bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Graft copolymerization of maleic anhydride/styrene onto isotactic polypropylene using supercritical CO2
Authors: Rao Huaxin , Zhang Ziyong
Published: December 2007

The free‐radical grafting of maleic anhydride (MAH) and styrene (St) onto isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was studied by thermal decomposition of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) using supercritical CO2 as a solvent and swelling agent. Several effects of molar ratio of monomer, soaking temperature and time, reaction time, and reaction pressure on the graft degree were discussed. It was found that the addition of St to the grafting system as a comonomer could significantly enhance the graft degree of the grafted PP. Under the optimal reaction condition, the maximum of iPP grafting MAH and St in supercritical CO2 medium was 10.58%. The chemical structures and properties of grafting copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the supercritical CO2 method had noticeable advantages over the existed method when compared, such as a lower temperature, a higher graft degree, easy separation, and environmentally benign. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Constant allelic alteration on chromosome 16p (TSC2 gene) in perivascular epithelioid cell tumour (PEComa): genetic evidence for the relationship of PEComa with angiomyolipoma
Authors: Pan C‐C , Chung M‐Y , Ng K‐F , Liu C‐Y , Wang J‐S , Chai C‐Y , Huang S‐H , Chen PC‐H , Ho DMT
Published: December 2007

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumours (PEComas) are a family of tumours including classic angiomyolipoma, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, and clear epithelioid cell tumours reported under a variety of names such as epithelioid angiomyolipoma, pulmonary and extrapulmonary clear cell sugar tumour, and PEComa. Our previous comparative genomic hybridization study of PEComas demonstrated recurrent chromosomal aberrations including deletions on chromosome 16p, where the TSC2 gene is located. In this study, we focused on the alteration of chromosome 16p, including TSC2. We collected ten sporadic and two tuberous sclerosis complex‐associated PEComas, as well as 14 sporadic classic hepatic and renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs) as controls. We used 16 microsatellite markers distributed along chromosome 16p to test for allelic imbalances on chromosome 16p and at TSC2, and two markers for TSC1. Furthermore, we carried out immunohistochemical staining for phospho‐p706K, phospho‐AKT, and phospho‐S6 to evaluate the effect of TSC2 alterations on the mTOR signalling pathway. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was found in 11 PEComas and involved the region of the TSC2 locus in seven. Six classic angiomyolipomas had allelic changes at chromosome 16p. Microsatellite instability was detected in two PEComas. The incidence of genetic aberrations was significantly higher in the PEComa group. Only one PEComa showed LOH at the TSC1 locus. Eleven PEComas and 13 AMLs revealed elevated phospho‐p70S6K accompanied by reduced phospho‐AKT. Five PEComas and eight classic angiomyolipomas were positive for phospho‐S6. The phosphorylation profile indicates functional activation of the mTOR pathway through a disrupted TSC1/2 complex. Our observations of frequent deletion of TSC2 and the mTOR signalling pathway provide evidence that the oncogenetic lineage of PEComa, as a distinct TSC2‐linked neoplasm, is similar to that of angiomyolipoma. Copyright © 2007 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of the adult International Germ Cell Classification System to pediatric malignant non‐seminomatous germ cell tumors: A report from the Children's Oncology Group
Authors: Frazier A. Lindsay , Rumcheva Pavlina , Olson Thomas , Giller Roger , Cushing Barbara , Cullen John , Marina Neyssa , London Wendy B.
Published: December 2007

Background

The purpose of this analysis is to explore whether the International Germ Cell Classification Consensus (IGCCC) tumor marker criteria, developed for adult males with metastatic malignant germ cell tumors (MGCT), are prognostic among pediatric patients and whether tumor marker data may be relevant in pediatric risk stratification.

Procedure

The IGCCC was applied to 436 pediatric germ cell patients treated on Pediatric Intergroup Studies from 1990 to 1996. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model identified prognostic variables; survival rates among IGCCC risk groups were compared using the log‐rank test. Concordance and relative performance of IGCCC versus COG risk stratification was evaluated.

Results

Applying the IGCCC, 21% of pediatric patients were good risk (GR), 35% intermediate risk (IR), and 44% poor risk (PR). Only modest concordance between IGCCC and COG stratification systems was noted (49%). Nonetheless, the IGCCC identified a group of PR patients who had significantly worse event‐free survival (EFS) versus GR/IR patients (6‐year EFS 80% vs. 91%), which was similar to the difference observed using the COG system (6‐year EFS 77% vs. 90%). The IGCCC performed well within subgroups for which the IGCCC is not intended (prepubertal, female, and non‐metastatic patients).

