bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
N‐terminal strands of filamin Ig domains act as a conformational switch under biological forces
Authors: Kesner Barry A. , Ding Feng , Temple Brenda R. , Dokholyan Nikolay V.
Published: May 2009

Conformational changes of filamin A under stress have been postulated to play crucial roles in signaling pathways of cell responses. Direct observation of conformational changes under stress is beyond the resolution of current experimental techniques. On the other hand, computational studies are mainly limited to either traditional molecular dynamics simulations of short durations and high forces or simulations of simplified models. Here we perform all‐atom discrete molecular dynamics (DMD) simulations to study thermally and force‐induced unfolding of filamin A. The high conformational sampling efficiency of DMD allows us to observe force‐induced unfolding of filamin A Ig domains under physiological forces. The computationally identified critical unfolding forces agree well with experimental measurements. Despite a large heterogeneity in the population of force‐induced intermediate states, we find a common initial unfolding intermediate in all the Ig domains of filamin, where the N‐terminal strand unfolds. We also study the thermal unfolding of several filamin Ig‐like domains. We find that thermally induced unfolding features an early‐stage intermediate state similar to the one observed in force‐induced unfolding and characterized by the N‐terminal strand being unfurled. We propose that the N‐terminal strand may act as a conformational switch that unfolds under physiological forces leading to exposure of cryptic binding sites, removal of native binding sites, and modulating the quaternary structure of domains. Proteins 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effective approach for calculations of absolute stability of proteins using focused dielectric constants
Authors: Vicatos Spyridon , Roca Maite , Warshel Arieh
Published: May 2009

The ability to predict the absolute stability of proteins based on their corresponding sequence and structure is a problem of great fundamental and practical importance. In this work, we report an extensive, refinement and validation of our recent approach (Roca et al., FEBS Lett 2007;581:2065–2071) for predicting absolute values of protein stability ΔGfold. This approach employs the semimacroscopic protein dipole Langevin dipole method in its linear response approximation version (PDLD/S‐LRA) while using the best fitted values of the dielectric constants ε′p and ε′eff for the self energy and charge–charge interactions, respectively. The method is validated on a diverse set of 45 proteins. It is found that the best fitted values of both dielectric constants are around 40. However, the self energy of internal residues and the charge–charge interactions of Lys have to be treated with care, using a somewhat lower values of ε′p and ε′eff. The predictions of ΔGfold reported here, have an average error of only 1.8 kcal/mole compared to the observed values, making our method very promising for estimating protein stability. It also provides valuable insight into the complex electrostatic phenomena taking place in folded proteins. Proteins 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Household diversity and migration in mid‐life: understanding residential mobility among 45–64 year olds in Melbourne, Australia
Authors: Wulff Maryann , Champion Anthony , Lobo Michele
Published: May 2009

This paper focuses on the residential mobility of middle‐aged persons, not yet retired, an understudied cohort in mobility research. From the 1950s to the 1980s, mobility studies pointed to mid‐life as a settled stage in terms of family, work and housing. Recent demographic and social changes, however, have led to these years being typified by a wide gamut of living arrangements that have complicated decisions about, and patterns of, residential mobility. Using the life‐course perspective, this paper suggests that the transition to ‘empty nester’ status will heighten mobility among this group of middle‐aged persons relative to their counterparts in other living arrangements. The analysis uses a customised migration matrix from the Australian 2006 Census and identifies segments of 45–64 year olds most likely to have changed address since the previous census in 2001. CHAID statistical method partitioned the 45–64 year old population in Melbourne, Australia, into eight statistically significant segments based on life‐course factors and mobility levels. Younger (45–54 years) mid‐life empty‐nesters changed residence at 1.4 times the mobility rate of all mid‐life persons. For couples in this age group, empty nest status conferred a 13 percentage point ‘mobility premium’ compared with couples that still had children at home. The results contribute to a better understanding of housing consumption among mid‐life households and broader debates on access to affordable housing and processes of urban growth. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Variable range hopping in oxygen‐exposed single‐wall carbon nanotube networks [Phys. Status Solidi A 205, No. 6, 1394–1398 (2008)]
Authors: Morgan C. , Alemipour Z. , Baxendale M.
Published: May 2009

Corrected values for the coefficients G0 and T0 in Table 2 as well as the corrected value for the parameter T0 in Eq. (3) are given for the paper by Morgan et al. [Phys. Status Solidi A 205, No. 6, 1394–1398 (2008)]. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Coupled magnetic plasmons in metamaterials
Authors: Liu H. , Liu Y. M. , Li T. , Wang S. M. , Zhu S. N. , Zhang X.
Published: May 2009

Magnetic metamaterials consist of magnetic resonators smaller in size than their excitation wavelengths. Their unique electromagnetic properties were characterized by the effective media theory at the early stage. However, the effective media model does not take into account the interactions between magnetic elements; thus, the effective properties of bulk metamaterials are the result of the “averaged effect” of many uncoupled resonators. In recent years, it has been shown that the interaction between magnetic resonators could lead to some novel phenomena and interesting applications that do not exist in conventional uncoupled metamaterials. In this paper, we will give a review of recent developments in magnetic plasmonics arising from the coupling effect in metamaterials. For the system composed of several identical magnetic resonators, the coupling between these units produces multiple discrete resonance modes due to hybridization. In the case of a system comprising an infinite number of magnetic elements, these multiple discrete resonances can be extended to form a continuous frequency band by strong coupling. This kind of broadband and tunable magnetic metamaterial may have interesting applications. Many novel metamaterials and nanophotonic devices could be developed from coupled resonator systems in the future. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Polonium bulk and surface vibrational dynamics
Authors: Khater Antoine , Tigrine Rachid , Bourahla Boualem
Published: May 2009

