bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cytotoxic constituents from Andrographis paniculata induce cell cycle arrest in jurkat cells
Authors: Geethangili Madamanchi , Rao Yerra Koteswara , Fang Shih‐Hua , Tzeng Yew‐Min
Published: June 2008

Herbal medicines are now attracting attention as potential sources of anticancer agents. Andrographis paniculata is a traditionally used anticancer herb in Indian and Chinese herbal medicine. Phytochemical investigation of the ethanol extract of the aerial parts of this herb resulted in the isolation of 14 compounds including flavonoids and labdane diterpenoids. This is the first isolation of compound 6 from a natural source, and the aerial parts of A. paniculata are a rich source for the molecule andrographolide (9, 1.375%, w/w). The structures of the isolated compounds were established by means of spectral data. The cytotoxic activities of these isolates were evaluated against Jurkat, PC‐3, HepG2 and Colon 205 tumor cells, and normal cells PBMCs. The bioactivity assays showed that metabolites 1–4 and 6–8 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against Jurkat, PC‐3 and Colon 205 cell lines, where compound 6 had IC50 values of 0.05, 0.07 and 0.05 mm, respectively. Further, among these effective compounds, 3 and 6 selectively blocked the cell cycle progression at G0/G1, while 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8 blocked the same at G2/M phase of the Jurkat cell line. This is the first cell cycle analysis for the above mentioned isolates on the Jurkat cells. Therefore, these plant‐derived compounds may play a role in the prevention and/or management of cancer. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation of amodiaquine bulk drug impurities by liquid chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry
Authors: Dongre Vaijanath G. , Karmuse Pravin P. , Ghugare Pradip D. , Kanojiya Sunil K , Rawal Sadanand
Published: June 2008

Three unknown impurities in an amodiaquine bulk drug sample were detected by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC/UV). A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MSn) method is described for the investigation of these impurities. Mass spectral data were acquired on an LCQ ion trap mass analyzer equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source operated in positive ion mode. The fragmentation behavior of amodiaquine and its impurities has been studied. Based on the mass spectral data and the specifics of the synthetic route, the possible structures of these impurities were elucidated as 4‐[(5‐chloroquinolin‐4‐yl)amino]‐2‐(diethylaminomethyl)phenol (impurity I), 4‐[(7‐chloroquinolin‐4‐yl)‐amino]phenol (impurity II) and 4‐[(7‐chloroquinolin‐4‐yl)amino]‐2‐(diethylaminomethyl)‐N1‐oxy]phenol (impurity III). The structures were confirmed by their independent synthesis and NMR spectral assignment. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry fingerprinting of complex hydrocarbon mixtures: application to crude oils using data mining techniques
Authors: Nguyen Hien P. , Ortiz Israel P. , Temiyasathit Chivalai , Kim Seoung Bum , Schug Kevin A.
Published: June 2008

Crude oil fingerprints were obtained from four crude oils by laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI‐MS) using a silver nitrate cationization reagent. Replicate analyses produced spectral data with a large number of features for each sample (>11 000 m/z values) which were statistically analyzed to extract useful information for their differentiation. Individual characteristic features from the data set were identified by a false discovery rate based feature selection procedure based on the analysis of variance models. The selected features were, in turn, evaluated using classification models. A substantially reduced set of 23 features was obtained through this procedure. One oil sample containing a high ratio of saturated/aromatic hydrocarbon content was easily distinguished from the others using this reduced set. The other three samples were more difficult to distinguish by LDI‐MS using a silver cationization reagent; however, a minimal number of significant features were still identified for this purpose. Focus is placed on presenting this multivariate statistical method as a rapid and simple analytical procedure for classifying and distinguishing complex mixtures. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fast and direct screening of solid materials for their potential liberation of hydrophobic organic compounds using hot cell membrane inlet mass spectrometry
Authors: Lauritsen Frants R. , Jensen Anders , Nielsen Claus H.
Published: June 2008

We demonstrate that solid materials can be screened directly and without any pretreatment for their potential liberation of chemicals into the surroundings using a hot (150–250°C) sample cell membrane inlet mass spectrometer with electron ionization. Three very different types of solids were tested: polymers (in this context regarded as a solid), tea leaves and pesticide‐contaminated soil. From the polymers phthalates and other additives were liberated; from the tea leaves flavor additives and caffeine were liberated; and from the contaminated soil degradation products of 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4‐D) and 2,4,5‐trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5‐T) were liberated. In all cases we detected characteristic compounds directly from the untreated sample with an analytical turnover of 8–10 samples per hour. Improved selectivity of compounds penetrating the membrane was achieved either by operating the hot cell at different temperatures or by using variations in the time trend of individual ions following insertion of a piece of the solid material into the hot cell. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes in fish communities following recolonization of the Cedar River, WA, USA by Pacific salmon after 103 years of local extirpation
Authors: Kiffney Peter M. , Pess George R. , Anderson Joseph H. , Faulds P. , Burton K. , Riley Stephen C.
Published: June 2008

