bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrical impedance measurements predict cellular transformation
Authors: Park Giljun , Choi Chang K. , English Anthony E. , Sparer Tim E.
Published: January 2009

Cellular transformation is the first step in cancer development. Two features of cellular transformation are proliferation in reduced serum and loss of contact inhibition. Electronic Cell‐Substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) measurements have been used to measure cellular proliferation, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and attachment. We have used impedance measurements to distinguish normal cells from cells transformed with a constitutively active chemokine receptor, CXCR2. CXCR2, a member of the G‐protein coupled receptor (GPCR) family, is normally involved in cellular activation and migration, but a single amino acid substitution leads to constitutive activity. NIH3T3 cells were transformed with a constitutively active CXCR2 (D143V_CXCR2) and growth in reduced serum and foci formation were measured using established biological assays and compared to data from ECIS. The results of this study show that impedance measurements provide a quick and reliable way of measuring cellular transformation and provide real time assessment of transformed cellular parameters. Use of the ECIS system could allow a rapid screening of anti‐cancer drugs that alter cellular transformation.
Acute- phase response and iron status markers among pulmonary tuberculosis patients: a cross-sectional study in Mwanza, Tanzania
Authors: Friis Henrik , Range Nyagosya , Brændgaard Kristensen Camilla , Kæstel Pernille , Changalucha John , Malenganisho Wabyahe , Krarup Henrik , Magnussen Pascal , Bengaard Andersen Åse
Published: January 2009

Fe status is difficult to assess in the presence of infections. To assess the role of the acute- phase response (APR) and other predictors of serum ferritin and transferrin receptor, we conducted a cross-sectional study among pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients in Mwanza, Tanzania. The acute- (serum ferritin) phase protein, serum α1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) and serum ferritin and serum soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) were measured, and data on smoking, soil and alcohol intake, and infection status were collected. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the role of elevated serum ACT and other predictors of serum ferritin and serum sTfR. Of 655 patients, 81·2 % were sputum positive (PTB+) and 47·2 % HIV+. Mean serum ACT was 0·72 g/l, with 91·1 % above 0·4 g/l. Among females and males, respectively, geometric mean serum ferritin was 140·9 and 269·1 μg/l (P < 0·001), and mean serum sTfR 4·3 and 3·8 mg/l (P < 0·001). Serum sTfR was increased 0·5 mg/l and log serum ferritin increased linearly with serum ACT >0·4 g/l. PTB+ and HIV infection, alcohol drinking and smoking were the positive predictors of serum ferritin, and female sex, soil eating,Schistosoma mansoniand hookworm infection were the negative predictors. Similarly, smoking and HIV infection were the negative predictors of serum sTfR, and female sex, soil eating and PTB+ were the positive predictors. Serum ferritin and serum sTfR are affected by the APR, but may still provide information about Fe status. It may be possible to develop algorithms, based on the markers of the APR and Fe status, to assess the Fe status among the patients with tuberculosis or other infections eliciting an APR.
The distribution and accumulation of fucoxanthin and its metabolites after oral administration in mice
Authors: Hashimoto Takashi , Ozaki Yoshiaki , Taminato Mayuko , Das Swadesh K. , Mizuno Masashi , Yoshimura Kazuto , Maoka Takashi , Kanazawa Kazuki
Published: January 2009

The pharmacokinetics of dietary fucoxanthin, one of the xanthophylls in brown sea algae, is little understood. In the present study, mice were orally administered fucoxanthin, and the distribution and accumulation of fucoxanthin and its metabolites fucoxanthinol and amarouciaxanthin A were measured in the plasma, erythrocytes, liver, lung, kidney, heart, spleen and adipose tissue. In a single oral administration of 160 nmol fucoxanthin, fucoxanthinol and amarouciaxanthin A were detectable in all specimens tested in the present study, but fucoxanthin was not. The time at maximum concentration (Tmax) of these metabolites in adipose tissue was 24 h, while the Tmax in the others was 4 h. The area under the curve to infinity (AUC∞) of fucoxanthinol in the liver was the highest value (4680 nmol/g × h) among the tissues tested in the present study, while the AUC∞ of amarouciaxanthin A in adipose tissue was the highest value (4630 nmol/g × h). In daily oral administration of 160 nmol fucoxanthin for 1 week, fucoxanthin was also detectable in the tissues even at a low concentration. The amount of fucoxanthinol was 123 nmol/g in the heart and 85·2 nmol/g in the liver. Amarouciaxanthin A in the adipose tissue was distributed at a concentration of 97·5 nmol/g. These results demonstrate that dietary fucoxanthin accumulates in the heart and liver as fucoxanthinol and in adipose tissue as amarouciaxanthin A.
Effects of high-calcium diets with different whey proteins on weight loss and weight regain in high-fat-fed C57BL/6J mice
Authors: Pilvi Taru K. , Harala Saara , Korpela Riitta , Mervaala Eero M.
Published: January 2009

