bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contingency plans set for Landsat 5 and 7
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: January 2012

With the Landsat 5 Earth observation satellite failing due to a rapidly degrading electronic component, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is exploring ways to alleviate a data gap if both Landsat 5 and 7 fail prior to the planned launch of Landsat 8—known as the Landsat Data Continuity Mission—in 2013. USGS director Marcia McNutt told Eos that although the satellite's engineering team has “brought Landsat 5 back from death's doorstep several times over the last 27 years” during its mission—which has extended far beyond its design life—“another miracle recovery is becoming less likely.” She added that the survey is looking forward to a successful launch of Landsat 8 “and to establishing a more consistent land imaging program.”
Improving and applying Lagrangian models of the atmosphere
Authors: Lin John C. , Brunner Dominik , Gerbig Christoph
Published: January 2012

AGU Chapman Conference on Advances in Lagrangian Modeling of the Atmosphere; Grindelwald, Switzerland, 10–14 October 2011 Under the majestic gaze of the Eiger north face in Switzerland, an international group of researchers met as part of a Chapman Conference to discuss advances in Lagrangian modeling of the atmosphere. Lagrangian models track the movement of air parcels, giving rise to trajectory information and source/receptor linkages that have become increasingly popular as tools used by geoscientists. The conference was an opportunity for a diverse group of researchers developing and applying Lagrangian models to congregate and discuss the use of such models to understand geophysical phenomena and to identify how to further improve the models. The 98 participants (of which 17 were graduate students) hailed from 19 countries around the world.
Bringing together users and developers of forest biomass maps
Authors: Brown Molly E. , Macauley Molly
Published: January 2012

NASA Carbon Monitoring System Briefing: Steps Towards Improved Measurements of Biomass and Resources for the Future; Washington, D. C., 9 September 2011 Forests store carbon and thus represent important sinks for atmospheric carbon dioxide. Reducing uncertainty in current estimates of the amount of carbon in standing forests will improve precision of estimates of anthropogenic contributions to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to deforestation. Although satellite remote sensing has long been an important tool for mapping land cover, until recently aboveground forest biomass estimates have relied mostly on systematic ground sampling of forests.
Schmidt receives 2011 Climate Communication Prize: Citation
Authors: Cobb Kim , deMenocal Peter , Schwartz Stephen E. , Vermeer Martin
Published: January 2012

Gavin A. Schmidt was awarded the 2011 Climate Communication Prize at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 7 December in San Francisco, Calif. The Climate Communication Prize is funded by Nature's Own, a purveyor of fossils, minerals, and handcrafted jewelry in Boulder, Colo. The prize honors an “AGU member‐scientist for the communication of climate science, and highlights the importance of promoting scientific literacy, clarity of message, and efforts to foster respected and understanding of science‐based values as they relate to the implications of climate change.”
Laj receives 2011 Excellence in Geophysical Education Award: Citation
Authors: Macko Stephen
Published: January 2012

Carlo E. Laj received the Excellence in Geophysical Education Award at the 2011 AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 7 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award honors “a sustained commitment to excellence in geophysical education by a team, individual, or group.”
Waves triggered by lightning leak out of Earth's atmosphere
Authors: Balcerak Ernie
Published: January 2012

Lightning flashes can generate electromagnetic waves in the atmosphere. When these waves have a particular frequency, they can resonate in the cavity formed by the Earth's surface and the bottom of the ionosphere. This phenomenon, known as a Schumann resonance, has been observed from the ground and been used to study a variety of atmospheric properties. Now Simões et al. report the first observations of Schumann resonances from a satellite. They detected the extremely low frequency waves with the Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite, which studies ionospheric conditions. The researchers suggest that because these waves were detected in the ionosphere, outside of the surface‐ionosphere cavity, some of them are unexpectedly leaking out into space. Therefore scientists may need to revise models of extremely low frequency wave propagation in the ionosphere. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2011GL049668, 2011)
Temperature responses of carbon monoxide and hydrogen uptake by vegetated and unvegetated volcanic cinders
Authors: King Caitlin E , King Gary M
Published: January 2012

Ecosystem succession on a large deposit of volcanic cinders emplaced on Kilauea Volcano in 1959 has resulted in a mosaic of closed-canopy forested patches and contiguous unvegetated patches. Unvegetated and unshaded surface cinders (Bare) experience substantial diurnal temperature oscillations ranging from moderate (16 °C) to extreme (55 °C) conditions. The surface material of adjacent vegetated patches (Canopy) experiences much smaller fluctuations (14–25 °C) due to shading. To determine whether surface material from these sites showed adaptations by carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) consumption to changes in ambient temperature regimes accompanying succession, we measured responses of CO and H2 uptake to short-term variations in temperature and long-term incubations at elevated temperature. Based on its broader temperature optimum and lower activation energy, Canopy H2 uptake was less sensitive than Bare H2 uptake to temperature changes. In contrast, Bare and Canopy CO uptake responded similarly to temperature during short-term incubations, indicating no differences in temperature sensitivity. However, during extended incubations at 55 °C, CO uptake increased for Canopy but not Bare material, which indicated that the former was capable of thermal adaptation. H2 uptake for material from both sites was completely inhibited at 55 °C throughout extended incubations. These results indicated that plant development during succession did not elicit differences in short-term temperature responses for Bare and Canopy CO uptake, in spite of previously reported differences in CO oxidizer community composition, and differences in average daily and extreme temperatures. Differences associated with vegetation due to succession did, however, lead to a notable capacity for thermophilic CO uptake by Canopy but not Bare material.
Tissue‐Specific Responses of Lipoprotein Lipase to Dietary Macronutrient Composition as a Predictor of Weight Gain Over 4 Years
Authors: Ferland Annie , Château‐Degat Marie‐Ludivine , Hernandez Teri L. , Eckel Robert H.
Published: January 2012