Migration barriers are a major reason for species loss and population decline of freshwater organisms. Significant efforts have been made to remove or provide passage around these barriers; however, our understanding of the ecological effects of these efforts is minimal. Installation of a fish passage facility at the Landsburg Dam, WA, USA provided migratory fish access to habitat from which they had been excluded for over 100 years. Relying on voluntary recruitment, we examined the effectiveness of this facility in restoring coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) salmon populations above the diversion, and whether reintroduction of native anadromous species affected the distribution and abundance of resident trout (O. mykiss and O. clarki). Before the ladder, late summer total salmonid (trout only) density increased with distance from the dam. This pattern was reversed after the ladder was opened, as total salmonid density (salmon + trout) approximately doubled in the three reaches closest to the dam. These changes were primarily due to the addition of coho, but small trout density also increased in lower reaches and decreased in upper reaches. A nearby source population, dispersal by adults and juveniles, low density of resident trout and high quality habitat above the barrier likely promoted rapid colonization of targeted species. Our results suggest that barrier removal creates an opportunity for migratory species to re‐establish populations leading to range expansion and potentially to increased population size. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimizing header file include directives
Authors: Spinellis Diomidis
Published: June 2008

A number of widely used programming languages use lexically included files as a way to share and encapsulate declarations, definitions, code, and data. As the code evolves files included in a compilation unit are often no longer required, yet locating and removing them is a haphazard operation, which is therefore neglected. The difficulty of reasoning about included files stems primarily from the fact that the definition and use of macros complicates the notions of scope and of identifier boundaries. By defining four successively refined identifier equivalence classes we can accurately derive dependencies between identifiers. A mapping of those dependencies on a relationship graph between included files can then be used to determine included files that are not required in a given compilation unit and can be safely removed. We validate our approach through a number of experiments on numerous large production systems. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Negotiating a supply contract in China. Case comment: Negotiating a supply contract in China
Authors: Chen Min , Nudelman Robert
Published: June 2008

This case highlights the challenges inherent in strategy implementation in the Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC) context, especially the impact of cultural context on the negotiation process. It also illustrates the role that multiple providers within a global supply chain can play in strengthening a negotiator's hand. The accompanying commentary from Robert Nudelman, an executive with extensive business development experience in Asia, offers suggestions for companies contemplating market entry into China, including the importance of having the right people involved in a negotiation. He also emphasizes the importance of prenegotiation planning to the outcome of the negotiation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sonographic birth‐weight prediction in obese patients using the gestation‐adjusted prediction method
Authors: Thornburg L. L. , Barnes C. , Glantz J. C. , Pressman E. K.
Published: June 2008

Objectives

Ultrasound birth‐weight prediction may be more accurate if assessed at 34 to 36 + 6 weeks' gestation and extrapolated using the gestation‐adjusted projection (GAP) method than if done at term. Because ultrasound is less accurate in women with elevated body mass index (BMI), we assessed the accuracy of GAP birth‐weight prediction in obese as compared to non‐obese women.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of 1382 women with singleton pregnancies who had undergone fetal ultrasound examination at between 34 + 0 and 36 + 6 weeks, subclassified by pre‐pregnancy BMI. Analysis of variance was used to compare predicted and actual birth weight.

Results

1025 controls and 357 obese women were included. The obese women were divided by BMI: 159 in Class I (BMI, 30–34.9 kg/m2); 105 in Class II (BMI, 35–40 kg/m2) and 93 in Class III (BMI > 40 kg/m2). Mean systematic (percent) birth‐weight prediction error was within 4% for all groups, with a 95% error range between − 5% and + 5%. The GAP method was able to predict actual birth weight within 20% for all groups in over 90% of cases. For all groups, the GAP method correctly excluded the presence of macrosomia with ≥ 90% specificity. Negative likelihood ratios for the prediction of macrosomia were between 0.4 and 0.6 for all groups, regardless of obesity.

Conclusions

The GAP method of birth‐weight prediction using ultrasound measurement at 34 to 36 + 6 weeks predicts birth weight within 20% error in over 90% of cases, and is able to exclude macrosomia with over 90% accuracy regardless of maternal BMI. Copyright © 2008 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Complex Topology of Uranyl Polyphosphate Frameworks: Crystal Structures of α‐, β‐K[(UO2)(P3O9)] and K[(UO2)2(P3O10)]
Authors: Alekseev Evgeny V. , Krivovichev Sergey V. , Depmeier Wulf , Knorr Karsten
Published: June 2008

Three new uranyl polyphosphates, α‐K[(UO2)(P3O9)] (1), β‐K[(UO2)(P3O9)] (2), and K[(UO2)2(P3O10)] (3), were prepared by high‐temperature solid‐state reactions. The crystal structures of the compounds have been solved by direct methods: 1 – monoclinic, P21/m, a = 8.497(1), b = 15.1150(1), c = 14.7890(1) Å, β = 91.911(5)°, V = 1898.3(3) Å3, Z = 4, R1 = 0.0734 for 4181 unique reflections with |F0| ≥ 4σF; 2 – monoclinic, P21/n, a = 8.607(1), b = 14.842(2), c = 14.951(1) Å, β = 95.829(5)°, V = 1900.0(4) Å3, Z = 4, R1 = 0.0787 for 3185 unique reflections with |F0| ≥ 4σF; 3 – Pbcn, a = 10.632(1), b = 10.325(1), c = 11.209(1) Å, V = 1230.5(2) Å3, Z = 4, R1 = 0.0364 for 1338 unique reflections with |F0| ≥ 4σF. In the structures of 1 and 2, phosphate tetrahedra share corners to form infinite [PO3]− chains, whereas, in the structure of 3, tetrahedra form linear [P3O10]5− trimers. The structures are based upon 3‐D frameworks of U and P polyhedra linked by sharing common O corners. The infinite [PO3]− chains in the structures of 1 and 2 are parallel to [100] and [–101], respectively. The uranyl polyphosphate frameworks are occupied by host K+ cations.
Synthesis, Crystal Structures and Fluorescent Properties of Two 2,2′‐Biquinoline‐4,4′‐dicarboxylate‐based Cadmium(II) and Cobalt(II) Complexes
Authors: Dai Pei‐Xia , Yang En‐Cui , Wang Xiu‐Guang , Zhao Xiao‐Jun
Published: June 2008

