bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of combustion and Kjeldahl methods for determination of nitrogen in oilseeds
Authors: Daun James K. , DeClercq Douglas R.
Published: July 2007

The recent development of combustion‐type nitrogen analyzers capable of handling relatively large samples with semi automatic operation offers a potential replacement for the Kjeldahl method for direct determination of nitrogen. Nitrogen analyses for canola seed, flaxseed, sunflower seed, mustard seed and soybeans on a LECO (St. Joseph, MI) FP‐428 Nitrogen Analyzer were evaluated against results from the Grain Research Laboratory's (GRL) Kjeldahl system. The nitrogen analyzer gave significantly higher values than the Kjeldahl method, resulting in a correction of low values in the GRL Kjeldahl, caused by the inability to use mercury as catalyst. The standard error for results from the analyzer was comparable to that for the Kjeldahl method. The nitrogen analyzer also was faster than the Kjeldahl method and had less environmental impact. The combustion method has replaced the Kjeldahl method for routine nitrogen determinations in oilseed surveys conducted by the GRL.
Antioxidative components, xanthone derivatives, inSwertia japonica Makino
Authors: Ashida Shinya , Noguchi Satoshi F. , Suzuki Tateo
Published: July 2007

Substances with antioxidative properties were obtained from an ether extract ofSwertia japonica Makino. Six active components of the extract were isolated and identified as methylbellidifolin, methylswertianin, swertianin, bellidifolin, norswertianin and desmethylbellidifolin. These six xanthone derivatives were shown to possess different antioxidant activities by chemiluminescent assay. The antioxidative activities of bellidifolin, norswertianin and desmethylbellidifolin were higher than those of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and α‐tocopherol. On autoxidation of methyl linoleate, bellidifolin had activity similar to that of BHT. On the basis of the data present on antioxidative properties and data reported on the mutagenicities of the xanthones, both activities were shown to give a good correlation.
Identification of major triglycerides causing the clouding of palm olein
Authors: Swe P. Z. , Che Man Y. B. , Ghazali H. M. , Wei L. S.
Published: July 2007

Clouding was obtained by storing palm olein at 12.5°C for up to 24h and was separated by centrifugation. the fat crystals were collected after washing with cold acetone. The crystals were identified according to their fatty acid and triglyceride composition, carbon number and degree of unsaturation. Palmitic‐oleic‐palmitic (POP) and palmitic‐oleic‐stearic (POS) levels were high in the cloud material, especially in that recovered between 15–18 h of storage. The increase in POP and POS concentrations was concomitant with a decrease in the content of palmiticoleic‐oleic (POO). The least amount of POO was also obtained in clouds collected between 15–18 h of storage, compared to the original oil sample. The increase of palmitic acid explained that triglycerides conjugated with palmitic acid molecules in their acyl chains could have been crystallized, and crystallization could have taken place in the order of the number of palmitic molecule in the acyl chain. The concentrations of the other triglycerides did not change much throughout the storage period. Further storage caused the composition of the cloud to become similar to that of the original oil sample.
Behavior of diglycerides and conjugated fatty acid triglycerides in reverse‐phase chromatography
Authors: Chang M. K. , Conkerton E. J. , Chapital D. , Wan P. J.
Published: July 2007

The behavior of conjugated fatty acid triglycerides and diglycerides on reverse‐phase chromatography was studied. Trieleostearin is a geometric isomer of trilinolenin. The conjugated double bond arrangement in trieleostearin enhances its hydrophobic interaction with the stationary phase and causes it to be eluted later than trilinolenin. In separation of “critical pairs” of tri‐ and diglycerides, diglycerides elute later than triglycerides due to the longer fatty acid constituent. Position isomers of 1,2‐ and 1,3‐diglycerides can be separated by reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography.
Physical characteristics of mustard oil solvent miscella
Authors: Nag Oebasis , Bhole N. G.
Published: July 2007

During commercial solvent extraction of oil from an oil‐seed, it is necessary to determine oil content in the miscella, drawn intermittently from the extractor, to obtain an overall extraction rate. We measured optical density, specific gravity, refractive index and viscosity of miscella of different known oil concentrations. These four characteristics were measured by calculating deviations from the actual values. The deviations were maximum for optical density, intermediate for specific gravity and viscosity, and small for refractive index, suggesting the latter to be an appropriate rapid method of determining miscella oil content.
Postharvest handling of soybeans: Effects on oil quality
Authors: Mounts T. L. , List G. R. , Heakin A. J.
Published: July 2007

Effects of postharvest handling (such as storage and transportation) of soybeans on the quality of extracted oil were evaluated. Identity‐preserved export shipments of soybeans were sampled at origin points and at destination ports. Samples of new crop beans were also acquired from domestic elevators. Lots were separated to yield three fractions each: original, whole beans, and split beans. Crude oil extracted from each fraction was characterized for free fatty acid content, iron content, peroxide value, phosphatide, nonhydratable phosphatide, color, Chromatographic refining loss, and fatty acid composition. Oil extracted from split beans had free fatty acid and iron contents significantly greater than those of oil from whole beans. These two deleterious qualities of crude oils were found to increase during shipment. Degumming studies showed an increase in the nonhydratable phosphatide content of extracted oil due to shipment.
The Effect of processing on the content and composition of free sterols and sterol esters in soybean oil
Authors: Johansson Anna , Hoffmann Ilona
Published: July 2007