Calculations are presented for the bulk phonons and for surface Rayleigh phonons and resonances for Polonium, the only element known to form in the simple cubic lattice. The static stability of this lattice has been confirmed recently by ab initio simulations which yield two bulk elastic constants, c11 and c12. Constitutive equations are derived for the isotropic cubic lattice based upon the Fuchs's method. This permits effectively a numerical evaluation of central potential force constants for Polonium from the ab initio results. Numerical calculations are then made for the material vibration dynamics in the force constant model with the use of the matching method. The numerical applications yield for Polonium the bulk phonon branches along [100], [110], and [111], and the Rayleigh phonons and surface resonances along the [010] direction in an unreconstructed (001) surface. The local vibration densities of states are calculated for bulk and surface sites for this element. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Simulation of hydrologic and geomorphic changes affecting a shrinking mire
Authors: Nakayama Tadanobu
Published: May 2009

The Kushiro Mire in subarctic Japan has significantly reduced in size because of the complex interaction of many processes, including snowmelt runoff, sediment transport and vegetation dynamics. This study uses a coupled integrated catchment‐based eco‐hydrology model with a mass transport process (NICE‐MASS) to investigate the influence of hydrologic and geomorphic changes on the Kushiro Mire. Coefficients of the sediment‐rating curve in the snowmelt runoff are very different from those in the snow‐free period. This empirical relation shall underestimate the observed suspended sediment (SS) concentration in the snowmelt period, indicating a difference in runoff mechanisms between the two periods and the necessity of a process‐based model. The simulation model reproduced well the spatial distribution of elevation aggradations by sediment deposits from rivers flowing into the mire. NICE‐MASS clarified that river channelization works carried out in the past resulted in groundwater degradation and drying phenomenon in the downstream area because of increased sedimentation and a decrease of seepage infiltration from the river to the aquifer. It is assumed that these hydrologic and geomorphic changes are closely related to the invasion of alder (Alnus japonica) into the mire. The occupation rate of alder is positively correlated with groundwater degradation relative to the ground surface. The model simulation derived by addition of this limiting factors related to submerged depth is important for prediction of vegetation succession when devising future policies for restoration of meandering river channels. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of cobalt oxide aerogels and nanocomposite systems containing single‐walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Gill Simerjeet K. , Shobe Andrew M. , Hope‐Weeks Louisa J.
Published: May 2009

The synthesis and characterization of porous nanostructured cobalt oxide (Co3O4) aerogels using epoxide addition method is described. Cobalt‐containing monoliths were obtained by sol–gel processing of an alcoholic cobalt chloride solution with propylene oxide as the gelation agent. The alcogels were dried by supercritical CO2 fluid extraction to obtain the highly porous amorphous cobalt (II) aerogels. To enhance and control the structural properties of the aerogels, single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) were incorporated into the cobalt (II) aerogel network to form a homogenous composite material. The resulting materials were characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis. The detailed microstructure of aerogel networks was investigated using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, which showed significant structural changes induced by the incorporation of SWCNT to the cobalt aerogel. Annealing of the aerogel materials at 600°C yields a highly crystalline well‐faceted Co3O4 network SCANNING 31: 132–138, 2009. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Portfolio selection models: a review and new directions
Authors: Roman Diana , Mitra Gautam
Published: May 2009

Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) is based upon the classical Markowitz model which uses variance as a risk measure. A generalization of this approach leads to mean‐risk models, in which a return distribution is characterized by the expected value of return (desired to be large) and a “risk” value (desired to be kept small). Portfolio choice is made by solving an optimization problem, in which the portfolio risk is minimized and a desired level of expected return is specified as a constraint. The need to penalize different undesirable aspects of the return distribution led to the proposal of alternative risk measures, notably those penalizing only the downside part (adverse) and not the upside (potential). The downside risk considerations constitute the basis of the Post Modern Portfolio Theory (PMPT). Examples of such risk measures are lower partial moments, Value‐at‐Risk (VaR) and Conditional Value‐at‐Risk (CVaR). We revisit these risk measures and the resulting mean‐risk models. We discuss alternative models for portfolio selection, their choice criteria and the evolution of MPT to PMPT which incorporates: utility maximization and stochastic dominance. Copyright © 2009 Wilmott Magazine Ltd
Smile dynamics: a theory of the implied leverage effect
Authors: Ciliberti Stefano , Bouchaud Jean‐Philippe , Potters Marc
Published: May 2009

We study in details the skew of stock option smiles, which is induced by the so‐called leverage effect on the underlying B i.e. the correlation between past returns and future square returns. This naturally explains the anomalous dependence of the skew as a function of maturity of the option. The market cap dependence of the leverage effect is analyzed using a one‐factor model. We show how this leverage correlation gives rise to a non‐trivial smile dynamics, which turns out to be intermediate between the “sticky strike” and the “sticky delta” rules. Finally, we compare our result with stock option data, and find that option markets overestimate the leverage effect by a large factor, in particular for long dated options. Copyright © 2009 Wilmott Magazine Ltd
Neutral and Cationic Silicon Species Containing Aryl‐OCO‐ or Aryl‐SCS‐Type Pincer Ligands: Synthesis, Structure, Bonding, and Comparison with Aryl‐NCN Systems
Authors: Bockholt Andreas , Jutzi Peter , Mix Andreas , Neumann Beate , Stammler Anja , Stammler Hans‐Georg
Published: May 2009

