted recurrence after controlling for previous disorder.

Conclusions

Anxiety and depression during the first year after diagnosis of breast cancer are often the recurrence of previous disorder. In predicting disorder following diagnosis, self-blame and shame are merely markers of previous disorder. Low social support is an independent predictor and therefore may have a causal role.
Interval translation mappings
Authors: Boshernitzan Michael , Kornfeld Isaac
Published: October 2010

A class of locally isometric, but not necessarily invertible mappings of an interval is considered. We show that under some conditions the study of the dynamical properties of these mappings can be reduced to interval exchange transformations. On the other hand, there are examples of mappings in this class with ergodic invariant measures supported by Cantor sets. The so-called μβ -sets studied by Y. Katznelson appear naturally in such examples.
Classifying C1+ structures on dynamical fractals: 2. Embedded trees
Authors: Pinto A. A. , Rand D. A.
Published: October 2010

We classify the C1+α structures on embedded trees. This extends the results of Sullivan on embeddings of the binary tree to trees with arbitrary topology and to embeddings without bounded geometry and with contact points. We used these results in an earlier paper to describe the moduli spaces of smooth conjugacy classes of expanding maps and Markov maps on train tracks. In later papers we will use those results to do the same for pseudo-Anosov diffeomorphisms of surfaces. These results are also used in the classification of renormalisation limits of C1+α diffeomorphisms of the circle.
Extending flows from isolated invariant sets
Authors: Bloch W. L.
Published: October 2010

Let M be a closed n-dimensional manifold, and let U be a n-dimensional isolating block such that U is smoothly embedded in M. Let φ be a smooth semi-flow on U and let Λ contained in U, be isolated and invariant under φ Then there exists a semi-flow φ′ on M which extends φ such that φ′ is Morse-Smale outside of U, and no new recurrence is introduced in U. The theorem is true for any finite number of pairwise-disjoint Ui. Furthermore, if Λ is hyperbolic, topologically transitive and is the closure of periodic orbits, then φ′ is an Axiom A flow and is Ω-stable. In dimensions two and three, we have the stronger result that φ′ is structurally stable. Also, as a corollary, we give sufficient conditions for the flow φ′ to be nonsingular. One application of the corollary permits the formation of allowable knots and links in three-manifolds such that there exists a structurally stable nonsingular Morse-Smale flow φ′ which contains the specified knots and links in Ω(φ′) Moreover, the knots and links can be specified to be any combination of attractors, repellers or saddles.
The flat-trace asymptotics of a uniform system of contractions
Authors: Fried David
Published: October 2010

We develop a variant of the Taylor approximation approach to the periodic points of systems of contraction mappings [Rl] that does not invoke compactness conditions. Our presentation is simpler, in that certain steps are bypassed and only one basic estimate is used (Lemma 1). We also study the distribution of the discrete spectrum for the relevant transfer operators (Proposition 2).
Local dimension for piecewise monotonic maps on the interval
Authors: Hofbauer Franz
Published: October 2010

The local dimension of invariant and conformal measures for piecewise monotonic transformations on the interval is considered. For ergodic invariant measures m with positive characteristic exponent χm we show that the local dimension exists almost everywhere and equals hm/χm For certain conformal measures we show a relation between a pressure function and the Hausdorff dimension of sets, on which the local dimension is constant.
On the cost of generating an equivalence relation
Authors: Levitt Gilbert
Published: October 2010

Given a measure-preserving equivalence relation R with countable classes, we study relations between the properties of R and metric invariants. We give applications to pseudogroups of measure-preserving homeomorphisms.
The ambient structure of basic sets
Authors: Löffler A.
Published: October 2010

Let Λ be a basic set of an Axiom A diffeomorphism of a compact Riemannian manifold M without boundary. If ε is small enough one can find by local product structure that for x ε Λ there is a neighborhood V(x) in M such that V ∩ Λ is homeomorphic to . The author proves that this homeomorphism can be extended to a homeomorphism of V onto .
Bifurcations of meromorphic vector fields on the Riemann sphere
Authors: Muciño-Raymundo Jesús , Valero-Valdés Carlos
Published: October 2010

Let {Xθ} be a family of rotated singular real foliations in the Riemann sphere which is the result of the rotation of a meromorphic vector field X with zeros and poles of multiplicity one. We prove that the set of bifurcation values, in the circle {θ}, is for each family a set with at most a finite number of accumulation points. A condition which implies a finite number of bifurcation values is given. We also show that the property of having an infinite set of bifurcation values defines open but not dense sets in the space of meromorphic vector fields with fixed degree.
Meromorphic multifunctions and stability of Julia sets
Authors: Wu Shengjian
Published: October 2010

Let Rw(z): W × C∞ → C∞ be an analytic family of rational functions, J(w) the Julia set of Rw and J*(w) the upper semicontinuous regularization of J(w). We shall discuss the relationship between J(w) and J*(w) as well as some related problems.
Reduction of cocycles with hyperbolic targets
Authors: Adams Scot
Published: October 2010

We show that any cocycle from an ergodic, finite measure preserving action of a higher-rank group to a closed subgroup of the isometry group of a proper, geodesic hyperbolic, ‘at most exponential’ metric space is necessarily cohomologous to a cocycle with values in a compact subgroup. Philosophically, this says that higher-rank dynamics is incompatible with hyperbolic dynamics; since hyperbolicity is, in some sense, generic among finitely presented groups, this places strong restrictions on the possible dynamics of higher-rank groups. We derive some applications of the main result. When the target group of the cocycle has no small subgroups, we show that the main result holds for a wider class of domain groups.
The trajectory of the turning point is dense for almost all tent maps
Authors: Brucks Karen , Misiurewicz Michal
Published: October 2010

We prove that for almost every (with respect to the Lebesgue measure) a ∈ [√2, 2], the forward trajectory of the turning point of the tent map fa with slope a is dense in the interval of transitivity of fa.