Two metal‐organic coordination polymers with one‐dimensional infinite chain motif, [Cd(bqdc)(phen)2]n (1) and [Co(bqdc)(phen)(H2O)2]n (2) (H2bqdc = 2,2′‐biquinoline‐4,4′‐dicarboxylic acid, phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline), have been synthesized under similar solv/hydrothermal conditions and fully structural characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. Their thermal stability and photoluminescence properties were further investigated by TG‐DTA and fluorescence spectra. In both complexes, the adjacent metal ions (CdII for 1 and CoII for 2) are linked together by dicarboxylate groups of bqdc dianions in chelating bidentate and monodentate modes, respectively, generating a zigzag chain for 1 and linear chain for 2. The relatively higher thermal stability up to 324 °C for 1 and strong fluorescence emissions jointly suggest that they are good candidates for luminescent materials.
Pr6C2‐Doppeltetraeder in Pr6C2Cl10 und Pr6C2Cl5Br5
Authors: Schaloske Manuel C. , Mattausch Hansjürgen , Kienle Lorenz , Simon Arndt
Published: June 2008

Pr6C2‐Bitetrahedra in Pr6C2Cl10 and Pr6C2Cl5Br5

The compounds Pr6C2Cl10 and Pr6C2Cl5Br5 are prepared by heating stoichiometric mixtures of Pr, PrCl3, PrBr3 and C in sealed Ta capsules at 810 − 820 °C. They form bulky transparent yellow to green and moisture sensitive crystals which have different structures: space groups C2/c, (a = 13.687(3) Å, b = 8.638(2) Å, c = 15.690(3) Å, β = 97.67(3)° for Pr6C2Cl10 and a = 13.689(1) Å, b = 10.383(1) Å, c = 14.089(1) Å, β = 106.49(1)° for Pr6C2Cl5Br5). Both crystal structures contain C‐centered Pr6C2 bitetrahedra, linked via halogen atoms above edges and corners in different ways. The site selective occupation of the halogen positions in Pr6C2Cl5Br5 is refined in a split model and analysed with the bond length‐bond strength formalism. The compound is further characterized via TEM investigations and magnetic measurements (μeff = 3.66 μB).
Polymorphism of Copper(I) Halide π‐Complexes: Synthesis and Structure of a New Modification of [Cu2Cl2(CH2=CH–CH2)2O]
Authors: Olijnyk V. V. , Filinchuk Y. E. , Lenkivs'ka T. P.
Published: June 2008

A new polymorph of [Cu2Cl2(CH2=CH–CH2)2O] has been obtained by an alternating‐current electrochemical synthesis starting from CuCl2 and triallylphosphite. Diallylether was obtained in statu nascendi via transetherification of triallylphosphite. The structure is monoclinic, space group P21/n, a = 7.6738(7), b = 6.5128(4), c = 18.2689(18) Å, β = 91.644(11)°, V = 912.67(13) Å3 (at 150 K), Z = 4; R1 = 0.0339, wR2 = 0.0822. Flexibility of the organic ligand and weak interactions copper···halogen have been identified as the main reasons enabling polymorphism in molecular π‐complexes of copper(I).
2H‐Azirines as Ligands: Structural Characterization of the First Neutral and Cationic (η5‐C5Me5)Rh(III) 2H‐Azirine Complexes
Authors: Roedel J. Nicolas , Lorenz Ingo‐Peter
Published: June 2008

The synthesis and structural characterization of two azirine rhodium(III) complexes are described. The stabilization, N‐coordination and phenylgroup π‐stacking of the highly reactive and strained 3‐phenyl‐2H‐azirine by transition metal coordination is observed. The reaction of the dimeric complex [(η5‐C5Me5)RhCl2]2 with 3‐phenyl‐2H‐azirine (az) in CH2Cl2 at room temperature in a 1:2 molar ratio afforded the neutral mono‐azirine complex [(η5‐C5Me5)RhCl2(az)]. The subsequent reaction of [(η5‐C5Me5)RhCl2]2 with six equivalents of az and 4 equivalents of AgOTf yielded the cationic tris‐azirine complex [(η5‐C5Me5)Rh(az)3](OTf)2. After purification, all complexes have been fully characterized. The molecular structures of the novel rhodium(III) complexes exhibit slightly distorted octahedral coordination geometries around the metal atoms.
Effect of Substrate Morphology on Growth and Field Emission Properties of Carbon Nanotube Films
Authors: Srivastava Sanjay K , Vankar VD , Kumar Vikram , Singh VN
Published: June 2008