The aim of the study was to compare the effect of different whey protein-containing high-Ca diets on weight loss and weight regain in a model of diet-induced obesity. Obesity was induced in C57BL/6J mice with a high-fat (60 % of energy) diet. Weight loss by energy restriction was performed on four different high-Ca diets (1·8 % CaCO3) containing different whey proteins (18 % of energy): α-lactalbumin (ALA), β-lactoglobulin (BLG), lactoferrin (LF) and whey protein isolate (WPI). After 7 weeks of energy restriction some of the mice were killed and the rest were fed with the same dietsad libitumfor 7 weeks. The mice on the LF diet lost significantly more weight than mice on the WPI diet. The body fat content in the ALA and LF groups was significantly lower than in the WPI group (P < 0·05) and the LF group differed significantly even from the BLG group (P < 0·05).Ad libitumfeeding after weight loss resulted in weight regain in all groups and only the ALA diet significantly reduced fat accumulation during weight regain. The weight regain was most pronounced in the LF group, but the adipocyte size was still significantly smaller than in the other groups. There were no differences in food intake or apparent fat digestibility between the groups. It can be concluded that a high-Ca diet with ALA significantly improves the outcome of weight loss and subsequent weight regain during the feeding of a high-fat diet in C57BL/6J mice, in comparison with WPI.
Partitioning of nutrient net fluxes across the portal-drained viscera in sheep fed twice daily: effect of dietary protein degradability
Authors: Rémond Didier , Bernard Laurence , Savary-Auzeloux Isabelle , Nozière Pierre
Published: January 2009

Extrusion is used to decrease leguminous seed protein degradability in the rumen in order to shift part of the dietary protein digestion towards the small intestine. The effect of such displacement of digestion site on the partitioning of nutrient net fluxes across the gastrointestinal tract was studied using four sheep fitted with catheters and blood-flow probes, allowing measurements across the rumen, the mesenteric-drained viscera (MDV) and the portal-drained viscera (PDV). Two diets containing 34 % of pea seeds were tested in a crossover design. They differed only according to pea treatment: raw pea (RP) or extruded pea (EP) diet. Rumen undegradable protein (RUP) accounted for 23 and 40 % of dietary crude protein for RP and EP diets, respectively. Across the rumen wall, ammonia net flux was lower with EP diet, whereas urea net flux was not different. Across the MDV, free amino acid (FAA) net flux was greater with EP diet, whereas peptide amino acid net flux was not different, accounting for 7 % of the non-protein amino acid net release. From RP to EP diet, PDV net flux of ammonia decreased by 23 %, whereas FAA net release increased by 21 %. The difference in dietary RUP did not affect the PDV net flux of SCFA, 3-hydroxybutyrate, lactate and glucose. In conclusion, the partial shift in pea protein digestion from the rumen to the small intestine did not affect the portal net balance of N, but decreased N loss from the rumen, and increased amino acid intestinal absorption and portal delivery.
CONSANGUINITY IN LEBANON: PREVALENCE, DISTRIBUTION AND DETERMINANTS
Authors: BARBOUR BERNADETTE , SALAMEH PASCALE
Published: January 2009

The union of individuals with a common ancestor may lead to serious health consequences in their offspring. Consanguinity is high in Middle Eastern communities; it was around 26% in 1988. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of consanguinity in Beirut and other Lebanese regions, and its associated factors in different subgroups. The cross-sectional study was performed on a convenience sample of married women in Lebanon. The women were administered a standardized questionnaire in a face-to-face interview by independent enquirers. Among 1556 women, the overall prevalence of consanguineous marriages was 35·5%, and the consanguinity coefficient was 0·020; 968 marriages (62·2%) were not consanguineous, 492 (31·6%) were first cousin, 61 (3·9%) were second cousin and 36 (2·3%) had lower degrees of consanguinity. Beirut suburb dwelling, low education subgroups, women working in the home and non-Christian religion presented the highest rates of consanguinity (p<0·05). Consanguinity is associated with couples' nulliparity and child chronic morbidity. Factors that could affect consanguinity are having consanguineous parents, having a favourable opinion towards consanguinity, choosing a spouse for religious reasons, particularly in Islam, woman having a low education, woman working in the home and women thinking that consanguinity would not lead to serious diseases. Consanguinity is therefore still a prevailing problem in Lebanon. Specific health education, and genetic counselling in particular, are suggested to explain the consequences of consanguinity to the general population and to help couples make informed choices.
Prevalence ofDirofilaria immitisin dogs from Hatay province, Turkey
Authors: Yaman M. , Guzel M. , Koltas I.S. , Demirkazik M. , Aktas H.
Published: January 2009

The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of canine dirofilariosis in Hatay province, south of Turkey. A total of 269 blood samples were collected from owned dogs in this multi-centre survey between March and July 2006. Blood samples were examined by modified Knott and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques to detect circulating microfilariae and antigens ofDirofilaria immitis, respectively. Seventy out of 269 dogs (26.0%) were positive forD. immitis. However, 61.4% of positive dogs had occult infection. The prevalence of canine dirofilariosis was heterogeneous in Hatay province, with higher values in shoreline (33.0%) and riverside (30.9%) areas followed by the lowland (25.5%) or mountainous (15.2%) areas. No statistically significant differences were observed in relation to sex (females, 33.3%; males, 24.4%,P>0.05). When evaluating the prevalence ofD. immitisby age, the highest prevalence was observed in dogs older than 4 years of age. Large breeds (29.6%) and the dogs living outdoors (30.2%) showed a higher prevalence in comparison to small breeds (21.4%) and the dogs living indoors (10.5%), respectively. In conclusion, according to the results of this study canine dirofilariosis had a high prevalence in Hatay province. Therefore, prophylaxis against heartworm is advisable to decrease the incidence of canine dirofilariosis.
Dynamic posturography for staging of patients with Ménière's disease
Authors: Daneshi A , Bozorgzadeh N , Asghari A , Jome H E , Mirhaj P , Nojoumi M
Published: January 2009

Objective:

In recent years, techniques such as computerised dynamic posturography have facilitated objective evaluation of patients with balance disorders. In this study, we used computerised dynamic posturography for clinical staging of Ménière's disease.

