bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differentiation of diastereomeric N‐aryltetrahydropyrano/tetrahydrofuranochromenylamines under electron ionization and chemical ionization conditions
Authors: Ramanjaneyulu G. S. , Prabhakar S. , Bhaskar G. , Venkatesham A. , Nagaiah K. , Rao R. Nageswara , Soujanya Y. , Sastry G. Narahari
Published: October 2007

A series of diastereomeric 4S,5S,6R/S‐tetrahydropyrano‐ and 3S,4S,5R/S‐tetrahydrofuranochromenylamine derivatives (a/b isomers; 1–26) has been studied under electron ionization (EI) and chemical ionization (CI) conditions. The EI mass spectra of all diastereomeric compounds show two characteristic fragment ions, of which one is formed by retro‐Diels‐Alder (RDA) reaction from the molecular ion, retaining the charge on the diene fragment, and the other [M–(HNAr)]+ ion by a simple radical loss. The RDA process is more favorable in all b isomers, whereas the radical loss is dominant in all a isomers; based on these two ions it is easy to differentiate the two diastereomers. The collision‐induced dissociation (CID) spectra of all the molecular ions also show the same trend, which reflects the stereoselectivity in the formation of the two characteristic fragment ions. The results of theoretical calculations performed are in accordance with the experimental observations. The CI experiments (methane and isobutane) on all the diastereomeric compounds also enabled the differentiation of the isomers. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A generic fast solid‐phase extraction high‐performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for high‐throughput drug discovery
Authors: Gao Lan , Cheng Xueheng , Zhang Jun , Burns David J.
Published: October 2007

High‐performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) is increasingly perceived to be an essential tool in drug discovery at many key steps, like drug screening, lead identification, ADME profiling, and drug metabolism and pharmacology studies. High‐throughput screenings in the early phase for metabolic stability, protein binding, permeability (ADME) and bioavailability are widely used to weed out compounds that do not exhibit the necessary characteristics. For such high‐throughput LC/MS studies, a generic LC/MS method that can be used for a variety of compounds is desired. In this study, we used a small set of compounds with a wide range of properties to guide method development, and achieved a sample throughput of 1.7 min/sample. Here, we present a generic fast method that achieves good peak separation and peak shape on conventional HPLC systems using a column‐switching mechanism for on‐line solid‐phase extraction (SPE)‐HPLC/MS analysis. The method has a linear response range from 1 to 500 nM for the tested compounds. When a larger set of 658 randomly picked small molecules were analyzed using this method, 612 were observed with good signal intensity and HPLC peak shapes. This generic fast SPE‐LC/MS method has been used to screen more than 1.5 million compounds repetitively against over 200 protein targets for hit confirmation and semi‐quantitation of binding constants from biological assays. Over 7000 different compounds for a variety of protein‐binding assays have been studied using this method for quantitative analysis as well. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mass spectrometry characterization of Escherichia coli K4 oligosaccharides from 2‐mers to more than 20‐mers
Authors: Volpi Nicola
Published: October 2007

The separation and characterization of oligosaccharides obtained by hyaluronidase [E.C. 3.2.1.35] digestion of Escherichia coli K4 polysaccharide using online high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI‐MS) are presented. Complete identification and structural information for oligosaccharides containing 2–24 monomers (from 2‐ to 24‐mers) were obtained. In particular, smaller K4 species, from 2‐mers to 4‐mers, exhibited mainly [M–H]−1 anions, whereas the 6‐ to 8‐mers existed predominantly at the charge state of −2. The K4 oligomers from 10‐mers to 14‐mers were mainly represented by [M–3H]−3 anions while species from 16‐ to 20‐mers were characterized by a charge state of −4. K4 oligosaccharides from 22‐ to 24‐mers existed as [M–4H]−4 and [M–5H]−5 anions and, for this latter species, ions having a charge state of −6 appeared. For smaller K4 species, in particular from 6‐mers to 10‐mers, ESI‐MS revealed anions related to the loss of one monosaccharide unit from the oligomers due to apparent collisional activation and ion source fragmentation. However, no odd‐numbered anions were produced for K4 2/4‐mer species or for oligosaccharides greater than 12‐mers, while for K4 species 8/10‐mer, ESI‐MS revealed odd‐numbered anions generally in low relative abundance making the interpretation of the spectra easier. The ESI‐MS spectra of oligosaccharides separated by online HPLC were applied to the evaluation of the K4 polymerization process, confirming that the addition of fructose units is not critical for chain elongation as variously fructosylated oligomer species were detected directly on the K4 carbohydrate backbone. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study of the end‐group contribution to ToF‐SIMS and G‐SIMS spectra of poly (lactic acid) using deuterium labelling
Authors: Ogaki R. , Green F. M. , Gilmore I. S. , Shard A. G. , Luk S. , Alexander M. R. , Davies M. C.
Published: October 2007

