bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Schnurri‐2 deficiency counteracts against bone loss induced by ovariectomy
Authors: Nagao Masashi , Saita Yoshitomo , Hanyu Ryo , Hemmi Hiroaki , Notomi Takuya , Hayata Tadayoshi , Nakamoto Tetsuya , Nakashima Kazuhisa , Kaneko Kazuo , Kurosawa Hisashi , Ishii Shunsuke , Ezura Yoichi , Noda Masaki
Published: November 2010

Schnurri (Shn)‐2 is a transcriptional modulator of bone formation and bone resorption and its deficiency causes low turnover state with higher cancellous bone mass due to the defects in osteoclasts that exceeds the defects in osteoblasts in mice. We addressed whether such low turnover of bone remodeling in Shn2 deficiency may be modulated in the absence of estrogen that induces high turnover state in vivo. Ovariectomy reduced bone mass in wild type compared to sham operated control mice and such reduction in bone mass was also observed in Shn2 deficient mice. However, due to the high levels of basal bone mass in Shn2 deficient mice, the bone mass levels after ovariectomy were still comparable to sham operated wild‐type mice. Analysis indicated that estrogen depletion increased bone resorption at similar levels in wild type and Shn2 deficient mice though the basal levels of osteoclast number was slightly lower in Shn2‐deficient mice. In contrast, basal levels of bone marrow cell mineralization in cultures were low in Shn2‐deficeint mice while estrogen depletion increased the mineralization levels to those that were comparable to sham wild type. This indicates that Shn2‐deficient mice maintain bone mass at the levels comparable to wild‐type sham mice even after ovariectomy‐induced bone loss and this correlates with the high levels of mineralization activity in bone marrow cells after ovariectomy. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 573–578, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Osteoinduction by repeat plasmid injection of human bone morphogenetic protein‐2
Authors: Osawa Kenji , Okubo Yasunori , Nakao Kazumasa , Koyama Noriaki , Bessho Kazuhisa
Published: November 2010

Background

Bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP‐2) is an osteoinductive protein and is considered useful for the treatment of skeletal disorders. Previous studies using BMP‐2 in clinical applications have encountered difficulties, including the lack of an efficient, safe, inexpensive and simple delivery system. The gene transfer approach is a promising option for utilizing BMP‐2. Although viral vector‐mediated gene transfer is efficient, safety concerns prevent its clinical application for common diseases. On the other hand, plasmid‐based gene transfer is a safe method and can be harnessed for practical applications.

Methods

A plasmid encoding human BMP‐2 (pCAGGS‐BMP‐2) was used and injected repeatedly (one to eight times) into the skeletal muscle of mice at a divided dose. We compared the capability of osteoinduction in the skeletal muscle of mice after gene transfer by repeat injection. BMP‐2 production was assessed via immunohistochemistry, and osteoinduction was evaluated using radiography, histology and biochemical assays.

Results

The BMP‐2 gene was transferred into the skeletal muscle of mice by repeat injection using pCAGGS‐BMP‐2. Mature bone was frequently observed in mice injected repeatedly with pCAGGS‐BMP‐2 at a divided dose. This confirms that, if the total dose is fixed, repeat injection with pCAGGS‐BMP‐2 at a divided dose causes osteoinduction more frequently in the skeletal muscle of mice.

Conclusions

These results suggest the possibility of the effective clinical use of human BMP‐2 gene therapy by direct DNA injection, and facilitate the clinical application of BMP‐2 gene therapy. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facial bristle feather histology and morphology in New Zealand birds: Implications for function
Authors: Cunningham Susan J. , Alley Maurice R. , Castro Isabel
Published: November 2010

Knowledge of structure in biology may help inform hypotheses about function. Little is known about the histological structure or the function of avian facial bristle feathers. Here we provide information on morphology and histology, with inferences for function, of bristles in five predominantly insectivorous birds from New Zealand. We chose species with differing ecologies, including: brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli), morepork (Ninox novaezealandae), hihi (Notiomystis cincta), New Zealand robin (Petroica australis), and New Zealand fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa). Average bristle length corrected for body size was similar across species. Bristles occurred in distinct groups on different parts of the head and upper rictal bristles were generally longest. The lower rictal bristles of the fantail were the longest possessed by that species and were long compared to bristles of other species. Kiwi were the only species with forehead bristles, similar in length to the upper rictal bristles of other species, and the lower rictal bristles of fantails. Herbst corpuscles (vibration and pressure sensitive mechanoreceptors) were found in association with bristle follicles in all species. Nocturnal and hole‐nesting birds had more heavily encapsulated corpuscles than diurnal open‐nesting species. Our results suggest that avian facial bristles generally have a tactile function in both nocturnal and diurnal species, perhaps playing a role in prey handling, gathering information during flight, navigating in nest cavities and on the ground at night and possibly in prey‐detection. These differing roles may help explain the observed differences in capsule thickness of the corpuscles. J. Morphol., 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Instability of syllable repetition in Parkinson's disease—Influence of levodopa and deep brain stimulation
Authors: Skodda Sabine , Flasskamp Andrea , Schlegel Uwe
Published: November 2010

