bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Subnuclear targeting of the Runx3 tumor suppressor and its epigenetic association with mitotic chromosomes
Authors: Pande Sandhya , Ali Syed A. , Dowdy Christopher , Zaidi Sayyed K. , Ito Kosei , Ito Yoshiaki , Montecino Martin A. , Lian Jane B. , Stein Janet L. , van Wijnen Andre J. , Stein Gary S.
Published: November 2008

Runx proteins are tissue‐specific transcriptional scaffolds that organize and assemble regulatory complexes at strategic sites of target gene promoters and at intranuclear foci to govern activation or repression. During interphase, fidelity of intranuclear targeting supports the biological activity of Runx1 and Runx2 proteins. Both factors regulate genes involved in cell cycle control and cell growth (e.g., rRNA genes), as well as lineage commitment. Here, we have examined the subcellular regulatory properties of the third Runx member, the tumor suppressor protein Runx3, during interphase and mitosis. Using in situ cellular and biochemical approaches we delineated a subnuclear targeting signal that directs Runx3 to discrete transcriptional foci that are nuclear matrix associated. Chromatin immunoprecipitation results show that Runx3 occupies rRNA promoters during interphase. We also find that Runx3 remains associated with chromosomes during mitosis and localizes with nucleolar organizing regions (NORs), reflecting an interaction with epigenetic potential. Taken together, our study establishes that common mechanisms control the subnuclear distribution and activities of Runx1, Runx2, and Runx3 proteins to support RNA polymerase I and II mediated gene expression during interphase and mitosis. J. Cell. Physiol. 218: 473–479, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Targeting of focal adhesion kinase by small interfering RNAs reduces chondrocyte redifferentiation capacity in alginate beads culture with type II collagen
Authors: Kim Yun Hee , Lee Jin Woo
Published: November 2008

Type II collagen is a major protein that maintains biological and mechanical characteristics in articular cartilage. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is known to play a central role in integrin signaling of cell–extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, and chondrocyte–type II collagen interactions are very important for cartilage homeostasis. In this study, we focused on phosphorylation of FAK and MAP kinase in chondrocyte–type II collagen interaction and dedifferentiation, and the effects of FAK knockdown on chondrocyte‐specific gene expression and cell proliferation were determined. The addition of exogenous type II collagen to chondrocytes increased levels of tyrosine phosphorylation, p‐FAKY397, and p‐ERK1/2. In contrast, expression levels of p‐FAKY397and p‐ERK1/2, but not p‐Smad2/3, were decreased in dedifferentiated chondrocytes with loss of type II collagen expression. Type II collagen expression was significantly increased when dedifferentiated chondrocytes were transferred to alginate beads with TGF‐β1 or type II collagen, but transfected cells with small interfering RNA for FAK (FAK‐siRNA) inhibited mRNA expression of type II collagen and SOX‐6 compared to the control. These FAK‐siRNA‐transfected cells could not recover type II collagen even in the presence of TGF‐β1 or type II collagen in alginate beads culture. We also found that FAK‐siRNA‐transfected cells decreased cell proliferation rate, but there was no effect on glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) secretion. We suggest that FAK is essentially required in chondrocyte communication with type II collagen by regulating type II collagen expression and cell proliferation. J. Cell. Physiol. 218: 623–630, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Electrothermal model of optocoupler for SPICE
Authors: Górecki Krzysztof , Stepowicz Witold J.
Published: November 2008

In the paper a new electrothermal model of the optocoupler for SPICE is proposed. The model is based on electrical models of the LED and the bipolar phototransistor with their parameters dependent on temperature, their thermal models including both the self‐heating phenomenon and the mutual thermal interactions between the LED and the phototransistor, and the dependences describing electrical power dissipated in these components. The final form of the electrothermal model of the optocoupler elaborated by the authors, dedicated to the d.c. and a.c. computations, was implemented in SPICE. The usefulness of the new model was experimentally verified for the optocoupler 4N25. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Universal tenets or diametrical differences? An analysis of ecotourism definitions from China and abroad
Authors: Donohoe Holly M. , Lu Xiaoli
Published: November 2008

In recent years, there has been increasing attention afforded ecotourism development in China. However, a national ecotourism framework has yet to emerge. This has forced planners, managers, policy‐makers and researchers to look abroad for guidance. And, this raises sensitivity concerns related to Chinese cultural values, perspectives, and expectations regarding nature‐based tourism experiences. This study analyzes contemporary Chinese ecotourism definitions with the objective to identify a set of common definitional themes. These themes are them compared to a set of ecotourism tenets established through antecedent analysis of definitions from abroad. A discussion of universal tenets, cultural values, diametrical differences, and the achievement of sustainable ecotourism ensues. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)‐Coated MWCNTs Tethered to Conducting Substrates: Facile Electrochemistry and Enhanced Coloring Efficiency
Authors: Bhandari Shweta , Deepa Melepurath , Srivastava Avaneesh Kumar , Lal Chhotey , Kant Rama
Published: November 2008

Composite films of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)‐coated over functionalized multiwalled coiled and linear carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been fabricated by a simple oxidative electropolymerization route. The nanotubular morphology of the polymer–CNT composite is responsible for the lower charge transfer impedance, lower internal resistance, and superior capacitive response in comparison to that shown by the control PEDOT film doped by trifluoromethanesulfonate ions. This facile electrochemistry exhibited by the PEDOT–CNT composite film ensues in a remarkably high coloration efficiency of 367 cm2 · C−1 at 550 nm, hitherto unrealized for PEDOT; thus demonstrating the huge potential the PEDOT–CNT composite film has as cathode for the entire spectrum of electrochromic devices.