Carbon nanotube (CNT) films were grown by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process on four types of Si substrates: (i) mirror polished, (ii) catalyst patterned, (iii) mechanically polished having pits of varying size and shape, and (iv) electrochemically etched. Iron thin film was used as catalytic material and acetylene and ammonia as the precursors. Morphological and structural characteristics of the films were investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopes, respectively. CNT films of different morphology such as vertically aligned, randomly oriented flowers, or honey-comb like, depending on the morphology of the Si substrates, were obtained. CNTs had sharp tip and bamboo-like internal structure irrespective of growth morphology of the films. Comparative field emission measurements showed that patterned CNT films and that with randomly oriented morphology had superior emission characteristics with threshold field as low as ~2.0 V/μm. The defective (bamboo-structure) structures of CNTs have been suggested for the enhanced emission performance of randomly oriented nanotube samples.
Crucial role of peroxiredoxin III in placental antioxidant defense of mice
Authors: Li Lianqin , Shoji Wataru , Oshima Hiroaki , Obinata Masuo , Fukumoto Manabu , Kanno Naoko
Published: June 2008

We observed frequent stillbirth in peroxiredoxin III (PrxIII) knockout maternal mice. Quantitative real time PCR (qRT‐PCR) and Western‐blot analysis revealed increased oxidative stress in placentas that were deficient in PrxIII. We did not find significant difference between PrxIII knockout maternal mice and wild‐type littermates in hematological parameters, fetal number, and embryonic development. Nevertheless, we noticed enhanced expression of PrxI in erythrocytes of pregnant knockout mice. Our results provided in vivo evidence that PrxIII played a crucial role in placental antioxidant defense. Up‐regulation of PrxI might provide a compensation that protected erythrocytes against oxidative damage.
Efficacy of amoxycillin and azithromycin for the empirical treatment of shelter cats with suspected bacterial upper respiratory infections
Authors: Ruch-Gallie Rebecca A. , Veir Julia K. , Spindel Miranda E. , Lappin Michael R.
Published: June 2008

Thirty-one cats showing clinical signs of upper respiratory tract disease with a presumed bacterial component based on clinical signs were administered either amoxycillin or azithromycin to determine which drug protocol was optimal for empirical use. A clinical score was determined and nasal and pharyngeal swabs were collected for bacterial culture, virus isolation and polymerase chain reaction prior to the start of therapy. Cats failing to respond to the initial antibiotic were then administered the other drug. There were no differences in clinical scores between the two groups at the start of therapy. Eleven of 31 cats improved after administration of the first antibiotic, 16 cats were switched to the alternate antibiotic, and four cats were removed from the study for additional supportive treatments. Eight of 27 cats failed to respond to either antibiotic. The χ2 test for outcomes revealed no differences in response to therapy for either antimicrobial.
Dynamics of axisymmetric bodies rising along a zigzag path
Authors: FERNANDES PEDRO C. , ERN PATRICIA , RISSO FRÉDÉRIC , MAGNAUDET JACQUES
Published: June 2008

The forces and torques governing the planar zigzag motion of thick, slightly buoyant disks rising freely in a liquid at rest are determined by applying the generalized Kirchhoff equations to experimental measurements of the body motion performed for a single body-to-fluid density ratio ρs/ρf ≈ 1. The evolution of the amplitude and phase of the various contributions is discussed as a function of the two control parameters, i.e. the body aspect ratio (the diameter-to-thickness ratio χ = d/h ranges from 2 to 10) and the Reynolds number (100 < Re < 330), Re being based on the rise velocity and diameter of the body. The body oscillatory behaviour is found to be governed by the force balance along the transverse direction and the torque balance. In the transverse direction, the wake-induced force is mainly balanced by two forces that depend on the body inclination, i.e. the inertia force generated by the body rotation and the transverse component of the buoyancy force. The torque balance is dominated by the wake-induced torque and the restoring added-mass torque generated by the transverse velocity component. The results show a major influence of the aspect ratio on the relative magnitude and phase of the various contributions to the hydrodynamic loads. The vortical transverse force scales as fo = (ρf − ρs)ghπd2 whereas the vortical torque involves two contributions, one scaling as fod and the other as f1d with f1 = χfo. Using this normalization, the amplitudes and phases of the vortical loads are made independent of the aspect ratio, the amplitudes evolving as (Re/Rec1 − 1)1/2, where Rec1 is the threshold of the first instability of the wake behind the corresponding body held fixed in a uniform stream.
Dissipation-scale fluctuations and mixing transition in turbulent flows
Authors: YAKHOT VICTOR
Published: June 2008