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis of a fundamental impairment of vocal pace performance in Parkinson's disease (PD) based on a syllable repetition paradigm and the influence of levodopa and deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN‐DBS). Twenty‐two PD patients under stable dopaminergic medication, 14 patients with STN‐DBS, and 30 controls were tested. Participants had to repeat the syllable /pa/ in a steady pace. Percental coefficient of variance (COV) of interval length was measured for the description of pace stability. Patients were tested in the OFF state and again in the ON state after levodopa administration or ongoing STN‐DBS. COV was elevated in both PD subgroups. COV was not influenced by levodopa administration but showed a further deterioration under STN‐DBS. The impaired syllable repetition capacity shows similarities to the patterns of more complex speech rhythm abnormalities in PD and therefore might share the same pathophysiology. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
The outcome and prognostic factors of twin–twin transfusion syndrome following fetoscopic laser surgery
Authors: Sago Haruhiko , Hayashi Satoshi , Saito Mari , Hasegawa Hiromi , Kawamoto Hiroshi , Kato Naomi , Nanba Yukiko , Ito Yushi , Takahashi Yuichiro , Murotsuki Jun , Nakata Masahiko , Ishii Keisuke , Murakoshi Takeshi
Published: November 2010

Objectives

To evaluate the outcome and preoperative risks of twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) following fetoscopic laser surgery (FLS).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of a series of 181 consecutive cases of TTTS before 26 weeks' gestation subjected to FLS at four centers in Japan between July 2002 and December 2006.

Results

The chances of survival of at least one twin at 28 days of age and 6 months of age were 91.2% and 90.1%, respectively. The rate of major neurological complications in survivors at 6 months of age was 4.7%. Preoperative findings that were significant risk factors for death were as follows: (1) being donor [odds ratio (OR): 3.01, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24–7.31, P = 0.015]; (2) reversed (OR: 11.78, CI: 3.05–45.55, P < 0.001) and absent (OR: 3.95, CI: 1.66–9.43, P = 0.002) end‐diastolic velocity in the umbilical artery (EDV‐UA) of the donor; and (3) reversed blood flow in the ductus venosus of the recipient (OR: 2.35, CI: 1.04–5.29, P = 0.040).

Conclusions

FLS leads to high survival rates and low neurological morbidity for fetuses in TTTS. FLS is an effective therapeutic option for TTTS before 26 weeks of gestation. Preoperative Doppler findings of the umbilical artery and the ductus venosus are useful in predicting prognosis following FLS. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemically bonded iron carbonyl for magnetic composites based on phthalonitrile polymers
Authors: Jia Kun , Xu Mingzhen , Zhao Rui , Liu Xiaobo
Published: November 2010

Dicarboxylic acid‐containing 1,3‐benzoxazine was synthesized and chemically bonded on iron carbonyl particles using a post‐coating method. Novel organic–inorganic hybrid magnetic composites were prepared via the interfacial reaction between magnetic phthalonitrile prepolymers and the benzoxazine functional coatings that chemically modified the iron carbonyl particles. The results showed that, compared with pure iron carbonyl particles, the modified particles could cure the phthalonitrile prepolymers efficiently and improve the interfacial compatibility of the functional composites. The magnetic composites with chemically modified particles exhibited stronger magnetism in comparison to composites containing bare particles: the saturation magnetization of the magnetic composites with equal concentration (5 wt%) of Fe(CO)5 increased from 41.12 to 48.82 emu g−1. Also, the magnetic composites obtained demonstrated excellent thermal stability up to 500 °C. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Curing reactions and properties of organic–inorganic composites from hydrogenated carboxylated nitrile rubber and epoxycyclohexyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes
Authors: Liu Qing , Ren Wentan , Zhang Yong , Zhang Yinxi
Published: November 2010

Novel organic–inorganic composites were prepared by curing hydrogenated carboxylated nitrile rubber (HXNBR) with epoxycyclohexyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) through chemical bonding of carboxyl groups of HXNBR and epoxy groups of POSS. The process of the curing reaction was investigated using in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The reaction order, the activation energy and the frequency factor were obtained through a kinetic analysis using differential scanning calorimetry. Through dynamic mechanical analysis, the glass transition temperature, crosslink density and degree of heterogeneity of the composites were estimated, and they showed an increasing tendency with increasing POSS content. The results of dielectric property measurements showed that the dielectric constant of the composites decreased with increasing POSS content in the studied frequency range. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Absorption profile and femtosecond intraband relaxation of the intense upper Davydov component in oligothiophenes
Authors: Petelenz Piotr , Kulig Waldemar
Published: November 2010