The reaction of dichloro(methyl)silane, dichloro(phenyl)silane or dichloro(dimethyl)silane with one equivalent of the lithiated aryl pincer ligands [2,6‐(DoCH2)2H3C6]Li leads to the chlorosilanes [2,6‐(DoCH2)2H3C6]SiRR′Cl 1–6, respectively, as thermolabile oily compounds. Treatment of 1–6 with trimethylsilyl triflate leads to the crystalline ionic silicon triflates [2,6‐(DoCH2)2H3C6SiRR′]+·X– 7–12, respectively [(X = OSO2CF3), 1, 7: Do = OMe, 2, 8: Do = SMe, 1, 2, 7, 8: R = Me, R′ = H; 3, 9: Do = OMe, 4, 10: Do = SMe, 3, 4, 9, 10: R = Ph, R′ = H; 5, 11: Do = OMe, 6, 12 = SMe, 5, 6, 11, 12: R, R′ = Me]. The compounds 1–12 are characterized by NMR spectroscopy, by conductivity measurements, and by X‐ray crystallography (8–12). The NMR parameters δ Si, 1J(SiH) and δ H(SiH) and some structural data are compared with those of known compounds containing one NCN‐pincer aryl ligand or two aryl substituents of the type [2‐(DoCH2)2H4C6]. Differences in bonding depending on the type of the donor Do (NMe2, OMe, SMe) are discussed.
A Nanodot Array Modulates Cell Adhesion and Induces an Apoptosis-Like Abnormality in NIH-3T3 Cells
Authors: Pan Hsu-An , Hung Yao-Ching , Su Chia-Wei , Tai Shih-Ming , Chen Chiun-Hsun , Ko Fu-Hsiang , Steve Huang G
Published: May 2009

Micro-structures that mimic the extracellular substratum promote cell growth and differentiation, while the cellular reaction to a nanostructure is poorly defined. To evaluate the cellular response to a nanoscaled surface, NIH 3T3 cells were grown on nanodot arrays with dot diameters ranging from 10 to 200 nm. The nanodot arrays were fabricated by AAO processing on TaN-coated wafers. A thin layer of platinum, 5 nm in thickness, was sputtered onto the structure to improve biocompatibility. The cells grew normally on the 10-nm array and on flat surfaces. However, 50-nm, 100-nm, and 200-nm nanodot arrays induced apoptosis-like events. Abnormality was triggered after as few as 24 h of incubation on a 200-nm dot array. For cells grown on the 50-nm array, the abnormality started after 72 h of incubation. The number of filopodia extended from the cell bodies was lower for the abnormal cells. Immunostaining using antibodies against vinculin and actin filament was performed. Both the number of focal adhesions and the amount of cytoskeleton were decreased in cells grown on the 100-nm and 200-nm arrays. Pre-coatings of fibronectin (FN) or type I collagen promoted cellular anchorage and prevented the nanotopography-induced programed cell death. In summary, nanotopography, in the form of nanodot arrays, induced an apoptosis-like abnormality for cultured NIH 3T3 cells. The occurrence of the abnormality was mediated by the formation of focal adhesions.
Solution Grown Se/Te Nanowires: Nucleation, Evolution, and The Role of Triganol Te seeds
Authors: Tao Hong , Shan Xudong , Yu Dapeng , Liu Hongmei , Qin Donghuan , Cao Yong
Published: May 2009

We have studied the nucleation and growth of Se–Te nanowires (NWs), with different morphologies, grown by a chemical solution process. Through systematic characterization of the Se–Te NW morphology as a function of the Te nanocrystallines (NCs) precursor, the relative ratio between Se and Te, and the growth time, a number of significant insights into Se–Te NW growth by chemical solution processes have been developed. Specifically, we have found that: (i) the growth of Se–Te NWs can be initiated from either long or short triganol Te nanorods, (ii) the frequency of proximal interactions between nanorod tips and the competition between Se and Te at the end of short Te nanorods results in V-shaped structures of Se–Te NWs, the ratio between Se and Te having great effect on the morphology of Se–Te NWs, (iii) by using long Te nanorods as seeds, Se–Te NWs with straight morphology were obtained. Many of these findings on Se–Te NW growth can be further generalized and provide very useful information for the rational synthesis of group VI based semiconductor NW compounds.
The starting point of Chinese narrative literature: With reference to the art of narration in the Zuozhuan
Authors: Qingbing TONG
Published: May 2009

The Zuozhuan 左传 (Zuo Qiuming’s Commentary on The Spring and Autumn Annals) marks the beginning of ancient Chinese narrative literature that involves such factors as plot (what to say), transition (how to say) and view-angle (who says). In fact, this “story plotting” can be traced back to the Zuozhuan in which historical facts are arranged into plots by revealing the cause-effect relationship between them. Such a characteristic tendency is due to the impact from the dao 道 (tao) in either Confucianism or Taoism. For it is expected to expose the developmental process of events in terms of its historical background and plausible causality. That is why the dao of causality and reasonability thematically threads through the process of the entire plot. Moreover, ancient Chinese narrative literature is affected by the sense of time sequence as part of agricultural civilization, and therefore features chronological story-telling. Noticeably in the Zuozhuan, the structure of narration is reflected in the chronological order of specific year, season, month and date. This symbolizes the approach to the minor in view of the great peculiar of Chinese culture. The leading narrator in the Zuozhuan is the official historian whose standpoint is swinging between “the real” and “the fictional”, “the outspoken” and “the suggestive.”
The great diversity of women exemplars in China of late Qing
Authors: Xiaohong XIA
Published: May 2009