Material and methods:

We applied a computerised dynamic posturography sensory organisation test to 53 patients with American Academy of Otolaryngology criteria of Ménière's disease. The following parameters were considered in data analysis: computerised dynamic posturography scores for testing the patient's centre of gravity with a mobile surface, immobile visual surroundings and eyes closed, scores for testing with a mobile surface, mobile visual surroundings and eyes open, and vestibular ratio. We used four hearing threshold stages (although we had no patients at stage four).

Results and discussion:

This study did not observe a statistically significant correlation between audiometric hearing thresholds and computerised dynamic posturography scores. Computerised dynamic posturography scores showed statistically significant variation with time elapsed since the last vertigo attack. Although our results showed an increasing trend in computerised dynamic posturography scores as Ménière's disease activity level decreased from recent post-attack (i.e. less than one week since last attack) through late post-attack (i.e. one week to 60 days since last attack) to inactive (i.e. more than 60 days since last attack), these differences were not statistically significant.
Trigeminal nerve haemangioma eroding the petrous carotid canal
Authors: Saliba I , El Fata F , Berthelet F , Moumdjian R
Published: January 2009

Objective:

To report the first case of mandibular branch haemangioma of the trigeminal nerve causing erosion of the petrous carotid canal. The radiological and histological findings in this case are reviewed.

Case report:

A 60-year-old woman presented with severe, right-sided facial pain and paraesthesia. There were no associated symptoms of facial weakness or diplopia. A magnetic resonance imaging scan with gadolinium enhancement was performed. This showed a lesion slightly compressing the right Meckel's cave and eroding the right petrous carotid canal, occupying the foramen ovale and extending to the pterygoid muscle. The lesion was removed via a subtemporal approach.

Conclusion:

Haemangiomas are usually found on the skin and in other soft tissues. However, this rare tumour should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of lesions occupying Meckel's cave and the foramen ovale.
A history of the LAGB: The first fifty years
Authors: HUDSON RICHARD
Published: January 2009

Since its foundation in 1959, the Linguistics Association of Great Britain has established itself as one of the three associations for UK linguistics, alongside the much older Philological Society and its own child, the British Association for Applied Linguistics, though the relations among the associations are not always clear and can be somewhat problematic. The LAGB's main characteristic has always been its annual or twice-yearly conferences with a focus on language structure, but it also has its own journal and has taken a lead in promoting linguistics to funding and educational authorities. The paper outlines these events and how the LAGB's internal organisation has evolved to deal with them, and ends with three choices that face the association in its second half-century.
Copy Control in Telugu
Authors: HADDAD YOUSSEF A.
Published: January 2009

The main purpose of this paper is to document a phenomenon of copy adjunct control in Telugu, a Dravidian language, and to provide a derivation of the relevant structures within the framework of the Minimalist Program. Copy adjunct control is a relation of co-identity between the subject in the matrix clause and the subject in an adjunct of the same structure. Both subjects are pronounced. I analyze Copy Control structures as instances of multiple copy spell-out derived via movement, whereby movement is understood as copy-plus-merge. Decisions concerning the pronunciation of copies are prepared for in the syntax, but they are made on the phonological side of the computation.
Phrase structure vs. dependency: The analysis of Welsh syntactic soft mutation
Authors: TALLERMAN MAGGIE
Published: January 2009

Most familiar syntactic frameworks recognize the category ‘phrase’, and are built around phrase structure relationships. However, the Word Grammar dependency model does not acknowledge the category ‘phrase’ as a primitive in the grammar; instead, all relationships are word-based, with phrases having no syntactic status. Here, I investigate the theoretical validity of the notion ‘phrase’ by examining the phenomenon in Welsh known as syntactic soft mutation, contrasting a phrase-based account with a dependency account. I conclude that an empirically adequate analysis of syntactic soft mutation must make reference to phrases as a category, thus ruling out the dependency account. A further theoretical question concerns the role played in the grammar by syntactically present but phonetically unrealized elements, including empty categories such as wh-traces and unrealized material in ellipsis. Syntactic soft mutation proves an interesting testing ground in these contexts, but the data again fail to support the dependency account. The conclusion is that a phrase-based account of the mutation is better motivated and empirically more accurate than the alternative dependency account.
Filamentation instability in a collisional magnetoplasma with thermal conduction
Authors: SODHA MAHENDRA SINGH , FAISAL MOHAMMAD
Published: January 2009