Conclusions

Applying the IGCCC system to pediatric patients produces a different stratification than does the application of the COG system, although both are prognostic. Development of a de novo pediatric prognostic classification is warranted. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:746–751. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structure‐reactivity relationships for β‐galactosidase (Escherichia coli, lac Z): a second derivative effect on βnuc for addition of alkyl alcohols to an oxocarbenium ion reaction intermediate
Authors: Richard John P. , Heo Christina K. , Toteva Maria M.
Published: December 2007

Velocities for the synthesis of trifluoroethyl 2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐galactopyranoside by transfer of the 2‐deoxygalactosyl group from β‐galactosidase to trifluoroethanol were determined from studies of the β‐galactosidase‐catalyzed cleavage of 4‐nitrophenyl‐2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐galactopyranoside as the difference in rates of appearance of 4‐nitrophenoxide anion and 2‐D‐deoxygalactose. These data were used to calculate a rate constant ratio of kROH/ks = 2.3 M−1 for partitioning of the intermediate between addition of trifluoroethanol and solvent water. Velocities for the synthesis of other alkyl 2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐galactopyranosides by transfer of the 2‐deoxygalactosyl group from β‐galactosidase to alkyl alcohols were determined from the effect of alkyl alcohols on the velocity of β‐galactosidase‐catalyzed cleavage of 4‐nitrophenyl‐2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐galactopyranoside in a reaction where breakdown of the intermediate is rate determining. These data were used to calculate rate constant ratios kROH/ks for the reactions of eight alkyl alcohols. Absolute rate constants kROH (M−1 s−1) were calculated from kROH/ks and ks = 0.002 s−1 for the addition of water. A Brønsted coefficient of βnuc = −0.07 ± 0.08 was determined as the slope of a logarithmic correlation of kROH against alcohol pKa. The change from a 2‐OH to a 2‐H substituent at the β‐D‐galactopyranosyl intermediate causes a 0.12 ± 0.04 increase in the value of βnuc for alcohol addition. This anti‐Hammond effect provides evidence that general base‐catalyzed addition of alcohols to an enzyme‐bound β‐D‐galactopyranosyl oxocarbenium ion intermediate proceeds along a reaction coordinate in which there is strong coupling between carbon–oxygen bond formation and proton transfer from the alcohol to a basic residue at the enzyme. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The congenital porto‐caval fistula: A unique presentation and novel intervention
Authors: Hoover Wynton , Ackerman Veda , Schamberger Marcus , Kumar Manjusha , Marshalleck Francis , Hoyer Mark
Published: December 2007

Congenital porto‐caval fistulas are uncommon vascular malformations with a varied clinical presentation beginning in infancy and spanning late adulthood. We report a 14‐year‐old male who presented with dyspnea and cough. His past medical history was significant for a chronic non‐immune hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, coagulopathy and a learning disability. He was found to have severe pulmonary hypertension and hyperammonemia associated with a large congenital porto‐caval fistula. The abnormal vessel was occluded via endovascular covered stent placement in the vena cava. His pulmonary hypertension has improved remarkably while his chronic anemia, thrombocytopenia and ammonia have normalized to allow improved cognitive performance. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:196–199. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Proteomic‐based approach for biomarkers discovery in early detection of invasive urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Li Junyu , Abraham Shaji , Cheng Liang , Witzmann Frank A. , Koch Michael , Xie Jun , Rahman Munazzah , Mohammed Sulma I.
Published: December 2007

Identification of reliable non‐invasive markers for the detection of invasive phenotype of urothelial carcinoma is needed. This study characterizes and compares protein expression profiles of adjacent non‐neoplastic urothelium and invasive urothelial carcinoma to identify biomarkers for early detection of de novo bladder cancer. Differences in protein expression between adjacent non‐neoplastic and high‐grade, stage T4, grade 3 invasive urothelial carcinoma tissues were investigated using 2‐DE, MALDI‐TOF‐MS, and data processing. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was applied to examine the biological mechanisms represented by the altered proteins. The 2‐DE of the adjacent non‐neoplastic urothelium and invasive urothelial carcinoma showed reproducibly similar proteomic mapping for each group distinguishing adjacent non‐neoplastic urothelium from invasive urothelial carcinoma. Twenty‐one proteins were altered in expression and one of these proteins, Choroideremia‐like protein (CHML) was significantly overexpressed (p<0.005) and therefore was analyzed further using IHC and Western blot. Urothelial carcinoma presented an elevated expression of CHML but not adjacent non‐neoplastic or normal bladder tissues. IPA revealed the involvement of CHML in cell morphology, cellular assembly, and organization. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the biological significance of CHML and to validate its role as a biomarker for early detection of invasive urothelial carcinoma de novo.
Inelastic light scattering studies of overdoped Y1–xCax Ba2Cu3O7–δ thin film
Authors: Lin J. H. , Weng S. M. , Liu H. L. , Chung P. C. , Lin J.‐Y.
Published: December 2007