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Using perdeuterated surfactant micelles to resolve mixture components in diffusion‐ordered NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Zielinski Matthew E. , Morris Kevin F.
Published: November 2008

Diffusion‐ordered NMR spectroscopy resolves mixture components on the basis of differences in their respective diffusion coefficients or molecular sizes. However, when components have near‐identical diffusion coefficients, they are not resolved in the diffusion dimension of a diffusion‐ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) spectrum. Adding surfactant micelles to these mixtures has been shown to enhance resolution when the component molecules interact differentially with the micelles. This approach is similar to that used in electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) where modifiers like micelles or polymers are used to enhance the separation of mixture components. In this study, perdeuterated surfactants are added to analyte mixtures studied with the DOSY technique. Since no micelle resonances appear in the mixture spectra, the difficulty associated with performing biexponential analyses in spectral regions where analyte and surfactant resonances overlap is avoided. The approach is demonstrated using mixtures of peptides with near‐identical diffusion coefficients. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
13C and 15N NMR spectra of aminobenzimidazoles in solution and in the solid state
Authors: Ángeles García M. , Claramunt Rosa M. , Solčan Tomáš , Milata Viktor , Alkorta Ibon , Elguero José
Published: November 2008

The 13C [hexadeutero‐dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO‐d6), hexamethyl‐phosphoramide (HMPA)‐d18and solid‐state] and 15N (solid‐state) NMR spectra of six C‐aminobenzimidazoles have been recorded. The tautomerism of 4(7)‐aminobenzimidazoles and 5(6)‐aminobenzimidazoles has been determined and compared with B3LYP/6‐311 + + G(d,p) calculations confirming the clear predominance of the 4‐amino tautomer and the slight preference for the 6‐amino tautomer. GIAO‐calculated absolute shieldings compare well with experimental chemical shifts. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Macromol. React. Eng. 6/2008
Authors: Seda Libor , Zubov Alexandr , Bobak Marek , Kosek Juraj , Kantzas Apostolos
Published: November 2008

Cover: The cover image shows a 3D structure of a porous polyethylene particle reconstructed from X‐ray computed tomography images (left). Dynamic simulations of monomer degassing from reconstructed particles were carried out (upper right). Artificial particles with bidisperse granular morphology were alternatively employed in reaction and transport modeling (lower right). Further details can be found in the article by L. Seda, A. Zubov, M. Bobak, J. Kosek,* A. Kantzas on page 495.
Metabolite profiling of fecal water extracts from human colorectal cancer
Authors: Monleón Daniel , Morales José Manuel , Barrasa Antonio , López Jose Antonio , Vázquez Carlos , Celda Bernardo
Published: November 2008

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in developed countries. There is a need for better preventive strategies to improve the outcome of this disease. The increasing availability of high‐throughput methodologies opens up new possibilities for screening new markers. The application of NMR metabolic profiling to fecal water extracts has interesting potential as a diagnostic tool for detecting colorectal cancer. We obtained NMR metabolic profiles of fecal water extracts from patients with colorectal cancer and healthy individuals, to characterize possible differences between them and to identify potential diagnostic markers. Our results show that metabolic profiling of fecal water extracts is a cheap, reproducible and effective method for detecting colorectal cancer markers and therefore complements other stool‐screening methods. A low concentration of short‐chain fatty acids, such as acetate and butyrate, previously associated with the development of colorectal cancer, appears to be the most effective marker. Concentrations of proline and cysteine, which are major components of most colonic epithelium mucus glycoproteins, also display significant changes in samples from colorectal cancer. Differentiation between fecal water extracts from controls and patients with colorectal cancer by NMR spectroscopy combined with chemometric techniques opens up new possibilities for developing new, efficient, high‐throughput screening protocols. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Attitudes and perceptions about prenatal diagnosis and induced abortion among adults of Pakistani population
Authors: Arif Muhammad Osman , Fatmi Zafar , Pardeep Bhisham , Ali Tuba , Iqbal Hameed , Bangash Haider Khan , Pervaiz Rushna , Altaf Hira , Baba Javed Ali
Published: November 2008

Objectives

Perception and attitude regarding prenatal screening and induced abortion vary across different populations. This study assesses the attitudes and perceptions regarding prenatal screening and induced abortion among Pakistani adults.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study among adults (18+) coming to the Aga Khan University Hospital, a private tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Results

Majority (65%) of the study population had knowledge about prenatal screening and it was acceptable to most (85.5%) of them. Significant proportion had high acceptance for induced abortion (23%) of a fetus that has serious congenital anomalies. On the other hand, 15% were unwilling to consider termination of pregnancy (TOP) in any circumstances. Women had more favorable attitude toward induced abortion. Most of the respondents (63%) were in favor of abortion if fetal death was imminent as a result of a congenital abnormality. Majority wanted mutual consultation of husband and wife for making decision regarding induced abortion (84%).