This study evaluated if the effect of dietary macronutrient composition on adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (ATLPL) and skeletal muscle lipoprotein lipase (SMLPL) predicted the long‐term (over 4 years) changes in body weight and composition in free‐living adults. Using a crossover design, 39 healthy subjects (n = 24 normal weight, n = 7 overweight, n = 8 obese) each followed a 2‐week isocaloric high‐carbohydrate (HC; 55% CHO:25% fat) and high‐fat (HF; 30% CHO:50% fat) diet. On day 15 of each diet, biopsies were performed in the fasted state and 6 h after a meal. Body weight and composition were measured annually over 4 years. The outcomes for body weight, fat mass and % body fat were assessed using a linear two‐stage mixed model. The mean (±SEM) increase in body weight and fat mass over 4 years was 0.29 ± 0.15 kg/year (P = 0.063) and 0.31 ± 0.15 kg/year (P = 0.051), respectively. The most consistent predictors of future body weight and fat changes were the ΔATLPL and ΔSMLPL responses (0–6 h) to a HC diet/meal. For the HC diet/meal, the subjects who had an increase in ATLPL activity/cell gained more % body fat over 4 years (P = 0.006) whereas subjects who had a decrease in SMLPL activity/g also had an increase in fat mass (P = 0.021). No significant relationships were observed between fasting ATLPL and SMLPL or enzyme responses to meals and any of the outcomes following the HF diet. In free‐living adults the variability in tissue‐specific lipoprotein lipase (LPL) responsiveness to a HC diet/meal predicts longitudinal changes in body composition.
Moderate Effect of Duodenal‐Jejunal Bypass Surgery on Glucose Homeostasis in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Klein Samuel , Fabbrini Elisa , Patterson Bruce W. , Polonsky Kenneth S. , Schiavon Carlos A. , Correa Jose L. , Salles Joao E. , Wajchenberg Bernardo L. , Cohen Ricardo
Published: January 2012

Gastric bypass surgery causes resolution of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), which has led to the hypothesis that upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract diversion, itself, improves glycemic control. The purpose of this study was to determine whether UGI tract bypass without gastric exclusion has therapeutic effects in patients with T2DM. We performed a prospective trial to assess glucose and β‐cell response to an oral glucose load before and at 6, 9, and 12 months after duodenal‐jejunal bypass (DJB) surgery. Thirty‐five overweight or obese adults (BMI: 27.0 ± 4.0 kg/m2) with T2DM and 35 sex‐, age‐, race‐, and BMI‐matched subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were studied. Subjects lost weight after surgery, which was greatest at 3 months (6.9 ± 4.9%) with subsequent regain to 4.2 ± 5.3% weight loss at 12 months after surgery. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) decreased from 9.3 ± 1.6% before to 7.7 ± 2.0% at 12 months after surgery (P < 0.001), in conjunction with a 20% decrease in the use of diabetes medications (P < 0.05); 7 (20%) subjects achieved remission of diabetes (no medications and HbA1c <6.5%). The area under the curve after glucose ingestion was ∼20% lower for glucose but doubled for insulin and C‐peptide at 12 months, compared with pre‐surgery values (all P < 0.01). However, the β‐cell response was still 70% lower than subjects with NGT (P < 0.001). DJB surgery improves glycemic control and increases, but does not normalize the β‐cell response to glucose ingestion. These findings suggest that altering the intestinal site of delivery of ingested nutrients has moderate therapeutic effects by improving β‐cell function and glycemic control.
Relationships Between Neighborhoods, Physical Activity, and Obesity: A Multilevel Analysis of a Large Canadian City
Authors: Prince Stephanie A. , Kristjansson Elizabeth A. , Russell Katherine , Billette Jean‐Michel , Sawada Michael C. , Ali Amira , Tremblay Mark S. , Prud'homme Denis
Published: January 2012