The diffuse shape of the high‐energy absorption band observed in oligothiophene crystals is interpreted in terms of Fano‐type mixing between the discrete upper Davydov component at k = 0 and the continuum of phonon‐accompanied exciton states at other values of crystal momentum. In temporal domain, this mixing is viewed as a crystal version of radiationless transition, and is followed by subsequent intra‐band exciton relaxation due to scattering processes with phonon release. The rates of energy dissipation in these latter processes, mediated by different intramolecular vibrational modes, are estimated from a simple expression based on the Fermi golden rule. Depopulation of long‐lived vibronic intermediates, acting as bottlenecks, is attributed to thermally activated processes with absorption of low‐frequency phonons. All essential input parameters are obtained from independent nonempirical calculations. The results are in excellent agreement both with the experimentally observed absorption band shapes and with energy‐dependent femtosecond dynamics afforded by measurements of sexithiophene (6T) fluorescence and photoinduced absorption.
Study on electrical properties of Si quantum dots based materials
Authors: Lin Dong , Ma Linzhi , Conibeer Gavin , Perez‐Wurfl Ivan
Published: November 2010

This article analyses silicon quantum dots based materials which could be used in all‐silicon tandem solar cells. The contact properties of aluminium and nickel on this material are obtained by circular transmission line measurements (TLM). Both metals make ohmic contacts with the material and the contact resistance is also similar for both metals, indicating that either the material is very heavily doped or the surface defect density is very high. Doping by diffusion is demonstrated for the first time on this material and a MOS structure is fabricated in order to extract doping type, doping concentration and mobility. A simple model is established for the MOS structure. Using capacitance versus voltage (C–V) measurements, we are able to extract doping concentration, mobility and surface charge by curve fitting. Using this fitting method, the relative permittivity of our material is estimated and an effective gate contact area is calculated for different frequencies, doping types and gate voltages. The doping concentration extracted is in the order of 1017 cm−3 and the mobility is two to three orders of magnitude lower compared to that of crystalline silicon with a similar doping level. Based on the C–V curves we can demonstrate that B behaves like a p‐type dopant and P as an n‐type dopant in our material.
Culture and Community Psychology: Toward a Renewed and Reimagined Vision
Authors: Kral Michael J. , Ramírez García Jorge I. , Aber Mark S. , Masood Nausheen , Dutta Urmitapa , Todd Nathan R.
Published: November 2010

Interest is growing in community psychology to look more closely at culture. Culture has resided in community psychology in its emphasis on context, ecology, and diversity, however we believe that the field will benefit from a more explicit focus on culture. We suggest a cultural approach that values the community's points of view and an understanding of shared and divergent meanings, goals, and norms within a theory of empowerment. Furthermore, we posit the importance of pluralistic, multi‐method programs of research and action encompassing both idiographic and nomothetic approaches, and critical reflexivity of our roles and agendas. Culture can be further incorporated into all the branches and fibers of community psychology.
Thermal Shrinkage for Shoulder Instability
Authors: Toth Alison P. , Warren Russell F. , Petrigliano Frank A. , Doward David A. , Cordasco Frank A. , Altchek David W. , O'Brien Stephen J.
Published: November 2010

Thermal capsular shrinkage was popular for the treatment of shoulder instability, despite a paucity of outcomes data in the literature defining the indications for this procedure or supporting its long-term efficacy. The purpose of this study was to perform a clinical evaluation of radiofrequency thermal capsular shrinkage for the treatment of shoulder instability, with a minimum 2-year follow-up. From 1999 to 2001, 101 consecutive patients with mild to moderate shoulder instability underwent shoulder stabilization surgery with thermal capsular shrinkage using a monopolar radiofrequency device. Follow-up included a subjective outcome questionnaire, discussion of pain, instability, and activity level. Mean follow-up was 3.3 years (range 2.0–4.7 years). The thermal capsular shrinkage procedure failed due to instability and/or pain in 31% of shoulders at a mean time of 39 months. In patients with unidirectional anterior instability and those with concomitant labral repair, the procedure proved effective. Patients with multidirectional instability had moderate success. In contrast, four of five patients with isolated posterior instability failed. Thermal capsular shrinkage has been advocated for the treatment of shoulder instability, particularly mild to moderate capsular laxity. The ease of the procedure makes it attractive. However, our retrospective review revealed an overall failure rate of 31% in 80 patients with 2-year minimum follow-up. This mid- to long-term cohort study adds to the literature lacking support for thermal capsulorrhaphy in general, particularly posterior instability.
Is the Decline of the West Reversible?
Authors: Fraser Maurice
Published: November 2010

The decline of the West, as pervasive as the argument may be, is not inevitable but is rather a product of the West's own doing. The West, wracked with guilt over the legacy of colonialism and the alleged exploitation of ‘the Other’, has abdicated its leading role in geopolitics. However, this trend is reversible and it requires a concerted effort from those countries labelled ‘the West’ to find new ways to renew its unity and legitimacy.
The Intricacies of Premodern Asian Connections
Authors: Sen Tansen
Published: November 2010

In his study of the reemergence of intra-Asian connections published in this issue of the Journal of Asian Studies, Prasenjit Duara has aptly underscored the importance of comprehending the patterns of interactions and connectivities among Asian societies during the precolonial period. The following comments will reaffirm most of his contentions, but also will problematize the issue, especially in regard to some of the neglected topics and the conceptualization of the premodern interactions.
Asia Redux: Conceptualizing a Region for Our Times
Authors: Duara Prasenjit
Published: November 2010