A group of illustrious women were introduced into China from the West in late Qing with Western learning spreading to the East, which presented an extraordinarily huge challenge to the traditional Chinese female ideal. The search for new exemplary women was actually in correspondence with the rising tide of women’s social education during that historical period. By interweaving the development of new education with the establishment of new exemplary women, the essay will explore the great diversity of women exemplars of late Qing in China emerging from an optional introduction of notable women from the West and the reevaluation of traditional women role models in China. The study will be carried out through the close-readings of seven biographies of famous Chinese and Western women published at that time and several biographical sketches carried in the columns of biography in Beijing nübao 北京 女报 (Beijing Women’s Newspaper) and Nüzi shijie 女子世界 (Women’s World) issued respectively in Beijing and Shanghai.
Solubilizing and Hydrotropic Properties of Isosorbide Monoalkyl‐ and Dimethyl‐Ethers
Authors: Durand Morgan , Zhu Ying , Molinier Valérie , Féron Thierry , Aubry Jean‐Marie
Published: May 2009

Isosorbide is a diol readily obtained from starch that can be used as a polar building block for the synthesis of derivatives ranging from solvents to surfactants: dimethyl isosorbide (DMI) is a “sustainable solvent” already on the market, used notably in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations; monoalkyl derivatives of isosorbide are non‐ionic hydrotropes that could be potential substitutes to short‐chain glycol ethers. The use of these isosorbide derivatives as bio‐sourced alternatives to petroleum‐derived products for applications such as compatibilizers in liquid detergent formulations or solubilizing agents in aqueous hard‐surface cleaning is discussed in this paper. DMI reveals to have interesting coupling properties for the former applications, whereas the monopentyl ether of isosorbide (C5Iso) is a particularly efficient hydrotrope for the latter.
Products Formed During Thermo‐oxidative Degradation of Phytosterols
Authors: Rudzińska Magdalena , Przybylski Roman , Wąsowicz Erwin
Published: May 2009

Oxidative degradation of cholesterol has been extensively researched, however, not all products formed have been established. When a phytosterols standard was heated at 60, 120 and 180 °C for different period of time the following groups of components were detected: oxidized phytosterols, fragmented phytosterol molecules, volatile compounds and oligomers. Taking into account all the components formed, we were able to balance the amounts of disappearing sterols with components formed. We established that the amount and type of products formed during thermo‐oxidative degradation is affected by temperature and time. The amount of intact phytosterols decreased when temperature and time increase. The amount of oxidized phytosterols was at the highest level when a temperature of 120 °C was applied, whereas the lowest amounts were observed when a temperature of 60 °C was used. At a temperature of 180 °C the amount of oxidized sterols was lower than at 120 °C and it decreased when the heating time was increased. This indicates that oxidized sterols were the main precursors involved in the formation of other components during thermo‐oxidative degradation. The amount and type of volatile compounds formed increased when time and temperature increased. We observed diversified groups of volatile compounds formed and most of them are defined as off‐flavor compounds for rancid oils.
Chromosome analysis of human refrozen embryos following fluorescence in situ hybridization
Authors: Otsu Eiko , Sato Akiko , Utsunomiya Takafumi , Araki Yasuhisa , Ujiie Seiji
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Several recent reports have discussed refrozen and thawed embryo transfer; however, the process may cause a degree of chromosomal damage and subtle genomic mutation. In view of this possibility, the purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of aneuploidy in refrozen embryos.

Methods

In order to investigate the incidence of aneuploidy and mosaicism observed in chromosome 1, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was used on surviving embryos that first underwent one freeze‐thaw cycle, then were allowed to develop to the blastocyst stage, and subsequently survived a second freeze‐thaw cycle.

Results

Of 1,132 blastomeric nuclei analyzed from 15 refrozen embryos, disomy was found in 82.9%. In contrast, for the 11 blastocysts subjected to only one freeze‐thaw cycle, disomy was noted in 78.4%. Of the 197 blastomeric nuclei analyzed in all arrested embryos, disomy was found in 51.8%.

Conclusions

The refreezing process did not increase aneuploidy. The good and fair morphology groups demonstrated a higher percentage of disomy than the poor morphology group regardless of whether they were frozen once or twice.
Russian hegemonies: historical snapshots, regional security and changing forms of Russia’s role in the post-Soviet region
Authors: Gayoso Carmen A.
Published: May 2009

The broad purpose of this study is to exemplify changing forms of hierarchical rule manifested in post-Soviet Russia’s varying provision of regional security related to military conflicts. Russia’s regional role varies in form and in thickness. Although the endurance of Soviet legacy can be observed in four major areas (stabilising borders, economic interest, unification of fellow Slavs and fluctuating alliances), there is enough variance to suggest that over-deterministic theories about Russian regional foreign policy do not account for conjunctural factors that can contribute to change. Instead, we can view the Soviet and post-Soviet regional dynamic as one that is on a fluid anarchy–hierarchy spectrum.
From internationalism to the European Union: An ideological change in the Polish post-communist party?
Authors: Zioło Karolina
Published: May 2009