In Canada, there is limited research examining the associations between objectively measured neighborhood environments and physical activity (PA) and obesity. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between variables from built and social environments and PA and overweight/obesity across 86 Ottawa, Canada neighborhoods. Individual‐level data including self‐reported leisure‐time PA (LTPA), height, and weight were examined in a sample of 4,727 adults from four combined cycles (years 2001/03/05/07) of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). Data on neighborhood characteristics were obtained from the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study (ONS); a large study of neighborhoods and health in Ottawa, Canada. Binomial multivariate multilevel models were used to examine the relationships between environmental and individual variables with LTPA and overweight/obesity using survey weights in men and women separately. Within the sample, ∼75% of the adults were inactive (<3.0 kcal/kg/day) while half were overweight/obese. Results of the multilevel models suggested that for females greater park area was associated with increased odds of LTPA and overweight/obesity. Greater neighborhood density of convenience stores and fast food outlets were associated with increased odds of females being overweight/obese. Higher crime rates were associated with greater odds of LTPA in males, and lower odds of male and female overweight/obesity. Season was significantly associated with PA in men and women; the odds of LTPA in winter months were half that of summer months. Findings revealed that park area, crime rates, and neighborhood food outlets may have different roles with LTPA and overweight/obesity in men and women and future prospective studies are needed.
Anthropometric Measures and Risk of Ovarian Cancer Among BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutation Carriers
Authors: McGee Jacob , Kotsopoulos Joanne , Lubinski Jan , Lynch Henry T. , Rosen Barry , Tung Nadine , Kim‐Sing Charmaine , Karlan Beth , Foulkes William D. , Ainsworth Peter , Ghadirian Parviz , Senter Leigha , Eisen Andrea , Sun Ping , Narod Steven A. ,   ; and the Hereditary Breast Cancer Clinical Study Group
Published: January 2012

Studies conducted among women in the general population suggest that various anthropometric measures, including height and weight, may be associated with the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Whether such an association exists among women who carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation has not been evaluated. Thus, we investigated the association between height, weight, changes in body weight, and BMI, and the risk of developing ovarian cancer among 938 women carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. A matched case‐control study was conducted in 469 pairs of women carrying a deleterious mutation in either BRCA1 (n = 403 pairs) or BRCA2 (n = 66 pairs). Information about height and weight at ages 18, 30, and 40 was collected from a questionnaire routinely administered to women during the course of genetic counseling. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the association between these body size measures and the risk of ovarian cancer. Height, weight, and BMI were not associated with the risk of ovarian cancer (P‐trend ≥0.15). Also, there was no association between changes in body weight between ages 18–30, or ages 30–40, or ages 18–40 and the risk of ovarian cancer (P‐trend ≥0.28). The results from this study suggest that height, weight, or weight gain do not influence the risk of ovarian cancer among carriers of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.
Impact of Physician BMI on Obesity Care and Beliefs
Authors: Bleich Sara N. , Bennett Wendy L. , Gudzune Kimberly A. , Cooper Lisa A.
Published: January 2012

Using a national cross‐sectional survey of 500 primary care physicians conducted between 9 February and 1 March 2011, the objective of this study was to assess the impact of physician BMI on obesity care, physician self‐efficacy, perceptions of role‐modeling weight‐related health behaviors, and perceptions of patient trust in weight loss advice. We found that physicians with normal BMI were more likely to engage their obese patients in weight loss discussions as compared to overweight/obese physicians (30% vs. 18%, P = 0.010). Physicians with normal BMI had greater confidence in their ability to provide diet (53% vs. 37%, P = 0.002) and exercise counseling (56% vs. 38%, P = 0.001) to their obese patients. A higher percentage of normal BMI physicians believed that overweight/obese patients would be less likely to trust weight loss advice from overweight/obese doctors (80% vs. 69%, P = 0.02). Physicians in the normal BMI category were more likely to believe that physicians should model healthy weight‐related behaviors—maintaining a healthy weight (72% vs. 56%, P = 0.002) and exercising regularly (73% vs. 57%, P = 0.001). The probability of a physician recording an obesity diagnosis (93% vs. 7%, P < 0.001) or initiating a weight loss conversation (89% vs. 11%, P ≤ 0.001) with their obese patients was higher when the physicians' perception of the patients' body weight met or exceeded their own personal body weight. These results suggest that more normal weight physicians provided recommended obesity care to their patients and felt confident doing so.
Mammalian Hippo signalling: a kinase network regulated by protein–protein interactions
Authors: Hergovich Alexander
Published: January 2012

The Hippo signal transduction cascade controls cell growth, proliferation and death, all of which are frequently deregulated in tumour cells. Since initial studies in Drosophila melanogaster were instrumental in defining Hippo signalling, the machinery was named after the central Ste20-like kinase Hippo. Moreover, given that loss of Hippo signalling components Hippo, Warts, and Mats resulted in uncontrolled tissue overgrowth, Hippo signalling was defined as a tumour-suppressor cascade. Significantly, all of the core factors of Hippo signalling have mammalian orthologues that functionally compensate for loss of their counterparts in Drosophila. Furthermore, studies in Drosophila and mammalian cell systems showed that Hippo signalling represents a kinase cascade that is tightly regulated by PPIs (protein–protein interactions). Several Hippo signalling molecules contain SARAH (Salvador/RASSF1A/Hippo) domains that mediate specific PPIs, thereby influencing the activities of MST1/2 (mammalian Ste20-like serine/threonine kinase 1/2) kinases, the human Hippo orthologues. Moreover, WW domains are present in several Hippo factors, and these domains also serve as interaction surfaces for regulatory PPIs in Hippo signalling. Finally, the kinase activities of LATS1/2 (large tumour-suppressor kinase 1/2), the human counterparts of Warts, are controlled by binding to hMOB1 (human Mps one binder protein 1), the human Mats. Therefore Hippo signalling is regulated by PPIs on several levels. In the present paper, I review the current understanding of how these regulatory PPIs are regulated and contribute to the functionality of Hippo signalling.
Unbiased identification of substrates for the Epac1-inducible E3 ubiquitin ligase component SOCS-3
Authors: Williams Jamie J.L. , Palmer Timothy M.
Published: January 2012

