bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complementary cycles of restarted GMRES
Authors: Zhong Baojiang , Morgan Ronald B.
Published: April 2008

Restarted GMRES is one of the most popular methods for solving large nonsymmetric linear systems. It is generally thought that the information of previous GMRES cycles is lost at the time of a restart; therefore, each cycle contributes to the global convergence individually. However, this is not the full story. In this paper, we shed light on the relationship between different GMRES cycles. It is shown that successive GMRES cycles can complement one another harmoniously. These groups of cycles, called complementary cycles, are defined and studied. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A handy proof of Gay's theorem
Authors: Adib Majid
Published: April 2008

In 1979, Gay proved that Broyden's methods, when used for n‐square linear systems, terminate in at most 2n iterations (SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 1979; 16:623–630). Also, the ABS methods were introduced in 1984 (Numer. Math. 1984; 45:1361–1376). In this paper we show another (handy) proof of Gay's theorem by these algorithms. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Data assimilation and inverse problem for fluid traffic flow models and algorithms
Authors: Jaisson P. , DeVuyst F.
Published: April 2008

This article deals with traffic data assimilation and algorithms that are able to predict the traffic flow on a road section. The traffic flow is modellized by the Aw–Rascle hyperbolic system. We have to minimize a functional whose optimization variables are initial condition. We use the Roe method to compute the solution to the traffic flow modelling system. Then we compute the gradient of the functional by an adjoint method. This gradient will be used to optimize the functional. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A coupled numerical scheme of dual reciprocity BEM with DQM for the transient elastodynamic problems
Authors: Bozkaya C.
Published: April 2008

The two‐dimensional transient elastodynamic problems are solved numerically by using the coupling of the dual reciprocity boundary element method (DRBEM) in spatial domain with the differential quadrature method (DQM) in time domain. The DRBEM with the fundamental solution of the Laplace equation transforms the domain integrals into the boundary integrals that contain the first‐ and the second‐order time derivative terms. Thus, the application of DRBEM to elastodynamic problems results in a system of second‐order ordinary differential equations in time. This system is then discretized by the polynomial‐based DQM with respect to time, which gives a system of linear algebraic equations after the imposition of both the boundary and the initial conditions. Therefore, the solution is obtained at any required time level at one stroke without the use of an iterative scheme and without the need of very small step size in time direction. The numerical results are visualized in terms of graphics. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polypyridylpropyne‐Pd and ‐Pt porphyrin coating for visualization of oxygen pressure
Authors: Hyakutake Tsuyoshi , Taguchi Hiroyuki , Sakaue Hirotaka , Nishide Hiroyuki
Published: April 2008

Poly[1‐trimethylsilyl‐1‐propyne‐co‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)propyne] 1 was prepared both as a polymer‐ligand of a palladium porphyrin (PdOEP) and of a platinum porphyrin (PtTFP) and as a highly gas‐permeable polymer matrix of the porphyrin. The porphyrin acted as a phosphorescence probe which could be quenched with oxygen and sense the oxygen partial pressure. 1 gave a smooth and tough coating with a thickness of ca. 2 µm which homogeneously involved the porphyrin. The porphyrin‐1 coatings displayed strong red‐colored phosphorescences (the emission maximum at 670 and 650 nm for PdOEP and PtTFP, respectively), and their intensity significantly decreased with an increase in the oxygen partial pressure on the coating. The high oxygen‐quenching efficiency or the high oxygen pressure sensitivity of the porphyrin's phosphorescence was observed even at cryogenic temperature. Aggregation of the porphyrin was suppressed in the coating by ligation of the porphyrin with the nitrogenous residue of 1 to significantly reduce spatial noise in the phosphorescence measurement or the oxygen‐pressure sensing. PtTFP‐1 was coated on the surface of a delta wing model. The oxygen‐pressure distribution on the coated model was successfully visualized in a cryogenic wind tunnel test. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of the chemical composition of nanofillers on the flammability of polymer nanocomposites
Authors: Yang Feng , Bogdanova Irina , Nelson Gordon L.
Published: April 2008

Polymer nanocomposites (PNC) were prepared by a single‐screw extrusion approach. Three polymers were investigated. They are polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), and polycarbonate (PC). The nanofillers employed in this research were fumed nanosilica and alumina. The resulting PNCs were subjected to a thermal stability study, UL94 evaluation and Cone calorimetry characterization, to demonstrate the chemical composition effects on the thermal degradation process and flammability of PNCs. The results show that silica as an “inert” filler enhanced the thermal stability of PNCs by radical trapping and chain mobility restriction effects. On the other hand, the “active” nanofiller alumina showed an additional heterogeneous catalyzing effect during the polymer decomposition process. The difference in decomposition mechanism for silica and alumina greatly affected a number of key physical parameters of polymer melts, which in turn changed the flammability of corresponding PNCs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Wirkungsmechanismen der tri‐ und tetrazyklischen Antidepressiva. Adaptive Veränderung und Neuordnung von Transmittersystemen
Authors: Müller Walter E.
Published: April 2008

Die Bezeichnung tri‐ und tetrazyklische Antidepressiva charakterisiert auch heute noch eine Substanzklasse mit ähnlichen chemischen Grundstrukturen und ähnlichen pharmakologischen Eigenschaften. Sie hemmen die Wiederaufnahme von Neurotransmittern an noradrenergen und serotonergen Synapsen.
Synergistic effects of multiple carbon fillers on the rheology of liquid crystal polymer based resins
Authors: King Julia A. , Tambling Troy M. , Keith Jason M. , Cole Andrew J. , Morrison Faith A.
Published: April 2008