How has Asia appeared as a region and been conceived as such in the last hundred years? While there is a long-standing and still burgeoning historiography of Asian connections through the study of the precolonial and early modern maritime trade, the nineteenth and twentieth centuries are generally not seen as a time of growing Asian connections. The recent rise of interest in Asian connections in the current time is thus unable to grasp the continuities and discontinuities that form the present. Even more, it is unable to evaluate the risks and possibilities of the present moment.
Managing Underwriters and the Marketing of Seasoned Equity Offerings
Authors: Huang Rongbing , Zhang Donghang
Published: November 2010

Using a sample of 2,281 seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) from 1995 to 2004, we show that the marketing of securities is important to issuers. The number of managing underwriters for an SEO is negatively related to the offer price discount, especially when the relative offer size is large and the stock return volatility is high. Larger investor networks of comanaging underwriters also lower offer price discounts. We argue that the evidence is supportive of the marketing hypothesis: The underwriters’ marketing efforts can lower the offer price discount by shifting up and flattening the demand curve of an SEO.
Point prevalence of bovine fascioliasis and the influence of chemotherapy on the milk yield in a lactating bovine population from the district of Toba Tek Singh, Pakistan
Authors: Khan M.K. , Sajid M.S. , Khan M.N. , Iqbal Z. , Arshad M. , Hussain A.
Published: November 2010

This paper provides an estimation of the point prevalence of fascioliasis and its economic impact in terms of increased milk yield after chemotherapy of a bovine population from the district of Toba Tek Singh, Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 2400 cattle and buffaloes were examined quantitatively using the McMaster egg-counting technique. Infected cattle and buffaloes (50 of each) were randomly selected and each divided into two groups of 25 animals. Groups A (buffaloes) and C (cattle) were treated with oxyclozanide (orally, 16.6 mg kg− 1body weight). Groups B and D served as negative controls for buffaloes and cattle, respectively. Pre- and post-treatment milk yield was recorded to determine if there were any changes in milk yield after treatment. Of 2400 faecal samples analysed, 654 (27.25%) were positive forFasciolaspp. with a mean number of eggs per gram (EPG) of 503.2. The point prevalence and worm burden of fascioliasis was significantly higher (OR = 2.13;P < 0.05) in buffaloes (34.58%; 415/1200; mean EPG maximum likelihood = 521.4) as compared to that of cattle (19.92%; 239/1200; mean EPG maximum likelihood = 415.8). Among the parasite species,F. gigantica(19.88%; 477/2400) was predominant (OR = 3.12;P < 0.05) as compared toF. hepatica(7.38%; 177/2400). An average daily increase of 0.67 and 0.87 litres of milk, with 0.41% and 0.37% more fat per animal, was observed in oxyclozanide-treated buffaloes and cattle, respectively. The economic value of reduced production of infected animals was estimated as US$0.33 and 0.32 per animal per day for cattle and buffaloes, respectively.
Verb argument structure acquisition in young children: defining a role for discourse
Authors: NAIGLES LETITIA R. , MALTEMPO ASHLEY
Published: November 2010

Two-, three- and four-year-old English learners enacted sentences that were missing a direct object (e.g. *The zebra brings.). Previous work has indicated that preschoolers faced with such ungrammatical sentences consistently alter the usual meaning of the verb to fit the syntactic frame (enacting ‘zebra comes’); older children are more likely to repair the syntax to fit the meaning of the verb (enacting ‘zebra brings something’; Naigles, Gleitman & Gleitman, 1993). We investigated whether young children performed more repairs if an informative context preceded the ungrammatical sentences. Test sentences were preceded by short vignettes that created a relationship between three characters. Children repaired more sentences than had been found previously; however, older preschoolers also repaired significantly more frequently than younger preschoolers. Discourse context thus seems relevant to the acquisition of verb argument structure, but is not the sole source of information.
1:1 – Architects Build Small Spaces
Authors: McVicar Mhairi
Published: November 2010

Squeezed into the narrow confines of a parasitic Mumbai dwelling; gathered around a ceramic tea-set in an elevated tea-house; trapped in the transparent void of a tree; and nestled in a vertical tower of fur, books and timber the 1:1 – Architects Build Small Spaces exhibition offered a tactile and intimate encounter with the intense experiences and emotions evoked by a series of small architectural spaces. Installed throughout the Victoria and Albert Museum, the exhibition ran from 15 June – 30 August 2010.
Reconsidering the enabling architect
Authors: López-Piñeiro Sergio
Published: November 2010

A trade can be of two types depending on the observation skills of its workers: deception managers or truth revealers. The first group is composed of spies, con artists and negotiators: all of them try to show what is not while ambiguously hiding what really is. Artists mainly define the second group: for them, an artistic product only works when it opens up the reality it aims to describe. Art is or is not. There is no middle ground: period.
Is point uncertain rainfall likely to have a great impact on distributed complex hydrological modeling?
Authors: Balin Daniela , Lee Hyosang , Rode Michael
Published: November 2010