The content and composition of free sterols and sterol esters in crude soybean oil and in oils from different stages of two continuous refining systems were determined. The sterols were isolated by preparative thin layer chromatography and analyzed by gas chromatography with cholesterol as an internal standard. The free sterols in one of the degummed oils amounted to 3.1 mg/g and were diminished to 1.8 mg/g oil by the De Laval Short‐Mix refining process. The content of free sterols of the other degummed oil was reduced from 3.4 to 1.6 mg/g oil by the Zenith process. The greatest reduction of sterol content was caused by the treatment with bleaching earth. The sterol esters accounted for 0.6 mg/g of the degummed oil, and only very small changes were observed during the processes. However, changes in the composition of fatty acids of the sterol esters were found. These changes might indicate a selective deacylation of sterol esters or an interesterification during the refining processes. The composition of sterols in free and esterified form were different. Campesterol, stigmasterol and sitosterol were obtained in both free and esterified form, but Δ7 stigmasterol was only found in esterified form. Only small changes in the percentage distribution of the sterols occurred during the processes.
Distillability of extracted mixed‐birch tall oil
Authors: Ukkonen Keijo
Published: July 2007

Chemical and physical properties of tall oil made in the CSR process and distillation results of three different types of distillation plants are presented. Chemically extracted, mixed‐birch, tall oil differs remarkably from the normal Scandinavian crude tall oil. The extracted oil deviates from the normal, unextracted, mixed‐birch tall oil with respect to the smaller unsaponifiable amount and the fatty acid esters. The amount of resin acid is small in extracted mixed‐birch tall oil. The quantity of fatty acids, especially that of saturated fatty acids, is large. Distillation of extracted mixed‐birch tall oil is most successful in a distillation plant where thin film evaporators are used.
Positional distribution of the fatty acids in the triglycerides of the oil of some african peanut varieties
Authors: Van Pee W. , Van Hee J. , Boni L. , Hendrikx A.
Published: July 2007

The distribution of fatty acids between the sn‐1‐, sn‐2‐ and sn‐3‐positions of the triglycerides from the oils of eight African peanut varieties has been determined. The saturated fatty acids and eicosenoic acid occur almost exclusively at the sn‐1‐ and sn‐3‐positions. The sn‐1‐position contained slightly more palmitic acid than the sn‐3‐position. The fatty acids with a chain length exceeding 18 carbons were preferentially incorporated in the sn‐3‐position. Linoleic acid was preferentially esterified at the sn‐2‐position, whereas oleic acid was equally distributed among the three positions. The amount of the saturated fatty acids, i.e., palmitic and stearic acid, and of oleic acid and linoleic acid incorporated in the sn‐1‐, sn‐2‐and sn‐3‐position, were each linearly related to their respective content in the triglycerides.
Fatty acid composition of yellow‐ and violet‐flowered sesbania sesban seeds
Authors: Kapoor V. K. , Chawla A. S. , Jindal O. P.
Published: July 2007

The fatty acid composition of seed oils from yellow‐and violet‐floweredSesbania sesban varieties was determined. Their composition and properties were too similar to provide chemotaxonomic distinction between the varieties.
Formation of γ and δ lactones in irradiated beef
Authors: Vajdi M. , Nawar W. W. , Merritt C.
Published: July 2007

Formation of γ and δ lactones by irradiation in beef has been recently reported. This paper provides evidence for their presence and postulates a mechanism for their formation.
About the conversion factor of phosphorus to phosphatides in soybean oil
Authors: Hartman L.
Published: July 2007

The factor of 30 recommended by the official AOCS method Ca 12‐55 for converting phosphorus to phosphatides in soybean oil is in reality a conversion factor to “acetone insolubles.” While applicable to crude soybean oils, its applications to degummed and refined oils is open to question. A corresponding revision of the method Ca 12‐55 seems therefore indicated.
New amphoteric surfactants containing a 2‐hydroxyalkyl group: II. the dependence of physicochemical properties on the pH value for N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐N‐(2‐hydroxyalkyl)‐β‐alanines
Authors: Hidaka H. , Moriya M. , Takai M.
Published: July 2007

The dependence of physicochemical properties on the pH of micellar solutions for N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐N‐(2‐hydroxyalkyl)‐β alanines (HAA) was studied by means of a differential titration method (DTM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, and measurements of critical micelle concentration, surface tension, and foaming power. The aspect of the dissociation of HAA was pursued by DTM. The mutual transformation among cationic, zwitterionic, and anionic forms with the change of pH range was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. The micelle formation energy was determined at each pH value. Further, the dependence of surface active properties on the pH value for the adducts of ethylene oxide to Na‐HAA was also investigated.
Viscosity, pour point, and chain length relations for the alcohol ethoxylates
Authors: Fisher C. H.
Published: July 2007

Because pour points of surfactant alcohol ethoxylates are important and tedious to determine experimentally, it is desirable to have methods for calculating pour points from other properties, e.g., viscosities (1). To facilitate calculating pour points, several types of equation were developed that relate (a) chain lengths of the alcohol ethoxylates to pour points, (b) chain lengths to viscosities, and (c) viscosities to pour points.
Odor control in edible oil processing
Authors: Gilbert W. J. , Tandy D. C.
Published: July 2007