The anti-inflammatory effects of the prototypical second messenger cAMP have been extensively documented in multiple cell types. One mechanism by which these effects are achieved is via Epac1 (exchange protein directly activated by cAMP 1)-dependent induction of SOCS-3 (suppressor of cytokine signalling 3), which binds and inhibits specific class I cytokine receptors. One important aspect of SOCS-3 functionality is its role as the specificity determinant within an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex which targets cellular substrates for polyubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. In the present review, we describe key inhibitory processes that serve to reduce cytokine receptor signalling, focusing primarily on SOCS protein function and regulation. We also outline a strategy we have developed to identify novel ubiquitylated substrates for the Epac1-inducible SOCS-3 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex following purification of the ubiquitinome. It is anticipated that identifying substrates for the Epac1-regulated SOCS-3 E3 ubiquitin ligase, and assessment of their functional significance, may pinpoint new sites for therapeutic intervention that would achieve therapeutic efficacy of cAMP-elevating drugs while minimizing the adverse effects usually associated with these agents.
ERK5 and its role in tumour development
Authors: Lochhead Pamela A. , Gilley Rebecca , Cook Simon J.
Published: January 2012

The MEK5 [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)/ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) kinase 5]/ERK5 pathway is the least well studied MAPK signalling module. It has been proposed to play a role in the pathology of cancer. In the present paper, we review the role of the MEK5/ERK5 pathway using the ‘hallmarks of cancer’ as a framework and consider how this pathway is deregulated. As well as playing a key role in endothelial cell survival and tubular morphogenesis during tumour neovascularization, ERK5 is also emerging as a regulator of tumour cell invasion and migration. Several oncogenes can stimulate ERK5 activity, and protein levels are increased by a novel amplification at chromosome locus 17p11 and by down-regulation of the microRNAs miR-143 and miR-145. Together, these finding underscore the case for further investigation into understanding the role of ERK5 in cancer.
Neuropilin signalling in angiogenesis
Authors: Koch Sina
Published: January 2012

VEGFs (vascular endothelial growth factors) are master regulators of vascular development and of blood and lymphatic vessel function during health and disease in adults. This family of five mammalian ligands acts through three RTKs (receptor tyrosine kinases). In addition, co-receptors such as NRPs (neuropilins) associate with the ligand–receptor signalling complex and modulate the output. Therapeutics to block several of the VEGF signalling components as well as NRP function have been developed with the aim of halting blood vessel formation, angiogenesis, in diseases that involve tissue growth and inflammation, such as cancer. The present review outlines the current understanding of NRPs in relation to blood and lymphatic vessel biology.
Mitochondrial organization and Ca2+ uptake
Authors: Olson Marnie L. , Chalmers Susan , McCarron John G.
Published: January 2012

Mitochondria may function as multiple separate organelles or as a single electrically coupled continuum to modulate changes in [Ca2+]c (cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration) in various cell types. Mitochondria may also be tethered to the internal Ca2+ store or plasma membrane in particular parts of cells to facilitate the organelles modulation of local and global [Ca2+]c increases. Differences in the organization and positioning contributes significantly to the at times apparently contradictory reports on the way mitochondria modulate [Ca2+]c signals. In the present paper, we review the organization of mitochondria and the organelles role in Ca2+ signalling.
Tokamak L/H mode transition
Authors: Tsui K. H. , Navia C. E.
Published: January 2012

Through the non field-aligned rotational tokamak equilibrium of a divergence-free plasma flow with a pair of transformed plasma variables w→*=(μρ)1/2ν→ and μp*=(μp+w*2/2) [K. H. Tsui, Phys. Plasmas 18, 072502 (2011)], a preliminary understanding of the L/H equilibrium transition is proposed through a feedback cycle, where the higher plasma flux due to external drives enters the rotational Grad-Shafranov equation through the velocity dependent poloidal plasma β to generate the H equilibrium. This H rotational mode has the characteristics of higher normal electric field and plasma pressure. Coupled to the transport properties of E→×B→ drift transport barrier leading to a higher plasma pressure, this makes the H mode a self-sustained equilibrium. The higher plasma β then feeds back to the equilibrium and completes the feedback loop.
Strongly correlated barriers to rotation from parametric two-electron reduced-density-matrix methods in application to the isomerization of diazene
Authors: Sand Andrew M. , Schwerdtfeger Christine A. , Mazziotti David A.
Published: January 2012