Conclusion

There was a considerable discord in opinion about abortion in the study population. Health care providers should involve both parents in making decisions about abortions and counsel them adequately about congenital disorders. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative voltammetry of the reduction of methyl benzoate in THF reveals strong ion pairing of the radical anion with tetra‐n‐butyl cations
Authors: Baron Ronan , Kershaw Neil M. , Donohoe Timothy J. , Compton Richard G.
Published: November 2008

The reduction of methyl benzoate was studied in tetrahydrofuran (THF), 0.1 M TBAP, both at platinum and glassy carbon macroelectrodes and at platinum microelectrodes. While cyclic voltammograms obtained at macroelectrodes show extensive distortion due to ohmic drop, this distortion is negligible for cyclic voltammograms obtained at microelectrodes. The system methyl benzoate/methyl benzoate radical anion was found to be chemically reversible. The fitting of chronoamperometric measurements using the Shoup and Szabo's expression obtained at microdisc electrodes allowed us to estimate the diffusion coefficient of methyl benzoate. Cyclic voltammetry was modelled allowing the determination of the formal potential, $E_f^0$, of the transfer coefficient, α, and of the standard heterogeneous kinetic constant for the electron transfer, k 0. Furthermore, it was found that the diffusion coefficient for the radical anion produced at the electrode surface has an apparent value of 2.1 × 10−6 ± 0.5 cm2 s−1 (25 °C) which is ca. 10 times smaller than the value obtained for the diffusion coefficient of methyl benzoate (2.1 × 10−5 ± 0.1 cm2 s−1). Taking into account the species present in solution, this result could only be explained by a strong ion pairing between the methyl benzoate anion radical and the tetra‐n‐butylammonium cation used as an electrolyte ion in the solution. The ion pair is found to be stable on the time scale of cyclic voltammetry and no evidence of any following homogeneous chemical reaction was found. Further studies involved the performance of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry at low temperatures (down up to −81 °C) and the analysis of this data allowed the determination of the activation energy, E A, through an Arrhenius plot, both for the diffusion coefficient and for the electron transfer reaction. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A simple model of coupled synoptic waves in the land surface and atmosphere of the northern Sahel
Authors: Parker Douglas J.
Published: November 2008

A simple dynamic model is developed to describe the observed interactions between the atmosphere and the soil moisture patterns of the northern Sahel. In the model, the atmosphere follows quasi‐geostrophic dynamics, while land‐atmosphere coupling is described by simple linear relationships. Dry surfaces heat the atmospheric boundary layer, while wet surfaces cool the boundary layer, relative to the equilibrium state of the atmosphere and land surface. In turn, cloud processes, which are assumed to maximise in the cool, humid phase of an atmospheric disturbance, cool the land surface through wetting (rainfall) and reduction of the incoming solar flux. These assumptions lead to a linear system which can be solved numerically to obtain modal solutions, and the adjoints (optimal excitation) of these. Moist convective influences on the atmospheric state are not explored in detail.

The coupling with the land surface leads to the existence of unstable modes, which do not exist in the atmosphere‐only part of the system. Solutions can be easterly or westerly propagating, according to wave number, with the longer waves tending to be easterly. Propagation relies on a favourable configuration between the atmospheric and soil moisture anomalies: easterly propagation requires the surface temperature pattern to be shifted to the east of the atmospheric temperature pattern. In contrast, optimal excitation of the fastest‐growing mode occurs when the atmospheric pattern has a thermal anomaly lying to the east of a strong surface temperature (and moisture) anomaly. These results have value for weather prediction, and indicate the usefulness of soil moisture data for forecasters. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
An alternative evaluation of FMEA: Fuzzy ART algorithm
Authors: Keskin Gülşen Aydın , Özkan Coşkun
Published: November 2008

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a technique used in the manufacturing industry to improve production quality and productivity. It is a method that evaluates possible failures in the system, design, process or service. It aims to continuously improve and decrease these kinds of failure modes. Adaptive Resonance Theory (ART) is one of the learning algorithms without consultants, which are developed for clustering problems in artificial neural networks. In the FMEA method, every failure mode in the system is analyzed according to severity, occurrence and detection. Then, risk priority number (RPN) is acquired by multiplication of these three factors and the necessary failures are improved with respect to the determined threshold value. In addition, there exist many shortcomings of the traditional FMEA method, which affect its efficiency and thus limit its realization. To respond to these difficulties, this study introduces the method named Fuzzy Adaptive Resonance Theory (Fuzzy ART), one of the ART networks, to evaluate RPN in FMEA. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A continual improvement framework with integration of CMMI and six‐sigma model for auto industry
Authors: Lin Lie‐Chien , Li Tzu‐Su , Kiang Judy P.
Published: November 2008