Adding conductive carbon fillers to insulating thermoplastic resin increases composite electrical and thermal conductivity. Often, as much of a single type of carbon filler is added to achieve the desired conductivity, while still allowing the material to be molded into a bipolar plate for a fuel cell. In this study, varying amounts of three different carbons (carbon black, synthetic graphite particles, and carbon fiber) were added to Vectra A950RX liquid crystal polymer. The rheology of resulting single filler composites was tested. In addition, the rheological properties of composites containing combinations of two different carbon fillers were studied via a factorial design. In all cases, viscosity increased with increasing filler volume fraction for all shear rates. Over the range of shear rates studied, the viscosity followed a shear‐thinning power law model. The factorial design results indicated that each of the single fillers and all of the two filler combinations caused a statistically significant increase in composite viscosity at a shear rate of 1,000 s−1. The composites containing carbon black and synthetic graphite caused the largest increase in viscosity. It is possible that the highly branched, high surface area structure of carbon black ‘links’ with the synthetic graphite particles, which results in increased composite viscosity. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Colchicinoids from Colchicum crocifolium Boiss.: a case study in dereplication strategies for (–)‐Colchicine and related analogues using LC‐MS and LC‐PDA techniques
Authors: Alali Feras Q. , Gharaibeh Ahmad , Ghawanmeh Abdullah , Tawaha Khaled , Oberlies Nicholas H.
Published: April 2008

As a part of a project designed to investigate Colchicum species in Jordan, the chemical constituents of Colchicum crocifolium Boiss. (Colchicaceae) were investigated using LC‐MS and LC–UV/Vis PDA. A decision tree for working with colchicinods has been developed by incorporating data from LC‐UV/PDA and LC‐MS. This dereplication strategy draws upon the UV/PDA spectra to classify compounds into one of four structural groups and combines this with retention time and mass spectra/molecular weight to identify the compounds. This strategy was applied on a small amount of extract (2 mg) of Colchicum crocifolium to dereplicate 10 known compounds from four different structural groups, namely (−)‐demecolcine, 2‐demethyl‐(−)‐colchicine or3‐demethyl‐(−)‐colchicine, N‐deacetyl‐(−)‐colchicine, (−)‐colchiciline, (−)‐colchicine, β‐lumidemecolcine, 2‐demethyl‐β‐lumicolchicine or 3‐demethyl‐β‐lumicolchicine, N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐deacetyl‐β‐lumicornigerine, (−)‐isoandrocymbine and (−)‐autumnaline. Furthermore, a new compound was identi?ed as N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐deacetyl‐(−)‐cornigerine. Three compounds, which had molecular ions at m/z 325, 340 and 374, could not be dereplicated into any obvious structural classes that have been isolated in our laboratories previously or reported in the literature. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Blastocyst trophectoderm biopsy and preimplantation genetic diagnosis for familial monogenic disorders and chromosomal translocations
Authors: McArthur S. J. , Leigh D. , Marshall J. T. , Gee A. J. , De Boer K. A. , Jansen R. P. S.
Published: April 2008

Objective

Modern in vitro fertilization practices involve transfer of embryos as blastocysts, when anabolic metabolism is well established and pregnancy rates can be maintained while transferring embryos singly to avoid multiple pregnancies. Embryo biopsy for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), however, is generally performed on day 3, when the embryo comprises just 6 to 8 cells, one or two of which are removed for testing. Implantation rates and clinical pregnancy rates have remained relatively low and a harmful effect from losing one or more cells from such early embryos has not been excluded.

Methods

We performed a sequential study involving 399 egg retrievals and 1879 embryo biopsies for patients undergoing PGD to avoid a serious monogenic disease or an unbalanced chromosomal translocation. We compared implantation and viable pregnancy rates after biopsies taken on day 3 (cleavage‐stage biopsy) with biopsies delayed until day 5 or 6, when the embryo is a blastocyst and 5 or more cells can be sampled from the trophectoderm while the inner cell mass, from which the fetus develops, remains intact. All embryos were transferred as blastocysts.

Results

Despite fewer blastocysts than cleavage embryos biopsied and tested (3.6 compared to 6.6), implantation rates per embryo transferred were 43.4% if biopsied at the blastocyst stage and 25.6% if biopsied at the cleavage stage (P < 0.01), with ongoing or live‐birth pregnancy rates per egg retrieval of 34.2% (average transfer number 1.1) for blastocyst biopsies and 25.5% (transfer number 1.6) for cleavage stage biopsies (P < 0.05, 1‐tailed). The multiple pregnancy rate for monogenic disease exclusion fell from 16.7% to 2% (P = 0.04, 1‐tailed).