Recently, parameterization of the two-electron reduced density matrix (2-RDM) has made possible the determination of electronic energies with greater accuracy and lower cost than traditional electron-pair theories including coupled cluster with single and double excitations [D. A. Mazziotti, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 253002 (2008)]. We examine the method's performance for strongly correlated barriers to rotation; in particular, we study two distinct pathways in the isomerization of diazene (N2H2) from cis to trans: (i) a strongly correlated rotational pathway and (ii) a moderately correlated inversion pathway. While single reference wavefunction methods predict that the rotational barrier is higher than the inversional barrier, the parametric 2-RDM method predicts that the rotational barrier is lower than the inversional barrier by 3.1 kcal/mol in the extrapolated basis set limit. The parametric 2-RDM results are in agreement with those from multireference methods including multireference perturbation theory and the solution to the anti-Hermitian contracted Schrödinger equation. We report energies, optimized structures, and natural orbital occupation numbers for three diazene minima and two transition states.
Stability and topological transformations of liquid droplets on vapor-liquid-solid nanowires
Authors: Schwalbach Edwin J. , Davis Stephen H. , Voorhees Peter W. , Warren James A. , Wheeler Daniel
Published: January 2012

The Vapor-Liquid-Solid method is one of the most popular techniques for growing semiconducting nanowires, and the stability of the liquid droplet is an important factor controlling wire morphology and, ultimately, functionality. Earlier theoretical work on axisymmetric systems indicates that the lowest-energy liquid configuration varies with surface energies, wire radius, and fluid volume. We test these predictions with a fully dynamic phase-field model that incorporates viscous fluid flow. Under conditions predicted by this earlier theoretical work, we observe the pinning of the liquid to the top face of a nanowire, a condition necessary for wire growth. To study the stability of the droplet, we apply perturbations to the liquid shape and find that the system can transition to a metastable configuration, a local minimum in the energy landscape. Furthermore, the transition pathway to this local minimum depends on the magnitude of the perturbations. Under conditions that favor a liquid on the sidewalls of the wire, we observe a spontaneous transition of the liquid from a droplet to an annular configuration through an intermediate state that is not predicted by theory. The time scales and contact-line speeds for these transitions are determined through simulation and are consistent with approximations based on simple dimensional analysis.
Note: Voltage and intensity dependence of the saturation curves of free-air ionization chambers irradiated with chopped synchrotron radiation beams
Authors: Nariyama Nobuteru
Published: January 2012

Current saturation characteristics of free-air ionization chambers with electrode gaps of 4.2 and 8.4 mm were investigated using pulsed photon beam obtained by periodically interrupting synchrotron radiation beams with a chopper. Pulsed photon beams of 10 and 15 keV with pulse duration of 2.5 μs and a frequency of 230 Hz were produced by chopping the beam. The measured recombination rate was found to be proportional to the intensity and inversely proportional to the applied voltage.
A block variational procedure for the iterative diagonalization of non-Hermitian random-phase approximation matrices
Authors: Rocca Dario , Bai Zhaojun , Li Ren-Cang , Galli Giulia
Published: January 2012

We present a technique for the iterative diagonalization of random-phase approximation (RPA) matrices, which are encountered in the framework of time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) and the Bethe-Salpeter equation. The non-Hermitian character of these matrices does not permit a straightforward application of standard iterative techniques used, i.e., for the diagonalization of ground state Hamiltonians. We first introduce a new block variational principle for RPA matrices. We then develop an algorithm for the simultaneous calculation of multiple eigenvalues and eigenvectors, with convergence and stability properties similar to techniques used to iteratively diagonalize Hermitian matrices. The algorithm is validated for simple systems (Na2 and Na4) and then used to compute multiple low-lying TDDFT excitation energies of the benzene molecule.
Temperature-induced martensite in magnetic shape memory Fe2MnGa observed by photoemission electron microscopy
Authors: Jenkins C. A. , Scholl A. , Kainuma R. , Elmers H. J. , Omori T.
Published: January 2012

The magnetic domain structure in single crystals of a Heusler shape memory compound near the composition Fe2MnGa was observed during phase transition by photoelectron emission microscopy at Beamline 11.0.1.1 of the Advanced Light Source. The behavior is comparable with recent observations of an adaptive martensite phase in prototype Ni2MnGa, although the pinning in the recent work is an epitaxial interface and in this work the effective pinning plane is a boundary between martensitic variants that transform in a self-accommodating way from the single crystal austenite phase present at high temperatures. Temperature dependent observations of the twinning structure give information as to the coupling behavior between the magnetism and the structural evolution.
Model of random telegraph noise in gate-induced drain leakage current of high-k gate dielectric metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors
Authors: Lee Ju-Wan , Lee Jong-Ho
Published: January 2012

Model of random telegraph noise (RTN) in gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) current was proposed and explained together with that of gate edge tunneling (ET) current. A trap inside the gate dielectric between the drain and the gate of a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor can affect theoretically both GIDL and gate ET currents at the same time. However, the RTNs for both currents were mostly uncorrelated and its cause was clarified. The RTN in GIDL current has a strong relation with a localized defect region in the drain overlapped by the gate. In the RTN of GIDL current, the shallower trap depth can show the larger amplitude of a RTN but sometimes show unexpectedly small amplitude if a trap is misaligned with the defect region.
Half-metallicity, magnetic moments, and gap states in oxygen-deficient magnetite for spintronic applications
Authors: Arras R. , Calmels L. , Warot-Fonrose B.
Published: January 2012