The Polish post-communist party Social Democracy of the Republic of Poland (Socjal-demokracja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, SDRP) which survived almost unchanged in the dynamic Polish political scene of the 1990s was one of the leading political parties after 1989. This paper will attempt to explain the ideological journey, which has been taken by the former high-ranking Polish United Workers’ Party members after 1989. Their journey seems to start at the point of internationalism and socialism and ends in the victorious battle to join the European Union. Was this a simple modernized adjustment of the internationalist ideology or an opportunistic choice made in order to survive in the new political and social circumstances? Was choosing a pro-EU policy a choice or a necessity? This analysis will attempt to answer the above questions and describe this phenomenon of change or may be just an ideological continuity.
Polish martial law of 1981 in Polish post-communist films: Between romanticism and postmodernism
Authors: Mazierska Ewa
Published: May 2009

This essay discusses representations of Polish martial law of 1981 in Polish feature films made after communism collapsed. It considers them against the political history of Poland over the last thirty years, especially the history of Solidarity and the shift from communism to post-communism. It argues that the way martial law is portrayed changed over the years. While initially, as represented by Kutz’s Death as a Slice of Bread, the aim was to commemorate the victims of martial law and condemn the authorities, in later films we observe more complex portrayals that reflect the growing erosion of the myth of Solidarity and the Church.
Tectonics, sea-level changes and palaeoenvironments in the early Pleistocene of Rome (Italy)
Authors: Cosentino Domenico , Cipollari Paola , Di Bella Letizia , Esposito Alessandra , Faranda Costanza , Giordano Guido , Gliozzi Elsa , Mattei Massimo , Mazzini Ilaria , Porreca Massimiliano , Funiciello Renato
Published: May 2009

The historical site of the Monte Mario lower Pleistocene succession (Rome, Italy) is an important marker of the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary. Recently, the Monte Mario site was excavated and restudied. A spectacular angular unconformity characterizes the contact between the Monte Vaticano and the Monte Mario formations, which marks the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary. Biostratigraphical analyses carried out on ostracod, foraminifer, and calcareous nannofossil assemblages indicate an Early Pliocene age (topmost Zanclean, 3.81–3.70 Ma) for the underlying Monte Vaticano Formation, whereas the Monte Mario Formation has been dated as early Pleistocene (Santernian, 1.66–1.59 Ma). Palaeomagnetic analyses point to C2Ar and C1r2r polarity chrons for the Monte Vaticano and the Monte Mario formations, respectively. The Monte Mario Formation consists of two obliquity-forced depositional sequences (MM1 and MM2) characterized by transgressive systems tracts of littoral marine environments at depths, respectively, of 40–80 m and 15–20 m. The data obtained from foraminifer and ostracod assemblages allow us to reconstruct early Pleistocene relative sea-level changes near Rome. At the Plio/Pleistocene transition, a relative sea-level drop of at least 260 m occurred, as a result of both tectonic uplift of the central Tyrrhenian margin and glacio-eustatic changes linked to early Pleistocene glaciation (Marine Isotope Stage 58).
In uteroand postnatal exposure to a high-protein or high-carbohydrate diet leads to differences in adipose tissue mRNA expression and blood metabolites in kittens
Authors: Vester Brittany M. , Liu Kari J. , Keel Tonya L. , Graves Thomas K. , Swanson Kelly S.
Published: May 2009

The objective of the present study was to measure the differences in body composition, adipose tissue gene expression, blood metabolite and hormone concentrations, and insulin sensitivity in kittens exposed to high-protein (HP) or high-carbohydrate (HC) nutritionin uteroand through the growth period. Eight dams were randomised onto two test diets, and fed the diets throughout gestation and lactation. Male offspring were evaluated for 9 months. Kittens were weaned at 2 months of age onto the same treatment diet as the dam and were allowed to consume dietsad libitum. The HC diet contained 34·3 % crude protein (CP), 19·2 % fat and 30·8 % digestible carbohydrate, while the HP diet contained 52·9 % CP, 23·5 % fat and 10·8 % digestible carbohydrate. Blood samples were collected at 6 months after birth. Body composition was determined at 2 and 8 months of age and an intravenous glucose tolerance test, neutering and adipose tissue biopsy conducted at 8 months of age. Physical activity was quantified at 6 and 9 months. Energy intake, DM intake and body weight were not different between groups. At 2 months, blood TAG were greater (P < 0·05) in kittens fed the HP diet. At 8 months, blood leptin was higher (P < 0·05) in kittens fed the HC diet, while chemokine receptor 5, hormone-sensitive lipase, uncoupling protein 2, leptin and insulin receptor mRNA were greater (P < 0·05) in kittens fed the HP diet. The present results demonstrate some of the changes in blood metabolites and hormones, physical activity and mRNA abundance that occur with feeding high protein levels to kittens.
Inhibition of markers of bone resorption by consumption of vitamin D and calcium-fortified soft plain cheese by institutionalised elderly women
Authors: Bonjour Jean-Philippe , Benoit Valérie , Pourchaire Olivier , Ferry Monique , Rousseau Brigitte , Souberbielle Jean-Claude
Published: May 2009