In this study, polymeric (MW 50 000) and oligomeric (MW 2000) poly (lactic acid) (PLA), both with and without end‐group deuterium exchange, were analysed using static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SSIMS) to investigate the contribution of end‐group‐derived secondary ions to the SSIMS spectra. By monitoring the SSIMS intensities between the non‐deuterated and deuterated PLA, it is evident that the only significant end‐group‐derived secondary ions are [nM + H]+ (n > 1) and C4H9O2+. The gentle‐SIMS (G‐SIMS) methodology was employed to establish that deuterated fragments were produced through low energy processes and were not the result of substantial rearrangements. It was noted that end‐group‐derived secondary ions had higher G‐SIMS intensities for oligomeric PLA than polymeric PLA, showing that these secondary ions are simple fragment products that are not the result of rearrangement or degraded product ions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electron Rutherford back‐scattering case study: oxidation and ion implantation of aluminium foil
Authors: Went M. R. , Vos M.
Published: October 2007

Electron Rutherford back scattering (ERBS) is a new spectroscopy for determining the composition of surfaces. In this work the surface sensitivity of ERBS was investigated by changing the entrance and exit angle of the electron beam while keeping the scattering angle constant. It was found that in this way the surface sensitivity of the technique can be varied considerably. We use aluminium as a test case for ERBS, as it is well studied. The technique has been used to investigate the oxide film of aluminium foil as manufactured and the native oxide (Al2O3) film formed on a clean aluminium surface exposed to air. We have also used ERBS to investigate the presence of Xe, implanted during the sputter cleaning process, at a variety of depths within an aluminium matrix. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study on the anodic reaction of Ni in an alkaline solution by transient pH detection based on scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM)
Authors: Kang Jianqiang , Yang Yifu , Jiang Fengshan , Shao Huixia
Published: October 2007

The anodic reaction of Ni in an alkaline solution was studied by the tip–substrate voltammetry mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). A platinum microdisc electrode was selected as the tip electrode, which functioned as a pH sensor with transient response capability. The pH value of the solution near the Ni electrode surface varied while the Ni substrate oxidation reaction occurred, and the pH variation could be detected by the tip faradic current. The cyclic voltammogram results showed that two types of hydroxides: i.e. α‐Ni(OH)2 and β‐Ni(OH)2 were formed during Ni oxidation in the lower potential region. In the proceedings of α‐Ni(OH)2 → γ‐NiOOH and β‐Ni(OH)2 → β‐NiOOH, the process of OH− concentration decrease in the solution was ahead and behind of electron transfer in the solid phase, respectively. These results indicate that the OH− adsorption process occurs as an elementary step in the former reaction and the H+ diffusion process from the inner to the outer layer of the solid phase occurs as a subsequent step in the latter reaction. The results also revealed that the oxide film on the Ni surface has a two‐layer structure. The real potential of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on the Ni surface with different cycles is also analyzed in the paper. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A comparison of methods for combining quality and efficiency performance measures: Profiling the value of hospital care following acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Timbie Justin W. , Normand Sharon‐Lise T.
Published: October 2007

Health plans have begun to combine data on the quality and cost of medical providers in an attempt to identify and reward those that offer the greatest ‘value.’ The analytical methods used to combine these measures in the context of provider profiling have not been rigorously studied. We propose three methods to measure and compare the value of hospital care following acute myocardial infarction by combining a single measure of quality, in‐hospital survival, and the cost of an episode of acute care. To illustrate these methods, we use administrative data for heart attack patients treated at 69 acute care hospitals in Massachusetts in fiscal year 2003. In the first method we reproduce a common approach to value profiling by modeling the two case mix‐standardized outcomes independently. In the second approach, survival is regressed on patient risk factors and the average cost of care at each hospital. The third method models survival and cost for each hospital jointly and combines the outcomes on a common scale using a cost‐effectiveness framework. For each method we use the resulting parameter estimates or functions of the estimates to compute posterior tail probabilities, representing the probability of being classified in the upper or lower quartile of the statewide distribution. Hospitals estimated to have the highest and lowest value according to each method are compared for consistency, and the advantages and disadvantages of each approach are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Experimental investigation of transient and thermal effects on lubricated non‐conformal contacts
Authors: Bassani R. , Ciulli E. , Carli M. , Stadler K.
Published: October 2007

In this work, thermal and transient effects on non‐conformal lubricated contacts are investigated through experimental analyses. Experiments between a ball and a plane surface of a disc are described. Friction coefficients and film thicknesses are measured (the film thickness only for the glass‐on‐steel contact). A paraffin base mineral oil is used as a lubricant.

First experiments are carried out under steady‐state conditions. To include effects due to different thermal properties of contacting materials, a steel‐on‐steel and a glass‐on‐steel contact with different slide‐to‐roll ratios are tested. If the contacting materials have different thermal properties, as in the case of a glass‐on‐steel contact, thermal effects like the temperature–viscosity wedge action could clearly be shown. It is found that the friction coefficients are influenced by the slide‐to‐roll ratio and the thermal properties of the contacting materials.

Under transient conditions, the entraining velocity is varied with a sinusoidal law. Squeeze effects explain ‘loops’ of friction and film thickness found also in previous works. The formation of friction loops is related to the measured film thickness differences. However, also under non‐steady‐state conditions, thermal effects, like the temperature–viscosity wedge action, influence the friction coefficients. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Description of the mutations in 15 subjects with variant forms of maple syrup urine disease
Authors: Flaschker N. , Feyen O. , Fend S. , Simon E. , Schadewaldt P. , Wendel U.
Published: October 2007

Background:

In maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), disease‐causing mutations can affect the BCKDHA, BCKDHB or DBT genes encoding for the E1α, E1β and E2 subunits of the multienzyme branched‐chain 2‐keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKD) complex.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to screen DNA samples of 15 subjects with distinct well‐characterized variant MSUD phenotypes for mutations in the three genes in order to demonstrate a potential correlation between specific nucleotide changes and particular variant phenotypes.