The problems with odor around a typical edible oil deodorizer are discussed in detail, and a three‐step solution to eliminate these problems is presented. The three steps are a distillate recovery system which recovers most of the fatty acid in the deodorizer vapor discharge as a valuable byproduct, a closed loop barometric cooling water system which keeps the fatladen hotwell water out of the cooling tower by recirculating it back to the vacuum system after cooling with tower water in a heat exchanger, and a vapor scrubbing system to eliminate volatile organic compounds which are not removed in the previous two steps.
Neurofibromatosis Type 1 in Genetic Counseling Practice: Recommendations of the National Society of Genetic Counselors
Authors: Radtke Heather B. , Sebold Courtney D. , Allison Caroline , Haidle Joy Larsen , Schneider Gretchen
Published: July 2007

The objective of this document is to provide recommendations for the genetic counseling of patients and families undergoing evaluation for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) or who have received a diagnosis of NF1. These recommendations are the opinions of a multi‐center working group of genetic counselors with expertise in the care of individuals with NF1. These recommendations are based on the committee's clinical experiences, a review of pertinent English language medical articles, and reports of expert committees. These recommendations are not intended to dictate an exclusive course of management, nor does the use of such recommendations guarantee a particular outcome. These recommendations do not displace a health care provider's professional judgment based on the clinical circumstances of an individual patient.
A temporal analysis of the consciousness of filial piety
Authors: Xianglong ZHANG
Published: July 2007

The reason for the emergence of consciousness of filial piety is that parental care could activate reciprocal filial piety. Parental care and filial piety are two supplementary phenomena caused by the same time consciousness. Phenomenology neglects consciousness of filial piety because it lacks the thinking that sees the fundamental “meaning of time” in the intersection of “past” and “future”. The consciousness of filial piety can only be really constituted by a human being’s personal experience. “Frustrations in personal life” and “breeding of children for oneself” are two occasions for an adult to fight against the separating effect of individualized consciousness and regain awareness of filial piety.
Mou Zongsan’s view of interpreting Confucianism by “moral autonomy”
Authors: Qiyong GUO
Published: July 2007

Mou Zongsan uses the highest moral principle “autonomy” to interpret Confucius’ benevolence and Mencius’ “inherent benevolence and righteousness”, focuses on the self-rule of the will. It does not do any harm to Mencius’ learning, on the contrary, it is conducive to the communication between Chinese and Western philosophies. If we stick to Kant’s moral self autonomy and apply it to interpreting Zhu Xi’s moral theory, similarly we will discover the implications of Zhu Xi’s “autonomy” in his moral learning. Therefore, it is inappropriate for Mou Zongsan to say that Zhu Xi’s ethics belongs to the autonomous one.
“After-sage” life pursuits: The ethical meaning of Feng Youlan’s Xin Shixun
Authors: Lai CHEN
Published: July 2007

Feng Youlan’s Xin Shixun 新世训 (New Treatise on the Way of Life) written in the late 1930s differed from traditional moral teachings because it focused on nonmoral life lessons and how to “virtuously” pursue success. It advanced an interpretation of traditional virtues as life lessons for young people, so that these virtues could transform an individual life in modern society. Thereby the morals of ancient sages could transfer to the modern, individual, and morality. The problem is just how the ideals of traditional Chinese culture have adjusted themselves to modern society. Following the phrase “after-virtue”, this effort can be called a pursuit of “after-sage”.
Non‐Isothermal Crystallization of Bovine Milk Fat
Authors: Janssen Patrick W. M. , MacGibbon Alastair K. H.
Published: July 2007

The crystallization kinetics of milk fat were studied under non‐isothermal and simulated adiabatic conditions using pulsed NMR spectroscopy. Isothermal experiments confirmed that when milk fat is shock cooled to below the α melting point it crystallizes in two steps due to the different crystallization kinetics of α and β′ modifications. In non‐isothermal experiments, the fat samples were heated early during the plateau between steps to a temperature above the α melting point and β′ crystals formed more rapidly than in isothermal conditions. Fresh α crystals are believed to melt and form lamellar units containing triglyceride molecules with high degrees of isomorphism and these units can accelerate the nucleation and growth rates of β′ polymorph crystals. The crystallization behavior changed when the heating occurred late in the plateau and the α crystals are believed to have demixed, which allowed them to transform to β′ crystals directly in the solid state. Under simulated adiabatic conditions the rate of β′ crystallization was increased by a factor of 2–3 over the isothermal case. These findings were used to infer approaches to process difficult fat blends in scraped‐surface heat exchanger plants.
Modellvorstellungen zur Genetik multifaktorieller Krankheiten
Authors: Nothnagel M. , Krawczak M.
Published: July 2007