This paper presents an analysis of the spatial growth of a transverse instability, corresponding to the propagation of an electromagnetic beam, with uniform irradiance along the wavefront in a collisional plasma, along the direction of a static magnetic field; expressions have been derived for the rate of growth, the maximum value of the rate of growth and the corresponding value of the wave number of the instability. The instability arises on account of the ejection of electrons from regions where the irradiance of the perturbation is large. The energy balance of the electrons taking into account ohmic heating and the power loss of electrons on account of (i) collisions with ions and neutral species and (ii) thermal conduction has been taken into account for the evaluation of the perturbation in electron temperature, which determines the subsequent growth of the instability. Further, the relationship between the electron density and temperature, as obtained from the kinetic theory, has been used. The filamentation instability becomes enhanced with the increase of the static magnetic field for the extraordinary mode while the reverse is true for the ordinary mode. Dependence of growth rate on irradiance of the main beam, magnetic field and a parameter proportional to the ratio of power loss of electrons by conduction to that by collisions has been numerically studied and illustrated by figures. The dependence of the maximum growth rate and the corresponding optimum value of the wave number of the instability on the irradiance of the main beam has also been studied. The paper concludes with a discussion of the numerical results, so obtained.
Influence of number of laser shots on laser induced microstructures on Ag and Cu targets
Authors: Latif A. , Anwar M.S. , Aleem M.A. , Rafique M.S. , Khaleeq-Ur-Rahman M.
Published: January 2009

Annealed and fine polished Ag and Cu samples are irradiated for 25, 50, 75, and 100 shots with a Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser in air and under high vacuum ~10−6 Torr. The irradiated samples are investigated under scanning electron microscopy, which reveals the formation of laser induced ripples structures with spacing 10 µm to 25 µm. Careful analysis revealed that the ripple spacing is not only dependent on laser wavelength, target properties, but also on the number of laser shots. It is also observed that ripples spacing varies from center to edge of the thermal damage zone. Two-fold spacing is measured near the edge compared to spacing at the center of the crater. Anisotropic stresses and stress waves (shock waves) are guiding the laser induced heat energy through particular channels. Splashing cones are developed with the increase in the laser shots. More theoretical investigations are needed to study the laser ripple periodicity in the context of laser shots effect.
Experimental studies of generation of ~100 MeV Au-ions from the laser-produced plasma
Authors: Láska L. , Krása J. , Velyhan A. , Jungwirth K. , Krouský E. , Margarone D. , Pfeifer M. , Rohlena K. , Ryć L. , Skála J. , Torrisi L. , Ullschmied J.
Published: January 2009

Using the PALS iodine laser system, Au ions with the charge state up to 58+ and with the kinetic energy as high as ~300 MeV were generated. The production of these ions was tested in dependence on the laser frequency (1ω, 3ω), on the irradiation/detection angles (0°, 30°), on the focus position with regard to the target surface, and on the target thickness (500 µm, 200 µm, 80 µm). A larger amount of the fastest ions was produced with 1ω than with 3ω, the most of the fast ions were recorded in the direction ~10°from the target normal, the optimum focus position is in front of the target and should be set on with a precision of 50 µm. The forward emission is weaker than the backward one for both of the thinner targets (which burn through) at our experimental conditions.
The status of the “weaker” language in unbalanced French/German bilingual language acquisition
Authors: BONNESEN MATTHIAS
Published: January 2009

In this paper, I investigate the status of the so-called “weaker” language, French, in French/German bilingual first language acquisition, using data from two children from the DuFDE-corpus (see Schlyter, 1990a), Christophe and François. Schlyter (1993, 1994) proposes that the “weaker” language in the unbalanced children she studied has the status equivalent to that of a second language (L2). I will verify this assumption on the basis of certain grammatical phenomena, such as the use of subject clitics, null subjects and negation, with respect to which L1 and L2 learners show different developmental patterns. The results indicate that the “weaker” language of the children analyzed in this study cannot be interpreted as an L2. Both children behave predominantly like monolingual and balanced bilingual L1 learners in both languages.
COMMISSION 8: ASTROMETRY
Authors: Kumkova Irina I. , Evans Dafydd Wyn , Platais Imants , Andrei Alexandre H. , Fresneau Alain , Popescu Petre P. , Scholz Ralf-Dieter , Soma Mitsuru , Zacharias Norbert , Zhu Zi
Published: January 2009

Van Leeuwen has completed and published the new reduction of the Hipparcos data. Parallax accuracies have improved by up to a factor five for the brightest stars and correlations effectively removed.
COMMISSION 19: ROTATION OF THE EARTH
Authors: Brzezinski Aleksander , Ma Chopo , Dehant Véronique , Defraigne Pascale , Dickey Jean O. , Huang Cheng-Li , Souchay Jean , Vondrák Jan , Charlot Patrick , Richter Bernd , Schuh Harald
Published: January 2009

The Commission supports and coordinates scientific investigations in the Earth rotation and related reference frames. Several changes had been introduced to the structure of Commission 19 since the IAU XXVI General Assembly in Prague, 2006. The Organizing Committee of Commission 19 has been substantially reduced. It consists now of six ex-officio members, the Commission president, vice-president, past president and representatives from the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry (IVS), and five members at-large who are nominated by the OC, selected by the Commission members and elected by the IAU GA for a maximum of two terms. The modified terms of reference of Commission 19, the list of members and other details can be found at the Commission website .
COMMISSION 31: TIME
Authors: Defraigne Pascale , Manchester Richard N. , Matsakis Demetrios , Hosokawa Mizuhiko , Leschiutta Sigfrido , Matsakis Demetrios , Petit Gérard , Zao-Cheng Zhai
Published: January 2009