A small separation between reactants, not exceeding 10−8 − 10−7 cm, is the necessary condition for various chemical reactions. It is shown that random advection and stretching by turbulence leads to the formation of scalar-enriched sheets of strongly fluctuating thickness ηc. The molecular-level mixing is achieved by diffusion across these sheets (interfaces) separating the reactigants. Since the diffusion time scale is $\tau_{d}\,{\propto}\,\eta_{c}^{2}$, knowledge of the probability density Q(ηc, Re) is crucial for evaluation of mixing times and chemical reaction rates. According to Kolmogorov–Batchelor phenomenology, the stretching time τeddy ≈ L/urms = O(1) is independent of large-scale Reynolds number Re = urmsL/ν and the diffusion time $\tau_{d}\,{\approx}\,\tau_{\it eddy}/\sqrt{{\it Re}}\,{\ll}\, \tau_{\it eddy}$ is very small. Therefore, in previous studies, molecular diffusion was frequently neglected as being too fast to contribute substantially to the reaction rates. In this paper, taking into account strong intermittent fluctuations of the scalar dissipation scales, this conclusion is re-examined. We derive the probability density Q(ηc, Re, Sc), calculate the mean scalar dissipation scale and predict transition in the reaction rate behaviour from ${\cal R}\,{\propto}\,\sqrt{Re}$ ($Re\,{\leq}\, 10^{3}-10^{4})$ to the high-Re asymptotics ${\cal R}\,{\propto}\, {\it Re}^{0}$. These conclusions are compared with known experimental and numerical data.
Human-competitive evolved antennas
Authors: Lohn Jason D. , Hornby Gregory S. , Linden Derek S.
Published: June 2008

We present a case study showing a human-competitive design of an evolved antenna that was deployed on a NASA spacecraft in 2006. We were fortunate to develop our antennas in parallel with another group using traditional design methodologies. This allowed us to demonstrate that our techniques were human-competitive because our automatically designed antenna could be directly compared to a human-designed antenna. The antennas described below were evolved to meet a challenging set of mission requirements, most notably the combination of wide beamwidth for a circularly polarized wave and wide bandwidth. Two evolutionary algorithms were used in the development process: one used a genetic algorithm style representation that did not allow branching in the antenna arms; the second used a genetic programming style tree-structured representation that allowed branching in the antenna arms. The highest performance antennas from both algorithms were fabricated and tested, and both yielded very similar performance. Both antennas were comparable in performance to a hand-designed antenna produced by the antenna contractor for the mission, and so we consider them examples of human-competitive performance by evolutionary algorithms. Our design was approved for flight, and three copies of it were successfully flown on NASA's Space Technology 5 mission between March 22 and June 30, 2006. These evolved antennas represent the first evolved hardware in space and the first evolved antennas to be deployed.
Quantitative relationships between benthic diatom assemblages and water chemistry in Macquarie Island lakes and their potential for reconstructing past environmental changes
Authors: Saunders Krystyna M. , Hodgson Dominic A. , McMinn Andrew
Published: June 2008

This study is the first published survey of diatom-environment relationships on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. Fifty-eight sites in 50 coastal and inland lakes were sampled for benthic diatoms and water chemistry. 208 diatom species from 34 genera were identified. Multivariate analyses indicated that the lakes were distributed along nutrient and conductivity gradients. Conductivity, pH, phosphate (SRP), silicate and temperature all explained independent portions of the variance in the diatom data. Transfer functions provide a quantitative basis for palaeolimnological studies of past climate change and human impacts, and can be used to establish baseline conditions for assessing the impacts of recent climate change and the introduction of non-native plants and animals. Statistically robust diatom transfer functions for conductivity, phosphate and silicate were developed, while pH and temperature transfer functions performed less well. The lower predictive abilities of the pH and temperature transfer functions probably reflect the broad pH tolerance range of diatoms on Macquarie Island and uneven distribution of lakes along the temperature gradient. This study contributes to understanding the current ecological distribution of Macquarie Island diatoms and provides transfer functions that will be applied in studies of diatoms in lake sediment cores to quantitatively reconstruct past environmental changes.
Genetic structure of East Antarctic populations of the mossCeratodon purpureus
Authors: Clarke Laurence J. , Ayre David J. , Robinson Sharon A.
Published: June 2008

The capacity of the polar flora to adapt is of increasing concern given current and predicted environmental change in these regions. Previous genetic studies of Antarctic mosses have been of limited value due to a lack of variation in the markers or non-specificity of the methods used. We examined the power of five microsatellite loci developed for the cosmopolitan mossCeratodon purpureusto detect genetically distinct clones and infer the distribution of clones within and among populations from the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica. Our microsatellite data suggest that the extraordinarily high levels of variation reported in RAPD studies were artificially elevated by the presence of contaminants. We found surprisingly little contribution of asexual reproduction to the genetic structure of the Windmill Islands populations, but more loci are required to determine the distribution of individual clones within and among populations. It is apparent that Antarctic populations ofC. purpureuspossess less genetic diversity than temperate populations, and thus have less capacity for adaptive change in response to environmental variation, but more markers are needed to resolve the total genetic diversity in AntarcticC. purpureusand other mosses.
FIGHTING WORDS: TWO PROLETARIAN MILITARY NOVELS OF THE CRIMEAN PERIOD
Authors: Reed John R.
Published: June 2008