Acceleration of bone remodelling increases the risk of fragility fractures. The objective of the present study was to explore in elderly women whether a vitamin D and Ca-fortified dairy product providing about 17–25 % of the recommended intakes in vitamin D, Ca and proteins would reduce secondary hyperparathyroidism and bone remodelling in a way that may attenuate age-related bone loss in the long term. Thirty-seven institutionalised women, aged 84·8 (sd 8·1) years, with low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (5·5 (sd 1·7) ng/ml) were enrolled into a multicentre open trial to consume during 1 month two servings of soft plain cheese made of semi-skimmed milk providing daily 686 kJ (164 kcal), 2·5 μg vitamin D, 302 mg Ca and 14·2 g proteins. The primary endpoint was the change in serum carboxy terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), selected as a marker of bone resorption. Thirty-five subjects remained compliant. Mean serum changes were: 25-hydroyvitamin D, +14·5 % (P = 0·0051); parathyroid hormone (PTH), − 12·3 % (P = 0·0011); CTX, − 7·5 % (P = 0·01); tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b (TRAP 5b), − 9·9 % (P < 0·0001); albumin, +6·2 % (P < 0·0001); insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I),+16·9 % (P < 0·0001); osteocalcin, +8·3 % (P = 0·0166); amino-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP),+19·3 % (P = 0·0031). The present open trial suggests that fortified soft plain cheese consumed by elderly women with vitamin D insufficiency can reduce bone resorption markers by positively influencing Ca and protein economy, as expressed by decreased PTH and increased IGF-I, respectively. The rise in the bone formation marker P1NP could be explained by a protein-mediated increase in IGF-I. Thus, such a dietary intervention might uncouple, at least transiently, bone resorption from bone formation and thereby attenuate age-related bone loss.
Naturally ordered bands
Authors: Howie J. M.
Published: May 2009

In the terminology of Clifford and Preston [2], a band B is a semigroup in which every element is idempotent. On such a semigroup there is a natural (partial) order relation defined by the rule

If the order relation ≧ is compatible with the multiplication in B, in the sense that e ≧ f and g ≧ h together imply that eg ≧ fh, we shall say that B is a naturally ordered band. The object of this note is to describe the structure of naturally ordered bands.
A procedure for deriving inversion formulae for integral transform pairs of a general kind
Authors: Sneddon Ian N.
Published: May 2009

In recent years there have appeared solutions of several integral equations of the type

in which the kernel K(x) contains (as a factor) one of the classical orthogonal polynomials or a hypergeometric function.
Weak compactness in locally convex spaces
Authors: Tweddle I.
Published: May 2009

In [2], R. C. James proved that a weakly closed subset X of a real Banach space is weakly compact if and only if each continuous linear form attains its supremum on X. He also extended the result to the locally convex case, and, in [5], J. D. Pryce gave a simplified proof of the general result that is recorded below for reference in the sequel.
An algebraically closed field
Authors: Rayner F. J.
Published: May 2009

Letkbe any algebraically closed field, and denote byk((t)) the field of formal power series in one indeterminatetoverk. Let

so thatKis the field of Puiseux expansions with coefficients ink(each element ofKis a formal power series intl/rfor some positive integerr). It is well-known thatKis algebraically closed if and only ifkis of characteristic zero [1, p. 61]. For examples relating to ramified extensions of fields with valuation [9, §6] it is useful to have a field analogous toKwhich is algebraically closed whenkhas non-zero characteristicp. In this paper, I prove that the setLof all formal power series of the form Σaitei(where (ei) is well-ordered,ei=mi|nprt,n∈ Ζ,mi∈ Ζ,ai∈k,ri∈ Ν) forms an algebraically closed field.
Completely injective semigroups with central idempotents
Authors: Feller E. H. , Gantos R. L.
Published: May 2009

A right [left] unitary S-system is a set M with right [left] operators in a semigroup S with 1, where x1 = x [1x = x] for all x ∈ M. We define a semigroup S with 1 to be completely right [left] injective provided that every right [left] unitary S-system is injective. The main purpose of this paper is to determine a structure for completely right [left] injective semigroups whose idempotents are in the centre.
Decreasing Baer semigroups
Authors: Janowitz M. F.
Published: May 2009

In [8] and [9] we initiated a study of lattice theory by means of Baer semigroups. Basically, a Baer semigroup is a multiplicative semigroup with 0 in which the left annihilator L(x) of each element x is a principal left ideal generated by an idempotent, while its right annihilator R(x) is a principal right ideal generated by an idempotent. By [8, Lemma 2, p. 86], L(0) has a unique idempotent generator 1 which is effective as a two-sided multiplicative identity for S. For any Baer semigroup S, if we use set inclusion to partially order both ℒ = ℒ (S) = {L(x) | x ∈ S} and ℛ = ℛ (S) = {R(x) | x ∈ S}, we have by [8, Theorem 5, p. 86], that ℒ and ℛ form dual isomorphic lattices with 0 and 1. The Baer semigroup S is said to coordinatize the lattice L in case ℒ(S) is isomorphic to L. In connection with this, it is important to note that by [9, Theorem 2.3, p. 1214], a poset P with 0 and 1 is a lattice if and only if it can be coordinatized by a Baer semigroup.
Sets of integers containing no n terms in geometric progression
Authors: Riddell J.
Published: May 2009

R. A. Rankin [3] considered the problem of finding, for each integer n ≧ 3, a sequence of positive integers containing no n−term geometric progression. He constructed such sets Bn having asymptotic density

For example A3 ≑ 0·71975, A4 ≑ 0·8626, and An→1 as n → ∞.
The inversion of Hankel transforms of order zero and unity
Authors: Sneddon Ian N.
Published: May 2009

In teaching the elements of transform theory to students of physics and engineering it is very useful to have available, as early as possible, the inversion theorem for the Hankel transform

The difficulty is that a valid proof for general values of v (cf. [1], p. 456) is complicated and involves a greater familiarity with the processes of analysis and the properties of Bessel functions than is possessed by most science students.
The solution of some integral equations and their connection with dual integral equations and series
Authors: Cooke J. C.
Published: May 2009

The equations. We shall solve the equation

giving the solution in two forms, and give a new solution of

originally solved by Carlemann.