Im Gegensatz zu monogenen Erkrankungen kann bei multifaktoriellen genetisch bedingten Krankheiten aufgrund der Vielzahl genetischer und nichtgenetischer Faktoren keine klare Genotyp-Phänotyp-Beziehung erwartet werden. Mögliche Störgrößen sind u. a. das Vorliegen genetischer Heterogenität, Gen-Gen- und Gen-Umwelt-Interaktion sowie der Einfluss epigenetischer Faktoren. In der Konsequenz verringern sich die relativen Risiken einzelner genetischer Einflussfaktoren, was größere Stichprobenumfänge für ihre initiale Identifikation erforderlich macht. Aus der Prävalenz einer Erkrankung allein können meist keine Schlüsse hinsichtlich der Häufigkeit und Diversität der sie verursachenden genetischen Variation gezogen werden. Die Gewährleistung eines möglichst homogenen genetischen Hintergrunds der Studienpopulation, die Fokussierung auf möglichst einfache, klar definierte Phänotypen und die Untersuchung möglichst plausibler, genetischer und nichtgenetischer Einflussfaktoren stellen vermutlich den effizientesten Weg zur Identifikation von „Krankheitsgenen“ dar. Die Replikation von Assoziationsbefunden, insbesondere mit seltenen genetischen Varianten, hat zudem in solchen Populationen die größten Erfolgsaussichten, die der ursprünglich analysierten Gruppe genetisch möglichst ähnlich sind.
Genidentifizierung bei multifaktoriellen Krankheiten
Authors: Becker T.
Published: July 2007

Eine wichtige Aufgabe der genetischen Epidemiologie sind die Lokalisierung und Identifizierung von genetischen Faktoren, die an der Entstehung von Phänotypen beteiligt sind. Insbesondere multifaktorielle Krankheiten, die durch das Zusammenwirken verschiedener Gene und Umweltfaktoren verursacht werden, sind in den Fokus gerückt. Grundsätzliches Problem der genetischen Epidemiologie ist, dass das menschliche Genom aufgrund seines Umfangs eine erschöpfende biologische Untersuchung seiner Wirkungsweise nicht zulässt. Da aber sowohl innerhalb von Familien als auch auf Bevölkerungsebene die Ausprägungen der DNA-Variation korrelieren, ist es möglich, das Genom mit ausgewählten genetischen Markern repräsentativ abzubilden und diese mit statistischen Methoden zu analysieren. Eine Grobkartierung wird mittels Kopplungsanalyse durchgeführt, die die Kosegregation von Markern mit dem Phänotyp in Familien betrachtet. Die Feinkartierung der Kopplungsregionen erfolgt mit der Assoziationsanalyse, die die Häufigkeit von Allelen/Genotypen zwischen von der Krankheit Betroffenen und Nichtbetroffenen vergleicht. Das Kopplungsassoziationsparadigma wird zunehmend durch genomweite Assoziationsstudien (GWAS) ersetzt, die auf eine einleitende Kopplungsanalyse verzichten.
Origin of diplochromosomal polyploidy in near‐senescent fibroblast cultures: Heterochromatin, telomeres and chromosomal instability (CIN)
Authors: Walen Kirsten H.
Published: July 2007

The near‐senescence associated phenomena of increases in cells with chromosomal damage (CIN) and in endopolyploid mitotic cells were analyzed for possible inter‐relationships by cytogenetics. Gross chromosomal abnormalities in all phases of mitosis were analyzed in situ. Hetrochromatization of telomeres, centromeres and interstitial chromatin regions (i.e., chromocenters/SAHF) were shown to be specific occurrences in the near‐senescent phase. Stickiness between such chromatin regions caused breakage/fragmentation by anaphase‐pulls on clumped chromosomes. Gluey heterochromatin is therefore, seen as a cause of CIN in near‐senescence. Detrimental effects on chromosomes from heterochromatin have been observed for decades, and can be explained from chromatin remodeling in epigenetics. A consequence of genomic damage was re‐replication to polyploidy of arrest‐escaped cells with G2/M‐DNA content. This second synthetic period produced diplochromosomal cells that cycled by bi‐polar division into genome reduced cells. This sequence from h‐chromatization to CIN and further to cycling endopolyploidy is believed to be a basic mechanism for the production of genetic variability in neoplasia.
p38α MAPK can positively or negatively regulate Rac‐1 activity depending on the presence of serum
Authors: Zuluaga Susana , Gutiérrez-Uzquiza Alvaro , Bragado Paloma , Álvarez-Barrientos Alberto , Benito Manuel , Nebreda Angel R. , Porras Almudena
Published: July 2007

The small GTP‐ase Rac‐1 can trigger p38 MAPK activation and, in turn, p38α can regulate signalling pathways that potentially impinge on Rac‐1 activity. We have investigated the cross‐talk between p38α and Rac‐1 and found that p38α regulates the association between Rac‐1 and caveolin‐1 in serum‐deprived cardiomyocytes. This interaction depends on cell attachment and correlates with higher levels of active Rac‐1. Actin organization might regulate the formation of Rac‐1–caveolin‐1 complexes. In contrast, the Rac‐1–caveolin‐1 interaction is almost undetectable in the presence of serum, where Rac‐1 activity is negatively regulated by p38α. Our results indicate that p38α can differentially contribute to Rac‐1 activation depending on the presence of serum.
Dissecting differential binding of fructose and phosphate as leaving group/nucleophile of glucosyl transfer catalyzed by sucrose phosphorylase
Authors: Mueller Mario , Nidetzky Bernd
Published: July 2007