About a decade after Waterloo, there arose in England a subgenre of fiction that can be called the military novel. George Robert Gleig is credited with originating the genre with a fictionalized autobiography entitled The Subaltern, which appeared serially in Blackwood's Magazine in 1825 and was subsequently published as a book. Military memoirs were appearing from soon after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, and the military novel was an outgrowth of that literature. Many of the authors of military novels had themselves served in the army, but the most notable of them all, Charles Lever, had not been a military man, though he consorted with officers often enough. Beginning with The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer, which was serialized first and then appeared as a single volume in 1839, Lever produced a string of popular novels about the army, with young officers as their heroes. The novels of this subgenre concentrated on officers, though there are amusing rankers, that is, enlisted soldiers, as well in Lever's novels likely to be clever Irishmen. For the most part, though, rankers are background figures and have largely stereotypical lower class ways. There are obligatory romance and inheritance plots in these narratives, with the hero usually ending up married and with an estate of his own, either through direct inheritance, or the discovery of a hitherto unknown fortune. This genre lasted about fifteen years, petering out by mid-century.
“THE KING IS COLD,” BY STODDARD, NOT BROWNING
Authors: Stauffer Andrew M.
Published: June 2008

About a decade ago, I discovered an unknown poem attributed to Robert Browning in two New York abolitionist periodicals, and published an article about it here in Victorian Literature and Culture. I made the case that the poem, a dramatic monologue entitled “The King is Cold,” sounds like Browning in ways that suggest either its authenticity or the early familiarity of an American audience with Browning's style; and I closed the article with the statement, “By bringing ‘The King is Cold’ to light, I hope to encourage further speculation and inquiry as to its place either among Browning's collected works, or within the larger field of Browning scholarship that includes the study of his American reputation” (469). Since then, electronic databases have automated broad, sweeping searches of periodicals, and now the relevant information is easily discovered: the poem was in fact written by Richard Henry Stoddard, the American poet and man of letters. It was first published under Browning's name in the New York News sometime late in 1857, and was correctly ascribed to Stoddard in Russell's Magazine in December of that year; I found this information by searching in the American Periodicals Series Online, 1740–1900. The abolitionist reprintings (in the National Anti-Slavery Standard and the Liberator) apparently followed the version in the New York News, and the misattribution was perpetuated. Indeed, the poem reappeared in another New York periodical, Munsey's Scrap Book, in 1909, where it was still being given out as Robert Browning's. “The King is Cold” was also included as Browning's in William Cullen Bryant's oft-reprinted New Library of Poetry and Song.
CONRAD'S IDEAS OF GASTRONOMY: DINING IN “FALK”
Authors: Vlitos Paul
Published: June 2008

In the century andmore since Joseph Conrad first published “Falk: A Reminiscence,” his tale has been examined from a variety of critical perspectives. I would like to begin by reviewing some of these responses in order to locate this paper's perhaps surprising claim that “Falk” is a story about dining.
Social factors and television use during meals and snacks is associated with higher BMI among pre-school children
Authors: Dubois Lise , Farmer Anna , Girard Manon , Peterson Kelly
Published: June 2008

Aim

The present paper examines the relationship between social factors, food consumption during television viewing, and overall television viewing and how these are associated with BMI when the role of familial and social factors are considered in a population-based birth cohort of pre-school children from Québec (Canada).

Methods

The analyses were performed using data from the Longitudinal Study of Child Development in Québec (1998–2002) (LSCDQ). The study follows a representative sample (n2103) of children born in 1998 in the Canadian province of Québec. A nutrition assessment was conducted on 1549 children aged 4·5 years and included a 24 h dietary recall, an eating behaviour and television viewing questionnaire, and a measurement of children’s heights and weights. Statistical analyses were performed.

Results

Nearly one-quarter of children ate at least twice daily in front of the television. Children who consumed snacks while watching television on a daily basis had higher BMI than children who did so less frequently. Children who ate snacks in front of the television every day, or some times during the week, ate more carbohydrates (total), more fat and less protein, fewer fruits and vegetables, and drank soft drinks more often than children who never ate snacks in front of the television.

Conclusions

Health professionals should target parents of children at risk of overweight/obesity with focused strategies to help children change the types of foods consumed during television viewing and to reduce the time spent watching television, particularly during meal times, which may change children’s dietary intake and eating patterns.
Analytical and numerical analyses of an unconfined aquifer test considering unsaturated zone characteristics
Authors: Moench Allen F.
Published: June 2008

A 7‐d, constant rate aquifer test conducted by University of Waterloo researchers at Canadian Forces Base Borden in Ontario, Canada, is useful for advancing understanding of fluid flow processes in response to pumping from an unconfined aquifer. Measured data include not only drawdown in the saturated zone but also volumetric soil moisture measured at various times and distances from the pumped well. Analytical analyses were conducted with the model published in 2001 by Moench and colleagues, which allows for gradual drainage but does not include unsaturated zone characteristics, and the model published in 2006 by Mathias and Butler, which assumes that moisture retention and relative hydraulic conductivity (RHC) in the unsaturated zone are exponential functions of pressure head. Parameters estimated with either model yield good matches between measured and simulated drawdowns in piezometers. Numerical analyses were conducted with two versions of VS2DT: one that uses traditional Brooks and Corey functional relations and one that uses a RHC function introduced in 2001 by Assouline that includes an additional parameter that accounts for soil structure and texture. The analytical model of Mathias and Butler and numerical model of VS2DT with the Assouline model both show that the RHC function must contain a fitting parameter that is different from that used in the moisture retention function. Results show the influence of field‐scale heterogeneity and suggest that the RHC at the Borden site declines more rapidly with elevation above the top of the capillary fringe than would be expected if the parameters were to reflect local‐ or core‐scale soil structure and texture.
Low degree gravity changes from GRACE, Earth rotation, geophysical models, and satellite laser ranging
Authors: Chen J. L. , Wilson C. R.
Published: June 2008