Methods:

The exonic coding sequences of all three genes were studied using genomic DNA and cellular RNA derived from peripheral blood leukocytes.

Results:

In 37% of the cases (total 30 alleles), disease‐causing mutations were located in the BCKDHA, in 46% in the BCKDHB, and in 13% in the DBT gene. Novel mutations occurring homozygously were p.Ala328Thr in the BCKDHA gene and p.Gly249_Lys257del in the DBT gene. Both are associated with a mild MSUD variant. The same holds true for the novel mutations p.Pro200Ala in BCKDHB and p.Phe307Ser in DBT which were identified in heterozygous fashion. Among the known mutant alleles, p.Gly278Ser in the BCKDHB gene was relatively frequent and also associated with a mild MSUD variant.

Conclusion:

The results of this study indicate that genotyping may be predictive of clinical severity of variant MSUD phenotypes and might be of prognostic value particularly in subjects with variant MSUD identified in newborn screening in whom early treatment fortunately slows the natural course of the disease.
Aroma Release from Solid Droplet Emulsions: Effect of Lipid Type
Authors: Ghosh Supratim , Peterson Devin G. , Coupland John N.
Published: October 2007

Aroma compounds partition between the different phases of a food emulsion and the headspace but only those in the headspace are perceived. Phase transitions in the lipid droplets profoundly affect the position of the partitioning equilibria and hence headspace aroma concentration. The release of four volatile aroma compounds (ethyl butanoate, pentanoate, heptanoate and octanoate) from eicosane, hydrogenated palm fat or Salatrim® emulsions stabilized with sodium caseinate were investigated as a function of fat crystallization, particle size and droplet concentration. For all compounds, the headspace aroma concentration in equilibrium with solid droplet emulsions was significantly higher than that in equilibrium with liquid droplet emulsions. The partitioning of volatile aroma compounds from emulsion does not depend on the type of liquid lipid, however, the interactions between solid lipid droplets and aroma compounds are significantly influenced by the nature of the crystalline fat. Notably, partitioning into the headspace was much lower for solid triglyceride droplet emulsions than for solid alkane emulsions. It was proposed that both residual liquid lipid in solid triglycerides and aroma co‐crystallization with solid lipid could be responsible for higher aroma absorption by solid triglycerides.
Phenotypic behavior of C2C12 myoblasts upon expression of the dystrophy‐related caveolin‐3 P104L and TFT mutants
Authors: Fanzani Alessandro , Stoppani Elena , Gualandi Laura , Giuliani Roberta , Galbiati Ferruccio , Rossi Stefania , Fra Anna , Preti Augusto , Marchesini Sergio
Published: October 2007

Caveolin‐3 (Cav‐3) is the main scaffolding protein present in myofiber caveolae. We transfected C2C12 myoblasts with dominant negative forms of Cav‐3, P104L or ΔTFT, respectively, which cause the limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy 1‐C. Both these forms triggered Cav‐3 loss during C2C12 cell differentiation. The P104L mutation reduced myofiber formation by impaired AKT signalling, accompanied by dramatic expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Atrogin. On the other hand, the ΔTFT mutation triggered hypertrophic myotubes sustained by prolonged AKT activation, but independent of increased levels of follistatin and interleukin 4 expression. These data suggest that separated mutations within the same dystrophy‐related gene may cause muscle degeneration through different mechanisms.
The effects of Group 11 transition metals, including gold, on ethylene binding to the ETR1 receptor and growth of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Binder Brad M. , Rodriguez Fernando I. , Bleecker Anthony B. , Patterson Sara E.
Published: October 2007

It has been previously shown that Cu(I) and the ethylene response antagonist, Ag(I), support ethylene binding to exogenously expressed ETR1 ethylene receptors. Both are Group 11 transition metals that also include gold. We compared the effects of gold ions with those of Cu(I) and Ag(I) on ethylene binding in exogenously expressed ETR1 receptors and on ethylene growth responses in etiolated Arabidopsis seedlings. We find that gold ions also support ethylene binding but, unlike Ag(I), do not block ethylene action on plants. Instead, like Cu(I), gold ions affect seedlings independently of ethylene signaling.
Hydrolysis of non‐cognate aminoacyl‐adenylates by a class II aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetase lacking an editing domain
Authors: Gruic-Sovulj Ita , Rokov-Plavec Jasmina , Weygand-Durasevic Ivana
Published: October 2007

Aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetases, a group of enzymes catalyzing aminoacyl‐tRNA formation, may possess inherent editing activity to clear mistakes arising through the selection of non‐cognate amino acid. It is generally assumed that both editing substrates, non‐cognate aminoacyl‐adenylate and misacylated tRNA, are hydrolyzed at the same editing domain, distant from the active site. Here, we present the first example of an aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetase (seryl‐tRNA synthetase) that naturally lacks an editing domain, but possesses a hydrolytic activity toward non‐cognate aminoacyl‐adenylates. Our data reveal that tRNA‐independent pre‐transfer editing may proceed within the enzyme active site without shuttling the non‐cognate aminoacyl‐adenylate intermediate to the remote editing site.
Obesity indices in relation to cardiovascular disease risk factors among young adult female students
Authors: Farajian Paul , Renti Efthimia , Manios Yannis
Published: October 2007