The vibrational and magnetic Raman excitation spectra were examined in overdoped Y1–xCaxBa2Cu3O7–δ thin films. Below Tc, certain phonons in undoped YBa2Cu3O7–δ (YBCO) show strong self‐energy effects, which gradually vanish with increasing Ca concentration into the overdoped regime. The observed B1g symmetry two‐magnon excitation peak near 2900 cm–1 in YBCO is significantly broadened, weakened, and shifts to the lower frequency with increasing Ca content, indicating the effective value of magnetic superexchange energy decreases and that the life time of the magnons becomes shorter with increasing hole concentrations. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Spin polarization of a non‐magnetic high g‐factor semiconductor at low magnetic field
Authors: Lee J. , Back J. , Joo S. , Hong J. , Rhie K. , Kim K. H. , Kim S. U. , Lee B. C. , Kim T. , Shin K.
Published: December 2007

We have studied the spin polarization of HgCdTe by measuring Shubnikov‐de Haas oscillations. The magnetic field have been applied in parallel and perpendicular to the current. Relatively long spin relaxation time was observed since only spin conserved transition is allowed by selection rules. The electronic spin is completely polarized when the applied magnetic field is larger than 0.5 Tesla, which can be easily generated by micromagnets deposited on the surface of the specimen. Thus, the spin‐manipulation such as spin up/down junction can be realized with this semiconductor. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Tunnel magnetoresistance of ferromagnetic semiconductor junctions
Authors: Honda S. , Itoh H. , Inoue J.
Published: December 2007

Tunnel conductance and magnetoresistance of (Ga‐Mn)As/AlAs/(Ga‐Mn)As are calculated as a function of AlAs barrier thickness in the linear response regime using a realistic tight‐binding model. It is shown that the barrier thickness dependence of the tunnel magnetoresistance ratio is quite weak in contrast to experimental results. It is also shown that the tunnel magnetoresistance ratio is decreased by GaAs layer inserted at the interfaces between (Ga‐Mn)As and AlAs. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Spin configuration of ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic nano‐composite particles
Authors: Phuoc Nguyen N. , Suzuki Takao , Chantrell Roy W. , Nowak Uli
Published: December 2007

A systematic study of the spin configuration of ferromagnetic(core)/antiferromagnetic(shell) nano‐composite particles was carried out by two approaches: micromagnetic and atomistic simulations. In the case of strong interlayer exchange coupling between ferromagnet and antiferromagnet, the micromagnetic simulation result is consistent with the atomistic simulation result. However, in the case of weak interlayer exchange coupling the micromagnetic simulation predicts a multi‐domain structure of the ferromagnet, which is inconsistent with the atomistic simulation. The failure of micromagnetic simulation in describing the spin structure of the nano‐composite particles might be interpreted in terms of the under‐estimation of the exchange energy for rapid spatial fluctuations of the magnetization by the continuum exchange formalism or might be due to the cooling process procedure. Also, the variation of spin structure as a function of the uniaxial anisotropy of the core is presented and discussed. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Y2SiO5:Ce thin films grown by PLD
Authors: Coetsee E. , Terblans J.J. , Swart H.C.
Published: December 2007

Process parameters for pulsed laser deposition (PLD) (KrF laser, 248 nm on a silicon (Si)(100) substrate) of uniform cerium doped yttrium silicate (Y2SiO5:Ce) phosphor thin films were investigated for application in field emission displays (FEDs). An increase in the oxygen (O2) ambient pressure to 1 Torr resulted in the growth of a nano phosphor thin layer. Surface morphology that was monitored with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) yielded a rougher surface on the nano particle thin film due to the spherically shaped nano particles. Cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy that was done with 2 keV energy electrons (20 μA beam current) on the nano particle film, indicated a more intense CL intensity than the uniform thin film that was grown in vacuum (5 x 10‐6 Torr). The two main CL peaks on the nano particle film are situated at 438 and 468 nm (blue light) due to the 5d to 4f (2F5/2 and 2F7/2) transitions in Ce3+. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Optical properties of zinc oxide‐based ternary compounds synthesized by electrodeposition
Authors: Marí B. , Cembrero J. , Mollar M. , Tortosa M.
Published: December 2007

Structure, morphology and optical properties of ZnO thin films grown by electrodeposition under different conditions changing both solvent (water or dimethylsulfoxide) and substrate (polycrystalline FTO or monocrystalline GaN) are reported. The results point out the advantage of using dimethylsulfoxide when uniform, oriented and highly transparent films are required. On the other hand electrodeposition in aqueous bath produces perfectly defined hexagonal ZnO columns which can be fully oriented by chosing a suitable substrate. Photoluminescence has only been observed for ZnO films grown in aqueous bath. Ternary compounds as ZnMO (M=Cd, Co, Mn) with a controlled ratio between both cations, and morphology and structure like binary ZnO can be easily obtained from dimethylsulfoxide. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
On‐line coupling of an ultraviolet titanium dioxide film reactor with a liquid chromatography/hydride generation/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry system for continuous determination of dynamic variation of hydride‐ and nonhydride‐forming arsenic species in very small microdialysate samples
Authors: Tsai Mine‐wei , Sun Yuh‐chang
Published: December 2007