Several independent time series of variations ΔC21, ΔS21, and ΔC20 in Earth’s gravity field are compared for the period April 2002 to May 2007. We examine estimates from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), Earth rotation variations, climate models, and satellite laser ranging (SLR). Recently released GRACE solutions show significant improvement relative to earlier results, especially for ΔC21 and ΔS21. At the annual period, all estimates agree remarkably well, and good correlation is found among time series at intraseasonal periods. In general, Earth rotation values for ΔC21 and ΔS21, and SLR values for ΔC20 agree best with GRACE estimates. GRACE ΔC20 time series are contaminated by aliased ocean tide model errors. SLR ΔC21 and ΔS21 time series have been reported without an ocean pole tide (OPT) correction and with an older Solid Earth Pole Tide (SEPT) model. After correcting for OPT and SEPT deficiencies, SLR ΔC21 and ΔS21 time series show improved agreement with other estimates.
The composition of fragments of bubbles bursting at the ocean surface
Authors: Bigg E. Keith , Leck Caroline
Published: June 2008

Air bubbles bursting on artificial seawater in laboratory experiments have been found to inject numerous particles <200 nm diameter into the atmosphere, some experiments showing copious production of particles as small as 10 nm. Some observations of the real marine aerosol support the presence of a large proportion of sea salt <200 nm diameter, while others suggest that it is absent, or nearly so. It is argued here that the observations showing its presence may be misinterpretations. If this is so, modification of currently accepted theories of particle injection into the atmosphere by bursting bubbles would be required. Highly surface active exopolymers produced by bacteria and algae, the microgels formed by them, and large concentrations of submicrometer particulates are known to be present in the ocean. Their possible influence on bubble formation, bubble bursting and particle injection into the atmosphere are discussed. Electron microscopy of individual particles at a number of sites supports the proposal that the exopolymers are involved in these processes. Ultraviolet light and acidification cause structural and chemical changes to exopolymers and their gels exposed to the atmosphere so that marine aerosol will have properties that change with atmospheric residence time.
Hyporheic exchange and water chemistry of two arctic tundra streams of contrasting geomorphology
Authors: Greenwald Morgan J. , Bowden William B. , Gooseff Michael N. , Zarnetske Jay P. , McNamara James P. , Bradford John H. , Brosten Troy R.
Published: June 2008

The North Slope of Alaska's Brooks Range is underlain by continuous permafrost, but an active layer of thawed sediments develops at the tundra surface and beneath streambeds during the summer, facilitating hyporheic exchange. Our goal was to understand how active layer extent and stream geomorphology influence hyporheic exchange and nutrient chemistry. We studied two arctic tundra streams of contrasting geomorphology: a high‐gradient, alluvial stream with riffle‐pool sequences and a low‐gradient, peat‐bottomed stream with large deep pools connected by deep runs. Hyporheic exchange occurred to ∼50 cm beneath the alluvial streambed and to only ∼15 cm beneath the peat streambed. The thaw bulb was deeper than the hyporheic exchange zone in both stream types. The hyporheic zone was a net source of ammonium and soluble reactive phosphorus in both stream types. The hyporheic zone was a net source of nitrate in the alluvial stream, but a net nitrate sink in the peat stream. The mass flux of nutrients regenerated from the hyporheic zones in these two streams was a small portion of the surface water mass flux. Although small, hyporheic sources of regenerated nutrients help maintain the in‐stream nutrient balance. If future warming in the arctic increases the depth of the thaw bulb, it may not increase the vertical extent of hyporheic exchange. The greater impacts on annual contributions of hyporheic regeneration are likely to be due to longer thawed seasons, increased sediment temperatures or changes in geomorphology.
Red tide Web site
Authors: Showstack Randy , Kumar Mohi
Published: June 2008

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has established the NOAA New England Red Tide Information Center to help people understand the significant red tides that are predicted to form there later this spring. The site (http://www.oceanservice .noaa.gov/redtide) will provide a summary of the current red tide situation and its potential harmful impacts on humans and animals and will serve as a central repository of information. The site also will have direct links to news releases, changes to relevant federal fishing regulations, links to closures of shellfish waters, and links to state agency Web sites with localized information. In addition, the site will have information about NOAA's scientific response effort as well as information from several other sources including NOAA's major response partner, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). On 24 April, WHOI scientists, using forecast models developed with NOAA funding support, predicted “that excess winter precipitation has set the stage for a harmful algal bloom similar to the historic red tide of 2005.”
Aurora: Observing and Recording Nature's Spectacular Light Show
Authors: Akasofu Syun‐Ichi
Published: June 2008

There have been many popular books on the aurora that include beautiful photographs with lyrical descriptions. Aurora by Neil Bone is different from other popular books in that it describes not only the aurora but also various sky phenomena, including noctilucent clouds, halos, and meteors.

