bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The science of ecological economics
Authors: Luzadis Valerie A. , Castello Leandro , Choi Jaewon , Greenfield Eric , Kim Sung‐kyun , Munsell John , Nordman Erik , Franco Carol , Olowabi Flavien
Published: January 2010

The Ecological Economics journal is a primary source for inquiry on ecological economics and sustainability. To explore the scholarly pursuit of ecological economics, we conducted a content analysis of 200 randomly sampled research, survey, and methodological articles published in Ecological Economics during the 15‐year period of 1989–2004. Results of the analysis were used to investigate facets of transdisciplinarity within the journal. A robust qualitative approach was used to gather and examine data to identify themes representing substantive content found within the span of sampled journal papers. The extent to which each theme was represented was counted as well as additional data, such as author discipline, year published, etc. Four main categories were revealed: (1) foundations (self‐reflexive themes stemming from direct discussions about ecological economics); (2) human systems, represented by the themes of values, social indicators of well‐being, intergenerational distribution, and equity; (3) biophysical systems, including themes, such as carrying capacity and scarcity, energy, and resource use, relating directly to the biophysical aspects of systems; and (4) policy and management encompassing themes of development, growth, trade, accounting, and valuation, as well as institutional structures and management. The results provide empirical evidence for discussing the future direction of ecological economic efforts.
Ecosystem valuation
Authors: Turner R. Kerry , Morse‐Jones Sian , Fisher Brendan
Published: January 2010

Understanding the economic value of nature and the services it provides to humanity has become increasingly important for local, national, and global policy and decision making. It has become obvious that quantifying and integrating these services into decision making will be crucial for sustainable development. Problems arise in that it is difficult to obtain meaningful values for the goods and services that ecosystems provide and for which there is no formal market. A wide range of ecosystem services fall into this category. Additional problems arise when economic methods are applied inappropriately and when the importance of ecosystem maintenance for human welfare is underestimated. In this article we identify a place for monetary valuation within the pluralistic approach supported by ecological economics and assess progress to date in the application of environmental valuation to ecosystem service provision. We first review definitions of ecosystem services in order to make an operational link to valuation methods. We then discuss the spatially explicit nature of ecosystem services provision and benefits capture. We highlight the importance of valuing marginal changes and the role for macroscale valuation, nonlinearities in service benefits, and the significance of nonconvexities (threshold effects). We also review guidance on valuation studies quality assurance, and discuss the problems inherent in the methodology as exposed by the findings of behavioral economics, as well as with benefits transfer—the most common way valuation studies are applied in the policy process. We argue for a sequential decision support system that can lead to a more integrated and rigorous approach to environmental valuation and biophysical measurement of ecosystem services. This system itself then needs to be encompassed within a more comprehensive multicriteria assessment dialogue and process.
The road to sustainability must bridge three great divides
Authors: Aronson James , Blignaut James N. , de Groot Rudolf S. , Clewell Andre , Lowry II Porter P. , Woodworth Paddy , Cowling Richard M. , Renison Daniel , Farley Joshua , Fontaine Christelle , Tongway David , Levy Samuel , Milton Suzanne J. , Rangel Orlando , Debrincat Bev , Birkinshaw Chris
Published: January 2010

The world's large and rapidly growing human population is exhausting Earth's natural capital at ever‐faster rates, and yet appears mostly oblivious to the fact that these resources are limited. This is dangerous for our well‐being and perhaps for our survival, as documented by numerous studies over many years. Why are we not moving instead toward sustainable levels of use? We argue here that this disconnection between our knowledge and our actions is largely caused by three “great divides”: an ideological divide between economists and ecologists; an economic development divide between the rich and the poor; and an information divide, which obstructs communications between scientists, public opinion, and policy makers. These divides prevent our economies from responding effectively to urgent signals of environmental and ecological stress. The restoration of natural capital (RNC) can be an important strategy in bridging all of these divides. RNC projects and programs make explicit the multiple and mutually reinforcing linkages between environmental and economic well‐being, while opening up a promising policy road in the search for a sustainable and desirable future for global society. The bridge‐building capacity of RNC derives from its double focus: on the ecological restoration of degraded, overexploited natural ecosystems, and on the full socio‐economic and ecological interface between people and their environments.
Democratizing economics
Authors: Söderbaum Peter , Brown Judy
Published: January 2010

Climate scientists point to a number of unsustainable trends concerning the environment and natural resources. There is also ongoing concern about poverty reduction, labor rights, and other social aspects of sustainable development. Growing numbers argue that change is required, but still at issue is the extent of change and how to facilitate it. In this paper, the focus is on the dominant interpretive schema of influential actors with respect to ideas about science in society, paradigms in economics, and ideological orientations. The authors argue that the monopolistic position of neoclassical economics at university departments of economics in different parts of the world, and the spread of its associated technocratic logic within broader policy arenas, should be abandoned in favor of a more ideologically open attitude that facilitates discussion and debate within academia, public policy, and in civil society more generally. In a sense, economics requires “democratization” with implications for approaches to sustainability monitoring, accounting, and the assessment of projects and policies. The paper provides suggestions for developing sustainability assessment technologies and practices that take pluralism seriously.
Commoditization and oppression
Authors: Manno Jack P.
Published: January 2010