We describe a method for continuously monitoring both hydride‐ and nonhydride‐forming arsenic species in 10‐µL microdialysate samples by coupling together on‐line high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a post‐column UV/TiO2 film reactor, and hydride generation (HG) inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). To maximize the signal intensities of the desired arsenic species, we optimized the photocatalytic oxidation efficiency of the analyte species and used a rapid on‐line pre‐reduction process to convert the oxidized species into As(III) prior to HG‐ICP‐MS determination. The UV/nano‐TiO2 film reactor was manufactured by coating nano‐TiO2 onto the interior of a glass tube. Impregnation and sol–gel methods were employed to deposit the TiO2 films, and their effectiveness for the oxidation of organic arsenicals was compared. To enhance the decomposition efficiency of organic arsenicals, we investigated the effects of the acidity and the composition of the column effluent. Because of the improved HG efficiency toward the tested arsenicals and the adoption of a segmented flow technique to retain the peak resolution in our on‐line LC‐UV/nano‐TiO2 film reactor‐HG‐ICP‐MS instrument, the detection limits for arseneous acid [As(III)], monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), arsenic acid [As(V)], and arsenobetaine (AsB) were all in the submicrogram‐per‐liter range (based on 3 sigma) for 10‐µL injections. A series of validation experiments – analyses of certified reference urine and rabbit serum samples – indicated that these methods can be applied satisfactorily to the continuous determination of As(III), MMA, DMA, As(V), and AsB in blood and in the extracellular space of target organs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Japan's Energy Conservation Initiatives: Highlighting the Energy Conservation Policy
Authors: Minami Norio
Published: December 2007

This article introduces the energy conservation activities in Japan, focusing on the energy conservation policy. The energy conservation activities in Japan started with the two oil shocks in the 1970s. Development of relevant laws and promotion of subsidy measures were started in this period as well. The consciousness for the energy conservation had been once weakened in the late 1980s through the time of bubble years, but in response to the internationally up‐streaming discussions on global environmental problems in the late 1980s, the importance of the energy conservation was called for again in Japan.

Under these circumstances, the final energy consumption in Japan after the oil shocks has leveled off in the industrial sector thanks to their endeavor for energy conservation, but in the commercial/residential sector and transportation sector, it has been continuously increasing.

Under these conditions and more and more severe energy situations such as the steep rise of crude oil price, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry established the ‘New National Energy Strategy’ in May 2006, in which a new energy conservation target was set forth in that the energy efficiency would be improved by 30% or more by 2030. Responding to this target, the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy summarized and published the ‘Energy Conservation Technology Strategy (Interim Report)’ in September 2006. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Energy Conservation in Urban Areas
Authors: Sugihara Hideharu , Tsuji Kiichiro
Published: December 2007

This article outlines the energy conservation measures in the civilian sector from a few different viewpoint regarding energy conservation in cities. First, the energy consumption trends in the business and residential sectors are discussed, focusing the importance of energy conservation measures in applications such as home heating, water heating and specific power demand. Second, as a measure to reduce energy demand itself, energy conservation by way of applying heat insulating materials to buildings and changing the life style of residents is considered. And from the viewpoint of improving the energy system efficiency, additionally discussed here are the measures to improve the efficiency of each energy equipment such as air‐conditioners and co‐generation equipment, and the characteristics of District heating and cooling systems such as the local energy infrastructures. Lastly, from the knowledge obtained through model analyses by the authors, a scheme is recommended that would be one of the most efficient city‐energy schemes where the energy systems including heat pumps, co‐generators or equipment using solar power are utilized for their best‐suited applications for business and residential customers. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Present Status of Energy Saving Technologies and Future Prospect in White LED Lighting
Authors: Taguchi Tsunemasa
Published: December 2007

This paper describes the present status and future prospects on the efficient energy‐saving lighting system based on white light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) technologies. Three types of white LEDs are introduced in terms of the fundamental lighting properties which are related to the improvement in luminous efficacy and color rendering. Practical applications using the efficient white LED lighting system are demonstrated. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Environmental Potential of IT for the Ubiquitous Society
Authors: Ugo Ryosuke
Published: December 2007

As typically represented by the popularization of the Internet, the rapid development of information technology (IT) is largely affecting all areas of activity as the foundation of societies with higher efficiency, making it really a tool for social innovation. On the other hand, along with the globalization of the economic activities and the related change of lifestyle with mass‐energy and mass‐material consumptions, the social concern and sense of crisis against global warming and other environmental problems have been more and more highlighted.

Under these situations, much discussion is on with regard to the possibility that the features of IT that are considered to improve the efficiency of traditional activities could contribute to the solution of environmental problems, particularly in prevention of global warming. This way, the services and systems utilizing IT not only improve the traditional work efficiency but also reduce the energy and resource consumption for the activities, resulting in reduction of the amount of CO2 emission.