Site‐directed mutagenesis was used to examine the specificity of Leuconostoc mesenteroides sucrose phosphorylase for utilization of fructose and phosphate as leaving group/nucleophile of the reaction. The largest catalytic defect in Arg137
→ Ala (≈60‐fold) and Tyr340
→ Ala (≈2500‐fold) concerned phosphate dependant half‐reactions whereas that in Asp338
→ Asn (≈7000‐fold) derived from disruption of steps where fructose departs or attacks. The relative efficiencies for enzyme glucosylation by sucrose compared with α‐d‐glucose‐1‐phosphate and enzyme deglucosylation by phosphate compared with fructose were 5.5 and 6.2 for wild‐type, 19 and 2.0 for Arg137
→ Ala, 950 and 0.17 for Tyr340
→ Ala, and 0.05 and 180 for Asp338
→ Asn, respectively. Asp338 and Tyr340 have a key role in differential binding of fructose and phosphate, respectively.
TIEG1 induces apoptosis through mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and promotes apoptosis induced by homoharringtonine and velcade
Authors: Jin Wei , Di Genhong , Li Junjie , Chen Ying , Li Wenfeng , Wu Jiong , Cheng Tiewei , Yao Ming , Shao Zhimin
Published: July 2007

Overexpression of TGFβ inducible early gene (TIEG1) mimics TGFβ action and induces apoptosis. In this study, we found that TIEG1 was significantly up‐regulated during apoptosis induced by homoharringtonine or velcade. Overexpression of TIEG1 could induce apoptosis in K562 cells and promote apoptosis induced by HHT or velcade. TIEG1‐induced apoptosis was shown to involve Bax and Bim up‐regulation, Bcl‐2 and Bcl‐XL down‐regulation, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol, activation of caspase 3 and disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). We concluded that TIEG1 is a key regulator which induces and promotes apoptosis through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.
Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mediates the early increase of blood supply (EIBS) in colon carcinogenesis
Authors: Roy Hemant K. , Wali Ramesh K. , Kim Young , Liu Yang , Hart John , Kunte Dhananjay P. , Koetsier Jennifer L. , Goldberg Michael J. , Backman Vadim
Published: July 2007

We have recently demonstrated that dramatic alteration in mucosal microvascular blood content termed early increase in blood supply (EIBS) is a hallmark of early colon carcinogenesis. In the current study, we elucidate the mechanism of EIBS by assessing iNOS/nitric oxide axis in the histologically normal colonic mucosa of rats treated with the colon‐specific carcinogen, azoxymethane. We demonstrate that there was a strong temporal correlation between EIBS and iNOS expression/activity. Importantly, we also observed that short‐term treatment with nitric oxide inhibitor abrogated EIBS. These data indicate that iNOS induction may have a critical role in augmenting the predysplastic mucosal blood supply and thereby fostering colon carcinogenesis.
Cost-Effective High-Throughput Fully Automated Construction of a Multiplex Library of Mutagenized Open Reading Frames for an Insecticidal Peptide Using a Plasmid-Based Functional Proteomic Robotic Workcell with Improved Vacuum System
Authors: Hughes Stephen R. , Dowd Patrick F. , Hector Ronald E. , Riedmuller Steven B. , Bartolett Scott , Mertens Jeffrey A. , Qureshi Nasib , Liu Siqing , Bischoff Kenneth M. , Li Xin-Liang , Jackson John S. , Sterner David , Panavas Tadas , Rich Joseph O. , Farrelly Philip J. , Butt Tauseef , Cotta Michael A.
Published: July 2007

Robotic platforms are essential for production of large numbers of expression-ready plasmid sets to develop optimized clones and improved microbial strains for crucial bioenergy applications and simultaneous high-value peptide expression. Here we demonstrate a plasmid-based integrated robotic workcell, modified with a motorized vacuum filtration system, for performing fully automated molecular biology protocols, including assembly of mutagenized gene sequences, purification of PCR amplicons, ligation of PCR products into vectors, transformation of competent Escherichia coli, plating of recovered transformants, plasmid preparation, cloning, and expression of optimized genes. A library of genes encoding variants of wolf spider lycotoxin-1, a candidate bioinsecticide, was produced using PCR mutagenesis in an amino acid scanning strategy to generate a complete set of mutations across the lycotoxin-1 gene. The improved vacuum filtration system permits automated purification of PCR products. Methods for recovery and growth of bacteria containing plasmids with PCR inserts allow individual colony formation on a novel solid medium in a deepwell plate. Inserts are cloned into a bacterial vector to verify expression. These protocols form the core of a fully automated molecular biology platform that reduces the cost and time required to perform all operations. (JALA 2007;12:202–12)
Does contemporary theology require a postfoundationalist way of knowing?
Authors: Diller Kevin
Published: July 2007