The realization and dissemination of the international time scales is the responsibility of the section on Time, Frequency and Gravimetry of the BIPM. Commission 31 supports and coordinates investigations associated with Time definitions, realizations, astronomical data relevant to atomic timekeeping, such as pulsar data. The major developments achieved during the period 2005-2008 in that domain are reported here.
DIVISION I / WORKING GROUP NUMERICAL STANDARDS OF FUNDAMENTAL ASTRONOMY
Authors: Luzum Brian J. , Capitaine Nicole , Fienga Agnès , Folkner William M. , Fukushima Toshio , Hilton James L. , Hohenkerk Catherine Y. , Krasinsky George A. , Petit Gérard , Pitjeva Elena V. , Soffel Michael H. , Wallace Patrick T.
Published: January 2009

The IAU Working Group (WG) onNumerical Standards for Fundamental Astronomyhas been tasked with updating the IAU Current Best Estimates (CBEs), conforming with the IAU Resolutions, IERS Conventions and Système International d'Unités whenever possible. As part of its effort to achieve this, the WG is working in close cooperation with IAU Commissions 4 and 52, the IERS, and the BIPM Consultative Committee for Units.
DIVISION I-III / WORKING GROUP CARTOGRAPHIC COORDINATES AND ROTATIONAL ELEMENTS
Authors: Archinal Brent A. , Seidelmann P. Kenneth , A'Hearn Michael F. , Bowell Edward L. , Conrad Albert R. , Consolmagno Guy J. , Cruikshank Dale P. , Hestroffer Daniel , Hilton James L. , Neumann Gregory A. , Krasinsky George A. , Oberst Jürgen , Stooke Philip J. , Tedesco Edward F. , Tholen David J. , Thomas Peter C.
Published: January 2009

The IAU/IAG Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates & Rotational Elements published its (2006) triennial report containing current recommendations for models for solar system bodies (Seidelmann et al. 2007). P. Kenneth Seidelmann stepped down as chairperson and B. A. Archinal was elected chairperson at the Working Group business meeting that took place at the IAU XXVI General Assembly in Prague in 2006.
COMMISSION 12: SOLAR RADIATION AND STRUCTURE
Authors: Pillet Valentin Martínez , Kosovichev Alexander , Mariska John T. , Bogdan Thomas J. , Asplund Martin , Cauzzi Gianna , Christensen-Dalsgaard Jørgen , Cram Lawrence E. , Gan Weiqun , Gizon Laurent , Heinzl Petr , Rovira Marta G. , Venkatakrishnan P.
Published: January 2009

Commission 12 encompasses investigations on the internal structure and dynamics of the Sun, mostly accessible through the techniques of local and global helioseismology, the quiet solar atmosphere, solar radiation and its variability, and the nature of relatively stable magnetic structures like sunspots, faculae and the magnetic network. A revision of the progress made in these fields is presented. For some specific topics, the review has counted with the help of experts outside the Commission Organizing Committee that are leading and/or have recently presented relevant works in the respective fields. In this cases the contributor's name is given in parenthesis.
COMMISSION 49: INTERPLANETARY PLASMA AND HELIOSPHERE
Authors: Bougeret Jean-Louis , von Steiger Rudolf , Webb David F. , Ananthakrishnan Subramanian , Cane Hilary V. , Gopalswamy Natchimuthuk , Kahler Stephen W. , Lallement Rosine , Sanahuja Blai , Shibata Kazunari , Vandas Marek , Verheest Frank
Published: January 2009

Commission 49 covers research on the solar wind, shocks and particle acceleration, both transient and steady-state, e.g., corotating, structures within the heliosphere, and the termination shock and boundary of the heliosphere.
DIVISION II / IAU REPRESENTATIVE REPORT INTERNATIONAL HELIOPHYSICAL YEAR
Authors: Webb David F.
Published: January 2009

The International Heliophysical Year (IHY) is an international program of scientific research and collaboration to understand the external drivers of the space environment and climate. Its activities were centered on the year 2008, the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year. The IHY involves utilizing the existing assets from space and ground as a distributed Great Observatory and the deployment of new instrumentation, new observations from the ground and in space, and public and student education. The IHY officially was launched in February 2007 with an opening ceremony and workshop in Vienna. Many IHY activities, both scientific and educational, have occurred since then. In practice, these activities have taken place over the last several years, and the programs that have been established through the IHY will continue into the future as ‘legacies’ of the IHY.
COMMISSION 22: METEORS, METEORITES AND INTERPLANETARY DUST
Authors: Spurný Pavel , Watanabe Jun-ichi , Mann Ingrid , Borovička Jiří , Baggaley William J. , Brown Peter G. , Consolmagno Guy J. , Jenniskens Peter M. M. , Pellinen-Wannberg Asta K. , Porubčan Vladimír , Williams Iwan P. , Yano Hajime
Published: January 2009

Commission 22 is part of Division III on Planetary System Sciences of the International Astronomical Union. Members of Commission 22 are professional scientists studying bodies in the Solar System smaller than asteroids and comets, and their interactions with planets. The main subjects of interest are meteors, meteoroids, meteoroid streams, interplanetary dust particles, and also zodiacal cloud, meteor trains, meteorites, tektites, etc.
DIVISION III / WORKING GROUP COMMITTEE ON SMALL BODIES NOMENCLATURE
Authors: Tichá Jana , Marsden Brian G. , Bowell Edward L. G. , Williams Iwan P. , Marsden Brian G. , Green Daniel W. E. , Aksnes Kaare , Schulz Rita M. , A'Hearn Michael F. , Fernández Julio A. , Kilmartin Pamela , Kozai Yoshihide , Lazzaro Daniela , Nakano Syuichi , Noll Keith S. , Schmadel Lutz D. , Shor Viktor A. , West Richard M. , Williams Gareth V. , Yeomans Donald K. , Zhu Jin
Published: January 2009