During the recent years, the major driving forces of customer preference, vehicle safety, environmental protection, and flat demand for new cars led to a proliferation of car models and associated price reduction in the auto supply chain. To react to the complex and competitive environment, auto suppliers are urgent to conduct continual improvement (CI) in an effective and systematic way. Thus, this paper presents a framework for CI. The Integrated Development System is proposed to integrate both capability maturity model integration and six‐sigma approach. By implementing the framework, an automaker can establish a solid process‐based management system, identify critical processes, and optimize these processes. For demonstrating the application of this framework, a case study is presented and the result shows that all expected processes' performance targets are achieved, which has dramatically improved by 70% compared with the past records. Apparently, the proposed framework would act as a useful reference to improve an organization's process maturity. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Approximations of tolerance intervals for normally distributed data
Authors: Jensen Willis A.
Published: November 2008

Tolerance intervals are lesser known relatives of confidence and prediction intervals. They can be very useful in many situations to make product or process quality assessments. Even for normally distributed data, their calculation is less trivial than confidence and prediction intervals, which makes them underutilized in practice. In addition, they are not always readily available in statistical software packages. As a result, there have been several approximate methods proposed in the literature to calculate them. After a review of tolerance intervals and their variations, we investigate those approximations and compare them with the exact values for one‐sided and two‐sided intervals. We first propose a modification of an approximation for a one‐sided interval. Then we propose new approximations for two‐sided intervals based on Bonferroni's Inequality. We find that these approximations are extremely satisfactory for practical applications. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Wireless digital control of continuous passive plants over token ring networks
Authors: Kottenstette Nicholas , Antsaklis Panos J.
Published: November 2008

In a recent paper we have shown howwave variablescan be used to interconnectpassiveplants withpassivecontrollers such that the system remainsl2‐stable in spite of time‐varying delays and data dropouts. The present paper further enhances these results by providing a detailed model that captures time‐varying delays, data dropouts and network capacity for wireless ring token networks. It also provides a new theorem showing how an asynchronous controller can be implemented, which maintains anl2‐stable system. Simulations show that the asynchronous control of apassivemotor reduces the overall distortion when compared with a synchronous controller which relies on lossy data reduction techniques. These two distinct results pave the way to study high‐performance rate‐adaptive control schemes that minimize their control rate in order to match the network capacity. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Global continuous finite‐time tracking of robot manipulators
Authors: Su Yuxin
Published: November 2008

This paper addresses the global finite‐time tracking of robot manipulators. The commonly used linear proportional‐derivative (PD) plus (PD+) scheme is extended to achieve the global finite‐time tracking by replacing the linear errors with nonsmooth but continuous exponential errors. The global finite‐time stability of the closed loop with the proposed nonlinear PD plus control is shown using Lyapunov's direct method and finite‐time stability. Simulations performed on a two‐degree‐of‐freedom manipulator are provided to illustrate the effectiveness and the improved performance of the formulated algorithm. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vaastu Shastra: Towards sustainable development
Authors: Patra Reena
Published: November 2008

This article discusses Vaastu Shastra (an ancient Indian knowledge of architecture) in relation to the idea of sustainable development. It informs the complicated problems of urbanization and overpopulated cities of today. By drawing attention towards Vaastu Shastra, this paper discusses the built form of Indian settlements and explores the possibility of creating a living environment that is self‐sufficient, ecologically balanced and culturally stimulating. It explains the concept of sustainable development based on ancient Indian traditional knowledge, through its culture, heritage and orientation towards forest sustainability, as a way to address elements within sustainable development. Further, the fundamental principles, the relevance of Vaastu‐Purusha‐Mandala and the history of Vaastu Shastra are highlighted with discussions on its philosophical and social aspects. Last, an attempt has also been made to create a close relationship between Vaastu Shastra and sustainable development that can redefine the present form of planning human settlement. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
A Simplified Isolation of High‐Amylose Maize Starch Using Neutral Proteases
Authors: Wittrock Eric , Jiang Hongxin , Campbell Mark , Campbell Margaret , Jane Jay‐lin , Anih Edjike , Wang Ya‐Jane
Published: November 2008