Uncertainty analysis has become an important topic in environmental research. Uncertainty in hydrological modeling, in general, has been studied by investigating mainly the influence of the parameter uncertainty on the uncertainty of the simulated outputs. This paper focuses essentially on the impact of point input uncertainty on fully distributed hydrological modeling and proposes an integrated approach to cope with input and parameter uncertainty. The approach uses Bayesian theory in two steps: first, to compute the uncertainty in input forcing data, and second, to compute the hydrological parameter uncertainty and the uncertainties of a lumped‐error term that include other sources of errors: response errors and model error. The method is applied with a fully distributed model: WaSiM‐ETH. The results show that the methodology proposed here is a valuable tool to assess different sources of uncertainty in hydrological modeling and show the effects of uncertainty in the input forcing when a fully distributed, physically based hydrological model is used.
Predicting patterns of stress and mortality in intertidal invertebrates: applications of biophysical ecology in a changing world
Authors: Helmuth Brian , Kearney Michael , Sará Gianluca
Published: November 2010

Background

, Questions and Methods Recent studies have emphasized that local and geographic patterns of species distributions can be set by a variety of factors related to weather and climate, including exposure to lethal environmental conditions, indirect effects on consumers and competitors, and sublethal effects of physiological stress on growth and reproduction. Predicting where, when and with what magnitude these impacts are most (and least) likely to occur is imperative if we are to effectively plan for (i.e. adapt to) the effects of climate change.We developed a series of methods for translating patterns of environmental “signals” into organismal responses in intertidal ecosystems. Importantly, “organismal climatologies” – long term patterns of organism temperature measured using in situ biomimetic sensors - show distinct differences from patterns based on environmental temperature (air or water temperature). Similarly, we explored the use of dynamic energy budget models, linked to heat budget models of animal temperature, to examine temporal and spatial patterns of sublethal stress and growth.

Results and Conclusions

Comparisons of four different metrics of stress- seasonal averages, extreme temperatures, number of “stressful days” (>32°C) and return time of stress events – show that temporal and spatial patterns of sublethal stress do not always track patterns of lethal exposure. In other words, simply knowing average temperature often tells us very little about exposure to extremes and vice versa. These results are consistent with the idea that extreme events can occur during the temporal synchrony of multiple “normal” events- for example low wave splash, extreme low tides and high solar radiation. Results also suggest that the combination of heat budget models with dynamic energy budgets are potentially an effective way to predict spatial patterns of intertidal organisms, but that we still need more physiological data regarding the role of aerial body temperature in driving growth and reproduction.
Ontology--based Tools to Enhance the Curation Workflow
Authors: Whetzel Trish
Published: November 2010

In order to effectively search, retrieve, and analyze data oftentimes it is curated and tagged with ontology terms. However, the amount of effort to curate the existing set of data resources is beyond the limits of purely manual curation. We present three ontology-based tools developed by the National Center for Biomedical Ontology to enhance the curation workflow: Ontology Widgets, Notes, and the Annotator. The Ontology Widgets provide a mechanism to use ontologies in Web-based forms without the need to locally parse and store the ontology. The widgets provide a variety of functionality including term autocompletion and ontology visualization. The Ontology Widgets are implemented for all BioPortal ontologies, including those from the OBO Foundry and Unified Medical Language System. The Notes feature of BioPortal allows structured term proposals to be submitted in order to request the addition or modification of a term in an ontology. The term proposals can be added directly via the BioPortal Web interface or programmatically via the Notes Web service. Notification of new Notes and replies are both RSS- and Email-enabled. Once the term curation process is complete, the OWL class or OBO stanza can be generated via the Notes Web service. Finally, the Annotator can be used to automatically process textual metadata to identify ontology terms found within the text. The Annotator can be accessed programmatically via the Annotator Web service and can be used with all BioPortal ontologies. In summary, the Ontology Widgets, Notes, and Annotator provide mechanisms to enhance curation by helping collect annotated data upon data submission, by facilitating ontology term curation, and by tagging unstructured textual data with ontology terms.
Assessing the conservation value of farmland ponds: Use of predictive techniques to identify surrogare groups
Authors: Gioria Margherita
Published: November 2010

Background/Question/Methods.

Ponds are among the most diverse and yet threatened components of freshwater biodiversity. The conservation of ponds would greatly benefit from the identification of surrogate taxa in preliminary assessments aimed at detecting ponds of potentially high biodiversity value. Vascular plants and water beetles have often been used in pond conservation assessments. To evaluate whether wetland plants are a suitable surrogate group to evaluate pond biodiversity, we used plant, beetle, and environmental data collected from 54 ponds located in two farmed regions in Ireland. Specifically, we aimed at assessing cross-taxon congruence between water beetles and plants; quantifying and comparing the capacity of vegetation data and environmental variables to predict beetle species composition; assessing and comparing the response of plant and beetle communities to environmental conditions. The predictive strength of vegetation data was evaluated at the levels of species and community type composition, and species diversity. To identify the best predictor data-set for beetle species composition, we used predictive co-correspondence analysis (Co-CA) and predictive canonical correspondence analysis (CCA-PLS). Congruence in species richness was calculated using simple regression analysis, while a generalized linear model was developed to quantify the effect of environmental variables on patterns of beetle and plant diversity.