The electronic structure near oxygen vacancies in half-metallic magnetite has been calculated using first principles methods. Oxygen vacancies are responsible for the existence of gap states occupied by majority and minority spin electrons. We discuss whether these defects modify the spin magnetic moments, the magnetization, the magnetic coupling between Fe ions, and the half-metallic behaviour of magnetite. These results, which contribute to remove stumbling blocks to magnetite-based spintronic devices, could be useful to analyze the conductivity, the magnetotransport and magnetic properties, the electron and optical spectra of actual magnetite electrodes.
Centering of organic-inorganic hybrid liposomal cerasomes in electrospun gelatin nanofibers
Authors: Zha Zhengbao , Leung Siu Ling , Dai Zhifei , Wu Xiaoyi
Published: January 2012

A study investigating the embedding of stabilized organic-inorganic liposomal cerasomes in gelatin nanofibers through the electrospinning of cerasome-dispersed gelatin aqueous solution is presented. Fluorescent and transmission electron microscopy confirm the embedding and centering of cerasomes in the electrospun nanofibers. A simple mechanism is proposed for the centering of cerasomes in gelatin nanofibers. The ability to incorporate cerasomes capable of encapsulating a variety of bioactive molecules provides a promising method to functionalize polymer nanofibers.
Communication: Quantum mechanics without wavefunctions
Authors: Schiff Jeremy , Poirier Bill
Published: January 2012

We present a self-contained formulation of spin-free non-relativistic quantum mechanics that makes no use of wavefunctions or complex amplitudes of any kind. Quantum states are represented as ensembles of real-valued quantum trajectories, obtained by extremizing an action and satisfying energy conservation. The theory applies for arbitrary configuration spaces and system dimensionalities. Various beneficial ramifications—theoretical, computational, and interpretational—are discussed.
Numerical Feynman integrals with physically inspired interpolation: Faster convergence and significant reduction of computational cost
Authors: Dattani Nikesh S.
Published: January 2012

One of the most successful methods for calculating reduced density operator dynamics in open quantum systems, that can give numerically exact results, uses Feynman integrals. However, when simulating the dynamics for a given amount of time, the number of time steps that can realistically be used with this method is always limited, therefore one often obtains an approximation of the reduced density operator at a sparse grid of points in time. Instead of relying only on ad hoc interpolation methods (such as splines) to estimate the system density operator in between these points, I propose a method that uses physical information to assist with this interpolation. This method is tested on a physically significant system, on which its use allows important qualitative features of the density operator dynamics to be captured with as little as two time steps in the Feynman integral. This method allows for an enormous reduction in the amount of memory and CPU time required for approximating density operator dynamics within a desired accuracy. Since this method does not change the way the Feynman integral itself is calculated, the value of the density operator approximation at the points in time used to discretize the Feynamn integral will be the same whether or not this method is used, but its approximation in between these points in time is considerably improved by this method. A list of ways in which this proposed method can be further improved is presented in the last section of the article.
Ferromagnetic Heusler alloy Co2FeSi films on GaAs(1 1 0) grown by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Hentschel T , Jenichen B , Trampert A , Herfort J
Published: January 2012

Epitaxial layers of the Heusler alloy Co2FeSi were grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs(1 1 0) at different growth temperatures T
G. Below a transition temperature T
trans = 200 °C samples with high interfacial perfection and crystal quality were obtained, whereas above T
trans a strong surface and interface roughening sets in. All samples are ferromagnetic and reveal a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy with the easy axis along the

direction.
Characterization of a periodic instability in filamentary surface wave discharge at atmospheric pressure in argon
Authors: Hnilica J , Kudrle V , Vašina P , Schäfer J , Aubrecht V
Published: January 2012

This study reports on a periodic instability in a microwave atmospheric pressure surface wave plasma. Time-resolved observation by means of a high-speed camera reveals that the discharge can operate in two different regimes. The discharge operates either in a static mode of a controlled number of filaments propagating alongside the wall of the fused silica tube or in a dynamic mode of one or more straight filaments together with one revolving filament. Microwave power and argon flow rate are interpreted as the scaling parameters that govern the self-organization in the discharge. The operating diagram is formed by alternating stripes of static and dynamic mode with well-defined borders.
Global phylogeography and evolution of chelonid fibropapilloma-associated herpesvirus
Authors: Patrício A. R. , Herbst L. H. , Duarte A. , Vélez-Zuazo X. , Santos Loureiro N. , Pereira N. , Tavares L. , Toranzos G. A.
Published: January 2012