Conclusions

For exclusion of genetic disease, day 5‐6 blastocyst‐stage biopsies are more likely to be followed by implantation and singleton births than is the case after PGD performed on day 3. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Production and characterization of membranes of recycled waste materials: Cellulose acetate, obtained from sugarcane bagasse with polystyrene from plastics cups
Authors: da Silva Meireles Carla , Rodrigues Filho Guimes , de Assunção Rosana Maria Nascimento , Cerqueira Daniel Alves , Zeni Mara , Mello Kátia , Lorenzi Suellen
Published: April 2008

Membranes of cellulose acetate from sugarcane bagasse (CA), as well as blends of this cellulose acetate and polystyrene from plastic cups (CA/PS) were produced by casting utilizing dichloromethane as solvent at the concentration 12% w/w. The membranes were characterized regarding ion diffusion by dialysis and properties of pure water permeation rate, PEG rejection (utilizing an aqueous solution 1% w/v of polyethylene glycol (PEG), 45 and 80 kDa). Thermal characterization by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were also performed. The morphology of the membranes' cross‐sections was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. The experiment of ion diffusion by dialysis showed that the ion diffusion coefficient of CA membrane is comparable to that found in the literature for membranes of commercial cellulose triacetate, 8.47 × 10−8 cm2 s−1, while the ion diffusion coefficient of blends decreased as PS was added to the system. Regarding transport driven by pressure, CA membrane presented low rejection of PEG 80 kDa. These results showed that CA membrane could be used in a range of application comprehending the process of ultrafiltration or microfiltration. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Partial shadowing, MPPT performance and inverter configurations: observations at tracking PV plants
Authors: García Miguel , Maruri Jose Miguel , Marroyo Luis , Lorenzo Eduardo , Pérez Miguel
Published: April 2008

When analysing the influence of shade on photovoltaic (PV) systems, the intuitive assumption is that conversion architectures with more inverters, such as string‐ and module‐inverters, will have lower energy losses associated with partial shading of the generators. However, other phenomena which can affect a system's response to shade, for example, the way in which the inverter performs the maximum power point tracking (MPPT), mean that modular configurations are not always the least susceptible to shade effects. We present a case in which the general tendency of many of the currently available commercial inverters to remain in local power maxima results in a string‐inverter configuration behaving worse in response to shade than a central‐inverter configuration. Experimental data were collected throughout 2005 and 2006 from PV plants in Arguedas and Sesma (Spain). We interpret our observations with theoretical analysis based on the results of simulation experiments. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of novel host defense peptides and the absence of α‐defensins in the bovine genome
Authors: Fjell Christopher D. , Jenssen Håvard , Fries Patrick , Aich Palok , Griebel Philip , Hilpert Kai , Hancock Robert E. W. , Cherkasov Artem
Published: April 2008

Host defense peptides (historically called antimicrobial peptides, AMPs) are key components in the mammalian innate immune system, and are responsible for both direct killing and immunomodulatory effects in host defense against pathogenic organisms. In order to identify novel host defense peptides by sequence analysis, we constructed the AMPer resource (http://www.cnbi2.com/cgi‐bin/amp.pl) that utilizes hidden Markov models to recognize sequences of antimicrobial peptides. In the current work, we utilized the AMPer resource to search bovine expressed sequence tags from the NCBI dbEST project and the bovine genome sequence for novel host defense peptides. Of the 34 known bovine AMPs, 27 were identified with high confidence in the AMPs predicted from ESTs. A further potential 68 AMPs predicted from the EST data were found that appear to be novel giving a total estimate of 102 AMPs present in the genome. Two of these were cathelicidins and selected for experimental verification in RNA derived from bovine tissue. One predicted AMP, most similar to rabbit ‘15 kDa protein’ AMP, was confirmed to be present in infected bovine intestinal tissue using PCR. These findings demonstrated the practical applicability of the developed bioinformatics approach and laid a foundation for future discoveries of gene‐coded AMPs. No members of the α‐defensin family were found in the bovine sequences. Since we could find no technical reasons these would be missed and no references to bovine α‐defensins in the literature, this suggests that cattle lack this important family of host defense peptides. Proteins 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tethering polypeptides through bifunctional PEG cross‐linking agents to probe protein function: Application to ATP synthase
Authors: Cipriano Daniel J. , Dunn Stanley D.
Published: April 2008

Chemical crosslinking mediated by short bifunctional reagents has been widely used for determining physical relationships among polypeptides in multisubunit proteins, but less often for functional studies. Here we introduce the approach of tethering polypeptides by using bifunctional reagents containing a lengthy, flexible PEG linker as a form of crosslinking especially suited to functional analyses. The rotary molecular motor ATP synthase was used as a model subject. Single cysteine residues were introduced into selected positions of ATP synthase ϵ subunit, a component of the rotor subcomplex of the enzyme, and the unrelated maltose binding protein (MBP), then the two purified recombinant proteins were crosslinked by means of a dimaleimido‐PEG cross‐linking agent. Following purification, the ϵ‐PEG‐MBP was incorporated into membrane‐bound ATP synthase by reconstitution with ϵ‐depleted F1‐ATPase and membrane vesicles that had been stripped of endogenous F1. ATP synthase reconstituted using ϵ‐PEG‐MBP had reduced ATP hydrolytic activity that was uncoupled from the pumping of H+, indicating the physical blockage of rotation of the γϵc10rotor by the conjugated MBP, whereas enzyme reconstituted with ϵ‐PEG was normal. These results directly demonstrate the feasibility of studying mechanistic features of molecular motors through PEG‐based conjugation of unrelated proteins. Since tethering polypeptides provides a means of maintaining proximity without directly specifying or modifying interactions, application of the general method to other types of protein functional studies is envisioned. Proteins 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antiproliferative effect of Scutellaria barbata D. Don. on cultured human uterine leiomyoma cells by down‐regulation of the expression of Bcl‐2 protein
Authors: Kim Kyung‐Woon , Jin Un‐Ho , Kim Dong‐Il , Lee Tae‐Kyun , Kim Min‐Sung , Oh Min‐Ju , Kim Myung‐Sunny , Kwon Dae Young , Lee Young‐Choon , Kim Cheorl‐Ho
Published: April 2008