Commoditization is a generalized Darwinian selection pressure in economic evolution driven by profit‐ and efficiency‐seeking in the investment of key resources. By winnowing noncommodity opportunities to satisfy human needs, commoditization distorts development in ways that intensify negative social outcomes experienced by oppressed groups and undermines the possibility for sustainable development. When market logic dominates the investment of financial capital, energy, raw materials, human attention, labor, and creativity, market goods with traits associated with commodities are fully developed while nonmarket goods lacking those traits are systematically underdeveloped. Analysis of the traits of commodities explains the unsustainable development or maldevelopment that disproportionately affects those who are dependent on or who highly value important nonmarket relationships. Oppression theory is addressed with specific examples. A generalized form of oppression is theorized that systematically stunts the imagination and creativity required to meet contemporary environmental crises.
Novel phenotype issues raised in cross‐national epidemiological research on drug dependence
Authors: Anthony James C. (Jim)
Published: January 2010

Stage‐transition models based on the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) generally are applied in epidemiology and genetics research on drug dependence syndromes associated with cannabis, cocaine, and other internationally regulated drugs (IRDs). Difficulties with DSM stage‐transition models have surfaced during cross‐national research intended to provide a truly global perspective, such as the work of the World Mental Health Surveys Consortium. Alternative simpler dependence‐related phenotypes are possible, including population‐level count process models for steps early and before coalescence of clinical features into a coherent syndrome (e.g., zero‐inflated Poisson [ZIP] regression). Selected findings are reviewed, based on ZIP modeling of alcohol, tobacco, and IRD count processes, with an illustration that may stimulate new research on genetic susceptibility traits. The annual National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) can be readily modified for this purpose, along the lines of a truly anonymous research approach that can help make NSDUH‐type cross‐national epidemiological surveys more useful in the context of subsequent genomewide association (GWAS) research and post‐GWAS investigations with a truly global health perspective.
Rheological and Thermal Properties of Polylactide/Silicate Nanocomposites Films
Authors: Ahmed Jasim , Varshney Sunil K. , Auras Rafeal
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACT:  Polylactide (DL)/polyethylene glycol/silicate nanocomposite blended biodegradable films have been prepared by solvent casting method. Rheological and thermal properties were investigated for both neat amorphous polylactide (PLA‐DL form) and blend of montmorillonite (clay) and poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG). Melt rheology of the PLA individually and blends (PLA/clay; PLA/PEG; PLA/PEG/clay) were performed by small amplitude oscillation shear (SAOS) measurement. Individually, PLA showed an improvement in the viscoelastic properties in the temperature range from 180 to 190 °C. Incorporation of nanoclay (3% to 9% wt) was attributed by significant improvements in the elastic modulus (G′) of PLA/clay blend due to intercalation at higher temperature. Both dynamic modulii of PLA/PEG blend were significantly reduced with addition of 10% PEG. Rheometric measurement could not be conducted while PLA/PEG blends containing 25% PEG. A blend of PLA/PEG/clay (68/23/9) showed liquid‐like properties with excellent flexibility. Thermal analysis of different clay loading films indicated that the glass transition temperatures (Tg) remained unaffected irrespective of clay concentration due to immobilization of polymer chain in the clay nanocomposite. PEG incorporation reduced the Tg of the blend (PLA/PEG and PLA/PEG/clay) significantly. Both rheological and thermal analysis data supported plasticization and flexibility of the blended films. It is also interesting to study competition between PLA and PEG for the intercalation into the interlayer spacing of the clay. This study indicates that PLA/montmorillonite blend could serve as effective nano‐composite for packaging and other applications.
Descriptive Analysis and U.S. Consumer Acceptability of 6 Green Tea Samples from China, Japan, and Korea
Authors: Lee Jeehyun , Chambers Delores H.
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACT:  In the past, green tea has been one of the least popular nonalcoholic beverages for U.S. consumers. However, green tea has been receiving attention because of its potential health benefits. Knowing which green tea flavor attributes contribute to consumer liking will help the fast growing green tea business including green tea importers, tea shops, and beverage companies to understand which characteristics are most accepted by U.S. consumers. The objectives of this study were (1) to examine differences in acceptability of commonly available loose leaf and bagged green teas available from the major exporters to the U.S. (Japan, Korea, and China) and (2) to determine which green tea flavor characteristics are related to consumers' liking. In the study, consumers from the U.S. evaluated 6 green tea samples from China, Japan, and Korea for acceptability. A highly trained panel also evaluated the green tea samples to provide descriptive sensory attributes that might be related to acceptability. We found that U.S. consumers liked green tea samples with lower flavor intensity and lower bitterness intensity. Consumers' acceptability of green tea was negatively correlated with spinach and animalic flavor and bitterness and astringency of green teas evaluated using descriptive sensory analysis, but the correlation was only moderate. To learn what green tea flavor characteristics influence consumers' liking, future studies using more green tea samples with different flavor profiles are needed.
Early intervention with second‐generation antipsychotics in first‐episode psychosis: results of an 8‐week naturalistic study
Authors: Josiassen Richard C. , Shaughnessy Rita A. , Filymer Dawn M. , Donohue Ann Marie , Kacso Margit , Finkel Naomi , Curtis Jessica , Audino Brett , Skuban Nina
Published: January 2010

Objective: The objective was to compare short‐term effectiveness of aripiprazole with three other second‐generation antipsychotics (SGAs) in the treatment of first‐episode psychosis.