A global phylogeny for chelonid fibropapilloma-associated herpesvirus (CFPHV), the most likely aetiological agent of fibropapillomatosis (FP) in sea turtles, was inferred, using dated sequences, through Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis and used to estimate the virus evolutionary rate independent of the evolution of the host, and to resolve the phylogenetic positions of new haplotypes from Puerto Rico and the Gulf of Guinea. Four phylogeographical groups were identified: eastern Pacific, western Atlantic/eastern Caribbean, mid-west Pacific and Atlantic. The latter comprises the Gulf of Guinea and Puerto Rico, suggesting recent virus gene flow between these two regions. One virus haplotype from Florida remained elusive, representing either an independent lineage sharing a common ancestor with all other identified virus variants or an Atlantic representative of the lineage giving rise to the eastern Pacific group. The virus evolutionary rate ranged from 1.62×10−4to 2.22×10−4substitutions per site per year, which is much faster than what is expected for a herpesvirus. The mean time for the most recent common ancestor of the modern virus variants was estimated at 192.90–429.71 years ago, which, although more recent than previous estimates, still supports an interpretation that the global FP pandemic is not the result of a recent acquisition of a virulence mutation(s). The phylogeographical pattern obtained seems partially to reflect sea turtle movements, whereas altered environments appear to be implicated in current FP outbreaks and in the modern evolutionary history of CFPHV.
Identification of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus ORF1a-encoded non-structural proteins in virus-infected cells
Authors: Li Yanhua , Tas Ali , Snijder Eric J. , Fang Ying
Published: January 2012

The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) replicase gene consists of two large ORFs, ORF1a and ORF1b, the latter of which is expressed by ribosomal frameshifting. The ORF1a-encoded part of the resulting replicase polyproteins (pp1a and pp1ab) is predicted to be processed proteolytically into ten non-structural proteins (nsps), known as nsp1–8, with both the nsp1 and nsp7 regions being cleaved internally (yielding nsp1α and nsp1β, and nsp7α and nsp7β, respectively). The experimental verification of these predictions depends strongly on the ability to identify individual cleavage products with specific antibodies. In this study, a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies was generated, which together were able to recognize eight ORF1a-encoded PRRSV nsps. Using these reagents, replicase cleavage products were detected in PRRSV-infected MARC-145 cells using a variety of immunoassays. By immunofluorescence microscopy, most nsps could be detected by 6 h post-infection. During the early stages of infection, nsp1β, nsp2, nsp4, nsp7α, nsp7β and nsp8 co-localized in distinct punctate foci in the perinuclear region of the cell, which were determined to be the site of viral RNA synthesis by in situ labelling. Western blot and immunoprecipitation analysis identified most individual nsps and several long-lived processing intermediates (nsp3–4, nsp5–7, nsp5–8 and nsp3–8). The identification and subcellular localization of PRRSV nsps in virus-infected cells documented here provides a basis for the further structure–function studies. Thus, this PRRSV antibody panel will be an important tool for future studies on the replication and pathogenesis of this major swine pathogen.
ORF23 of murine gammaherpesvirus 68 is non-essential for in vitro and in vivo infection
Authors: Ohno S. , Steer B. , Sattler C. , Adler H.
Published: January 2012

Although ORF23 is conserved among gammaherpesviruses, its role during infection is unknown. Here, we studied the expression of ORF23 of murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) and its role during infection. ORF23 mRNA was detected in infected cells as a late transcript. The ORF23 protein product could be expressed and detected as an N-terminally FLAG-tagged protein by Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence. To investigate the role of ORF23 in the infection cycle of a gammaherpesvirus, we constructed an ORF23 deletion mutant of MHV-68. The analysis of the ORF23 deletion mutant suggested that ORF23 of MHV-68 is neither essential for replication in cell culture nor for lytic or latent infection in vivo. A phenotype of the ORF23 deletion mutant, reflected by a moderate reduction in lytic replication and latency amplification, was only detectable in the face of direct competition to the parental virus.
Predictors of successful short‐term tobacco cessation in UK resident female Bangladeshi tobacco chewers
Authors: Croucher Ray , Shanbhag Siddharth , Dahiya Manu , Kassim Saba , McNeill Ann
Published: January 2012

Aim  To identify predictors of short‐term smokeless tobacco cessation in Bangladeshi women resident in the United Kingdom.

Design  Prospective cohort study.

Setting  A tobacco cessation service offering culturally tailored smokeless tobacco cessation support.

Participants  A total of 419 Bangladeshi women chewing paan with tobacco.

Measurements  Demographics, tobacco use and dependence and cessation attempt process and outcomes.

Findings  Client mean age was 48.92 [95% confidence interval (CI) 47.5, 50.34] years and the mean area social deprivation score was 3.65 (95% CI 3.33, 3.97). Mean daily smokeless tobacco intakes, as paan, was 9.96 (95% CI 9.22, 10.7); 69.8% were recruited from primary care, 78.8% received behavioural support and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and the remainder behavioural support alone. Self‐reported 4‐week continuous abstinence was 58.3%, predicted by NRT use [odds ratio (OR) = 4.93, 95% CI 2.02, 12.00], community recruitment (OR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.01, 3.35) and relatively lower social deprivation (IMD) score (OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.18, 3.33).