Scutellaria barbata D. Don (Lamiaceae; SB) inhibited the growth of leiomyomal cells (LM). A time‐dependent antiproliferative effect was noted when 10−5 m buserelin, gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist or 20–40 µg/mL SB was added. The inhibition of cell growth decreased with the addition of the PKC activator (12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbor‐13‐acetate; TPA) much as it did with the addition of SB, and the decreases in the viable cells caused by the addition of SB were reversed completely by pretreatment with a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor (calphostin C). The findings suggest that SB inhibits cell proliferation in cultured human uterine leiomyoma cells accompanied by PKC activation. Next, the study investigated the effect of SB on fetal development for toxicity. Pregnant Sprague‐Dawley rats, from gestation day 6–15, were administered 20 g/L or 50 g/L SB in the drinking water and then killed on day 20. No maternal toxicity was observed, however, embryonic loss in the treatment groups was double that of the controls (p < 0.05). No gross morphologic malformations were seen in the treated fetuses. Fetuses exposed to SB were found to be significantly heavier than the controls, an effect that was greater in female fetuses and was not correlated with increased placental size. The results suggest that the SB had no toxicity and that in utero exposure to SB resulted in increased early embryo loss with increased growth in surviving fetuses. On the other hand, Western blot analyses revealed that Bcl‐2 protein of a 26 kDa was abundant in leiomyomal cells, but not in normal myometrial cells. The addition of progesterone (100 ng/mL) resulted in a striking increase in Bcl‐2 protein expression in the cultured leiomyoma cells. However, the addition of SB (20 µg/mL) resulted in a significant reduction in Bcl‐2 protein expression in the cells. The results indicated that human uterine leiomyomal cells express Bcl‐2 protein and progesterone enhances its expression, however, SB reduces the expression of Bcl‐2 protein in human uterine leiomyoma cells. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Autonomous underground tramming for center‐articulated vehicles
Authors: Marshall Joshua , Barfoot Timothy , Larsson Johan
Published: April 2008

This paper describes the design, implementation, and field testing of an infrastructureless system for autonomous tramming (or hauling) of a center‐articulated underground mining vehicle. Such vehicles are ubiquitous in underground mining, and effective automation of their tramming function has been a sought‐after technology for more than a decade. This paper reports on the successful development of a fast, reliable, and robust “autotramming” technology that does not require the installation of fixed infrastructure. Included are descriptions of the chosen control architecture, map‐based localization technique, and the results of integration and field testing. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synergist efficacy of piperonyl butoxide with deltamethrin as pyrethroid insecticide on Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) and other mosquitoe species
Authors: Fakoorziba M. R. , Eghbal F. , Vijayan V. A.
Published: April 2008

Continuous and indiscriminate use of pesticides, especially in tropical countries for public health or agriculture purpose, has led many vector populations to become resistant to organochlorides, organophosphates, and even to carbamates and pyrethroids. Development of resistance by a vector population has been one of the reasons for the failure of the control measures in many countries. This investigation demonstrates the efficacy of piperonyl‐butoxide (PBO) with deltamethrin, as pyrethroid insecticide, against the field‐collected mosquitoe larvae of five species, Aedes aegypti, Anopheles culicifacies, An. stephensi, An. vagus, and Culex quinqufasciatus, and two morphological variants of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (type A from grand pools of Mysore city and type B from rice fields of Mandya district). For testing the synergistic effect of PBO, stock solutions of deltamethrin and PBO were mixed in 1:6 ratio. The synergistic ratio and the percent suppression in deltamethrin tolerance were calculated by using LC50 values. From the results, it is clear that, PBO is an effective synergist with deltamethrin against all of species undertaken in this investigation. So, it is suggested that PBO is a good synergist in this area for decreasing the use of pesticides in environment in vector control. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2009.
Antireflux Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication Using EsophyX: 12‐Month Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study
Authors: Cadière Guy‐Bernard , Buset Michel , Muls Vinciane , Rajan Amin , Rösch Thomas , Eckardt Alexander J. , Weerts Joseph , Bastens Boris , Costamagna Guido , Marchese Michele , Louis Hubert , Mana Fazia , Sermon Filip , Gawlicka Anna K. , Daniel Michael A. , Devière Jacques
Published: April 2008

Background

A novel transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) procedure using the EsophyX system with SerosaFuse fasteners was designed to reconstruct a full‐thickness valve at the gastroesophageal junction through tailored delivery of multiple fasteners during a single‐device insertion. The safety and efficacy of TIF for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were evaluated in a prospective multicenter trial.

Methods

Patients (n = 86) with chronic GERD treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included an irreducible hiatal hernia > 2 cm.