Method: In a naturalistic, ‘single‐blind’ design, 60 subjects experiencing their first psychotic episode were treated for 8 weeks with aripiprazole (n = 19), risperidone (n = 16), olanzapine (n = 14) or quetiapine (n = 11). Medication and dosing decisions were made by treating psychiatrists, constrained to once‐a‐day dosing, low initial doses and no clozapine. Weekly ratings were obtained using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Simpson‐Angus Rating Scale and Barnes Akathasia Rating Scale. Weight and vital signs were also collected weekly.

Results: The group presented with severe psychotic symptoms (mean baseline PANSS total score of 105.2), which were reduced rapidly (P < 0.0005). The between‐group and group by time interaction terms were non‐significant. Similar reductions were seen across all PANSS sub‐scales. At Week 1 the mean PANSS Activation Scale score was reduced more with olanzapine than in the other groups (P < 0.002). Few instances of extrapyramidal symptoms occurred; all were sporadic and did not require treatment. Group body weight increased by 7.3% over the study. Vital signs remained unchanged.

Conclusions: Early intervention with low doses of four SGAs led to rapid symptom reduction in first‐episode psychotic patients with severe psychopathology. Although no clear medication advantages were observed in the short term, longer duration studies with larger samples will be required for determining efficacy, rates of compliance, relapse prevention and diminished incidence of extrapyramidal signs and symptoms.
An Objective Multiattribute Analysis Approach for Allocation of Scarce Irrigation Water Resources1
Authors: Zardari Noor ul Hassan , Cordery Ian , Sharma Ashish
Published: January 2010

Zardari, Noor ul Hassan, Ian Cordery, and Ashish Sharma, 2010. An Objective Multiattribute Analysis Approach for Allocation of Scarce Irrigation Water Resources.Journal of the American Water Resources Association(JAWRA) 46(2):412‐428. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2009.00410.x

Abstract: In this study, end user (farmer) and decision maker (water allocator) opinions were surveyed and a conjoint analysis (CA) based method was applied to the quantitative and qualitative data to assess the utility associated with each attribute that plays a role in forming the final thinking of the water users. The application of CA for estimating the utility for each attribute level is a novel approach, which helps provide a formal, objective basis for assigning relative scales for each attribute interval within a multiattribute decision‐making model. The utilities (part‐worths) obtained from the CA have a cardinal scale and were found to be comparable within and across the attributes. A farmers’ survey on five water allocation attributes was completed from 62 farmers and their opinions on the relative importance of attributes were elicited for a subarea of the Indus River Basin. The CA method was then applied to the survey data and the utilities for each attribute level were determined. This allowed, for instance, decisions to be made, which take account of the perceived value of the water and of the availability of local labor to work on the farm. Finally, these interval scales were used within the specification of the ELECTRE multiattribute decision‐making method to provide a complete and objective ranking of nine irrigation districts so that the best decisions on water allocation could be made.
Anterior Shoulder Instability in the Elite Athlete with Specific Reference to Bony Deficiencies
Authors: De Beer Joe , Roberts Chris P. , Huijsmans Pol
Published: January 2010

Anterior shoulder instability in the elite athlete is a common problem. To prevent unnecessary time away from sport, it is imperative that the correct decisions and interventions are taken at the appropriate times. The last decade has seen a change in our perceptions of the surgical options for this type of patient, especially those with bony deficiencies. We now have a better understanding of the pathology, the surgical options and their outcomes and the natural history of both the condition and surgery.
Évolution géodynamique externe et implication sur le devenir de l’or en contexte sub-sahélien
Authors: Bamba Ousmane
Published: January 2010

L’or est un métal chimiquement peu mobile pouvant se concentrer dans les matériaux de surface, soit par accumulation relative dans les sites éluviaux, soit par accumulation absolue dans les placers alluviaux. Ces matériaux de surface peuvent être exploités traditionnellement par les orpailleurs ou par voie industrielle. C’est dire toute l’importance d’une bonne connaissance du cycle supergène de l’or pour l’élaboration de critère de prospection et l’amélioration des techniques de récupération. Le site de la présente étude, situé au Nord du Burkina Faso (Afrique de l’Ouest) est un gîte d’or alluvial, où nous avons effectué des études morphopédologique, minéralogique et géochimique. Ces investigations montrent que deux principales dynamiques sédimentaires ont généré le gîte : (i) une dynamique ancienne tracée par l’or grossier, les zircons grossiers, le quartz et les nodules ferrugineux centimétriques, (ii) une dynamique actuelle à subactuelle tracée par des sédiments plus fins argilo-sableux et sablo-argileux pauvres en or. Les marques de l’évolution morphodynamique du paysage affectent diversement les grains d’or, dont les études morphoscopique et chimique indiquent que ces particules, issues de plusieurs sources parentales, ont subi des cycles d’altération et de transport mécanique importants tendant à leur homogénéisation tant du point de vue morphologique que chimique.
Provenance of North American Triassic strata from west-central and southeastern Yukon: correlations with coeval strata in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin and Canadian Arctic Islands
Authors: Beranek Luke P. , Mortensen James K. , Orchard Michael J. , Ullrich Thomas
Published: January 2010