The latter will be extended to the case where the limits are a and b with a < x <b.
Über Automorphiefaktoren und die Dedekindschen Summen
Authors: Leutbecher Armin
Published: May 2009

Einleitung. Bei der Betrachtung automorpher Formen zu diskreten Untergruppen Г von SL2(R)mit nicht ganzzahligem Gewicht bzgl. des Automorphiefaktors J(A, z)=, hat man einen Zweig L(A, z) des Logarithmus von J(A, z)zu fixieren.
Completely right injective semigroups that are unions of groups
Authors: Feller E. H. , Gantos R. L.
Published: May 2009

A semigroup S with 0 and 1 is termed completely right injective provided every right unitary S-system is injective. A necessary condition for a semigroup to be com-pletely right injective is given in [2]; namely, every right ideal is generated by an idempotent. An example in section 3 of this paper shows the existence of semigroups with 0 and 1 satisfying this condition which are not completely right injective. In [3], it is shown that the condition that every right and left ideal is generated by an idempotent is necessary and sufficient in the case that S is both completely right and left injective (called completely injective). Such a semigroup is an inverse semigroup with 0 whose idempotents are dually well-ordered.
Quadruple integral equations and operators of fractional integration
Authors: Ahmad M. Iftikhar
Published: May 2009

Cooke [1] modified a technique used by Erdelyi and Sneddon [2] to solve triple integral equations of a certain type. In this paper, we extend this method to solve the quadruple integral equations

where F1, G2, F3 and G4 are prescribed functions of p and ψ(ξ) is to be determined. With no loss of generality we shall assume that G2(p)≡0, G4(p)≡0.
On entire functions with gap power series
Authors: Anderson J. M. , Binmore K. G.
Published: May 2009

In this note we consider transcendental entire functions

whose power series contain gaps, i.e.

where Λ = {λk} is a suitable set of positive integers. We denote the set of all such functions f(z) by E(Λ). As usual M(r) = M(r, f) denotes the maximummodulus of f(z) on the circle |z| = r. The order p and the lower order λ of f(z) are defined by

respectively.
Some convexity theorems for matrices
Authors: Fillmore P. A. , Williams J. P.
Published: May 2009

The numerical range of a bounded linear operator A on a complex Hilbertspace H is the set W(A) = {(Af, f): ║f║ = 1}. Because it is convex andits closure contains the spectrum of A, the numerical range is often a useful toolin operator theory. However, even when H is two-dimensional, the numerical range of an operator can be large relative to its spectrum, so that knowledge of W(A) generally permits only crude information about A. P. R. Halmos [2] has suggested a refinement of the notion of numerical range by introducing the k-numerical ranges

for k = 1, 2, 3, …. It is clear that W1(A) = W(A). C. A. Berger [2] has shown that Wk(A) is convex.
Hook representations of the symmetric groups
Authors: Peel M. H.
Published: May 2009

In this paper we are concerned with the representation theory of the symmetric groupsover a field K of characteristic p. Every field is a splitting field for the symmetric groups. Consequently, in order to study the modular representation theory of these groups, it is sufficient to work over the prime fields. However, we take K to be an arbitrary field of characteristic p, since the presentation of the results is not affected by this choice. Sn denotes the group of permutations of {x1, …, xn], where x1,…,xn are independent indeterminates over K. The group algebra of Sn with coefficients in K is denoted by Фn.
Duality and the existence of weakly completely continuous elements in aB*-algebra
Authors: Tomiuk B. J.
Published: May 2009

Ogasawara and Yoshinaga [9] have shown that aB*-algebra is weakly completely continuous (w.c.c.) if and only if it is*-isomorphic to theB*(∞)-sum of algebrasLC(HX), where eachLC(HX)is the algebra of all compact linear operators on the Hilbert spaceHx.As Kaplansky [5] has shown that aB*-algebra isB*-isomorphic to theB*(∞)-sum of algebrasLC(HX)if and only if it is dual, it follows that a5*-algebraAis w.c.c. if and only if it is dual. We have observed that, if only certain key elements of aB*-algebraAare w.c.c, thenAis already dual. This observation constitutes our main theorem which goes as follows.A B*-algebraAis dual if and only if for every maximal modular left idealMthere exists aright identity modulo M that isw.c.c.
Comparison theorems for the square integrability of solutions of (r(t)y')'+q(t)y=f(t, y)
Authors: Bradley John S.
Published: May 2009

Bellman [1], [2, p. 116] proved that, if all solutions of the equation

are in L2, ∞) and b(t) is bounded, then all solutions of

are also in L2(a, ∞). The purpose of this paper is to present conditions on the function f that guarantee that all solutions of

be in the class L2(a, ∞) whenever all solutions of the equation

have this property. It is assumed that r(t) >0, r and qare continuous on a half line (a, ∞) and f is continuous. Actually the continuity assumptions may be weakened to local integrability and L2 (a, ∞) may be replaced by Lp(a, ∞) for any p > 1.
Forms of the rings R[X] and R[X, Y]
Authors: Bryński M.
Published: May 2009