The objective of the present study was to compare the percentage of body fat (%BF), BMI, and central fat distribution anthropometric measures as indices of obesity and to assess the respective associations with cardiovascular risk factors in young female students. Subjects were 220 healthy Greek female students. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to estimate %BF, anthropometric measurements were obtained and blood samples were analysed for CVD risk factors. Results showed that 48·6 % of students had increased adiposity, while a considerable proportion was characterised by central fat distribution irrespective of the anthropometric index used. The proportion of subjects with at least one metabolic risk factor present was 60·4 %. Although %BF was not associated with any of the CVD risk factors, waist circumference, waist:hip ratio and waist:height ratio were all associated with CVD risk factors. Higher levels of these anthropometric variables demonstrated higher prevalence of CVD risk factors. The lack of association between %BF and CVD risk factors could be attributed to the fact that females with undesirable adiposity had a tendency for the gynaecoid type of obesity. In contrast, the present results suggest that central body fat distribution in young women may reflect increased risk due to high visceral and particularly intra-abdominal fat levels. Recent epidemiological data from Greece show a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in young adults. Therefore, assessing the risk for the presence of CVD risk factors is of particular importance. Central obesity anthropometric indices seem to be valuable screening tools for young women.
Walnut extract (Juglans regia L.) and its component ellagic acid exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in human aorta endothelial cells and osteoblastic activity in the cell line KS483
Authors: Papoutsi Z. , Kassi E. , Chinou I. , Halabalaki M. , Skaltsounis L. A. , Moutsatsou P.
Published: October 2007

Epidemiological studies suggest that the incidence of CVD and postmenopausal osteoporosis is low in the Mediterranean area, where herbs and nuts, among others, play an important role in nutrition. In the present study, we sought a role of walnuts (Juglans regia L.) in endothelial and bone-cell function. As the endothelial cell expression of adhesion molecules has been recognised as an early step in inflammation and atherogenesis, we examined the effect of walnut methanolic extract and ellagic acid, one of its major polyphenolic components (as shown by HPLC analysis), on the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 and intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 in human aortic endothelial cells. After incubating the cells with TNF-α (1 ng/ml) in the absence and in the presence of walnut extract (10–200 μg/ml) or ellagic acid (10− 7–10− 5m), the VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression was quantified by cell-ELISA. We further evaluated the effect of walnut extract (10–50 μg/ml), in comparison with ellagic acid (10− 9–10− 6m), on nodule formation in the osteoblastic cell line KS483.Walnut extract and ellagic acid decreased significantly the TNF-α-induced endothelial expression of both VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 (P < 0·01; P < 0·001). Both walnut extract (at 10–25 μg/ml) and ellagic acid (at 10− 9–10− 8m) induced nodule formation in KS483 osteoblasts. The present results suggest that the walnut extract has a high anti-atherogenic potential and a remarkable osteoblastic activity, an effect mediated, at least in part, by its major component ellagic acid. Such findings implicate the beneficial effect of a walnut-enriched diet on cardioprotection and bone loss.
The efficacy of black tea in ameliorating endothelial function is equivalent to that of green tea
Authors: Jochmann Nicoline , Lorenz Mario , Krosigk Amélie von , Martus Peter , Böhm Volker , Baumann Gert , Stangl Karl , Stangl Verena
Published: October 2007

Consumption of tea has been shown to improve endothelial function. It is assumed that catechins are the tea components responsible for these beneficial effects. In black tea, catechin concentrations are significantly lower than in green tea. The present study was designed to compare green and black tea with regard to amelioration of endothelial function. Endothelial function in response to both teas was assessed in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) and rat aortic rings. To elucidate whether these findings are also applicable to humans, flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and nitro-mediated dilation (NMD) were assessed by ultrasound in twenty-one healthy women before and 2 h after consumption of green and black tea (2 h of FMD and NMD), in comparison with water (control). In BAEC, green and black tea significantly increased endothelial NO synthase activity to the same extent. Similarly, both teas induced comparable endothelial-dependent vasodilation in rat aortic rings. In human subjects, ingestion of green and black tea led to significant increases in FMD: from 5·4 (sd 2·3) to 10·2 (sd 3) % (baseline-adjusted difference (BAD) for 2 h of FMD, green tea v. water: 5·0 (95 % CI 3·0, 7·0) %; P < 0·001) and from 5 (sd 2·6) to 9·1 (sd 3·6) % (BAD for 2 h of FMD, black tea v. water: 4·4 (95 % CI 2·3, 6·5) %; P < 0·001), respectively. The increase in FMD was not significantly different between the two tea preparations (BAD for 2 h of FMD, green tea v. black tea: 0·66 (95 % CI − 0·76, 2·09) %; P = 0·36). NMD did not vary between any of the groups. In conclusion, green and black tea are equally effective in improving endothelial function.
Oxidised cholesterol is more hypercholesterolaemic and atherogenic than non-oxidised cholesterol in hamsters
Authors: Ng Chi Ho , Qiang Yao Xiao , Huang Yu , Chen Zhen-Yu
Published: October 2007