New detrital mineral age and whole-rock geochemical data provide the first constraints on the composition and source of North American Triassic strata in the northern Canadian Cordillera. Conodont-bearing Triassic strata collected from five locations across west-central to southeastern Yukon contain trace-element ratios ((La/Yb)N = ∼8; Eu/Eu* = ∼0.66), εNd(248 Ma) values (–9 to –10), and detrital zircon ages (400–680, 980–1200, 1500–1650, 1800–2000 Ma) that correspond with those of coeval rocks in the Canadian Arctic Islands and the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin of British Columbia and Alberta. The majority of detrital zircons were cannibalized from Ellesmerian clastic wedge and western Laurentian margin strata and recycled into Triassic rocks. Conspicuous early Paleozoic and Neoproterozoic detrital zircons may have been ultimately derived from allochthonous rocks of Caledonian–Baltican affinity in northern North America, such as the Pearya and Arctic Alaska – Chukotka terranes. One Early Triassic unit in eastern Yukon contains ca. 360 Ma detrital muscovite, and samples from several localities include single-grain occurrences of Mississippian detrital zircon. Mississippian detrital mineral ages likely record a partial source from mid-Paleozoic rocks of the allochthonous Slide Mountain and Yukon–Tanana terranes following their Late Permian – Early Triassic emplacement onto the Cordilleran margin. More substantial evidence of terrane-derived sediment deposited along the North American margin may be further identified within Triassic strata that are exposed to the west (outboard) of our sample sites, immediately adjacent to the Slide Mountain and Yukon–Tanana terranes.
Geochemistry of the northern Cache Creek terrane and implications for accretionary processes in the Canadian Cordillera
Authors: English Joseph M. , Mihalynuk Mitchell G. , Johnston Stephen T.
Published: January 2010

The northern Cache Creek terrane in the Canadian Cordillera includes a subduction complex that records the existence of a late Paleozoic – Mesozoic ocean basin and provides an opportunity to assess accretionary processes that involve the transfer of material from a subducting plate to an upper plate. Lithogeochemical data from basaltic rocks indicate that the northern Cache Creek terrane is dominated by two different petrogenetic components: (1) a dominant suite of subalkaline intrusive and extrusive rocks mostly of arc affinity and (2) a volumetrically less significant suite of alkaline volcanic rocks of within-plate affinity. The subalkaline intrusive and extrusive rocks constitute a section of oceanic lithosphere that is interpreted to have occupied a fore-arc position during the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic before it was accreted during collisional orogenesis in the Middle Jurassic. Alkaline volcanic rocks in the northern Cache Creek terrane are stratigraphically associated with carbonate strata that contain Tethyan fauna that are exotic with respect to the rest of North America; together, they are interpreted as remnants of oceanic seamounts and (or) plateaux. The volcanic rocks are a minor component of the carbonate stratigraphy, and it appears that the majority of the volcanic basement was either subducted completely at the convergent margin or underplated at greater depth in the subduction zone. In summary, accretion in the northern Canadian Cordillera occurred principally by the accretion of island arcs and emplacement of fore-arc ophiolites during collisional orogenesis. The transfer of oceanic sediments and the upper portions of oceanic seamounts from the subducting plate to an accretionary margin accounts for only small volumes of growth of the upper plate.
Individual and colony-specific wintering areas of Pacific northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis)
Authors: Hatch Scott A. , Gill Verena A. , Mulcahy Daniel M.
Published: January 2010

Seabird mortality associated with longline fishing in the eastern Bering Sea occurs mainly from September to May, with northern fulmars ( Fulmarus glacialis ) comprising the majority (60%) of the bycatch. Along the west coast of North America, winter dieoffs of fulmars may be increasing in frequency and magnitude, the most severe on record being a wreck that peaked in October–November 2003. We deployed satellite transmitters on fulmars from the four main Alaska colonies and tracked individuals for up to 2 years. Fulmars from Hall Island (northern Bering Sea) moved to Russian coastal waters after breeding, while Pribilof Island fulmars (southeastern Bering Sea) remained relatively sedentary year-round. Birds from Chagulak Island (eastern Aleutians) preferred passes between the Aleutian Islands in winter or foraged widely over deep waters of the central Bering Sea and North Pacific. Fulmars from the Semidi Islands (western Gulf of Alaska) migrated directly to waters of the California Current. Individuals from St. George Island (Pribilofs) and Chagulak were consistent in the places that they visited in two successive winters. The Pribilof Islands population is most affected by winter longlining for groundfish, whereas the Semidi Islands colony sustains most of the natural mortality that occurs off Washington, Oregon, and California.
Ecological consequences of hybridization between native westslope cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) and introduced rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss) trout: effects on life history and habitat use
Authors: Rasmussen Joseph B. , Robinson Michael D. , Heath Daniel D.
Published: January 2010