In this article, the relation between IT and the environmental issues mentioned above are highlighted. Also, some ideas on how to evaluate the quantitative effects of CO2 reduction as the result of applied services and systems incorporating relevant IT programs, and tools and actual evaluation cases are introduced to show the potential of IT in tackling environmental issues. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Start of Uniform Energy‐Saving Label: Points of Energy‐Saving Measures for Home Electric Appliances, etc.
Authors: Arima Shigeharu , Sakamoto Yasuhiro
Published: December 2007

Japanese energy conservation measures for home electric appliances and the like are the following: the Retailer Indication System (Uniform Energy‐saving label), Energy‐Saving Labeling Program and Excellent Shop Program, as well as a broadly publicized program to present the information in a list of energy conservation performance on all products of all manufacturers. As the basis of these systems and programs, the concept of the top‐runner criteria has been introduced. The idea is such that on electrical appliances that are considered to be the most energy consuming, the energy conservation target is set out at a point which is higher than any energy conservation efficiency level among commercialized product types or models in each appliance category, and the level of each product has to be seen on the product itself. As an easy‐to‐see display of the energy conservation performance and others, an Energy‐Saving Labeling Program has been introduced in which the energy conservation performance and criteria‐achieving rate as well as its mark are to be presented on the product itself. In addition, a Uniform Energy‐Saving Label to show the relative level of energy conservation performance with a number of stars has been introduced, which includes indicative annual electricity charges, etc. There is an additional program in which home appliance shops that explain and provide correct information regarding these programs and energy conservation and actively promote the sale of the energy‐saving products are evaluated as excellent shops. The current situation and possibility of reduction of standby power consumed by products are also discussed. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Challenges to the Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) Technology
Authors: Murai Shigeo , Fujioka Yuichi
Published: December 2007

Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) technology, which is one of the technologies against global warming, applied to the separation and capture of CO2 gas and finally storage underground is attracting attention. There are several technologies being developed for CO2 separation and capture, namely the chemical absorption method, physical absorption method, adsorbing separation method and membrane separation method. These are being developed to apply to postcombustion capture, oxyfuel postcombustion capture, etc. With regard to the CO2 storage technologies, the method of injection into an aquifer is being developed as the major one, and studies on issues for actual technical application are being conducted in the form of engineering study on the assumed model area. In this report, our expectations toward actual application of the CCS technology, the trends of the CCS technology and other related matters are introduced. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Proposal and Evaluation of a New‐Type Cogeneration System for Energy Saving and CO2 Emission Reduction
Authors: Sik Pak Pyong
Published: December 2007

The paper proposes a cogeneration system which generates four types of energy or material resources: electricity, steam, hot water, and freshwater. The proposed system can capture CO2, and be constructed on the basis of a combined cycle power generation system which consists of a gas turbine and a back‐pressure extraction turbine. In the proposed system, power is produced by driving the gas turbine system. High‐pressure saturated steam with medium temperature is produced in the heat recovery steam generator by using gas turbine exhaust gas, and then superheated with a regenerative superheater in which the fuel is burned by using oxygen instead of air for driving the steam turbine generator. Water and CO2 are recovered from the flue gas of the regenerative superheater. It has been estimated that the proposed system has a net power generation efficiency of 41.2%, a heat generation efficiency of 41.5%, and a total efficiency of 82.7%. Freshwater of 1.34 t/h and CO2 of 1.76 t/h can be recovered. It has also been shown, when a case study was set and evaluated, that the proposed system can save 31.3% of energy compared with the conventional energy supply system, and reduce CO2 emission by 28.2% compared with the conventional cogeneration system. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Improving Parsing of ‘BA’ Sentences for Machine Translation
Authors: Yin Dapeng , Shao Min , Ren Fuji , Kuroiwa Shingo
Published: December 2007

The research on Chinese‐Japanese machine translation has been lasting for many years, and now this research field is increasingly thoroughly refined. In practical machine translation system, the processing of a simple and short Chinese sentence has somewhat good results. However, the translation of complex long Chinese sentence still has difficulties. For example, these systems are still unable to solve the translation problem of complex ‘BA’ sentences. In this article a new method of parsing of ‘BA’ sentence for machine translation based on valency theory is proposed. A ‘BA’ sentence is one that has a prepositional word ‘BA’. The structural character of a ‘BA’ sentence is that the original verb is behind the object word. The object word after the ‘BA’ preposition is used as an adverbial modifier of an active word. First, a large number of grammar items from Chinese grammar books are collected, and some elementary judgment rules are set by classifying and including the collected grammar items. Then, these judgment rules are put into use in actual Chinese language and are modified by checking their results instantly. Rules are checked and modified by using the statistical information from an actual corpus. Then, a five‐segment model used for ‘BA’ sentence translation is brought forward after the above mentioned analysis. Finally, we applied this proposed model into our developed machine translation system and evaluated the experimental results. It achieved a 91.3% rate of accuracy and the satisfying result verified effectiveness of our five‐segment model for ‘BA’ sentence translation. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Effect of Feedback Force Delays on the Operation of Haptic Displays
Authors: Ishihara Manabu , Negishi Nobuhiko
Published: December 2007