Results

The TIF procedure (n = 84) reduced all hiatal hernias (n = 49) and constructed valves measuring 4 cm (2–6 cm) and 230° (160°–300°). Serious adverse events consisted of two esophageal perforations upon device insertion and one case of postoperative intraluminal bleeding. Other adverse events were mild and transient. At 12 months, aggregate (n = 79) and stratified Hill grade I tight (n = 21) results showed 73% and 86% of patients with ≥50% improvement in GERD health‐related quality of life (HRQL) scores, 85% discontinuation of daily PPI use, and 81% complete cessation of PPIs; 37% and 48% normalization of esophageal acid exposure; 60% and 89% hiatal hernia reduction; and 62% and 80% esophagitis reduction, respectively. More than 50% of patients with Hill grade I tight valves had a normalized cardia circumference. Resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) was improved significantly (p < 0.001), by 53%. EsophyX‐TIF cured GERD in 56% of patients based on their symptom reduction and PPI discontinuation.

Conclusion

The 12‐month results showed that EsophyX‐TIF was safe and effective in improving quality of life and for reducing symptoms, PPI use, hiatal hernia, and esophagitis, as well as increasing the LES resting pressure and normalizing esophageal pH and cardia circumference in chronic GERD patients.
On the complex structure of positive solutions to Matukuma-type equations
Authors: Tang Moxun , Felmer Patricio , Quaas Alexander
Published: April 2008

In this article we consider the Matukuma type equation

\mathrm{\Delta }u + K(r)u^{p} = 0\:\text{in }\mathbb{R}^{N}

for positive radially symmetric solutions. We assume that

N > 2

,

p > 1

and

K(r)⩾0

, for all

r⩾0

. When

K

satisfies some appropriate monotonicity assumption, the set of positive solutions of (0.1) is well understood. In this work we propose a constructive approach to start the analysis of the structure of the set of positive solutions when this monotonicity assumption fails. We construct some functions

K

so that the equation exhibits a very complex structure. This function

K

depends on a set of four parameters:

p

,

N

and the limits at zero and infinity of certain quotient describing the growth of

K

.
Hepatic gene expression profiles in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed fishmeal or fish oil-free diets
Authors: Panserat Stéphane , Kolditz Cathy , Richard Nadège , Plagnes-Juan Elisabeth , Piumi Francois , Esquerré Diane , Médale Francoise , Corraze Genevieve , Kaushik Sadavisam
Published: April 2008

Reducing the reliance on fishery by-products as amino acid and fatty acid sources in feeds for farmed fish is a major objective today. We evaluated the effect of dietary fish oil or dietary fishmeal replacement by vegetable oils and plant proteins respectively through analysis of hepatic transcriptomes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fish were fed right from first feeding with diets based on plant by-products before being killed. We analysed the hepatic gene profile using trout cDNA microarrays (9K). Our data showed that seventy-one and seventy-five genes were affected after fish oil and fishmeal replacement respectively. The major part of modified gene expression coding for proteins of the metabolic pathways was as follows: (i) a lower level of expression for genes of energy metabolism found in fish after fishmeal and fish oil replacement; (ii) a lower level of gene expression for fatty acid metabolism (biosynthesis) in fish fed with vegetable oils; (iii) a differential expression of actors of detoxification metabolism in trout fed with vegetable oils; (iv) a lower level of expression of genes involved in protein metabolism in fish fed with plant proteins. Overall, our data suggest that dietary fish oil replacement is linked to a decreased capacity of fatty acid biosynthesis (fatty acid synthase) and variation of detoxification metabolism (cytochrome P450s) whereas dietary fishmeal replacement may depress protein metabolism in the liver as reflected by glutamine synthetase.
The effects of temperature on detection of prey DNA in two species of carabid beetle
Authors: von Berg K. , Traugott M. , Symondson W.O.C. , Scheu S.
Published: April 2008

PCR-based techniques to investigate predator-prey trophic interactions are starting to be used more widely, but factors affecting DNA decay in predator guts are still poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of time since feeding, temperature and amplicon size on the detectability of prey DNA in the gut content of two closely related predator species. Cereal aphids,Sitobion avenae, were fed to the carabid beetlesPterostichus melanariusandNebria brevicollis. Beetles were allowed to digest their meal at 12°C, 16°C and 20°C, and batches of beetles were subsequently frozen at time periods from 0–72 h after feeding. Aphid DNA was detected within beetles' gut contents using primers amplifying fragments of 85, 231, 317 and 383 bp. Prey DNA detection rates were significantly higher inN. brevicollisthan inP. melanarius, indicating fundamental dissimilarities in prey digestion capacities. High temperatures (20°C) and large amplicons (383 bp) significantly decreased detection rates. The shortest amplicon gave the highest prey DNA detection success, whereas no differences were observed between the 231 bp and the 317 bp fragment. Our results indicate that factors such as ambient temperature, predator taxon and amplicon size should all be considered when interpreting data derived from PCR-based prey detection. Correction for such factors should make calculation of predation rates in the field more accurate and could help us to estimate when predation events occur in the field.
Coherent structures in bypass transition induced by a cylinder wake
Authors: PAN CHONG , WANG JIN JUN , ZHANG PAN FENG , FENG LI HAO
Published: April 2008