The present study was to test the relative hypercholesterolaemic and atherogenic potency of oxidised cholesterol (OxC) and non-oxidised cholesterol in hamsters. An OxC mixture, prepared by heating pure cholesterol (100 g) at 160°C in air for 72 h, contained 78 % cholesterol and 22 % OxC. Fifty Golden Syrian hamsters were randomly divided into five groups of ten animals and fed the control diet, a 0·05 % cholesterol diet (C-0·05), a 0·10 % cholesterol diet (C-0·1), a 0·05 % OxC mixture diet (OxC-0·05) or a 0·10 % OxC mixture diet (OxC-0·1), respectively. The OxC-0·05 and OxC-0·1 groups were more hypercholesterolaemic and had serum total cholesterol 22 and 12 % higher than the corresponding C-0·05 and C-0·1 hamsters (P < 0·05). The OxC-0·1 group demonstrated greater deposition of cholesterol and had a larger area of atherosclerotic plaque in the aorta than the corresponding C-0·1 hamsters (P < 0·05). Similarly, the aorta in the OxC-0·1 group showed greater inhibition on acetylcholine-induced relaxation compared with that in the C-0·1 hamsters. It was concluded that OxC was much more hypercholesterolaemic and atherogenic than cholesterol.
Shang ritual animals: colour and meaning (part 2)
Authors: Tao Wang
Published: October 2007

Following on from Part 1 of this article (BSOAS 70/2, 305–372), Part 2 continues to examine the use of colour in different diviner groups, but focuses on the groups belonging to the non-kings' school. It also includes the newly discovered inscriptions from the eastern section of Huayuanzhuang in Yinxu. The exercise of colour preference in the non-kings' school is similar to that seen in the kings' school, but reveals an even broader interest. By looking at the context in which each colour was used, we can detect the process of a colour system working in Shang rituals. The final section of the paper provides a cross-cultural comparison of Shang colour symbolism which had a profound influence on the late wuxing theory.
Sex, Violence and Censorship: London's Grand Guignol and the Negotiation of the Limit
Authors: FRESHWATER HELEN
Published: October 2007

This article provides analysis of the short-lived London Grand Guignol (1920–2). During its brief existence, this institution became infamous – its presentation of acts of murder and violation provoked strong reactions from its audience, the press and the Lord Chamberlain's office. It has not attracted sustained scholarly analysis since, however, and this article draws upon archival material from the Lord Chamberlain's Plays and Correspondence Files, London's Theatre Museum and the Mander and Mitchenson collection in order to assess its audience's scopophilic – and often very physical – responses, as well as the ocularcentric preoccupations of the genre. The article illuminates censorious, critical and academic definitions of value, drawing upon Foucault's essay ‘A Preface to Transgression’ and the work of Georges Bataille.
The King and Us: Spectacle and Biography in Thai Epic Dramas
Authors: DIAMOND CATHERINE
Published: October 2007

A large proportion of Thai films and of traditional and modern dramas are based on significant figures whose lives helped shape the trajectory of Thai history, but who are in the end overwhelmed by events. Some works are produced with obvious propaganda intent, reflecting the efforts of cultural reconstruction and historical reinterpretation. This paper suggests that the plays under discussion follow an epic and episodic form, depicting the full scope of the protagonist's life rather than focusing on a single dramatic event or examining a tragic destiny. This structure resembles the paradigmatic epic underwriting Thai royalty, the Ramakien, even while the role and nature of the king is being newly exemplified in annual spectacles.
Countering ‘Theoretical Imperialism’: Some Possibilities from Japan
Authors: SORGENFREI CAROL FISHER
Published: October 2007

When scholars of any nation become so proud of their mastery of alien concepts that they forget or suppress their own cultural identity, they willingly succumb to ‘theoretical imperialism’. The flip side is the arrogant and wholesale imposition by Western scholars of theories created in the crucible of one culture on other cultures, subcultures or historical eras with divergent philosophical foundations. This article introduces several key Japanese critical theories that modify or fuse Japanese and Western psychoanalytic and aesthetic concepts, arguing that they can be fruitfully applied by theatre and performance scholars to works originating either in Japan or elsewhere. The article proposes a ‘both/and’ perspective that respects cultural differences without exoticizing the Other.
Three islands and an archipelago: reciprocal interactions between humans and island ecosystems in Polynesia
Authors: Kirch Patrick V.
Published: October 2007

Oceanic islands offer outstanding ‘model systems' for investigating long-term dynamics between human populations and their ecosystems. Whilst the state factors involved in human-environment dynamics on islands are often simpler than on continents, the same essential processes are involved. This paper applies a comparative approach to understanding the reciprocal interactions between a set of four Polynesian island cases (Tikopia, Mangaia, Mangareva, Hawaiian Islands), over time scales of between one and three thousand years (kyr). In all cases, the island ecosystems were colonised by Polynesian populations derived from the same ancestral culture, with similar socioeconomic patterns. However, the ecosystems vary significantly in scale, geologic age, and other characteristics. Comparing the historical trajectories of these human–environment dynamics, as revealed by archaeological and palaeoecological study, provides insights into the relative impact of humans on pristine island ecosystems, the influence of environment on ecosystem vulnerability, and the ways in which societies have modified their economies, sociopolitical structures, and other aspects of culture in response to long-term environmental changes.
Genetics, prehistory and the colonisation of the Aleutian Islands
Authors: West Dixie , Crawford Michael , Savinetsky Arkady B.
Published: October 2007