Recently, Virtual Reality (VR) technology has developed quickly, together with research conducted on various elemental and related technologies and research in various fields of its application. We experimented about delay times. The haptic media is very sensitive to the network delay and its jitter and packet loss. The analytic hierarchy process(AHP) is one of the methods used to evaluate physical phenomena as correctness of the human sensation. In consequence of its application to the present experiment, it was made clear that the haptic media could be estimated from the delay times. In this report, we experimented about the relation between the delay times and haptic sense. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Meeting the challenge of globalization in Costa Rica
Authors: Nelson Roy C.
Published: December 2007

As president of Costa Rica from 1994 to 1998, José María Figueres played a key role in transforming the Costa Rican economy, helping to move the country up the value chain in the global production process. Figueres's success in bringing Intel into Costa Rica led to a major shift in the country's main exports—from bananas and coffee to microprocessors. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Higher calcium urinary loss induced by a calcium sulphate-rich mineral water intake than by milk in young women Comments by Arnaud
Authors: Arnaud Maurice J.
Published: December 2007

I did not intend to revisit the discussion of the publication of Brandolini et al.1 on Ca urinary excretion attributed to the sulfate content of water but in their answers2 to my comments3, they said that ‘I accept their experimental results’ and that ‘I do not contest the difference in calciuria between milk and sulfate-rich water’. I never wrote that I agree with their results and even more with their conclusions but questioned how is it possible to evaluate a 20 mg difference in daily Ca urinary excretion from a study with subjects under uncontrolled dietary intakes, unbalanced experimental study design and without analytical results on acid–base balance and sulfate to support their acidogenic hypothesis of sulfate. I did not find any convincing explanations in their answers but I want to raise several points of disagreement, which are either repeated or new.
The level of carbonation of a sugar-sweetened beverage preload affects satiety and short-term energy and food intakes
Authors: Moorhead S. Anne , Livingstone M. Barbara E. , Dunne Adrian , Welch Robert W.
Published: December 2007

The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with increased incidence of overweight and obesity, and a factor underlying this putative link could be the relatively low levels of satiety that may be induced by these beverages. Although many sugar-sweetened beverages are carbonated, little attention has been given to the potential effects of level of carbonation on satiety and subsequent intakes. We hypothesized that increasing the level of carbonation in a sugar-sweetened beverage would increase satiety and decrease intakes in the short term. Using a randomized, within-subject cross-over design, thirty non-obese subjects (fifteen women, fifteen men) participated on three occasions, 1 week apart. Following a standard breakfast, subjects consumed a beverage preload 10 min before consuming a lunchad libitum. Preloads were the same sugar-sweetened beverage (400 ml, 639 kJ) with three levels of carbonation, which were low (1·7 volumes), medium (2·5 volumes) and high (3·7 volumes). Satiety was assessed using visual analogue scales and intakes were measured at the lunch and for the rest of the day. Compared with the beverage with low carbonation, consumption of the beverages with medium and high carbonation led to significantly (P < 0·05) higher satiety until lunch, when intakes of food and energy were significantly (P < 0·05) lower. There were no significant effects on satiety following lunch or on intakes for the rest of the day. This short-term study suggests that the level of carbonation may need to be taken into account when assessing potential effects of beverages on satiety and intake.
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH SOCIAL CAPITAL BUILD-UP: GENDER DIMENSIONS IN TECHNOLOGY UPTAKE
Authors: BANTILAN M. C. S. , PADMAJA R.
Published: December 2007

This paper explores how and to what extent women and men have benefited from social capital build-up (the ability of men and women farmers to develop and use various kinds of social networks and the resources that thereby become available) in technology uptake, and the role of women in this process. Using a series of three case studies on ICRISAT's Groundnut Production Technology, the process of technology uptake leading to empowerment is systematically documented through three stages of the adoption pathway. The process stimulating gender-equitable change and empowerment was examined through a sequential analysis using two in-depth case studies in three villages in Maharashtra, India, and complemented by a broader quantitative study of the uptake process covering villages in surrounding districts. This analysis illustrated that social capital is important for both adoption and impact to occur. Qualitative information complemented by quantitative measures provides a holistic understanding of the long-term effects and benefits. The findings illustrated that build-up of social capital improves access to resources like credit, information and knowledge about new technology options and practices. Furthermore, it expands choices available to each household member – e.g. selecting and adopting seed technology of their choice, and alternative investment options – and influences the distribution of benefits from the technology because of the ways in which social networks and social relationships facilitate technology dissemination. Mobilizing social capital through participation of men and women in groups/networks that crossed caste, class and gender barriers mediated the successful adoption and diffusion of technology.
TRANSFORMING IMPACT ASSESSMENT: BEGINNING THE QUIET REVOLUTION OF INSTITUTIONAL LEARNING AND CHANGE
Authors: WATTS JAMIE , HORTON DOUGLAS , DOUTHWAITE BORU , LA ROVERE ROBERTO , THIELE GRAHAM , PRASAD SHAMBU , STAVER CHARLES
Published: December 2007