Flat-plate boundary layer transition induced by the wake vortex of a two-dimensional circular cylinder is experimentally investigated. Combined visualization and velocity measurements show a different transition route from the Klebanoff mode in free-stream turbulence-induced transition. This transition scenario is mainly characterized as: (i) generation of secondary transverse vortical structures near the flat plate surface in response to the von Kármán vortex street of the cylinder; (ii) formation of hairpin vortices due to the secondary instability of secondary vortical structures; (iii) growth of hairpins which is accelerated by wake-vortex induction; (iv) formation of hairpin packets and the associated streaky structures. Detailed investigation shows that during transition the evolution dynamics and self-sustaining mechanisms of hairpins, hairpin packets and streaks are consistent with those in a turbulent boundary layer. The wake vortex mainly plays the role of generating and destabilizing secondary transverse vortices. After that, the internal mechanisms become dominant and lead to the setting up of a self-sustained turbulent boundary layer.
On the rotational compressible Taylor flow in injection-driven porous chambers
Authors: MAICKE BRIAN A. , MAJDALANI JOSEPH
Published: April 2008

This work considers the compressible flow field established in a rectangular porous channel. Our treatment is based on a Rayleigh–Janzen perturbation applied to the inviscid steady two-dimensional isentropic flow equations. Closed-form expressions are then derived for the main properties of interest. Our analytical results are verified via numerical simulation, with laminar and turbulent models, and with available experimental data. They are also compared to existing one-dimensional theory and to a previous numerical pseudo-one-dimensional approach. Our analysis captures the steepening of the velocity profiles that has been reported in several studies using either computational or experimental approaches. Finally, explicit criteria are presented to quantify the effects of compressibility in two-dimensional injection-driven chambers such as those used to model slab rocket motors.
Structuring revolt: Communities of interpretation in the historiography of the Saya San rebellion
Authors: Aung-Thwin Maitrii
Published: April 2008

The category of rebellion has held a special place in the epistemological construction of Southeast Asian culture, as studies of anti-colonial movements and their underlying ideological foundations have revealed strikingly similar modes for articulating protest. In particular, the combination of religion with resistance has endured as a useful framework for not only understanding how particular Southeast Asians may have conceptualised the historical processes associated with colonialism, but for how ‘autonomous’ vocabularies remained intact and available to rural communities in times of crisis. Among the several regional cases, British Burma's Saya San rebellion (1930–32) has emerged in scholarship as a quintessential example of one such social movement where protest was articulated through a mixture of millenarian expectations, ritual and Buddhist sensibilities. This study explores the role of scholarship in the historical construction of Saya San and retraces the interpretive strategies that link the various ways in which the rebellion has been imagined. Though different understandings of the Saya San rebellion have been offered since the 1930s, the remains of colonial administrative rule lay deeply embedded in this scholarship.
Optimality analysis of Th1/Th2 immune responses during microparasite-macroparasite co-infection, with epidemiological feedbacks
Authors: FENTON ANDY , LAMB TRACEY , GRAHAM ANDREA L.
Published: April 2008

Individuals are typically co-infected by a diverse community of microparasites (e.g. viruses or protozoa) and macroparasites (e.g. helminths). Vertebrates respond to these parasites differently, typically mounting T helper type 1 (Th1) responses against microparasites and Th2 responses against macroparasites. These two responses may be antagonistic such that hosts face a ‘decision’ of how to allocate potentially limiting resources. Such decisions at the individual host level will influence parasite abundance at the population level which, in turn, will feed back upon the individual level. We take a first step towards a complete theoretical framework by placing an analysis of optimal immune responses under microparasite-macroparasite co-infection within an epidemiological framework. We show that the optimal immune allocation is quantitatively sensitive to the shape of the trade-off curve and qualitatively sensitive to life-history traits of the host, microparasite and macroparasite. This model represents an important first step in placing optimality models of the immune response to co-infection into an epidemiological framework. Ultimately, however, a more complete framework is needed to bring together the optimal strategy at the individual level and the population-level consequences of those responses, before we can truly understand the evolution of host immune responses under parasite co-infection.
The association between pre-morbid adjustment, duration of untreated psychosis and outcome in first-episode psychosis
Authors: Jeppesen P. , Petersen L. , Thorup A. , Abel M.-B. , Øhlenschlæger J. , Christensen T. Ø. , Krarup G. , Jørgensen P. , Nordentoft M.
Published: April 2008

Background

The association between the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and outcome of schizophrenia may be confounded by other factors such as poor pre-morbid adjustment. The aim of the present study was to examine the independent contributions of DUP and of pre-morbid adjustment to the clinical and social outcomes of schizophrenia.

Method

A longitudinal, prospective, 2-year follow-up study of 423 patients with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis was conducted. Patients were comprehensively assessed at entry, 1-year and 2-year follow-up. At entry, DUP was measured by IRAOS (an instrument for the assessment of onset and early course of schizophrenia) and pre-morbid adjustment was measured by the Pre-morbid Adjustment Scale (PAS) as ‘pre-morbid social adaptation’ and ‘pre-morbid school adaptation’. Outcome measures included the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), the Social Network Schedule and social information. Multiple linear regression models were used for data analysis.

Results

The median DUP was 48 weeks, which is long compared to other studies. Longer DUP was independently associated with more psychotic symptoms at entry, 1-year and 2-year follow-up. Poorer pre-morbid social adaptation was independently associated with more negative symptoms and smaller social network at entry and 1-year follow-up. Poorer pre-morbid school adaptation was independently associated with poor vocational outcome at 1-year and 2-year follow-up.