Breeding projects aimed at increasing starch amylose would benefit by having a rapid starch extraction method requiring only non‐hazardous reagents and leaving the native granule intact for functional analyses. A study was, therefore, designed to investigate the use of a neutral protease for the removal of protein during the starch extraction process from the grain of high‐amylose corn. Sets of F2 ears presumed to be homozygous for the recessive amylose‐extender (ae) allele and segregating high amylose modifier gene(s) were used in the study and ranged in amylose content from 55% to around 70%, although several non‐mutant genotypes (˜25%) occurred because of visual misclassification of the ae kernels. Starches from samples were all initially extracted by grinding and filtering, then further treated in three ways including either 1) no protein removal, 2) toluene and saline washes or 3) use of neutral proteases. In general, amylose values corresponded among samples extracted using the three methods. Samples purified using proteases had higher mean amylose values (62.5%) attributed to the lower presence of contaminating protein compared to samples prepared with toluene (61%) and grinding/filtration only (57.5%). Little change occurred among the starches as a result of the protease treatments according to thermal properties obtained using differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, gel permeation chromatography profiles (GPC) were unaffected by this treatment. A low level of amylase activity from the protease was found which degraded less than 1% of the starch sample. The results demonstrated that this protease method gave an increased yield of starch with a quality similar to that of starch prepared with toluene.
Aliphatic Amidediol and Glycerol as a Mixed Plasticizer for the Preparation of Thermoplastic Starch
Authors: Zhang Jian‐she , Chang Peter R. , Wu Ying , Yu Jiu‐gao , Ma Xiao‐fei
Published: November 2008

The synthesis of 2‐hydroxy‐N‐[2‐(2‐hydroxy‐propionylamino)‐ethyl]propionamide (“aliphatic amidediol”) is described. Aliphatic amidediol and glycerol were used as a novel mixed plasticizer for corn starch to prepare thermoplastic starch. Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy proved that the mixture of aliphatic amidediol and glycerol could form more stable and strong hydrogen bonds with starch molecules than glycerol alone. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) it was proven that native starch granules and crystalline structures were broken and starch was plasticized. Tensile testing revealed that TPS plasticized by aliphatic amidediol and glycerol (AGPTPS) showed a better mechanical properties than TPS plasticized by glycerol (GPTPS). Furthermore, the water resistance of AGPTPS was better than that of GPTPS. In addition, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) showed that both storage modulus and glass transition temperature (Tg) of AGPTPS were higher than those of GPTPS.
Results of an Observational Study in Carotid Surgery Using Absorbable Suture Material
Authors: Aleksic Marko , Uedelhoven Jan , Matoussevitch Vladimir , Luebke Thomas , Tomagra Salvatore , Krug Barbara , Brunkwall Jan
Published: November 2008

Background

Absorbable sutures are not well accepted for reconstruction in high‐pressure arterial segments because the suture line might break and aneurysmal changes could develop. This hypothesis was checked in the clinical setting of carotid surgery.

Methods

The morphology of the carotid artery was evaluated by color‐coded ultrasound in four groups of patients: group A, 25 patients who underwent standard carotid endarterectomy and patchplasty, including a transverse plication for which absorbable sutures had been used; group B, 10 patients who underwent eversion endarterectomy and reinsertion using absorbable sutures; group C, 15 patients who underwent standard carotid endarterectomy and patchplasty without a transverse placation; group D, 20 patients who suffered from atherosclerotic disease but did not have previous carotid surgery or other carotid pathology. All operations had been performed at least 3 years earlier than the actual examination.

Results

Along the internal carotid artery, where an aneurysmal change would have been expected to occur, no differences in absolute size or calculated elliptical cross‐sectional vessel area were found. Patients after eversion endarterectomy did not show signs of aneurysmal changes in the area of reinsertion at the carotid bifurcation.

Conclusions

Even in the long‐term, for this group of patients, no significant aneurysmal changes of arterial reconstructions in carotid surgery performed with absorbable sutures were observed.
From market to plan: Lessons from Brazilian power reforms on reducing risks in the provision of public services
Authors: Tankha Sunil
Published: November 2008

After suffering through severe electricity rationing in 2001, Brazilian power planners developed a New Model for the Electric Power Industry. The model eschews typical decentralised wholesale power market designs in favour of a modified single buyer market. Prioritising security of supply, this model seeks to balance state and private sector roles and integrate planning and competitive elements to reduce speculation and volatility in power markets. This article explains how problems with the Brazilian power reforms led to this innovative model and illustrates useful lessons for developing countries searching concrete policy proposals to reform their power sectors.
Relationship between nasal cavity volume changes and nasalance
Authors: Birkent H , Erol U , Ciyiltepe M , Eadie T L , Durmaz A , Tosun F
Published: November 2008

Objectives:

The patency and volume of the nasal cavity affect the acoustic characteristics of the voice. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a nasal decongestant on nasal volumes and nasalance scores, and to determine the relationship between these measures.

Methods:

Acoustic rhinometry and nasometry were performed in a group of 21 adult volunteers both prior to and following application of a nasal decongestant. The relationship between changes in nasalance scores and acoustic rhinometric parameters was investigated.

Results:

After the application of nasal decongestant, statistically significant increases were observed in nasalance scores and in all of the acoustic rhinometric parameters assessed (i.e. minimal cross-sectional area, three cross-sectional areas, three volumes and total volume). However, no significant correlation was found between the changes in nasalance scores and acoustic rhinometric parameters.