In the Upper Oldman River, Alberta, Canada, hybridization between introduced rainbow trout (RT; Oncorhynchus mykiss ) and native westslope cutthroat trout (WCT; Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi ) has produced a genotypic gradient with rainbow trout alleles undetectable (<1%) at high elevations and increasing in abundance downstream. Few F1 hybrids were found, and genotype frequencies suggest strong backcrossing of hybrids to pure parental populations at both ends of the gradient. The increasing prevalence of RT alleles downstream is accompanied by a life history gradient such that RT alleles were positively associated with growth rate and negatively associated with survivorship. Although physical barriers extended the distribution of pure WCT downstream, several streams held genetically pure WCT in their uppermost reaches, even when no barriers were present. For example, RT alleles were undetectable in headwaters of Dutch Creek, which had no barriers but was very cold (average summer temperature <7.3 °C). We propose that RT alleles affect the choice of habitat, as well the metabolic characteristics that determine their life history and competitive abilities. Factors such as climate change, clear-cut logging, and anthropogenic enrichment that can lead to increased temperature and (or) productivity might be expected to result in an upstream shift of RT alleles.
Construction, validation, and derivation of performance standards for a fitness test for correctional officer applicants
Authors: Jamnik Veronica K. , Thomas Scott G. , Burr Jamie F. , Gledhill Norman
Published: January 2010

The purpose of this investigation was to develop and validate a fitness test for correctional officer (CO) applicants (FITCO) and to establish associated standards of acceptability. The FITCO incorporated the most important, physically demanding, and frequently occurring tasks of a CO. It consists of (i) a simulated cell search; (ii) an emergency response circuit (ERC), involving a 60-m run while scaling 4 sets of stairs, followed by simulations of an inmate control, wrist restraint, arm retraction, and 40-m mannequin drag; and (iii) a test of aerobic fitness. The validity of the FITCO was established by very high congruence between the oxygen consumption, heart rate, and rating of perceived exertion of incumbent COs while performing the ERC with the same measurements while COs were performing the on-the-job tasks on which the ERC was based. The content validity of the FITCO was confirmed by very high Likert ratings (>6 on a 7-point scale) by both male and female incumbent COs of all ages concerning the importance, relatedness, physical demands, and overall appropriateness of the FITCO for evaluating CO applicants. We conclude that because the forces built into the ERC and the FITCO standards were both derived from the performance of safe and efficient incumbent female COs of all ages, and both the validity and test–retest reliability (intraclass correllation coefficient = 0.977) of the FITCO are very high, the FITCO was properly constructed to meet the requirements of the Supreme Court of Canada’s Meiorin Decision.
Comparison of on-ice and off-ice graded exercise testing in collegiate hockey players
Authors: Durocher John J. , Guisfredi Angela J. , Leetun Darin T. , Carter Jason R.
Published: January 2010

The purpose of this study was to compare lactate thresholds (LT) and maximal aerobic capacities (VO2 max) during sport-specific skating (on ice) and cycle ergometry (off ice) in collegiate hockey players. We hypothesized that VO2 max and LT would be higher on ice. We also sought to determine if on-ice and off-ice VO2 max values were correlated. Twelve collegiate hockey players performed both graded exercise protocols in randomized order to fatigue. Both protocols included 80 s of work during each stage, followed by 40 s of rest to allow for blood lactate sampling. VO2 max was significantly higher on ice (46.9 ± 1.0 mL·kg–1·min–1) than off ice (43.6 ± 0.9 mL·kg–1·min–1; p < 0.05). Maximal heart rate (HRmax) was also higher on ice (192.2 ± 1.8 beats·min–1) than off ice (186.0 ± 1.5 beats·min–1; p < 0.01). LT was drastically higher on ice than off ice as a percentage of VO2 max (85.9% ± 1.9% vs. 69.7% ± 1.3%; p < 0.01) and HRmax (90.1% ± 1.3% vs. 79.4% ± 1.6%; p < 0.01). Finally, no correlation existed between VO2 max values off ice and on ice (r = –0.002; p = 0.99). Our results indicate that off-ice VO2 max and LT are not adequate predictors of on-ice VO2 max and LT in collegiate hockey players. These findings challenge the use of cycle ergometry to assess aerobic capacity at events such as the National Hockey League Entry Draft combine. We suggest that hockey players be tested in a sport-specific manner, regardless of whether those tests are performed on ice or off ice.
Glycemic and urinary volume responses in diabetic mellitus rats treated with Solanum lycocarpum
Authors: Farina Fabiane , Piassi Flávia Grillo , Moysés Margareth Ribeiro , Bazzolli Denise Mara Soares , Bissoli Nazaré de Souza
Published: January 2010

Dietary fiber performs important functions in diabetes mellitus control and treatment. In this study, we evaluate the reduction in plasma glucose after the treatment of diabetic rats with high-fiber Solanum lycocarpum flour. We found that serum glucose, water and food intake, urine excretion, and urine sodium concentration were reduced in S. lycocarpum flour-treated diabetic rats (TDRs), compared with diabetic control rats (DCRs). In addition, TDRs did not show signs of kidney hypertrophy, unlike those in the DCR group. These results suggest that the use of S. lycocarpum flour can be an effective support in diabetes mellitus treatment.
Applying Hsp104 to protein-misfolding disordersThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this special issue entitled 8th International Conference on AAA Proteins and has undergone the Journal's usual peer review process.
Authors: Vashist Shilpa , Cushman Mimi , Shorter James
Published: January 2010