Conclusions

Longer DUP is associated with poorer 2-year outcome of psychosis in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, when pre-morbid functioning and other prognostic factors are controlled for. Impaired pre-morbid development is independently associated with more negative symptoms and poorer social outcome.
Maximum load carrying capacity of mobile manipulators: optimal control approach
Authors: Korayem M. H. , Nikoobin A. , Azimirad V.
Published: April 2008

In this paper, finding the maximum load carrying capacity of mobile manipulators for a given two-end-point task is formulated as an optimal control problem. The solution methods of this problem are broadly classified as indirect and direct. This work is based on the indirect solution which solves the optimization problem explicitly. In fixed-base manipulators, the maximum allowable load is limited mainly by their joint actuator capacity constraints. But when the manipulators are mounted on the mobile bases, the redundancy resolution and nonholonomic constraints are added to the problem. The concept of holonomic and nonholonomic constraints is described, and the extended Jacobian matrix and additional kinematic constraints are used to solve the extra DOFs of the system. Using the Pontryagin's minimum principle, optimality conditions for carrying the maximum payload in point-to-point motion are obtained which leads to the bang-bang control. There are some difficulties in satisfying the obtained optimality conditions, so an approach is presented to improve the formulation which leads to the two-point boundary value problem (TPBVP) solvable with available commands in different softwares. Then, an algorithm is developed to find the maximum payload and corresponding optimal path on the basis of the solution of TPBVP. One advantage of the proposed method is obtaining the maximum payload trajectory for every considered objective function. It means that other objectives can be achieved in addition to maximize the payload. For the sake of comparison with previous results in the literature, simulation tests are performed for a two-link wheeled mobile manipulator. The reasonable agreement is observed between the results, and the superiority of the method is illustrated. Then, simulations are performed for a PUMA arm mounted on a linear tracked base and the results are discussed. Finally, the effect of final time on the maximum payload is investigated, and it is shown that the approach presented is also able to solve the time-optimal control problem successfully.
Homotopy limits for 2-categories
Authors: GAMBINO NICOLA
Published: April 2008

We study homotopy limits for 2-categories using the theory of Quillen model categories. In order to do so, we establish the existence of projective and injective model structures on diagram 2-categories. Using these results, we describe the homotopical behaviour not only of conical limits but also of weighted limits. Finally, pseudo-limits are related to homotopy limits.
Jewish Humor and Popular Culture in Fin-de-Siècle Budapest
Authors: Gluck Mary
Published: April 2008

In hisStudy inAustrianIntellectualHistory, Robert Kann unobtrusively posed a pivotal question that continues to engage practitioners of intellectual history. Whose culture, he asked, are we talking about when we generalize about the literary, artistic, and musical products of an age? His unhesitating answer, “the culture of the select few,” reflected the dominant view of intellectual historians in 1960, the year when the book was first published. Since then, our sense of what constitutes historical relevance has expanded, and the automatic equation of culture with social and intellectual elites has eroded but has by no means disappeared.
Haydn's Creation and Enlightenment Theology
Authors: Berry Mark
Published: April 2008

Haydn's two great oratorios, The Creation and The Seasons (Die Schöpfung and Die Jahreszeiten) stand as monuments—on either side of the year 1800—to the Enlightenment and to the Austrian Enlightenment in particular. This is not to claim that they have no connection with what would often be considered more “progressive”—broadly speaking, romantic—tendencies. However, like Haydn himself, they are works that, if a choice must be made, one would place firmly in the eighteenth century, “long” or otherwise. The age of musical classicism was far from dead by 1800, likewise the “Age of Enlightenment.” It is quite true that one witnesses in both the emergence of distinct national, even “nationalist,” tendencies. Yet these intimately connected “ages” remain essentially cosmopolitan, especially in the sphere of intellectual history and “high” culture. Haydn's oratorios not only draw on Austrian tradition; equally important, they are also shaped by broader influence, especially the earlier English Enlightenment, in which the texts of both works have their origins. The following essay considers the theology of The Creation with reference to this background and, to a certain extent, also attempts the reverse, namely, to consider the Austrian Enlightenment in the light of a work more central to its concerns than might have been expected.
Constructing a Polish Landscape: The Example of the Carpathian Frontier
Authors: Dabrowski Patrice M.
Published: April 2008

In the age of modern nationalisms, the first attempt that Poles made to construct a national landscape came in the last third of the nineteenth century. The stateless Poles, subjects of three different imperial powers, somehow managed to transform a remote mountain borderland along the internal Austro-Hungarian frontier into a recognizable and important national icon. While many attempts have been made to transform the natural environment into a national environment since then, this accomplishment helped to make the Carpathian Mountains, and in particular a section of them known as the Tatra Mountains, one of the most recognizable parts of “Poland,” however it is defined.
Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of Na-K-2Cl cotransporter in adult and developing mouse retinas
Authors: LI BAOQIN , McKERNAN KELLI , SHEN WEN
Published: April 2008

The Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC) is a Cl− uptake transporter that is responsible for maintaining a Cl− equilibrium potential positive to the resting potential in neurons. If NKCC is active, GABA and glycine can depolarize neurons. In view of the abundance of GABAergic and glycinergic synapses in retina, we undertook a series of studies using immunocytochemical techniques to determine the distribution of NKCC in retinas of both developing and adult mice. We found NKCC antibody (T4) labeling present in retinas from wild-type mice, but not in NKCC1-deficient mice, suggesting that the NKCC1 subtype is a major Cl− uptake transporter in mouse retina. Strong labeling of NKCC1 was present in horizontal cells and rod-bipolar dendrites in adult mice. Interestingly, we also found that a diffuse labeling pattern was present in photoreceptor terminals. However, NKCC1 was barely detectable in the inner retina of adult mice. Using an antibody against K-Cl cotransporter 2 (KCC2), we found that KCC2, a transporter that extrudes Cl−, was primarily expressed in the inner retina. The expression of NKCC1 in developing mouse retinas was studied from postnatal day (P) 1 to P21, NKCC1 labeling first appeared in the dendrites of horizontal and rod-bipolar cells as early as P7, followed by photoreceptor terminals between P10-P14; with expression gradually increasing concomitantly with the growth of synaptic terminals and dendrites throughout retinal development. In the inner retina, NKCC1 labeling was initially observed in the inner plexiform layer at P1, but labeling diminished after P5. The developmental increase in NKCC expression only occurred in the outer retina. Our results suggest that the distal synapses and synaptogenesis in mouse retinas undergo a unique process with a high intracellular Cl− presence due to NKCC1 expression.
Kryoglobulinämie
Authors: Öttl Tobias , Trendelenburg Marten
Published: April 2008

Kryoblobuline sind bei Kälte präzipitierende Immunglobuline, die gehäuft im Rahmen einer Hepatitis C aber auch bei anderen persistierenden Virusinfektionen (z.B. HIV) sowie autoimmunen und hämatologischen Erkrankungen nachgewiesen werden können. Durch ihre Ablagerung können zum Teil schwere Organschäden hervorgerufen werden. In diesem Übersichtsartikel werden Grundlagen und Einteilung der Kryoglobulinämien, sowie deren klinische Manifestationen und therapeutische Möglichkeiten bei ausgeprägter Symptomatik besprochen.
Zerebrale Vaskulitis
Authors: Lienert Carmen , Sturzenegger Matthias
Published: April 2008

Zerebrale Vaskulitiden sind sehr seltene Erkrankungen, betreffen jedoch häufig junge Menschen und können einen sehr schweren oder fatalen Verlauf nehmen. Neben primär autoimmunvermittelten Vaskulitiden, kommt es zu sekundären Gefäßentzündungen bei Infektionen, Kollagenosen, Malignomen sowie durch Medikamenteneinwirkung. In der Pathogenese entscheidend sind die Zerstörung von Gefäßwandschichten und daraus resultierende ischämische oder hämorrhagische Insulte sowie vermutlich direkte immunvermittelte neuronale Schädigungen. Die Klinik ist sehr variabel und zudem im Verlauf oft fluktuierend. Neben multifokalen ZNS-Ausfällen kann es zu einer diffusen Enzephalopathie mit neuropsychologischen Störungen oder psychotischen Symptomen kommen. Bei systemischen Vaskulitiden mit ZNS-Beteiligung sind neben Allgemeinsymptomen der Befall von Gelenken, Haut und inneren Organen richtungsweisend für die Diagnose. Das ZNS ist bei systemischen Vaskulitiden unterschiedlich häufig befallen, wobei zerebrale Manifestationen auch der systemischen Manifestation vorausgehen können und dann eine besondere diagnostische Herausforderung darstellen. Neben der Klinik sind Autoantikörper, Kernspintomographie und Digitale Subtraktionsangiographie für die Diagnosestellung ausschlaggebend, letztlich gesichert werden kann die Diagnose jedoch nur durch eine Gefäßbiopsie. Die Standardtherapie sind Kortikosteroide, in der Regel in Kombination mit Cyclophosphamid bei akuten Formen und Azathioprin, Methotrexat oder Mycophenolat Mofetil bei chronischen Verläufen. Die Prognose der Erkrankung ist oft gut, vorausgesetzt sie wird rechtzeitig erkannt und behandelt.
Systemische ANCA-assoziierte Vaskulitis – Diagnostik und Therapie
Authors: Eisenberger Ute , Hess Christof
Published: April 2008

Unter ANCA-assoziierten Vaskulitiden fasst man die Wegenersche Granulomatose, die mikroskopische Polyangiitis und das Churg-Strauss Syndrom zusammen. Dabei handelt es sich um primäre Kleingefäßvaskulitiden, d.h. der kleinen Arterien, Venen und Kapillaren, die immunhistologisch fehlende oder nur geringfügige Immunkomplexablagerungen zeigen. Andererseits sind sie pathogenetisch durch den Nachweis Anti-Neutrophiler Cytoplasmatischer Antikörper, den sogenannten ANCA, verbunden. Trotz verbesserter technischer Diagnostik bedarf es weiterhin einer sorgfältigen Anamnese und klinischen Untersuchung, um auf die Spur der richtigen Diagnose zu kommen. Bezüglich der therapeutischen Möglichkeiten haben die Studien der letzten Jahre zu einer Anpassung der Therapieschemata an die verschiedenen Krankheitsstadien geführt. Denn heute nimmt neben der akuten und potentiell lebensbedrohlichen Form der ANCA-Vaskulitis die chronisch-rezidivierende Variante einen zunehmenden Stellenwert in der klinischen Praxis ein. Therapeutische Entscheidungen müssen deshalb neben der Effektivität auch die langfristige Toxizität der ausgewählten Medikamente mitberücksichtigen.