In hisThe Postfoundationalist Task of Theology, F. LeRon Shults recommendspostfoundationalismas avia mediabetween modernist foundationalism and postmodernist antifoundationalism. He advocates postfoundationalism as an epistemological approach which avoids the pitfalls on either side and provides the best way forward for constructive theological work. In this article I attempt to assess how well Shults's proposal treats Christian theological knowing. I begin by entertaining a Barthian theological concern which might be employed as soft criteria for an assessment of any proposed theological epistemology. This concern stipulates that an epistemology in the service of Christian theology must respect a commitment to the objective reality of God who, as Word become flesh, makes himself known through the human experience of reality to his church, while recognising the fallibility of human knowing, presupposing a knowledge of God accessible through experience always only by the prevenient, self-giving action of God. I then turn to a brief analysis of the Shults–van Huyssteen case against foundationalism and nonfoundationalism, focusing particularly on the postfoundationalist critiques of foundationalism and fideism in dialogue with Barth. The article concludes with an appraisal of the postfoundationalist recommendation. I argue that Shults's approach maps well to the theological concern for critical realism and a recognition of the social embeddedness of human knowing. Postfoundationalism's underlying commitments, however, leave it closed to an external source of warrant, and as a consequence repudiate afrom aboveview of theological knowing. I suggest instead that only atheofoundationalist epistemology avoids the pitfalls sketched by Shults in a way that maintains proper epistemic humility without entering the ghettos of fideism or scepticism.
Poverty reduction through liberalisation? Neoliberalism and the myth of global convergence
Authors: KIELY RAY
Published: July 2007

This article critically examines the question of whether poverty has been reduced in recent years, and if so, whether this is a result of neoliberal and/or globalisation friendly policies. The first section problematises at least some claims made for poverty reduction and the second section questions any causal link between ‘pro-globalisation’ policies and poverty reduction. The third and final section considers in detail the nature of the contemporary global economy, and in examining the evidence concerning capital flows shows how, contrary to the claims made by neoliberals and some globalisation theorists, capital is not dispersing throughout the world. Moreover, even when the ‘correct policies’ are adopted, this is unlikely to happen. I then conclude by suggesting why ‘actually existing globalidation’ does not alleviate, and may indeed intensify, global inequalities.
The trouble with humanitarianism
Authors: BELLONI ROBERTO
Published: July 2007

Humanitarianism – that is, the political, economic and military interference in the domestic affairs of a state justified by a nascent transnational morality – is one of the defining and most controversial features of the post-Cold War period. This article advances nine theses, arguing that humanitarianism has a simplistic worldview, that coercive humanitarian actions trigger negative consequences, that humanitarianism is quite effective in sheltering Western states from the spillover effects of political crises but is less so in solving the problems it claims to address. These arguments are illustrated with reference to four prominent cases: Bosnia, Kosovo, Rwanda and Darfur. The article concludes with a brief outline of an alternative humanitarian approach.
Entrenching ‘identity norms’ of tolerance and engagement: lessons from rapprochement between North and South Korea
Authors: SON KEY-YOUNG
Published: July 2007

Revisiting the nexus of identities and norms, this article argues that actors’ attitude and policies are not the automatic reflection of a salient identity but the articulation of what I call ‘identity norms’, defined as standards of appropriate behaviour for in-group actors vis-à-vis an out-group. Central to my argument is that identities become straw men at times of momentous change, whilst identity norms, crafted and propagated through an intersubjective understanding amongst different actors, emerge as a guiding principle in state-to-state relations. By illustrating the trajectories of reconciliation between North and South Korea, this article examines the anomalies of how antagonistic states forge friendly ties.
Understanding sovereignty through Kelsen/Schmitt
Authors: SUGANAMI HIDEMI
Published: July 2007

Kelsen and Schmitt, two leading legal theorists of the twentieth century, constitute a powerful pair that sheds light on the intertwining of politics and law in the phenomenon of sovereignty. Although their conceptions of sovereignty are far apart, they are interconnected as different ways of making sense of the same social phenomenon, or what I call the ‘practice of sovereignty’, whereby an ultimately unauthorised authority continuously authorises itself as the authority and the rest by and large accept this, acquiesce in this, or are made to do so. Having clarified their differences and interconnection, I explore some of the implications of the two writers’ differing conceptions of sovereignty and of the practice of sovereignty that underlie them.
Set-up verification on a belly-board device using electronic portal imaging
Authors: Roels Sarah , Verstraete Jan , Haustermans Karin
Published: July 2007

Purpose: Quantification of set-up errors is necessary to assess the accuracy of patient positioning and define set-up margins. In this article, we describe the analysis of two different set-up verification and correction procedures in pelvic irradiation for rectal cancer patients treated on a belly-board device.

Methods: First, we conducted a retrospective study in ten patients. Skin marks were used for set-up and the position was verified and corrected at the start of treatment by portal imaging. Second, we analysed the implementation of a more rigorous verification and correction procedure in ten patients. The same set-up procedure was used, but verification was performed during the first three sessions and on a weekly basis thereafter. In both studies, systematic and random errors were linked with possible patient-related, treatment-unit-related and time-related factors.

Results: The pooled data showed a significant reduction in systematic and random error in favour of the second verification procedure (p < 0.05). This resulted in a reduction in the size of the safety margin of more than 3 mm in all directions. Time trends were significant in four patients in the first analysis and in three patients in the second analysis. In six patients in the first and seven patients in the second study, a significant correlation was found between the vertical couch movement and the antero-posterior set-up error. Analysis of patient-related factors demonstrated a relationship between the abdominal contour and rotational errors in both studies.