Conclusions:

Nasal decongestion causes an increase in nasalance scores and nasal cavity volumes. However, the findings of this study indicate that changes in nasalance scores may result from factors other than nasal cavity volume changes.
Large vestibular aqueduct syndrome and endolymphatic hydrops: two presentations of a common primary inner-ear dysfunction?
Authors: Spiegel J H , Lalwani A K
Published: November 2008

Objective:

To present the theory that large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (i.e. the recognised existence of an enlarged vestibular aqueduct with progressive sensorineural hearing loss) and endolymphatic hydrops are due to a common primary dysfunction of inner-ear fluid homeostasis.

Method:

Case report and review of the world literature concerning large vestibular aqueduct syndrome and endolymphatic hydrops.

Results:

We report a family in which one sibling suffered from large vestibular aqueduct syndrome while the other had classic Ménière's disease. This suggests that large vestibular aqueduct syndrome and endolymphatic hydrops, in some cases, may be due to a common primary dysfunction of inner-ear fluid homeostasis.

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, this is the first report in the world literature to postulate that variation in the relative compliance of inner-ear membranes could be the factor that determines the manifestation of the disorder as either endolymphatic hydrops or large vestibular aqueduct syndrome.
The influence of emotion clarity on emotional prosody identification in paranoid schizophrenia
Authors: Bach D. R. , Buxtorf K. , Grandjean D. , Strik W. K.
Published: November 2008

Background

Identification of emotional facial expression and emotional prosody (i.e. speech melody) is often impaired in schizophrenia. For facial emotion identification, a recent study suggested that the relative deficit in schizophrenia is enhanced when the presented emotion is easier to recognize. It is unclear whether this effect is specific to face processing or part of a more general emotion recognition deficit.

Method

We used clarity-graded emotional prosodic stimuli without semantic content, and tested 25 in-patients with paranoid schizophrenia, 25 healthy control participants and 25 depressive in-patients on emotional prosody identification. Facial expression identification was used as a control task.

Results

Patients with paranoid schizophrenia performed worse than both control groups in identifying emotional prosody, with no specific deficit in any individual emotion category. This deficit was present in high-clarity but not in low-clarity stimuli. Performance in facial control tasks was also impaired, with identification of emotional facial expression being a better predictor of emotional prosody identification than illness-related factors. Of those, negative symptoms emerged as the best predictor for emotional prosody identification.

Conclusions

This study suggests a general deficit in identifying high-clarity emotional cues. This finding is in line with the hypothesis that schizophrenia is characterized by high noise in internal representations and by increased fluctuations in cerebral networks.
HIGH AND LOW: TIES OF DEPENDENCE IN THE FRANKISH KINGDOMS
Authors: Rio Alice
Published: November 2008

Our understanding of ties of loyalty and dependence formed at the level of the Carolingian political elite has been much improved by a great deal of excellent recent research. As mutually beneficial relationships freely entered into, they tend to be sharply distinguished from ties of dependence involving members from the lower echelons of society: the latter ties, on the contrary, are usually seen as the result of coercion, and they were long seen as emblematic of the increasingly oppressive control of local lords. Commendation for these less powerful members of society is thus often seen as tantamount to forfeiting free status. Because oppression, for legitimate reasons, has been so strongly emphasised in historical treatments of this type of relationship, paradoxically little attention has been given to what influence the lower-status party may have had on the proceedings, the extent of their negotiating ability or the range of duties and benefits involved in such agreements. But not all lower-status people made the same deals: the Frankish formularies, an important source of evidence regarding such arrangements, show a complicated situation, indicating that ties formed at this lower level need to be treated with as much nuance as higher-status relationships.
TEXT, VISUALISATION AND POLITICS: LONDON, 1150–1250
Authors: Keene Derek
Published: November 2008

Focusing on London, the paper discusses the interaction between theoretical, descriptive and quasi-historical writing about cities, a growing capacity to visualise city landscape and activities, and forms of graphic representation that drew on those ideas. Reading this interplay as a political space, the paper explores the structure, content and purposes of the ‘London Collection’ of national laws, pseudo-laws and city customs put together in London at about the time of Magna Carta. Though no more than a preliminary investigation, the exercise reveals the extent to which London interests, especially with regard to the politics of international trade, the ‘law of London’, earlier episodes of communal activism and a sense of London's historic destiny within that of the nation pervade the collection as a whole. This casts some doubt on the supposed antiquity of some of the London laws in the collection, which may well have been adjusted for the occasion.
THE LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLISM OF CONQUEST IN IRELAND,c. 1790–1850
Authors: Hill Jacqueline
Published: November 2008

The question of whether Ireland had been conquered by England has received some attention from historians of eighteenth-century Ireland, mainly because it preoccupied William Molyneux, author of the influentialThe Case of Ireland . . . Stated(1698). Molyneux defended Irish parliamentary rights by denying the reality of a medieval conquest of Ireland by English monarchs, but he did allow for what could be called ‘aristocratic conquest’. The seventeenth century, too, had left a legacy of conquest, and this paper examines evidence of consciousness among Irish Protestants of descent from ancestral conquerors. It considers how and why this consciousness took a more pronounced sectarian turn during the 1790s. Williamite anniversaries, increasingly associated with the Orange Order, became identified in the Catholic mind as symbolic reminders of conquest. Thanks to the protracted struggle for ‘Catholic emancipation’, this issue continued to feature in political debate about Ireland well into the nineteenth century, while the passing of the Act of Union (1800) revitalised the older debate about whether England could be said to have conquered Ireland. Liberal Protestants and Catholics contended that England had invariably intervened to prevent any possibility of reconciliation between conquerors and conquered. Thus the language of conquest remained highly adaptable.
Direct and indirect cues to knowledge states during word learning
Authors: SAYLOR MEGAN M. , CARROLL C. BROOKE
Published: November 2008