The 1800 km-long Aleutian archipelago represents a model ecosystem to track human–environmental interactions across space and through time. Defining the southern margin of Beringia across which much of the early peopling of the Americas occurred, the Aleutians present a 9000 year record of human occupation in the eastern part of the island chain, and more than 3000 years in the west. Molecular evidence demonstrates: (1) that Aleuts shared common ancestry with Chukchi and Siberian Eskimos of Chukotka; (2) the original patterns of migration into the Aleutian islands were from the Alaskan peninsula in a westward direction with no evidence for island-hopping from Kamchatka; and (3) a highly significant statistical relationship between geography and genetics, based on mtDNA sequences, was observed despite previous population disruption. Historically, the Aleutian region is a rich ecotone, with ocean fisheries, abundant populations of large marine mammals, thick kelp forests, complex near-shore ecosystems and intertidal zones, spawning streams, and a highly diverse avian fauna. Each of these environments and resources has been pivotal in shaping the adaptive strategies of human occupants of the island chain since the initial colonisation of the Aleutians from the Alaskan Peninsula. In turn, Holocene human immigration, prehistoric cultural adaptations and subsequent historic events have had reciprocal impacts on the natural systems of the Aleutians.
Peat initiation in the Faroe Islands: climate change, pedogenesis or human impact?
Authors: Lawson Ian T. , Church Mike J. , Edwards Kevin J. , Cook Gordon T. , Dugmore Andrew J.
Published: October 2007

As an isolated island group lying off the NW European mainland which was uninhabited until the mid-first millennium AD, the Faroes offer a unique opportunity to study natural processes of Holocene ecosystem development in a region where anthropogenic activity is usually a complicating factor. In this paper new radiocarbon dates and pollen-analytical data from the island of Sandoy, in the centre of the Faroes archipelago, are presented. Together with existing pollen and plant macrofossil records, these data allow a reconstruction of patterns of Holocene vegetational and edaphic change. Basal peat dates indicate that large areas of blanket mire were established long before the first human settlement, demonstrating conclusively that human impact is not necessary for the development of such ecosystems. The timing of the initiation of the blanket peats varies markedly, both across the Faroes as a whole and at a landscape scale, with dates distributed evenly over 9000 years. This suggests that, in the Faroes at least, pedogenesis was more important than climatic change in determining the timing of the spread of blanket peat systems.
Holocene slope processes and landforms in the northern Faroe Islands
Authors: Christiansen Hanne H. , Blikra Lars H. , Mortensen Lis E.
Published: October 2007

The exposed nature of the northern Faroe Islands high relief landscape enabled widespread Holocene slope process activity and deposition of related landforms, which seem largely controlled by extreme meteorological conditions. Three different slope landforms – the large colluvial Glyvurs fan, the lower Marknastiggjur mountainside debris-flow deposits in the town of Klaksvik, and the mountain top aeolian sediment cover on Eidiskollur – were investigated by a combination of geomorphological, stratigraphic, sedimentological, chronological and modern process studies.

Sporadic Holocene snow-avalanche and debris-flow activity were documented, with sedimentation starting significantly before 8000 cal yr BP in the Glyvurs fan, which still sporadically experiences activity. The largest amounts of Holocene slope sedimentation seem to occur in colluvial fans, such as the Glyvurs fan, which are located below large dyke canyons, called gjogvs. The lower Marknastiggjur mountainside consists of mainly debris-flow deposits, which started before 7800 cal yr BP. A relatively small amount of precipitation, but with high precipitation intensity after a dry summer, triggered modern small-scale debris-flows in the northern islands, also at the Marknastiggjur mountainside, early in Autumn 2000. Extensive continuous mountaintop aeolian sedimentation from cliff weathering started around 6900 cal yr BP on the Eidiskollur peninsula.

No direct influence of settlement on slope process activity was found at the different investigated slope landforms in the northern Faroe Islands.
A long record of environmental change from bat guano deposits in Makangit Cave, Palawan, Philippines
Authors: Bird Michael I. , Boobyer Ella M. , Bryant Charlotte , Lewis Helen A. , Paz Victor , Stephens W. Edryd
Published: October 2007

We present the first record of Holocene and Pleistocene environmental change derived from the chemical and stable-isotope composition of a tropical cave guano sequence from Makangit Cave in northern Palawan (Philippines). The 180 cm sequence of guano, derived predominantly from insectivorous bats and birds, consists of two distinct units. An upper section of reddish-brown oxidised guano to 110 cm was deposited since the mid-Holocene while a lower section of black, reduced guano was deposited through the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to >30 000 BP. Carbon-isotope (δ13C) values in guano deposited during the LGM are as high as −13·5‰ indicating that a C4-dominated grassland existed in the area around the cave at this time. Guano δ13C values of − 25‰ to − 28‰ suggest that this open vegetation was replaced by C3-dominated closed tropical forest, similar to that of the present, by the mid-Holocene. The results suggest that the climate of northern Palawan was substantially drier at the LGM than is currently the case.
Holocene sea-level change and human response in Pacific Islands
Authors: Nunn Patrick D.
Published: October 2007