Results/Conclusions.

The study ponds supported over 30% of the Irish water beetle fauna (76 species), with five species having some form of IUCN Red List Status in Ireland, and 67 wetland plant species, including a nationally rare one. Co-CA showed that plant species composition had a positive predictive accuracy, which was significantly higher compared to that of data at the plant community type level. Although environmental variables showed a higher predictive capacity compared to that of plant species composition, the difference was not significant. Explanatory CCA analyses showed that plants and beetles both responded to the same subset of environmental conditions, explaining ca.18% of the variation in both plant and beetle species composition. Regional differences, permanency, substratum, and grazing intensity affected the composition of both plant and beetle assemblages. The relationship between plant and beetle diversity was rather weak, reflecting the contribution of few plant species in supporting diverse beetle assemblages. These findings have important implications in conservation planning. First, the composition of wetland plants can be effectively used as a surrogate taxon in the identification of conservation-priority ponds. Second, conservation strategies aimed at maintaining and enhancing pond biodiversity should be based on considerations on the vegetation.
The direct and indirect effects of the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) on seed fate in the longleaf pine ecosystem
Authors: Shearin Margaret , Kirkman L , Carroll Ronald
Published: November 2010

Invasion of non-native ants potentially disrupts natural relationships of native ants and ant-dispersed plants. These relationships may be affected directly through seed collection, or indirectly though impacts on the native ant community. Solenopsis invicta (the red imported fire ant), a widespread invasive of the southeastern United States, negatively impacts human health, agriculture, and wildlife. The impacts of S. invicta on native plant communities are less understood, partially because the invasions are usually coupled with human disturbance of soil or vegetation. The longleaf pine ecosystem is one of the few native communities successfully invaded by S. invicta. In a natural stand of longleaf pine with native groundcover we determined the fate of seeds collected by S. invicta, and the change in the ant community and seed removal due to disturbance by timber harvesting activities. We used cafeteria-selection trials with seeds of native plants to determine rates of seed removal. We presented S. invicta with dyed elaiosome-bearing seeds and recovered seed in middens above ground, and we sampled nests below ground with a wax cast. To examine changes in the ant community following disturbance, we sampled the ant community before and after timber harvest using pitfall traps and observing seed removal.We found that S. invicta preferentially collects myrmecochorous (elaiosome-bearing) seeds. We recovered approximately 30 percent of the dyed seed on the surface in midden piles of which only 17 percent had elaiosomes removed. However, this response varies seasonally. No seeds were recovered in the fall, suggesting that S. invicta is either consuming or storing more seeds prior to cold weather. We recovered few seeds in the nest castes. Initial ant community composition sampling resulted in 24 species. S. invicta was strongly dominant in most plots, and removed 83% of all seeds taken by ants.
Pre and post fire carbon dynamics in a Florida Scrub oak
Authors: Bracho Rosvel , Thomas Cassondra , Li Jiahong , Powell Thomas , Hinkle C. Ross
Published: November 2010

Scrub oak is a xeromorphic shrub ecosystem discontinuously distributed in coastal and inland Florida. It supports a high biodiversity which includes a large number of endangered and threatened species. Its structural features are maintained by a fire return cycle of 7 to 10 years which maintains the biodiversity. Management of fire prone ecosystems such as this raises the question of whether the management strategy contributes to the system being a carbon sink or carbon source over the long-term. We used eddy covariance and biometric approaches to measure carbon dynamics in a Florida scrub oak ecosystem located at Kennedy Space Center in east Central Florida from April 2004 to December 2007. The study site was controlled burned in February 2006. Two years previous to fire, the site experienced average precipitation but drought conditions during the two years after fire. Net ecosystem production (NEP) was 419 g C m-2 yr-1 during the first year of measurements, and the ecosystem incorporated 823 g C m-2 during the 22 months before the fire. Aboveground net primary production (NPP) represented 50% of annual NEP. Carbon released by fire reached 316 g C m-2. Ecosystem respiration (Re) dominated the carbon balance during the first six months after fire, and the ecosystem released an extra 119 g C m-2. However, gross ecosystem production (GEP) increased with leaf area index (LAI) after fire, dominating the carbon balance during the following six months. The ecosystem was a carbon sink of 88 g C m-2 yr-1 during the first year after the fire. Leaf area index (LAI) reached 1.54 m2 m-2 by October 2007 (80% of pre-burn value for the same time period). The scrub oak ecosystem was a continuous carbon sink six months after the fire despite the dominant drought conditions during 2006 – 2007. The ecosystem offset 80% (251 g C m-2) of the carbon released in the fire during the following twenty two months after the fire. Considering the fire return cycle of 7 to 10 years and the fact that the study site and a similar site nearby incorporated more than 400 g C m-2 yr-1 during the two years before fire, this scrub oak is a net carbon sink in the landscape under current management strategies.
ETRAP (efficient trapping and purification) of target protein polyclonal antibodies from GST–protein immune sera1
Authors: Crimmins Dan L. , Brada Nancy A. , Lockwood Christina M. , Griest Terry A. , Waldemer Rachel J. , Cervinski Mark A. , Ohlendorf Matthew F. , McQuillan Jay J. , Ladenson Jack H.
Published: November 2010