A total of 701 comets received names between July 2005 and June 2008. Comets observed only from the SOHO and STEREO missions, as well as further comets recognized from the long-defunct SOLWIND satellite, accounted for 520 of these names.
DIVISION III / WORKING GROUP PLANETARY SYSTEM NOMENCLATURE
Authors: Schulz Rita M. , Aksnes Kaare , Blue Jennifer S. , Blunck Jürgen , Bowell Edward L. G. , Burba George A. , Consolmagno Guy J. , Courtin Régis , Lopes-Gautier Rosaly M. , Marov Mikhail Ya. , Marsden Brian G. , Robinson Mark S. , Shevchenko Vladislav V. , Smith Bradford A.
Published: January 2009

The Working Group on Planetary System Nomenclature (WG-PSN) develops, maintains and publishes guidelines for naming natural satellites of planets and surface features on all solar system bodies except Earth. When required the WG approves lists of new nomenclature, with accompanying explanatory notes, based on the established guidelines. Approved names are immediately added into the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Objections based on significant, substantive problems may be submitted within a 3-months period, and will be ruled on by Division III.
DIVISION IV / COMMISSION 26 / WORKING GROUP BINARY AND MULTIPLE SYSTEM NOMENCLATURE
Authors: Mason Brian D. , Hartkopf William I. , Pourbaix Dimitri , Scarfe Colin D. , Schmitz Marion , Tokovinin Andrei A.
Published: January 2009

The Working Group on Binary and Multiple System Nomenclature was formed within Commission 26 following Special Session 3 held during the 2003 Sydney General Assembly. Its purpose is to create the Washington Multiplicity Catalog, a comprehensive database first introduced at a multi-commission meeting at the IAU XXIV General Assembly in Manchester, 2000. Data are being compiled from the US Naval Observatory visual binary catalogs and supplemented with binary and multiple star information from other sources to include but not limited to spectroscopy, photometry, eclipsing and interacting system, as well as extra-solar planets and substellar companions. The goal being creation of a comprehensive hierarchical database and to reduce confusion from multiple nomenclature schemes used by disparate techniques.
COMMISSION 29: STELLAR SPECTRA
Authors: Parthasarathy Mudumba , Piskunov Nikolai E. , Sneden Christopher , Carpenter Kenneth G. , Castelli Fiorella , Cunha Katia , Eenens Phillippe R. J. , Hubeny Ivan , Rossi Silvia , Takada-Hidai Masahide , Wahlgren Glenn M. , Weiss Werner W.
Published: January 2009

The members of IAU Commission 29 Stellar Spectra are actively engaged in the quantitative analysis of spectra of various types of stars. With large and medium size telescopes equipped with high resolution spectrographs LTE and Non-LTE analysis of spectra of all types stars are being carried out. Spectra of stars in our Galaxy, in globular and open clusters, stars in LMC and SMC and in nearby galaxies are being studied. Accurate chemical composition analysis of various types of stars has been carried out during the past three years. Now the analysis of stellar spectra covers the wavelength range from X-ray region to IR and sub-millimeter range. Recently stellar spectra are being analysed using time-dependent, 3D, hydrodynamical model atmospheres to derive accurate stellar abundances.
COMMISSION 36: THEORY OF STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
Authors: Landstreet John D. , Asplund Martin , Spite Monique , Balachandran Suchitra B. , Berdyugina Svetlana V. , Hauschildt Peter H. , Ludwig Hans G. , Mashonkina Lyudmila I. , Nagendra K. N. , Puls Joachim , Randich M. Sofia , Tautvaisiene Grazina
Published: January 2009

Commission 36 covers the whole field of the physics of stellar atmospheres. The scientific activity in this large subject has been very intense during the last triennium and led to the publication of a large number of papers, which makes a complete report quite impractical. We have therefore decided to keep the format of the preceding report: first a list of areas of current research, then Web links for obtaining further information.
COMMISSION 45: SPECTRAL CLASSIFICATION
Authors: Giridhar Sunetra , Gray Richard O. , Corbally Christopher J. , Bailer-Jones Coryn A. L. , Eyer Laurent , Irwin Michael J. , Kirkpatrick J. Davy , Majewski Steven , Minniti Dante , Nordström Birgitta
Published: January 2009

This report gives an update of developments (since the last General Assembly at Prague) in the areas that are of relevance to the commission. In addition to numerous papers, a new monograph entitled Stellar Spectral Classification with Richard Gray and Chris Corbally as leading authors will be published by Princeton University Press as part of their Princeton Series in Astrophysics in April 2009. This book is an up-to-date and encyclopedic review of stellar spectral classification across the H-R diagram, including the traditional MK system in the blue-violet, recent extensions into the ultraviolet and infrared, the newly defined L-type and T-type spectral classes, as well as spectral classification of carbon stars, S-type stars, white dwarfs, novae, supernovae and Wolf-Rayet stars.
DIVISION IV / WORKING GROUP MASSIVE STARS
Authors: Owocki Stanley P. , Crowther Paul A. , Fullerton Alexander W. , Koenigsberger Gloria , Langer Norbert , Leitherer Claus , Massey Philip L. , Meynet Georges , Puls Joachim , St-Louis Nicole
Published: January 2009