Hsp104, a hexameric AAA+ ATPase found in yeast, transduces energy from cycles of ATP binding and hydrolysis to resolve disordered protein aggregates and cross-β amyloid conformers. These disaggregation activities are often co-ordinated by the Hsp70 chaperone system and confer considerable selective advantages. First, renaturation of aggregated conformers by Hsp104 is critical for yeast survival after various environmental stresses. Second, amyloid remodeling by Hsp104 enables yeast to exploit multifarious prions as a reservoir of beneficial and heritable phenotypic variation. Curiously, although highly conserved in plants, fungi and bacteria, Hsp104 orthologues are absent from metazoa. Indeed, metazoan proteostasis seems devoid of a system that couples protein disaggregation to renaturation. Here, we review recent endeavors to enhance metazoan proteostasis by applying Hsp104 to the specific protein-misfolding events that underpin two deadly neurodegenerative amyloidoses. Hsp104 potently inhibits Aβ42 amyloidogenesis, which is connected with Alzheimer’s disease, but appears unable to disaggregate preformed Aβ42 fibers. By contrast, Hsp104 inhibits and reverses the formation of α-synuclein oligomers and fibers, which are connected to Parkinson’s disease. Importantly, Hsp104 antagonizes the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons induced by α-synuclein misfolding in the rat substantia nigra. These studies raise hopes for developing Hsp104 as a therapeutic agent.
Threshold ionization and dissociation oft-butylamine
Authors: Mayer Paul M. , Guest Martyn F. , Rennie Emma E. , Cooper Louise , Shpinkova Larisa G. , Holland David M.P. , Shaw David A.
Published: January 2010

The threshold photoelectron spectrum of t-butylamine, recorded between 8 and 28 eV, is reported for the first time. The spectrum was compared to orbital ionization energies calculated at the OVGF/cc-pVTZ level of theory. The adiabatic and vertical ionization energies of the outermost orbital (made up primarily of the nitrogen p orbital) are 8.48 ± 0.02 and 9.40 ± 0.02 eV, respectively. Threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence spectra were recorded between 8.5 and 35 eV, and appearance energies for 15 fragment ions were obtained. The lowest energy dissociation is the loss of a methyl group to form the (CH3)2CNH2+ion. RRKM fitting of this dissociation leads to a ΔfH298for (CH3)2CNH2+of 603 ± 3 kJ mol–1. This value is ~10 kJ mol–1higher than the previously derived value of Lossing et al. (based on an electron ionization appearance energy value) and the G3B3 estimate. Together with the proton affinity value of 932.3 kJ mol–1, the present ΔfH298leads to a ΔfH298for 2-propanimine (CH3)2C=NH of 5.3 kJ mol–1, which can be compared to a value of –5.7 kJ mol–1(based on the Lossing et al. (CH3)2CNH2+ΔfH298) and a G3B3 value of –0.3 kJ mol–1. At photon energies above 26 eV, there is evidence for the dissociative double ionization of t-butylamine forming either the singlet or triplet state of the dication.
Synthesis, characterization, and application of palladium complexes containing 8-quinolylphosphinite ligands
Authors: Cook Earl , Masuda Jason D. , Xia Aibing
Published: January 2010

Palladium complexes containing 8-quinolylphosphinite ligands have been synthesized and characterized. Their solid state structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. They were found to be active catalysts for Suzuki coupling reactions of phenylboronic acid and various aryl halides.
Rate constants for decarboxylation reactions calculated using no barrier theory
Authors: Guthrie J. Peter , Peiris Sriyawathie , Simkin Margaret , Wang Yun
Published: January 2010

No barrier theory (NBT) provides both a qualitative way of thinking about what makes a reaction fast or slow and a quantitative way of calculating the rate constant (free energy of activation) corresponding to a particular mechanism. The origin and development of this idea are reviewed and examples of its use for qualitative understanding are presented before applying it to a set of decarboxylations. From the literature, a set of best values for rate constants for decarboxylation was picked. Detailed mechanistic models were developed for reactions leading to delocalized “anions” or to localized anions. It was necessary to have pKa values for ionizaion of the carbon acids corresponding to all of these species and these were selected from the literature or estimated by linear free energy relations (or occasionally calculated from proton exchange data). Over the entire range of measured decarboxylation rate constants, a range of 1025 in rate constant, the calculated values were in good agreement with experiment, with two exceptions: malonate dianion, which has been reported but probably not measured, and glycine, where it is possible that a different mechanism is being followed, unfortunately, one which we do not yet know how to treat by NBT. NBT is both a qualitatively and quantitatively useful tool for understanding chemistry.
High-frequency oscillation and surfactant treatment in an acid aspiration model
Authors: Aspros Alexander J. , Coto Claudia G. , Lewis James F. , Veldhuizen Ruud A.W.
Published: January 2010