Scores of assessments of the impacts of agricultural research have been carried out over the years. However, few appear to have been used to improve decision making and the effectiveness of research programmes. The Institutional Learning and Change (ILAC) Initiative emerged within the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), with the goal of strengthening learning from experience and using lessons to improve pro-poor innovation. It is testing approaches for expanding the contributions of impact assessment and evaluation to learning, decision making and improvement.
Evolutionary string theory
Authors: Faulkes Zen , Baines Anita Davelos
Published: December 2007

Evolution in Four Dimensionsclaims that epigenetic, behavioral, and symbolic inheritance systems should be considered equal partners to genetics in evolutionary biology. The evidence for, and applicable scope of, these additional inheritance systems is limited, particularly with regard to areas involving learning. It is unclear how including these extra dimensions in mainstream evolutionary thinking translates into testable hypotheses for a productive research program.
What is so informative about information?
Authors: Hamame Carlos M. , Cosmelli Diego , Aboitiz Francisco
Published: December 2007

Understanding evolution beyond a gene-centered vision is a fertile ground for new questions and approaches. However, in this systemic perspective, we take issue with the necessity of the concept of information. Through the example of brain and language evolution, we propose the autonomous systems theory as a more biologically relevant framework for the evolutionary perspective offered by Jablonka & Lamb (J&L).
Individual invention versus socio-ecological innovation: Unifying the behavioral and evolutionary sciences
Authors: McCall Lauren
Published: December 2007

Great promise for the evolutionary analysis of animal behavior lies in the distinction between generative novelties and the evolutionary innovations to which they can give rise. Ramsey et al. succeed in emphasizing the contribution of individual learning and intelligence to behavioral innovations, but do not correct the tendency to confound individual invention with socio-ecological or group-level innovation.
Environmentally invoked innovation and cognition
Authors: Reader Simon M.
Published: December 2007

Behavioral innovations induced by the social or physical environment are likely to be of great functional and evolutionary importance, and thus warrant serious attention. Innovation provides a process by which animals can adjust to changed environments. Despite this apparent adaptive advantage, it is not known whether innovative propensities are adaptive specializations. Furthermore, the varied psychological processes underlying innovation remain poorly understood.
Efficient aberrations pre-compensation and wavefront correction with a deformable mirror in the middle of a petawatt-class CPA laser system
Authors: Canova F. , Flacco A. , Canova L. , Clady R. , Chambaret J.-P. , PlÉ F. , Pittman M. , Planchon T.A. , Silva M. , Benocci R. , Lucchini G. , Batani D. , Lavergne E. , Dovillaire G. , Levecq X.
Published: December 2007

In this paper, we describe the experimental validation of the technique of correction of wavefront aberration in the middle of the laser amplifying chain. This technique allows the correction of the aberrations from the first part of the laser system, and the pre-compensation of the aberrations built in the second part. This approach will allow an effective aberration management in the laser chain, to protect the optical surfaces and optimize performances, and is the only possible approach for multi-petawatt laser system from the technical and economical point of view. This approach is now possible after the introduction of new deformable mirrors with lower static aberrations and higher dynamic than the standard devices.
Prospects of high energy density physics research using the CERN super proton synchrotron (SPS)
Authors: Tahir N.A. , Schmidt R. , Brugger M. , Lomonosov I.V. , Shutov A. , Piriz A.R. , Udrea S. , Hoffmann D.H.H. , Deutsch C.
Published: December 2007

The Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) will serve as an injector to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN as well as it is used to accelerate and extract proton beams for fixed target experiments. In either case, safety of operation is a very important issue that needs to be carefully addressed. This paper presents detailed numerical simulations of the thermodynamic and hydrodynamic response of solid targets made of copper and tungsten that experience impact of a full SPS beam comprized of 288 bunches of 450 GeV/c protons. These simulations have shown that the material will be seriously damaged if such an accident happens. An interesting outcome of this work is that the SPS can be used to carry out dedicated experiments to study High Energy Density (HED) states in matter.
Ethnicization through Schooling: The Mainstream Discursive Repertoires of Ethnic Minorities
Authors: Yi Lin
Published: December 2007