Conclusion: The results of these set-up analyses show that patient positioning on a belly-board device by laser alignment to skin marks is accurate and reproducible. However, in some patients we recommend the implementation of a fixed vertical couch position. The systematic error should be identified and corrected during the first fractions of treatment. Thereafter, verification should be performed at regular intervals to correct for possible time trends. Positioning of obese patients was found to be more prone to set-up errors and requires online position verification.
A global search inversion for earthquake kinematic rupture history: Application to the 2000 western Tottori, Japan earthquake
Authors: Piatanesi Alessio , Cirella Antonella , Spudich Paul , Cocco Massimo
Published: July 2007

We present a two‐stage nonlinear technique to invert strong motions records and geodetic data to retrieve the rupture history of an earthquake on a finite fault. To account for the actual rupture complexity, the fault parameters are spatially variable peak slip velocity, slip direction, rupture time and risetime. The unknown parameters are given at the nodes of the subfaults, whereas the parameters within a subfault are allowed to vary through a bilinear interpolation of the nodal values. The forward modeling is performed with a discrete wave number technique, whose Green's functions include the complete response of the vertically varying Earth structure. During the first stage, an algorithm based on the heat‐bath simulated annealing generates an ensemble of models that efficiently sample the good data‐fitting regions of parameter space. In the second stage (appraisal), the algorithm performs a statistical analysis of the model ensemble and computes a weighted mean model and its standard deviation. This technique, rather than simply looking at the best model, extracts the most stable features of the earthquake rupture that are consistent with the data and gives an estimate of the variability of each model parameter. We present some synthetic tests to show the effectiveness of the method and its robustness to uncertainty of the adopted crustal model. Finally, we apply this inverse technique to the well recorded 2000 western Tottori, Japan, earthquake (Mw 6.6); we confirm that the rupture process is characterized by large slip (3‐4 m) at very shallow depths but, differently from previous studies, we imaged a new slip patch (2‐2.5 m) located deeper, between 14 and 18 km depth.
A new solution expressed in terms of UTD coefficients for the multiple diffraction of spherical waves by a series of buildings
Authors: Rodríguez José‐Víctor , Molina‐García‐Pardo José‐María , Juan‐Llácer Leandro
Published: July 2007

A new formulation expressed in terms of Uniform Theory of Diffraction (UTD) coefficients for the prediction of the multiple diffraction caused by a series of buildings modeled as wedges, considering spherical‐wave incidence, is presented. The solution, which has a certain heuristic nature, is validated with numerical results from technical literature and the particular cases of diffraction by buildings modeled as absorbing knife edges, as well as the one in which the mentioned buildings are replaced by flat‐roofed parallel rows of blocks (building rows in cross sections considered to be rectangular in shape) are also analyzed. The computing time is reduced over existing formulations, especially when the number of buildings is large, and the results can be applied in the development of theoretical models, in order to predict a more realistic path loss in urban environments when multiple‐building diffraction has to be considered.
Timing and dynamics of the juxtaposition of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt against the Bhandara Craton, India: A structural and zircon U‐Pb SHRIMP study of the fold‐thrust belt and associated nepheline syenite plutons
Authors: Biswal Tapas Kumar , De Waele Bert , Ahuja Harish
Published: July 2007

Sensitive High Resolution Ion MicroProbe (SHRIMP) U‐Pb dating of zircon from basement granite gneisses and nepheline syenites of the Sinapalli Nappe, occurring along the northwestern margin of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt, indicate high grade regional metamorphism and associated folding accompanying juxtaposition of the nappe with the Bhandara Craton, to have taken place between 617 ± 85 Ma (lower intercept age of a reworked basement unit) and 517 Ma (age of the youngest syenite). This shows, for the first time, that the final juxtaposition of the northwestern parts of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt against the Bhandara Craton came about in the late Neoproterozoic and not, as previously thought, during the Mesoproterozoic. The northwestern part of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt comprises a fold‐ thrust belt consisting of a stack of northwesterly verging nappes that have been thrust over the Bhandara Craton. The Sinapalli Nappe is the lowermost nappe and rests over a tectonic contact on the Archean granites and gneisses of the craton. The basal décollement is exposed as a two‐km‐wide ductile‐brittle thrust, hosting nepheline syenite plutons that show fabrics consistent with a synkinematic emplacement during thrusting. The Sinapalli Nappe is comprised of a sequence of alternating mafic granulites and quartzofeldspathic gneisses with slivers of basement granites, which are folded in three phases of folding (F1,F2and F3) and were subjected to granulite facies metamorphism during F1folding. Thrusting is synkinematic to F2folding and is responsible for the juxtaposition of the northwestern part of the Eastern Ghats Terrane over the Bhandara Craton during the assembly of parts of eastern Gondwana.
Sequential aquifer tests at a well field, Montalto Uffugo Scalo, Italy
Authors: Straface S. , Yeh T.‐C. J. , Zhu J. , Troisi S. , Lee C. H.
Published: July 2007