Recombinant GST (glutathione transferase) proteins are widely used as immunogens to generate polyclonal antibodies. Advantages of using GST proteins include: commercially available cloning vectors, vast literature for protein expression in Escherichia coli, the ease of protein purification, immunogen can be used as an ELISA standard and GST can be removed in some systems. However, there are disadvantages: GST oligomerization, inclusion body formation and target protein insolubility after GST removal. Perhaps the most detrimental is the significant generation of anti‐GST antibodies by the host animal. A two‐column procedure using a glutathione‐GST column and a glutathione‐(GST–protein) column can yield affinity‐purified anti‐(GST–protein) polyclonal antibody. Several passes over the first column are often required, though, to completely extract the anti‐GST antibodies from the immune sera. We reasoned that knowledge of the target protein linear epitope(s) would allow construction of a peptide affinity resin for a single‐pass ‘one and done’ purification termed ETRAP (efficient trapping and purification). In the present paper, we describe our efforts and present data on rabbits and sheep immunized with GST proteins having target protein molecular masses of ˜8, 21 and 33 kDa. The titre and purity of the target antibodies using the ETRAP protocol were comparable to the more laborious multi‐column purifications but with a considerable saving in time.
Polymer escape from a metastable Kramers potential: Path integral hyperdynamics study
Authors: Shin Jaeoh , Ikonen Timo , Khandkar Mahendra D. , Ala-Nissila Tapio , Sung Wokyung
Published: November 2010

We study the dynamics of flexible, semiflexible, and self-avoiding polymer chains moving under a Kramers metastable potential. Due to thermal noise, the polymers, initially placed in the metastable well, can cross the potential barrier, but these events are extremely rare if the barrier is much larger than thermal energy. To speed up the slow rate processes in computer simulations, we extend the recently proposed path integral hyperdynamics method to the cases of polymers. We consider the cases where the polymers’ radii of gyration are comparable to the distance between the well bottom and the barrier top. We find that, for a flexible polymers, the crossing rate (R) monotonically decreases with chain contour length (L), but with the magnitude much larger than the Kramers rate in the globular limit. For a semiflexible polymer, the crossing rate decreases with L but becomes nearly constant for large L. For a fixed L, the crossing rate becomes maximum at an intermediate bending stiffness. For the self-avoiding chain, the rate is a nonmonotonic function of L, first decreasing with L, and then, above a certain length, increasing with L. These findings can be instrumental for efficient separation of biopolymers.
Response to “Comment on ‘The effects of Bohm potential on ion-acoustic solitary waves interaction in a nonplanar quantum plasma’” [Phys. Plasmas 17, 114701 (2010)]
Authors: Li Sheng-Chang
Published: November 2010

In a recent comment, M. Akbari-Moghanjoughi [Phys. Plasmas 17, 114701 (2010)] (whom we will refer to as A.M.) pointed out that in the quantum hydrodynamics plasma model the parameters p (the fractional positron to ion number density) and σ (the relative positron to electron Fermi temperature) are not independent quantum plasma parameters which has important consequences on the graphical interpretations presented in our article. We agree with A.M. that the phase shift cannot be plotted in a σ-p plane and the value of p=0.2 does not correspond to σ=0.02. However, the main results given by formulas and the conclusion in our paper [S.-C. Li, Phys. Plasmas 17, 082307 (2010)] are independent of the figures and remain valid. To understand and interpret the results obtained in our previous article correctly, in this response, we will show some new figures and make some discusses.
Dielectric magnifying of plasma blocks by nonlinear force acceleration with delayed electron heating
Authors: Sadighi-Bonabi Rasoul , Yazdani Elnaz , Cang Yu , Hora Heinrich
Published: November 2010

Specific studies were performed in order to increase the thickness of laser generated directed space charge quasineutral plasma blocks with anomalously high ion current densities above 1011 A/cm2. This may lead to an alternative scheme of laser driven fusion with the irradiation of petawatt-picosecond laser pulses. Initial electron densities were used with Rayleigh profiles, because these are unique for inhomogeneous plasmas for undistorted acceleration at very low reflectivity until thermal absorption processes disturb these ideal conditions. Numerical hydrodynamic results based on a genuine two-fluid code are presented to optimize the block generation for possible fast ignition and details show the delay of thermal exchange between the ion and electron plasma fluid.
Single microparticle launching method using two-stage light-gas gun for simulating hypervelocity impacts of micrometeoroids and space debris
Authors: Kawai Nobuaki , Tsurui Kenji , Hasegawa Sunao , Sato Eiichi
Published: November 2010

A single microparticle launching method is described to simulate the hypervelocity impacts of micrometeoroids and microdebris on space structures at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. A microparticle placed in a sabot with slits is accelerated using a rifled two-stage light-gas gun. The centrifugal force provided by the rifling in the launch tube separates the sabot. The sabot-separation distance and the impact-point deviation are strongly affected by the combination of the sabot diameter and the bore diameter, and by the projectile diameter. Using this method, spherical projectiles of 1.0–0.1 mm diameter were launched at up to 7 km/s.
Surface plasmon based thermo-optic and temperature sensor for microfluidic thermometry
Authors: Davis L. J. , Deutsch M.
Published: November 2010