Both exogenous surfactant therapy and high-frequency oscillation (HFO) have been proposed as clinical interventions in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The combination of these 2 interventions has not been studied in a relevant model of ARDS. It was hypothesized that surfactant treatment combined with HFO is superior to either surfactant treatment or HFO alone in a model of ARDS. Adult rats had lung injury induced by instillation of 0.1 mol/L HCl, followed by randomization to one of 4 groups: Conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) + air (no treatment), CMV + surfactant, HFO + air, and HFO + surfactant. Oxygenation, lung compliance, surfactant, and cytokine concentrations in the lung lavage were analyzed. The results showed superior oxygenation in HFO ventilated animals regardless of surfactant treatment compared with CMV. Nonsurfactant-treated animals ventilated with HFO had a significantly greater proportion of large aggregates, and had greater lung compliance compared with non-surfactant-treated animals ventilated with CMV. Surfactant therapy combined with HFO provided no advantages with respect to these outcomes. These data suggest an advantage of HFO over CMV when exogenous surfactant was not given, and that surfactant treatment combined with HFO was not superior to HFO ventilation alone.
Effects ofAgaricus brasiliensismushroom in Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats
Authors: Jumes Fernanda Menon Dias , Lugarini Daiana , Pereira Amanda Leite Bastos , de Oliveira Anabel , Christoff Adriana de Oliveira , Linde Giani Andrea , do Valle Juliana Silveira , Colauto Nelson Barros , Acco Alexandra
Published: January 2010

Agaricus brasiliensis is a mushroom native to São Paulo State, Brazil, that is studied for its medicinal proprieties. This work aimed to investigate the antitumoral activity of A. brasiliensis extracts and pure powdered basidiocarp preparation using Walker-256 (W256) tumor-bearing rats, a model for cancer-related cachexia studies. The rats were treated for 14 days by gavage (136 mg/kg) and at the end of the experiment tumors were collected to calculate mass and volume. Blood was collected for determination of plasma glucose, albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Hepatic and tumor enzymes indicating oxidative stress were also evaluated. The results showed that all 4 treatments (pure powdered basidiocarp and aqueous, acid, and alkaline extracts) significantly reduced tumor size and promoted gain in body weight. Plasmatic analysis showed a reduction in AST level and increased glycemia in the treated rats. Pure basidiocarp preparations improved the liver catalase and superoxide dismutase activity, but did not change the glutathione S-transferase activity. The data collected from the W256 tumor-bearing rats revealed the beneficial effects of A. brasiliensis in tumor treatment, mainly related to cachexia. The benefits can be partly related to antioxidant activity and to reduction of weight loss and tumor growth.
The effect of metabolic rate on stable carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions in deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus
Authors: Smith J. J. , Millar J. S. , Longstaffe F. J. , Boonstra R.
Published: January 2010

The stable isotopic compositions of nitrogen and carbon in animal tissues reflect diet. However, factors other than diet can also affect these stable isotope ratios, leading to misinterpretations of diet composition. To test the hypothesis that variation in metabolic rate alters the isotopic compositions of tissues, deer mice ( Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner, 1845)) were kept at three temperatures (thermoneutral (23 °C), cool (5 °C), and cold (–10 °C)) and fed ad libitum. The changes in carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions of liver associated with the thermoneutral versus cool and cold conditions were very small in comparison with those arising from differences in diet. We conclude that temperature-induced variations in metabolic rate are insufficient to produce differences in the stable carbon or nitrogen isotope compositions that could be mistaken for changes in diet.
The role of multiple stressors in ranavirus-caused amphibian mortalities in Acadia National Park wetlands
Authors: Gahl M. K. , Calhoun A.J.K.
Published: January 2010

Recent studies suggest that multiple sublethal stressors compromise amphibian immune systems and increase susceptibility to disease. We examined two aspects of multiple stressors and incidence of ranavirus-caused amphibian mortalities in free-living amphibian populations: (1) among-pond differences in physical, chemical, and biological stressors that may exacerbate mortality events, and (2) temporal changes in within-pond stressors that coincide with mortality events. At the among-pond scale, we used principal components analysis and logistic regression followed by Akaike’s information criterion (QAICc) to identify stressors associated with disease incidence. Of the stressors we investigated, aluminum, temperature, and conductivity were most correlated with outbreaks, but it was unclear whether they increased ranavirus-caused mortality events. Sublethal stressors were difficult to isolate in the field and few were significantly associated with ranavirus across all breeding ponds. Our results suggest that each wetland, because of varied physical, biological, and chemical settings, will have its own suite of stressors that sublethally affect amphibians.
Predation on heliconia bugs, Leptoscelis tricolor: examining the influences of crypsis and predator color preferences
Authors: Miller C. W. , Hollander S. D.
Published: January 2010

Individuals in natural populations commonly vary in color, and such color variation can be important for survival under predation pressure. Potential prey may be more likely to survive when they are cryptic against their backgrounds. Alternatively, individual coloration, regardless of background, may itself best predict predation events. Few studies have simultaneously tested the importance of crypsis and predator color preferences in explaining predation events. In this study we used objective measures of coloration to examine whether heliconia bugs, Leptoscelis tricolor Westwood, 1842 (Hemiptera: Coreidae), resembling their background were less likely to be eaten by avian predators (crypsis hypothesis). Next, we evaluated whether insect color, irrespective of background, best explains predation events (color preference hypothesis). We found the strongest evidence for the crypsis hypothesis; predators chose prey that differed most from their background in color saturation. Some evidence was also found for the color preference hypothesis; predators avoided brightly colored prey. These results suggest that crypsis can be effective in detouring predation. However, when potential prey are detected, predator color preferences may best explain predation events.
IMPROVED TESTS OF SPECIAL RELATIVITY VIA LIGHT SPEED ANISOTROPY MEASUREMENT
Authors: SFARTI A.
Published: January 2010