Holocene sea-level changes affected people living in the Pacific Islands and their ancestors along the western Pacific Rim. Sea-level changes, particularly those that were rapid, may have led to profound and enduring societal/lifestyle changes. Examples are given of (1) how a rapid sea-level rise (CRE-3) about 7600 BP could ultimately have led to the earliest significant cross-ocean movements of people from the western Pacific Rim into the islands; (2) how mid to late Holocene sea-level changes gradually created coastal environments on Pacific Islands that were highly attractive to human settlers; (3) a hypothesis that rapid sea-level fall during the ‘AD 1300 Event' brought about widespread disruption to trajectories of cultural evolution throughout the Pacific Islands; and (4) the effects of recent and likely future sea-level rise on Pacific Island peoples.
Human impacts and adaptations in the Caribbean Islands: an historical ecology approach
Authors: Fitzpatrick Scott M. , Keegan William F.
Published: October 2007

Archaeological investigations demonstrate that peoples first settled the Caribbean islands approximately 6000–7000 years ago. At least four major, and multiple minor, migrations took place over the next millennia by peoples from Mesoamerica and South America who practised various subsistence strategies and had different levels of technology. For decades, researchers have been interested in investigating how these groups adapted to and impacted insular environments through time. This paper combines archaeological, palaeoecological, historical, and modern biological data to examine the effects of humans on Caribbean island ecosystems using a historical ecology approach. By synthesising a wide range of data sources, we take a human/nature dialectical perspective to understanding how peoples adapted to and modified their environments. The data suggest that earlier foraging/fishing Archaic groups (ca. 6000–3000 BP), who used a stone tool and shell technology and transported few, if any non-indigenous plants or animals, still impacted island landscapes as evidenced by bird and sloth extinctions. As more advanced ceramic making horticulturalists entered the Antillean chain around 2500 BP, there is an observable change to island environments as a result of forest clearance, overexploitation of both terrestrial and marine resources, and growing populations. Palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental records also suggest, however, that an increased moisture regime during the late Holocene probably led to a decrease in near-shore salinity and heavier sediment and nutrient loads in rivers. These conditions would have been exacerbated by land clearance for agriculture, leading to coastline progradation, increased turbidity, and mangrove development resulting in changes to the availability of resources for humans on some islands. Although prehistoric peoples in the Caribbean were certainly impacting their environments, it was not until Europeans arrived and population centres grew that intensive and widespread degradation of island landscapes and resources occurred. Modern ecological studies, along with historical and archaeological data, indicate that hundreds of species have been driven to extinction or extirpation – many others have significantly diminished in number, especially within the last two millennia.
Rapid decline of the CO2 buffering capacity in the North Sea and implications for the North Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Thomas Helmuth , Friederike Prowe A. E. , van Heuven Steven , Bozec Yann , de Baar Hein J. W. , Schiettecatte Laure‐Sophie , Suykens Kim , Koné Mathieu , Borges Alberto V. , Lima Ivan D. , Doney Scott C.
Published: October 2007

New observations from the North Sea, a NW European shelf sea, show that between 2001 and 2005 the CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) in surface waters rose by 22 μatm, thus faster than atmospheric pCO2, which in the same period rose approximately 11 μatm. The surprisingly rapid decline in air‐sea partial pressure difference (ΔpCO2) is primarily a response to an elevated water column inventory of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), which, in turn, reflects mostly anthropogenic CO2 input rather than natural interannual variability. The resulting decline in the buffering capacity of the inorganic carbonate system (increasing Revelle factor) sets up a theoretically predicted feedback loop whereby the invasion of anthropogenic CO2 reduces the ocean's ability to uptake additional CO2. Model simulations for the North Atlantic Ocean and thermodynamic principles reveal that this feedback should be stronger, at present, in colder midlatitude and subpolar waters because of the lower present‐day buffer capacity and elevated DIC levels driven either by northward advected surface water and/or excess local air‐sea CO2 uptake. This buffer capacity feedback mechanism helps to explain at least part of the observed trend of decreasing air‐sea ΔpCO2 over time as reported in several other recent North Atlantic studies.
Oceanic distribution and sources of bromoform and dibromomethane in the Mauritanian upwelling
Authors: Quack Birgit , Peeken Ilka , Petrick Gert , Nachtigall Kerstin
Published: October 2007

The tropical oceans are a source of reactive bromine to the atmosphere in the form of short‐lived brominated methanes as bromoform (CHBr3) and dibromomethane (CH2Br2). Elevated atmospheric concentrations above the tropical oceans are related to oceanic supersaturations of the compounds and especially to upwelling regimes. Although the sources of these brominated gases in the open ocean are not well understood, they have been habitually linked to phytoplankton, especially diatom abundance. Thus according to common assumptions, high concentrations of the brominated trace gases were expected to occur in the biologically active and diatom‐rich Mauritanian upwelling. However, contrary to expectations, only low levels were encountered in the upwelling waters, 10.7 (range 5.2–23.8) pmol L−1 CHBr3 and 4.7 (range 3.1–7.0) pmol L−1 CH2Br2, values more typical of open ocean concentrations. The aqueous CHBr3 concentrations were not correlated to high chlorophyll a values or diatom abundances. However, significant correlations existed with low concentrations of marker pigments for diatoms, cyanobacteria, and degradation, suggesting miscellaneous small biological sources of the compound in the upwelling. Air‐sea exchange could additionally account for an oceanic source in fresh upwelled waters, while advection of different water masses also influenced the distribution. CHBr3 concentrations were maximized in warm and nitrogen‐depleted surface waters, while CH2Br2 was maximized in colder and nitrogen‐enriched deeper waters, suggesting that both compounds, at least in part, have different sources and fates.
New evidence for block and thrust sheet rotations in the central northern Calcareous Alps deduced from two pervasive remagnetization events
Authors: Pueyo E. L. , Mauritsch H. J. , Gawlick H.‐J. , Scholger R. , Frisch W.
Published: October 2007