Our Working Group studies massive, luminous stars, with historical focus on early-type (OB) stars, but extending in recent years to include massive red supergiants that evolve from hot stars. There is also emphasis on the role of massive stars in other branches of astrophysics, particularly regarding starburst galaxies, the first stars, core-collapse gamma-ray bursts, and formation of massive stars.
INTER-DIVISION IV-V / WORKING GROUP ACTIVE B-TYPE STARS
Authors: Fabregat Juan , Peters Geraldine J. , Owocki Stanley P. , Bjorkman Karen S. , Gies Douglas R. , Henrichs Hubertus F. , McDavid David A. , Neiner Coralie , Stee Philippe
Published: January 2009

The Working Group on Active B-type Stars (formerly known as the Working Group on Be Stars) was re-established under IAU Commission 29 at the IAU General Assembly in Montreal, Quebec (Canada) in 1979, and has been continuously active to the present. Its main goal is to promote and stimulate research and international collaboration on the field of the active early-type (OB) stars.
INTER-DIVISION IV-V / WORKING GROUP Ap AND RELATED STARS
Authors: Cunha Margarida S. , Weiss Werner W. , Dworetsky Michael M. , Kochukhov Oleg , Kupka Friedrich , Leblanc Francis , Monier Richard , Paunzen Ernst , Piskunov Nikolai E. , Shibahashi Hiromoto , Smalley Barry , Ziznovsky Jozef
Published: January 2009

The diversity of physical phenomena embraced by the study of Chemically Peculiar (CP) stars results in an associated research community with interests that are equally diverse. This fact became once more evident during the CP#Ap Workshop that took place in Vienna (Austria) in September 2007, and which gathered over 80 members of this research community. Besides the excellent scientific outcome of the meeting, during the workshop the community had the opportunity to discuss its organization and plans for the future. Following on those plans, the Working Group has submitted a proposal for a Joint Discussion during the IAU XXVII General Assembly, in Rio de Janeiro, which has meanwhile been accepted. Moreover, through an ApN newsletter forum, the Working Group has compiled requests from the community concerning atomic and related data. These requests have been put together and will be shared with Commission 14.
INTER-DIVISION IV-V-IX / WORKING GROUP STANDARD STARS
Authors: Corbally Christopher J. , Gray Richard O.
Published: January 2009

The Working Group, created in 1982 during the IAU General Assembly in Patras (Greece), exists to examine, organize, and coordinate the various sets of standard stars for the fields in which they are used: radial velocities, spectral classification, photometry, astrometry, and others. It also provides a forum for discussion and education. All those working with and upon standard stars are considered members of the WG.
COMMISSION 27: VARIABLE STARS
Authors: Kawaler Steven D. , Handler Gerald , Aerts Conny , Bedding Timothy R. , Catelán Márcio , Cunha Margarida , Eyer Laurent , Jeffery C. Simon , Martinez Peter , Olah Katalin , Pollard Karen , Somasundaram Seetha
Published: January 2009

The Organizing Committee of Commission 27 has decided to again provide a somewhat abbreviated bibliography as part of this triennial report, as astronomy-centered search engines and on-line publications continue to blossom. We focus on selected highlights in variable star research over the past three years. Further results can be found in numerous proceedings of conferences held in the time frame covered by this report.
COMMISSION 42: CLOSE BINARY STARS
Authors: Rucinski Slavek M. , Ribas Ignasi , Giménez Alvaro , Harmanec Petr , Hilditch Ronald W. , Kaluzny Janusz , Niarchos Panayiotis , Nordström Birgitta , Oláh Katalin , Richards Mercedes T. , Scarfe Colin D. , Sion Edward M. , Torres Guillermo , Vrielmann Sonja
Published: January 2009

Two meetings of interest to close binaries took place during the reporting period: A full day session on short-period binary stars – mostly CV's – (Miloneet al. 2008) during the 2006 AAS Spring meeting in Calgary and the very broadly designed IAU Symposium No. 240 onBinary Stars as Critical Tools and Tests in Contemporary Astrophysicsin Prague, 2006, with many papers on close binaries [Hartkopfet al. 2007]. In addition, the book by Eggleton (2006), which is a comprehensive summary of evolutionary processes in binary and multiple stars, was published.
COMMISSION 33: STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OF THE GALACTIC SYSTEM
Authors: Gerhard Ortwin , Wyse Rosemary F. , Whitelock Patricia A. , Efremov Yuri N. , Evans Wyn , Flynn Chris , Grindlay Jonathan E. , Nordström Birgitta , Yuan Chi
Published: January 2009

Commission 33 provides a forum for astronomers studying the structure and dynamics of the Milky Way Galaxy, a unique laboratory for exploring the stellar and gaseous components of galaxies and the processes by which they form and evolve.
COMMISSION 37: STAR CLUSTERS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Authors: Hatzidimitriou Despina , Lada Charles J. , Sarajedini Ata , Cannon Russell D. , Cudworth Kyle McC. , Da Costa Gary S. , Deng LiCai , Lee Young-Wook , Sarajedini Ata , Tosi Monica
Published: January 2009