Chapter 2, entitled “Causes of the aurora,” describes the Sun and various solar activities, including sunspots, coronal holes, solar flares, the solar wind, and coronal mass ejections. Chapters 3 and 4, entitled “Auroral forecasting” and “Observing the aurora,” respectively, provide a good background for, and guide to, observing the aurora.
Full‐scale simulation study of the generation of topside ionospheric turbulence using a generalized Zakharov model
Authors: Eliasson B.
Published: June 2008

We present a full‐scale simulation study of the generation of topside electrostatic turbulence observed near the F region peak during ground based ionospheric heating experiments. The study is performed using a generalized Zakharov model. The nonlinear tunneling of electromagnetic waves through the ionospheric layer is attributed to multiple‐stage parametric decay and mode‐conversion processes. At the bottomside of the F region, electrostatic turbulence excited by the parametric instability results in the conversion of the ordinary (O mode) wave into a large amplitude extraordinary (Z mode) wave propagating through the F peak. At the topside interaction region, the Z mode undergoes parametric decay process that results in the generation of the topside electrostatic turbulence and then conversion process yielding O waves that escape the plasma. This study may explain the observed topside ionospheric turbulence during ground based low duty cycle ionospheric heating experiments where the heater beam is directed far away from the Spitze region.
What drove the dramatic retreat of arctic sea ice during summer 2007?
Authors: Zhang Jinlun , Lindsay Ron , Steele Mike , Schweiger Axel
Published: June 2008

A model study has been conducted of the unprecedented retreat of arctic sea ice in the summer of 2007. It is found that preconditioning, anomalous winds, and ice‐albedo feedback are mainly responsible for the retreat. Arctic sea ice in 2007 was preconditioned to radical changes after years of shrinking and thinning in a warm climate. During summer 2007 atmospheric changes strengthened the transpolar drift of sea ice, causing more ice to move out of the Pacific sector and the central Arctic Ocean where the reduction in ice thickness due to ice advection is up to 1.5 m more than usual. Some of the ice exited Fram Strait and some piled up in part of the Canada Basin and along the coast of northern Greenland, leaving behind an unusually large area of thin ice and open water. Thin ice and open water allow more surface solar heating because of a much reduced surface albedo, leading to amplified ice melting. The Arctic Ocean lost additional 10% of its total ice mass in which 70% is due directly to the amplified melting and 30% to the unusual ice advection, causing the unprecedented ice retreat. Arctic sea ice has entered a state of being particularly vulnerable to anomalous atmospheric forcing.
Overweight Is Associated With Decreased Cognitive Functioning Among School‐age Children and Adolescents
Authors: Li Yanfeng , Dai Qi , Jackson James C. , Zhang Jian
Published: June 2008

Objective: Childhood overweight and obesity have increased substantially in the past two decades, raising concerns about their psychosocial and cognitive consequences. We examined the associations between academic performance (AP), cognitive functioning (CF), and increased BMI in a nationally representative sample of children.

Methods and Procedures: Participants were 2,519 children aged 8–16 years, who completed a brief neuropsychological battery and measures of height and weight as a part of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross‐sectional survey conducted between 1988 and 1994. Z‐scores were calculated for each neuropsychological test, and poor performance was defined as z‐score <2.

Results: The association between BMI and AP was not significant after adjusting for parental/familial characteristics. However, the associations between CF remained significant after adjusting for parental/familial characteristic, sports participation, physical activity, hours spent watching TV, psychosocial development, blood pressure, and serum lipid profile. Z‐scores on block design (a measure of visuospatial organization and general mental ability) among overweight children and children at risk of overweight were below those of normal‐weight children by 0.22 (s.e. = 0.16) and 0.10 (s.e. = 0.10) unit, respectively (P for trend <0.05). The odds of poor performance on block design were 1.97 (95% confidence interval: 1.01–3.83) and 2.80 (1.16–6.75), respectively, among children at risk or overweight compared to normal‐weight peers.

Discussion: Increased body weight is independently associated with decreased visuospatial organization and general mental ability among children. Future research is needed to determine the nature, persistence, and functional significance of this association.
Long‐term Mortality in a Cohort of Severely Obese Persons in Italy
Authors: Mirabelli Dario , Chiusolo Monica , Ferrante Daniela , Balzola Franco , Merletti Franco , Petroni Maria L.
Published: June 2008

Few large studies on Northern European or US populations reported on mortality of severely obese individuals (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2). We studied a historical cohort in Italy to compare its mortality with previous findings, to investigate its relationship with BMI in the >40 range, and to provide evidence useful for clinical decision‐making on treatment. The cohort comprised 4,837 persons with a BMI ≥40 kg/m2 and aged ≥18 at first consultation, referred to six centers for obesity treatment between 1975 and 1996. After exclusion of persons with missing personal identification data or those untraceable, 4,498 (972 men, 3,526 women) remained for analyses. We calculated standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and carried out Cox proportional hazards modeling. General mortality (484 deaths: 153 men, 331 women) was in excess, with SMRs (95% confidence intervals) of 2.78 (2.36–3.26) for men and 2.10 (1.88–2.34) for women. Excess mortality (i) was observed in all BMI categories, except among women weighing 40–42.4 kg/m2; (ii) increased with increasing BMI; (iii) increased less among persons recruited in recent calendar periods; (iv) was inversely related to age attained at follow‐up; and (v) was due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and violent deaths but not malignant neoplasms. Excess mortality was similar to that observed in Northern European and US cohorts. Its steady increase with BMI levels ≥40 suggests that benefits proportional to weight reduction are expected and that even limited control may be beneficial. The smaller excess among persons recruited most recently might reflect better treatment.