The present study investigated three-year-olds' sensitivity to direct and indirect cues to others' knowledge states for word learning purposes. Children were given either direct, physical cues to knowledge or indirect, verbal cues to knowledge. Preschoolers revealed a better ability to learn words from a speaker following direct, physical cues to their knowledge state. Implications for children's emerging pragmatic competence are discussed.
Boundary blow-up elliptic problems with nonlinear gradient terms and singular weights
Authors: Zhang Zhijun
Published: November 2008

By Karamata regular variation theory, a perturbation method and construction of comparison functions, we show the exact asymptotic behaviour of solutions near the boundary to nonlinear elliptic problems Δu ± |Δu|q = b(x)g(u), u > 0 in Ω, u|∂Ω = ∞, where Ω is a bounded domain with smooth boundary in ℝN, q > 0, g ∈ C1[0, ∞) is increasing on [0, ∞), g(0) = 0, g′ is regularly varying at infinity with positive index ρ and b is non-negative in Ω and is singular on the boundary.
Uniqueness of nodal radial solutions superlinear elliptic equations in a ball
Authors: Tanaka Satoshi
Published: November 2008

The Dirichlet problem

is considered, where B = {x ∈ ℝN : |x| < 1}, N ≥ 3, p > 1, K ∈ C2[0, 1] and K(r) > 0 for 0 ≤ r ≤ 1. A sufficient condition is derived for the uniqueness of radial solutions of (*) possessing exactly k − 1 nodes, where k ∈ ℕ. It is also shown that there exists K ∈ C∞[0, 1] such that (*) has at least three radial solutions possessing exactly k − 1 nodes, in the case 1 < p < (N + 2)/(N − 2).
Risk factors for antibiotic-resistantE. coliin children in a rural area
Authors: SEIDMAN J. C. , ANITHA K. P. , KANUNGO R. , BOURGEOIS A. L. , COLES C. L.
Published: November 2008

We surveyed antimicrobial susceptibility in faecalEscherichia coliin primary schoolchildren in rural Tamil Nadu, India. Resistance profiles ofE. colisamples from local water sources were also obtained. We investigated sociodemographic characteristics as risk factors for resistance and local paediatric prescription patterns. In 119 stool samples, carriage of resistance to ⩾1 antibiotic was 63% and multiple drug resistance was 32%. Resistance outcomes were associated with school of attendance, having a sibling attend the same school, younger age, and less crowded households. Eight of nine water samples were resistant to ⩾1 antibiotic. Recent history of medication use was not associated with resistance carriage. Resistance patterns may have been influenced by local paediatric prescription patterns and veterinary antibiotic use. Frequent, low-cost surveillance of commensal resistance can guide development of locally appropriate treatment guidelines. School-based hygiene programmes should be considered as means of limiting the spread of antibiotic resistance.
Structure and stratigraphy of Home Plate from the Spirit Mars Exploration Rover
Authors: Lewis Kevin W. , Aharonson Oded , Grotzinger John P. , Squyres Steven W. , Bell James F. , Crumpler Larry S. , Schmidt Mariek E.
Published: November 2008

Home Plate is a layered plateau observed by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit in the Columbia Hills of Gusev Crater. The structure is roughly 80 m in diameter, and the raised margin exposes a stratigraphic section roughly 1.5 m in thickness. Previous work has proposed a pyroclastic surge, possibly followed by aeolian reworking of the ash, for the depositional origin for these beds. We have performed a quantitative analysis of the structure, stratigraphy, and sedimentology at this location. Our results are consistent with an explosive volcaniclastic origin for the layered sediments. Analysis of bedding orientations over half of the circumference of Home Plate reveals a radially inward dipping structure, consistent with deposition in the volcanic vent, or topographic draping of a preexisting depression. Detailed observations of the sedimentology show that grain sorting varies significantly between outcrops on the east and west sides. Observations on the western side show a well‐sorted population of sand sized grains which comprise the bedrock, while the eastern margin shows a wider range of grain sizes, including some coarse granules. These observations are consistent with primary deposition by a pyroclastic surge. However, aeolian reworking of the upper stratigraphic unit is not ruled out. Identification of explosive volcanic products on Mars may implicate magma interaction with subsurface hydrologic reservoirs in the past.
Non‐Fickian dispersion in porous media explained by heterogeneous microscale matrix diffusion
Authors: Gouze Philippe , Melean Yasmin , Le Borgne Tanguy , Dentz Marco , Carrera Jesus
Published: November 2008