This article looks into the process through which minority cultures and subjects are interpreted and defined by the cultural mainstream as inferior and less valuable for the modernization of China, and in consequent need of transformation, particularly through education. In dichotomizing advanced cultures vis-à-vis backward ones, this process has ethnicized minorities' differences. However, within the process itself are internal contradictions that render any attempt at actual education self-contradictory and ultimately unproductive. Using three sources of data – government policy, academic discourse and ethnographic fieldwork – the article provides corroborative evidence relating to the creation of particular images of minority cultures and subjects by the mainstream Han.
State–Press Relationship in Post-1997 Hong Kong: Constant Negotiation amidst Self-Restraint
Authors: Ngok Ma
Published: December 2007

Ten years after the handover, Hong Kong's media faced multiple pressures. There were few cases of outright prosecution of the media, but there were subtle political and economic pressures. Co-optation of media bosses, fear of losing advertising revenue and media takeovers by pro-Beijing figures brought some of the media into line. This brought editorial shift and self-censorship, as the media systematically shied away from stories that might antagonize Beijing, underplayed negative news for the government and gave the democrats less favourable coverage. Interviews with journalists showed little evidence of ostensible intervention from government officials or media bosses, but newsroom socialization and editorial gatekeeping are effective constraints. The constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press and the moral force of professional ethics lent the media the room to defend and negotiate their freedom, but the pervasive fear induced by the political environment invariably overpowered the resistance and constrained press freedom in Hong Kong.
Human Rights in the International Court of Justice
Authors: HIGGINS ROSALYN
Published: December 2007

In this speech delivered at the conference honouring Professor Dugard, President Higgins discusses various human rights issues that have come before the International Court of Justice, including self-determination, reservations to human rights treaties, the application of human rights instruments to occupied territories, and allegations of genocide by one state against another. President Higgins notes that in the past few decades the ICJ has been joined by regional human rights courts, commissions and treaty monitoring bodies. Similar human rights claims are surfacing in these diverse fora, but the acknowledged expertise of these specialist bodies and the desire to avoid fragmentation provide an impetus for all concerned to seek common solutions on evolving points of law.
The Security Council's Targeted Sanctions Regimes: In Need of Better Protection of the Individual
Authors: VAN DEN HERIK LARISSA
Published: December 2007

This contribution examines the problem of review of targeted sanctions imposed by the Security Council in the light of recent developments occurring in the EU context. Some recent judgments of the European Court of First Instance of the European Communities (CFI) are analysed, as rendered in the cases of Yusuf and Kadi and also in the more recent cases of the Mujaheddeen and Sison. These last two judgments show that flaws in the targeted sanctions regimes exist not only at UN level. The CFI also does not substantively review the listing when this listing is carried out by the Council of the EU. An examination of the progress made at UN level to address procedural flaws shows that, more than anything else, the real stumbling-block is the lack of a substantive review of intelligence information by an independent and impartial organ. The only conclusion that can be drawn from this is that we are on the way towards a better de-listing procedure, but are not there yet.
Israel's Settlement-Policy Stumbling-Block in the Middle East Peace Process
Authors: DE WAART PAUL J. I. M.
Published: December 2007

According to Israel's Guide to the Mideast Peace Process, charges regarding the illegality of Israeli settlements in the 1967 Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) have no foundation in international law. Peace efforts between Israel and Palestine will have no chance of success as long as Israel uses its prolonged military occupation to promote and protect its annexation-in-disguise of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. John Dugard has passed on this hard truth consistently as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the OPT. The international community should take the same hard line towards the Guide as it has done towards the Hamas Charter. If it wants to establish a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, it should not allow Israel to bend the truth any more in respect of the legality of the Israeli settlements in the OPT as Hamas has done in respect of the illegality of Israel.
The Crime of Aggression and the United Nations Security Council
Authors: BLOKKER NIELS
Published: December 2007

This contribution is dedicated to Professor John Dugard. It discusses the most difficult issue to be resolved in the negotiations on the crime of aggression: the role of the Security Council in the exercise of jurisdiction over this crime by the International Criminal Court. The International Law Commission suggested a solution in the 1990s, but failing the required support and in the absence of subsequent agreement the 1998 Rome Conference could only prospectively give the Court jurisdiction over the crime of aggression. The post-Rome negotiations are characterized by, on the one hand, support from the five permanent members of the Security Council for the thesis that it should be exclusively for the Security Council to determine whether or not an act of aggression has been committed (as a precondition for the exercise of jurisdiction by the ICC) and, on the other hand, a rejection of this thesis combined with a search for alternatives by many other states. According to the analysis below, in relation to cases involving the crime of aggression the preferred way for the ICC to proceed is to exercise jurisdiction over this crime after a determination of state aggression has been made by the Security Council. Nevertheless, the view according to which such a determination could exclusively be made by the Council is rejected, on the basis of the rules of the Charter, the practice of the Security Council and the General Assembly, and decisions of the International Court of Justice. Finally, an alternative arrangement is suggested for the cases in which the Security Council is prevented from acting because of the use of the veto or because of lack of support from its members.