Let R be a ring and let S = Spec R. Let us consider the étale fini topology on S [5]. By a form of a given S-scheme T we mean any affine S-scheme W that is locally (in the étale fini topology) isomorphic to T. We shall consider forms of the R-schemes T = Spec R[X] and T = Spec R[X, Y].
Spaces of holomorphic functions and Hilbert–Schmidt subspaces
Authors: Gerlach Eberhard
Published: May 2009

In this note we construct certain Hilbert subspaces with Hilbert–Schmidt imbedding, for an arbitrary proper functional Hilbert space which consists of holomorphic functions. This work extends results of Chapter III in [1] and has applications in the regularity problem for generalised eigenfunctions (in particular to Theorem 2 in [2]). For an exposition of reproducing kernels and Bergman's kernel function we refer to [4].
Quasi-multiplicative maps on Baer semigroups
Authors: Johnson C. S.
Published: May 2009

A Baer semigroup is a semigroup 5 with 0 and 1 in which, for each x∈S, the left annihilator L(x) = {y∈S: yx = 0} of x is a principal left ideal generated by an idempotent and the right annihilator R(x) = {y∈S: xy = 0} of x is a principal right ideal generated by an idempotent. Baer semigroups are of interest because (see [5]) the left annihilators of the elements of a Baer semigroup S, ℒ(S) = {L(x): x∈S}, form a bounded lattice and (see [4]) every bounded lattice arises in this manner. In this note we look at a type of map φ on a Baer semigroup S which has the property that Sφ is a Baer semigroup. (The homomorphic image of a Baer semigroup need not be a Baer semigroup. For a case where it is, see [7].) When the Baer semigroup is specialized to a Boolean algebra, this type of map generalizes Halmos's notion of a quantifier.
The solution of certain triple integral equations involving inverse Mellin transforms
Authors: Tweed J.
Published: May 2009

In this paper, we shall be concerned with the solution of triple integral equations of the type

where M−1 is the inverse Mellin transform, nis a positive integer, and — 1 < Res < 0. The use of these equations will be illustrated by their application to two well-known problems in the mathematical theory of elasticity and further applications will be reported later.
The values of a polynomial over a finite field
Authors: Cohen S. D.
Published: May 2009

The object of this paper is to derive, using a version of the large sieve for function fields due to J. Johnsen [6], explicit lower boundsfor the average number of distinct values taken by a polynomial over a finite field.
Asymmetric and symmetric graphs
Authors: Wright E. M.
Published: May 2009

An (n, q) graph consists of n nodes and q edges, i.e. q distinct unordered pairs of different nodes, so that there are no loops or multiple edges. We write T for the number of unlabelled (n, q) graphs and F for the number of labelled (n, q) graphs. We say that a labelled graph is symmetric if there is a nonidentical permutation of its nodes which leaves the graph unaltered. We write r for the order of the automorphism group of the graph, i.e. the group of all those permutations of the nodes which leave the graph unaltered; we say that the graph is of symmetry order r. A graph which is not symmetric is called asymmetric and, for such a graph, obviously r = 1. We say that an unlabelled graph is symmetric or asymmetric according as the graph obtained by labelling its nodes is symmetric or asymmetric.
A generalization of Clifford algebras
Authors: Thomas Eifion
Published: May 2009

Let K be a field which contains a primitive nth root of unity w if n is odd and a primitive 2nth root of unity ζ such that ζ2 = w if n is even.
Chain conditions on posets
Authors: Geoffroy Cynthia D. , Scheiblich H. E.
Published: May 2009

The aim of this note is to generalize to an arbitrary partially ordered set (poset) (P, ≦) the standard lattice results on the Jordan–Dedekind Chain Condition (abbreviated hereafter to J.D.C.C.). Birkhoff [1] defines semimodularity for a lattice L by

(ξ) if x, y cover a and x # y, then x ∨ y covers x and y.
The convergence of least squares approximations for dual orthogonal series
Authors: Feinerman Robert P. , Kelman Robert B.
Published: May 2009

The convergence of least squares approximations for dual orthogonal series in Hilbert space is established, thus providing a theorem applicable to practically all dual orthogonal series (such as dual trigonometric series, dual Bessel series, etc.) that have appeared in the literature. Our results establish for such dual series the existence of a sequence of functions satisfying in the L2norm the dual series relation, with an error tending to zero and, in particular, rigorously justify the calculations in [2] which showed least squares to be a practical approximation procedure for dual trigonometric equations. In fact, the desire to provide a rigorous convergence theorem for [2] motivated this study.
Difference sets and planar polarities
Authors: Ganley Michael J.
Published: May 2009

A block design is a finite set p of elements called points, where |p| = v, together with certain distinguished subsets of p called blocks, such that

(i) each block contains k points,

(ii) each point is contained in r blocks, and

(iii) two distinct points are contained in precisely λ blocks.
Characterizing f-rings
Authors: Colville Peter D.
Published: May 2009

Birkhoff and Pierce [2] introduced the class f-rings—those lattice-ordered rings R which satisfy the additional condition that if a, b, and c are positive elements of R and if a ∧ b = 0, then ac ∧ b = 0 = ca ∧ b. They showed that f-rings may be characterized as lattice-ordered rings which are subdirect products of totally-ordered rings.