This paper investigates our ability to characterize an aquifer using a sequential aquifer test in a well field that consists of six wells. During the test, we pumped water out from the aquifer at one well and monitored the water level changes at the rest of the wells to obtain a set of five well hydrographs. By pumping at another of the six wells, we obtained another set of five hydrographs. This procedure was repeated until each of the six wells was pumped. We then analyzed the six sets of hydrographs using the classical drawdown‐time, the drawdown‐distance, and the drawdown‐distance/time methods. Results of the analysis confirm recent findings that the transmissivity estimates vary significantly at early time and stabilize at late time. At late time, the estimated values from all hydrographs are similar overall but vary slightly according to the locations of the pumping and observation wells. In contrast, storage coefficient estimates stabilized rapidly to distinct values associated with the well locations. We subsequently used a hydraulic tomography approach to include all hydrographs from the sequential aquifer test to estimate the spatially varying transmissivity and storage coefficient fields. The estimated fields appear to be realistic: They reflect the geologic setting and the behaviors of the well hydrographs, although more definitive confirmation is needed.
Efficient nonlinear predictive error variance for highly parameterized models
Authors: Tonkin Matthew , Doherty John , Moore Catherine
Published: July 2007

Predictive error variance analysis attempts to determine how wrong predictions made by a calibrated model may be. Predictive error variance analysis is usually undertaken following calibration using a small number of parameters defined through a priori parsimony. In contrast, we introduce a method for investigating the potential error in predictions made by highly parameterized models calibrated using regularized inversion. Vecchia and Cooley (1987) describe a method of predictive error variance analysis that is constrained by calibration data. We extend this approach to include constraints on parameters that lie within the calibration null space. These constraints are determined by dividing parameter space into combinations of parameters for which estimates can be obtained and those for which they cannot. This enables the contribution to predictive error variance from parameterization simplifications required to solve the inverse problem to be quantified, in addition to the contribution from measurement noise. We also describe a novel technique that restricts the analysis to a strategically defined predictive solution subspace, enabling an approximate predictive error variance analysis to be completed efficiently. The method is illustrated using a synthetic and a real‐world groundwater flow and transport model.
Flow to a finite diameter well in a horizontally anisotropic aquifer with wellbore storage
Authors: Mathias S. A. , Butler A. P.
Published: July 2007

Methods for determining horizontal anisotropy in transmissivity from pumping tests have generally been limited to where the pumping well can be assumed infinitesimal. This work presents a Laplace transform solution to the problem of flow to a finite diameter well in a horizontally anisotropic aquifer with wellbore storage. It is also shown that the solution is adequately approximated by an equivalent isotropic model with a corrected effective well radius for moderate anisotropies (i.e., Ty/Tx < 25).
Comparison of seasonal terrestrial water storage variations from GRACE with groundwater‐level measurements from the High Plains Aquifer (USA)
Authors: Strassberg Gil , Scanlon Bridget R. , Rodell Matthew
Published: July 2007

This study presents the first comparison of seasonal groundwater storage (GWS) variations derived from GRACE satellite data with groundwater‐level measurements in the High Plains Aquifer, USA (450,000 km2). Correlation between seasonal GRACE terrestrial water storage (TWS) and the sum of GWS estimated from field measurements (2,700 wells) and soil moisture (SM) simulated by a land surface model is high (R = 0.82). Correlation between GRACE‐derived and measured GWS is also significant (R = 0.58). Seasonal GRACE‐derived TWS and GWS changes were detectable (≥ uncertainty) in 7 and 5 out of 9 monitored periods respectively whereas maximum changes (between winter/spring and summer/fall) in TWS and GWS were detectable in all 5 monitored periods. These results show the potential for GRACE to monitor GWS changes in semiarid regions where irrigation pumpage causes large seasonal GWS variations.
Causes of the northern high‐latitude land surface winter climate change
Authors: Liu Jiping , Curry Judith A. , Dai Yongjiu , Horton Radley
Published: July 2007

In the past two decades, the northern high‐latitude (>40°N, NHL) land surface winter climate has experienced some of the most rapid changes on Earth, warming at almost 2.5 times the global average warming. Here we examine impacts of two dominant climate modes ‐ Arctic Oscillation (AO) and Aleutian Low (AL) ‐ on the winter NHL land surface temperature for the period 1958–2004, showing that 1) a combination of the AO and AL explains 70% of the variance of the NHL land surface temperature variability, including the cooling during the 1960s and 1970s and the persistent warming thereafter; and 2) interactions between the AO and AL tend to constrain impacts of the extremes of the AO and AL and minimize spatiotemporal extremes in the NHL climate. The amplification of the winter NHL land surface warming relative to the global average warming can be attributed to the combination of the AO and AL, although the extent to which the greenhouse warming may influence the AO and AL is uncertain.
Regulating B‐cell activation and survival in response to TLR signals
Authors: Gerondakis Steve , Grumont Raelene J , Banerjee Ashish
Published: July 2007

Following encounters with microbes, cellular activation programs that involve the control of proliferation and survival are initiated in follicular B cells either via the B‐cell receptor in a specific antigen‐defined manner, or through Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) that recognize specific microbial products. This review summarizes and discusses recent findings that shed light on how the nuclear factor κB pathway controls and coordinates B‐cell division and survival following TLR4 engagement.
Properties of the generalized master equation: Green’s functions and probability density functions in the path representation
Authors: Flomenbom Ophir , Silbey Robert J.
Published: July 2007

The Green’s function for the master equation and the generalized master equation in path representation is an infinite sum over the length of path probability density functions (PDFs). In this paper, the properties of path PDFs are studied both qualitatively and quantitatively. The results are used in building efficient approximations for Green’s function in 1D, and are relevant in modeling and in data analysis.