We present 81 paleomagnetic sites (Early Triassic to Early Cretaceous) from the central sector of the northern Calcareous Alps (NCA, Eastern Alps, Austria and Germany). Stepwise thermal demagnetization defines three magnetic directions mostly carried by low unblocking temperature and low‐coercivity minerals: J3, 350°; J2, 500°; J1, 575° and 680°. J3 and J2 show positive inclinations, whereas J1 (very seldom) is of dual polarity. The fold tests show that a J3 can be interpreted as a postfolding and posttilting remagnetization and J2 as a postfolding and pre(syn)tilting. J1 can be considered as primary because of the occurrence of two polarities and evidence presented by other authors in the area. All three components show a systematic and significant clockwise rotation after comparing with the expected European references. J2 or J1 are marked by higher rotation values than J3. J2 shows different inclinations depending on the structural position (north or southward dips). Considering the structural evolution and the observed inclinations, the first postfolding and pretilting remagnetization event (J2) could have taken place between Late Cretaceous and Eocene times but certainly before the thrusting of the NCA over the Rhenodanubian Flysch and northward tilting caused by the stacking of the lower Austroalpine nappes. The second postfolding and posttilting remagnetization (J3) would have been acquired after the final thrusting of the NCA over Penninic units. From then, the NCA behaved as a set of rigid blocks recording the main stage of vertical axis clockwise rotation (65° in average) associated with the continental collision. The variable degree of rotation in the different positions (from 40° to 134°) can be explained by individual vertical axis rotation in a block system trying to adjust to space problems. The constant declination differences between J2 and J3 (25° in average) would reflect the rotation related with the lateral differences of shortening during the oblique thrust of the Austroalpine units over the Penninic units.
Simultaneous observation on board a satellite and on the ground of large‐scale magnetospheric line radiation
Authors: Parrot M. , Manninen J. , Santolík O. , Němec F. , Turunen T. , Raita T. , Macúšová E.
Published: October 2007

Very Low Frequency (VLF) spectrograms show sometimes sets of lines called MLR (Magnetospheric Line Radiation) with frequency spacing close to 50 or 60 Hz. It is very tempting to attribute these MLR to Power Line Harmonic Radiation (PLHR). PLHR are the ELF and VLF waves radiated by electric power systems at the harmonic frequencies of 50 or 60 Hz. Here we show for the first time large scale MLR observed simultaneously on ground and on board a low altitude satellite which is flying over the same zone. This two hours event is observed over a large area in the Northern hemisphere (∼7,400,000 km2) and in the conjugate region. It is hypothesized that these MLR are due to PLHR propagating in the ionosphere and the magnetosphere. When they cross the equator, the PLHR undergo a nonlinear interaction with particles and may play a role in the dynamics of the radiation belts.
Long term climate implications of 2050 emission reduction targets
Authors: Weaver Andrew J. , Zickfeld Kirsten , Montenegro Alvaro , Eby Michael
Published: October 2007

A coupled atmosphere‐ocean‐carbon cycle model is used to examine the long term climate implications of various 2050 greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. All emission targets considered with less than 60% global reduction by 2050 break the 2.0°C threshold warming this century, a number that some have argued represents an upper bound on manageable climate warming. Even when emissions are stabilized at 90% below present levels at 2050, this 2.0°C threshold is eventually broken. Our results suggest that if a 2.0°C warming is to be avoided, direct CO2 capture from the air, together with subsequent sequestration, would eventually have to be introduced in addition to sustained 90% global carbon emissions reductions by 2050.
Identifying spatial variability of groundwater discharge in a wetland stream using a distributed temperature sensor
Authors: Lowry Christopher S. , Walker John F. , Hunt Randall J. , Anderson Mary P.
Published: October 2007

Discrete zones of groundwater discharge in a stream within a peat‐dominated wetland were identified on the basis of variations in streambed temperature using a distributed temperature sensor (DTS). The DTS gives measurements of the spatial (±1 m) and temporal (15 min) variation of streambed temperature over a much larger reach of stream (>800 m) than previous methods. Isolated temperature anomalies observed along the stream correspond to focused groundwater discharge zones likely caused by soil pipes within the peat. The DTS also recorded variations in the number of temperature anomalies, where higher numbers correlated well with a gaining reach identified by stream gauging. Focused zones of groundwater discharge showed essentially no change in position over successive measurement periods. Results suggest DTS measurements will complement other techniques (e.g., seepage meters and stream gauging) and help further improve our understanding of groundwater–surface water dynamics in wetland streams.