Conclusion  Bangladeshi women in the UK attending clinics to help cessation of paan with tobacco appear to be more likely to be successful in the short term if they use nicotine replacement therapy, are recruited via the community and have relatively lower levels of social deprivation.
Very long diapause and extreme resistance to population disturbance in a galling insect
Authors: SOLBRECK CHRISTER , WIDENFALK OLOF
Published: January 2012

1. Some insects have a prolonged diapause – a dormancy that extends over more than 1 year. In most species prolonged diapause involves one or a few extra years, but in extreme cases diapause may surpass 10 years. Few cases of very long diapause have been described, and very little is known about the population consequences of the temporal refuge formed by the diapausing individuals.

2. The gall midge Contarinia vincetoxici Kieffer galls the flowers of a long‐lived herb Vincetoxicum hirundinaria Med. After completing development, larvae leave the galls for the ground where they enter diapause. Extending an earlier published inoculation experiment, we show that the diapause may last up to at least 13 years, with a median duration of at least 6 years.

3. The gall midge is attacked by two parasitoid species. Dissections of gall midge larvae for presence of parasitoids revealed that Omphale salicis Haliday had a maximum 2 year diapause and Synopeas acuminatus Kieffer a maximum 4 years. The very long diapause of the gall midge may thus provide a temporal refuge from these enemies.

4. In a 15‐year field experiment all galls were removed every year from six isolated habitat patches. Density changes in experimental populations were not statistically different from control populations for over a decade. After 14–15 years a modest decline could be observed. This slow response illustrates that prolonged diapause in C. vincetoxici provides a very strong population buffer against mortality during the galling stage.
Intrinsic competition among solitary and gregarious endoparasitoid wasps and the phenomenon of ‘resource sharing’
Authors: MAGDARAOG PETER M. , HARVEY JEFFREY A. , TANAKA TOSHIHARU , GOLS RIETA
Published: January 2012

1. Intrinsic competition was compared in three species of braconid wasps, the solitary Meteorus pulchricornis Wesmael, and the gregarious Cotesia kariyai (Watanabe) and Cotesia ruficrus Haliday in caterpillars of their common host, the armyworm Mythimna separata Walker. Competition was determined in pair‐wise contests consisting of simultaneous and subsequent parasitisms at various time intervals between the first and second attacks (<1, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h).

2. The experiment revealed that the solitary M. pulchricornis parasitoid was generally superior over the other two gregarious Cotesia species, although, in some cases C. kariyai out‐competed M. pulchricornis when ovipositing first. In contrast, irrespective of the time interval between parasitism and multiparasitism, C. ruficrus always lost in competition with M. pulchricornis.

3. Remarkably, both C. kariyai and C. ruficrus occasionally emerged from the same multiparasitised caterpillar when the time interval between the first and second attacks was small. However, cumulative brood sizes of both species were generally less than when C. kariyai and C. ruficrus developed alone, suggesting that some competition did occur between these two species.

4. Inter‐specific ‘resource sharing’ amongst parasitoid larvae has rarely been described in the literature. In the present study, the conditions in which ‘resource sharing’ in parasitoids can evolve are discussed. Further, we describe differing host usage strategies in parasitoids and how these can affect the outcome of aggressive larval competition.
In vivo accuracy of three electronic root canal length measurement devices: Dentaport ZX, Raypex 5 and ProPex II
Authors: Somma F. , Castagnola R. , Lajolo C. , Paternò Holtzman L. , Marigo L.
Published: January 2012

Somma F, Castagnola R, Lajolo C, Paternò Holtzman L, Marigo L.
In vivo accuracy of three electronic root canal length measurement devices: Dentaport ZX, Raypex 5 and ProPex II. International Endodontic Journal, 45, 552–556, 2012.

Aim  To compare in vivo three different electronic root canal length measurement devices: Dentaport ZX, Raypex 5 and ProPex II.

Methodology  Thirty single‐rooted permanent teeth scheduled for extraction because of periodontal disease were selected from 10 adult patients (ranging from 45 to 67 years) and divided into three groups of 10 teeth. Before the extraction, an access cavity was prepared and the crown was adjusted to establish a stable reference point for all measurements. The working length in Group 1 was determined using the Dentaport ZX apex locator. A K‐file with the largest diameter that could reach the last green bar on the screen was stabilized in the canal using a dual‐curable flow resin composite. The same procedure was used for the Raypex 5 (the file reached the last yellow bar) and Propex II (0.0 orange bar) apex locators. The teeth were then extracted and cleared. The distance between the tip of the file and the major foramen was then calculated for each tooth using digital photography according to Axiovision AC software (Carl Zeiss). Positive values were assigned when the file tip passed beyond the major foramen, negative values when the tip was short of the foramen and zero value when the file tip and the foramen coincided. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi‐squared test or Fisher’s exact test (P ≤ 0.05).

Results  Dentaport ZX, Raypex 5 and ProPex ΙΙ produced, respectively, 6, 2 and 4 out of 10 correct measurements, 0, 6 and 5 long measurements and 4, 2, and 1 short measurements. The differences between the three electronic root canal length measurement devices were not significant (P = 0.507).

Conclusions  Under the in vivo conditions of this study, the three electronic root canal length measurement devices were not significantly different in terms of locating the major foramen.