Mobile‐immobile mass transfer is widely used to model non‐Fickian dispersion in porous media. Nevertheless, the memory function, implemented in the sink/source term of the transport equation to characterize diffusion in the matrix (i.e., the immobile domain), is rarely measured directly. Therefore, the question can be posed as to whether the memory function is just a practical way of increasing the degrees of freedom for fitting tracer test breakthrough curves or whether it actually models the physics of tracer transport. In this paper we first present a technique to measure the memory function of aquifer samples and then compare the results with the memory function fitted from a set of field‐scale tracer tests performed in the same aquifer. The memory function is computed by solving the matrix diffusion equation using a random walk approach. The properties that control diffusion (i.e., mobile‐immobile interface and immobile domain cluster shapes, porosity, and tortuosity) are investigated by X‐ray microtomography. Once the geometry of the matrix clusters is measured, the shape of the memory function is controlled by the value of the porosity at the percolation threshold and of the tortuosity of the diffusion path. These parameters can be evaluated from microtomographic images. The computed memory function compares well with the memory function deduced from the field‐scale tracer tests. We conclude that for the reservoir rock studied here, the atypical non‐Fickian dispersion measured from the tracer test is well explained by microscale diffusion processes in the immobile domain. A diffusion‐controlled mobile‐immobile mass transfer model therefore appears to be valid for this specific case.
Geochemical variation at the Hawaiian hot spot caused by upper mantle dynamics and melting of a heterogeneous plume
Authors: Bianco Todd Anthony , Ito Garrett , van Hunen Jeroen , Ballmer Maxim D. , Mahoney John J.
Published: November 2008

Geochemical variations within the young Hawaiian Islands occur in two particularly prominent forms: differences between volcanic stages and differences between the “Loa” and “Kea” subchains. These observations have been interpreted to reveal spatial patterns of compositional variation in the mantle, such as concentric zoning about the hot spot or elongate streaks along the hot spot track. Our numerical models of a hot plume of upwelling mantle that is interacting with, and melting beneath, a moving lithospheric plate suggest some of the above interpretations should be reevaluated. The mantle plume is assumed to be uniformly isotopically heterogeneous, thus without any compositional zoning. Nonetheless, our models predict geographic zoning in lava isotope composition, an outcome that is caused by differences in melting depths of distinct source components and plume‐lithosphere interaction. Isotope compositions of model volcanoes that grow as they pass over the melting zone can explain some of the gross aspects of isotope variation at Hawaii. The results illustrate that chemical zoning at the surface is not necessarily a map of zoning in the mantle, and this affects further inferences about the chemical structure of the mantle.
Heterogeneous rupture on homogenous faults: Three‐dimensional spontaneous rupture simulations with thermal pressurization
Authors: Urata Yumi , Kuge Keiko , Kase Yuko
Published: November 2008

To understand role of fluid on earthquake rupture processes, we investigated effects of thermal pressurization on spatial variation of dynamic rupture by computing spontaneous rupture propagation on a rectangular fault. We found thermal pressurization can cause heterogeneity of rupture even on a fault of uniform properties. On drained faults, tractions drop linearly with increasing slip in the same way everywhere. However, by changing the drained condition to an undrained one, the slip‐weakening curves become non‐linear and depend on locations on faults with small shear zone thicknessw, and the dynamic frictional stresses vary spatially and temporally. Consequently, the super‐shear transition fault length decreases for smallw, and the final slip distribution can have some peaks regardless ofw, especially on undrained faults. These effects should be taken into account of determining dynamic rupture parameters and modeling earthquake cycles when the presence of fluid is suggested in the source regions.
Structure of ULF Pc3 waves at low altitudes
Authors: Pilipenko V. , Fedorov E. , Heilig B. , Engebretson M. J.
Published: November 2008

Recent low‐orbiting observations at satellites with high‐accuracy magnetometers onboard (Oersted, CHAMP, and ST5) have provided a detailed picture of the Pc3 wave structure in the topside ionosphere. Pc3 waves were detected very clearly in the compressional component of the satellite magnetic field data, whereas on the ground their signature was found in the H component. The occurrence of a significant compressional component in Pc3 pulsations in the topside ionosphere was also evidenced by radio‐sounding measurements of ionospheric plasma oscillations. The following possibilities of ULF compressional disturbance excitation are considered: (1) an incident Alfvén wave generates an evanescent fast mode as a result of its interaction with the anisotropically conducting ionosphere; (2) transport of ULF wave energy from a distant source toward the ionosphere predominantly occurs by a fast mode. We estimate quantitatively the expected relationships between the Pc3 wave magnetic components above the ionosphere and on the ground produced by these different mechanisms and have derived simple analytical relationships between the compressional and ground signals for both mechanisms. Numerical modeling with the use of exact formulas has shown that these approximations work well over a wide range of wave scales. This model has been applied to the interpretation of Pc 3 waves observed by CHAMP in the upper ionosphere and by ground stations at midlatitudes. In general, the observed ratio between the compressional component in space and the ground signal corresponds better to the scenario of direct fast mode transmission to the ground.