We report on a noninteracting technique for the thermal characterization of fluids based on surface plasmon resonance interrogation. Using liquid volumes less than 20 μl, we have determined the materials’ thermo-optic coefficients with an accuracy of better than 1×10−5 °C−1 and demonstrated temperature sensing with an accuracy of 0.03 °C. The apparatus employs a low-power probe laser, requiring only a single wavelength, polarization, and interrogation angle for accurate characterization. The device is particularly suited for precise diagnostics of liquids and gases within microfluidic systems and may also be readily integrated into a variety of lab-on-chip platforms, providing rapid and accurate temperature diagnostics.
Effect of wing inertia on hovering performance of flexible flapping wings
Authors: Yin Bo , Luo Haoxiang
Published: November 2010

Insect wings in flight typically deform under the combined aerodynamic force and wing inertia; whichever is dominant depends on the mass ratio defined as m∗=ρsh/(ρfc), where ρsh is the surface density of the wing, ρf is the density of the air, and c is the characteristic length of the wing. To study the differences that the wing inertia makes in the aerodynamic performance of the deformable wing, a two-dimensional numerical study is applied to simulate the flow-structure interaction of a flapping wing during hovering flight. The wing section is modeled as an elastic plate, which may experience nonlinear deformations while flapping. The effect of the wing inertia on lift production, drag resistance, and power consumption is studied for a range of wing rigidity. It is found that both inertia-induced deformation and flow-induced deformation can enhance lift of the wing. However, the flow-induced deformation, which corresponds to the low-mass wing, produces less drag and leads to higher aerodynamic power efficiency. In addition, the wing deformation has a significant effect on the unsteady vortices around the wing. The implication of the findings on insect flight is discussed.
Hydrogen dissociation on small aluminum clusters
Authors: Pino I. , Kroes G. J. , van Hemert M. C.
Published: November 2010

Transition states and reaction paths for a hydrogen molecule dissociating on small aluminum clusters have been calculated using density functional theory. The two lowest spin states have been taken into account for all the Aln clusters considered, with n=2–6. The aluminum dimer, which shows a Π3u electronic ground state, has also been studied at the coupled cluster and configuration interaction level for comparison and to check the accuracy of single determinant calculations in this special case, where two degenerate configurations should be taken into account. The calculated reaction barriers give an explanation of the experimentally observed reactivity of hydrogen on Al clusters of different size [Cox et al., J. Chem. Phys. 84, 4651 (1986)] and reproduce the high observed reactivity of the Al6 cluster. The electronic structure of the Aln–H2 systems was also systematically investigated in order to determine the role played by interactions of specific molecular orbitals for different nuclear arrangements. Singlet Aln clusters (with n even) exhibit the lowest barriers to H2 dissociation because their highest doubly occupied molecular orbitals allow for a more favorable interaction with the antibonding σu molecular orbital of H2.
General properties of small-amplitude fluctuations in magnetized and unmagnetized collision poor plasmas. I. The dielectric tensor
Authors: Schlickeiser R.
Published: November 2010

The dielectric tensor of a collision poor plasma determines all the physical properties of small-amplitude fluctuations for given initial plasma particle distribution functions, as it enters the Maxwell operator as the only plasma-specific quantity. For the important class of gyrotropic initial particle distribution functions fa(0)(p∥,p⊥) in a uniform magnetic field, we rigorously investigate the general properties of the plasma fluctuations without specifying the explicit momentum dependence of the gyrotropic distribution function. Two alternative forms of the relativistically correct dielectric tensor are derived which differ from nonrelativistic expressions in the literature. The first standard form is expressed in terms of infinite series of Bessel functions, whereas in the second form these infinite series are calculated with the Lerche–Newberger sum rules, yielding products of Bessel functions with complex indices for the individual elements of the Maxwell operator. The second form of the dielectric tensor is well suited to simplify the tensor in the special cases of parallel wave vectors and unmagnetized plasmas. For unmagnetized plasmas it is shown that aperiodic electrostatic and transverse fluctuations can only exist in symmetric distribution functions with f(−p∥,p⊥)=f(p∥,p⊥). Because this includes isotropic distribution functions, the more thorough investigation of this special case reveals that no electrostatic and fluctuations with positive growth rates γ=kcS>0 exist in an isotropic unmagnetized plasma, excluding both aperiodic (with R=0) and wave-like (with R≠0) instabilities, where R=ωR/(kc) denotes the real part of the phase speed. The second form of the dielectric tensor is also most appropriate to investigate fluctuations in magnetized equal mass plasmas, such as electron-positron-pair and/or proton-antiproton plasmas. Here for arbitrary wave vector orientation the dispersion relation factorizes into three separate modes. For fluctuations with parallel wave vectors in isotropic plasmas of arbitrary composition, the electromagnetic stability of such isotropic plasma populations is proven, relativistically generalizing the known corresponding nonrelativistic theorem.