The Mansouri–Sexl theory is a well-known test theory of relativity. In the following paper we demonstrate a novel way of detecting second-order effects in terms of both lab and ion speed for light speed anisotropy detection. Prior literature15,18–21 has shown the way of constraining the Mansouri–Sexl parameter "a" via the Ives–Stilwell experiment, however, the prior approaches have proven to be incomplete in managing to constrain only one parameter, the "a" parameter. In the current paper we will take the unprecedented step of reconstructing the Mansouri–Sexl formalism for the Ives–Stilwell experiment and by showing how to improve on the theoretical and experimental bases such as to constrain both the parameter "a" and the parameter "b". Our paper is organized as follows: in the first section we give a new and more complete derivation of the Mansouri–Sexl Doppler effect. In the second part, we apply the newly expanded Mansouri–Sexl Doppler formalism in order to revise the principles of the Ives–Stilwell experiment. We continue by showing how the revised experiment is to be used in order to constrain both the parameter "a" and the parameter "b" in a measurement of light speed isotropy. This turns the Mansouri–Sexl Ives–Stilwell experiment into a very powerful tool for constraining light speed anisotropy.
THE GAS MONITORING OF THE BESIII DRIFT CHAMBER
Authors: WANG XIANGGAO , CHEN CHANG , CHEN YUANBO , WU ZHI , GU YUNTING , MA XIAOYAN , JIN YAN , LIU RONGGUANG , TANG XIAO , WANG LAN , ZHU QIMING
Published: January 2010

Two monitoring proportional counters (MPCs), installed at the inlet and outlet of the gas system of BESIII drift chamber (DC), were used to monitor the operation of the BESIII DC successfully and effectively as reported in this paper. The ratio of G out /G in (full energy photoelectron peak position of 55 Fe 5.9 keV X-ray in inlet MPC as Gin and outlet MPC as Gout ) is used as the main monitoring parameter. The MPC method is very useful for the gas detector system.
DARK ENERGY WITH DARK SPINORS
Authors: BÖHMER CHRISTIAN G. , BURNETT JAMES
Published: January 2010

Ever since the first observations that we are living in an accelerating universe, it has been asked what dark energy is. There are various explanations, all of which have various drawbacks or inconsistencies. Here we show that using a dark spinor field it is possible to have an equation of state that crosses the phantom divide, becoming a dark phantom spinor which evolves into dark energy. This type of equation of state has been mildly favored by experimental data, however, in the past there were hardly any theories that satisfied this crossing without creating ghosts or causing a singularity which results in the universe essentially ripping. The dark spinor model converges to dark energy in a reasonable time frame avoiding the big rip and without attaining negative kinetic energy as it crosses the phantom divide.
AN ALGORITHMIC APPROACH TO STRING PHENOMENOLOGY
Authors: HE YANG-HUI
Published: January 2010

We review the recent programme undertaken to construct, systematically and algorithmically, large classes of heterotic vacua, as well as the search for the MSSM therein. Specifically, we outline the monad construction of vector bundles over complete intersection Calabi–Yau threefolds, their classification, stability, equivariant cohomology and subsequent relevance to string phenomenology. It is hoped that this top–down algorithmic approach will isolate special corners in the heterotic landscape.
Stress granule formation mediates the inhibition of colonic Hsp70 translation by interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α
Authors: Hu Shien , Claud Erika C. , Musch Mark W. , Chang Eugene B.
Published: January 2010

Mucosal inflammation, through cytokines such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), has many effects on the intestinal epithelium, including selective translational inhibition of the cytoprotective protein heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). To further elucidate the mechanisms underlying this effect, we examined the role of stress granules in mediating the actions of these proinflammatory cytokines. Using conditionally immortalized young adult mouse colonic epithelial cells, we demonstrate that IFN-γ and TNF-α, which upregulate eukaryotic initiation factor-α (eIF-2α) phosphorylation and reduce Hsp70 translation, significantly enhance stress granule formation in heat-shocked intestinal epithelial cells. The IFN-γ and TNF-α effects in upregulation of stress granule formation and downregulation of Hsp70 were eIF-2α dependent, and the effect could be negated by blocking eIF-2α phosphorylation with use of an RNA-dependent protein kinase inhibitor. Correspondingly, IFN-γ and TNF-α increased binding of cytoplasmic proteins to the 3′-untranslated region of Hsp70 mRNA, suggesting specific recruitment of Hsp70 to stress granules as the mechanism of IFN-γ and TNF-α inhibition of Hsp70 translation. We thus report a novel linkage between inflammatory cytokine production, stress granule formation, and Hsp70 translation inhibition, providing additional insights into the response of intestinal epithelial cells to inflammatory stress.