Star clusters are valuable tools for theoretical and observational astronomy across a wide range of disciplines from cosmology to stellar spectroscopy. For example, properties of globular clusters are used to constrain stellar evolutionary models, nucleosynthesis and chemical evolution, as well as the star formation and assembly histories of galaxies and the distribution of dark matter in present-day galaxies. Open clusters are widely used as stellar laboratories for the study of specific stellar phenomena (e.g., various emission-line stars, pulsating pre-MS stars, magnetic massive stars, binarity, stellar rotation, etc.). They also provide observational constraints on models of massive star evolution and of Galactic disk formation and chemical evolution.
DIVISION VIII: GALAXIES AND THE UNIVERSE
Authors: Okamura Sadanori , Sadler Elaine , Bertola Francesco , Birkinshaw Mark , Combes Françoise , Davies Roger L. , Padmanabhan Thanu , Webster Rachel L.
Published: January 2009

Division VIII provides a focus for astronomers studying a wide range of problems related to galaxies and cosmology. Objects of the study include individual galaxies, groups and clusters of galaxies, large scale structure, comic microwave background radiation and the universe itself. Approaches are diverse from observational one to theoretical one including computer simulations.
COMMISSION 28: GALAXIES
Authors: Combes Françoise , Davies Roger L. , Sadler Elaine M. , Dekel Avishai , Franx Marijn , Gallagher John S. , Karachentseva Valentina , Knapp Gillian R. , Kraan-Korteweg Renée C. , Leibundgut Bruno , Nakai Naomasa , Narlikar Jayant V. , Rubio Monica
Published: January 2009

This short report describes some highlights in extragalactic research over the past three years, and lists the main symposia and meetings in the domain.
DIVISION IX / COMMISSION 25 / WORKING GROUP INFRARED ASTRONOMY
Authors: Milone Eugene F. , Young Andrew T. , Bauwens Eva , Bell Roger A. , Bessell Michael S. , Cohen Martin , Garrison Robert , Glass Ian S. , Graham John A. , Henden Arne A. , Hensberge Herman , Hillenbrand Lynne A. , Howell Steve B. , Kidger Mark R. , Kurucz Robert L. , Landolt Arlo U. , McLean Ian S. , Mountain Matthew , Rieke George H. , Schiller Stephen J. , Simons Douglas A. , Skrutskie Michael F. , Stagg C. Russell , Sterken Christiaan L. , Thompson Roger I. , Tokunaga Alan T. , Volk Kevin
Published: January 2009

As we have noted before, the WG-IR was created following a Joint Commission Meeting at the IAU General Assembly in Baltimore in 1988, a meeting that provided both diagnosis and prescription for the perceived ailments of infrared photometry at the time. The results were summarized in Milone (1989). The challenges involve how to explain the failure to systematically achieve the milli-magnitude precision expected of infrared photometry and an apparent 3% limit on system transformability. The proposed solution was to re-define the broadband Johnson system, the passbands of which had proven so unsatisfactory that over time effectively different systems proliferated although bearing the same JHKLMNQ designations; the new system needed to be better positioned and centered in the atmospheric windows of the Earth's atmosphere, and the variable water vapour content of the atmosphere needed to be measured in real time to better correct for atmospheric extinction.
DIVISION IX / COMMISSION 30 / WORKING GROUP STELLAR RADIAL VELOCITY BIBLIOGRAPHY
Authors: Levato Hugo , Malaroda Stella M.
Published: January 2009

The Working Group Stellar Radial Velocity Bibliography is a very small one that was created with the purpose of continuing the cataloging of bibliography of radial velocity of stars made by Mme Barbier in successive catalogues until her retirement in 1990.
INTER-DIVISION IV-V-IX / WORKING GROUP HISTORIC RADIO ASTRONOMY
Authors: Orchiston Wayne , Kellermann Kenneth I. , Davies Rodney D. , Débarbat Suzanne V. , Morimoto Masaki , Slysh Slava , Swarup Govind , van Woerden Hugo , Wall Jasper V. , Wielebinski Richard
Published: January 2009

The Working Group was formed at the IAU XXV General Assembly in Sydney, 2003, as a joint initiative of Commissions 40 Radio Astronomy and Commission 41 History of Astronomy, in order to assemble a master list of surviving historically-significant radio telescopes and associated instrumentation found worldwide, and document the technical specifications and scientific achievements of these instruments. In addition, it would maintain an on-going bibliography of publications on the history of radio astronomy, and monitor other developments relating to the history of radio astronomy (including the deaths of pioneering radio astronomers).
DIVISION XI: SPACE & HIGH-ENERGY ASTROPHYSICS
Authors: Hasinger Günther , Jones Christine , Okuda Haruyuki , Braga João , Brosch Noah , de Graauw Thijs , Gurvits Leonid I. , Helou George , Howarth Ian D. , Kunieda Hideyo , Montmerle Thierry , Salvati Marco , Singh Kulinder Pal
Published: January 2009

Division XI connects astronomers using space techniques or particle detectors for an extremely large range of investigations, from in-situ studies of bodies in the solar system to orbiting observatories studying the Universe in wavelengths ranging from radio waves to γ-rays, to underground detectors for cosmic neutrino radiation.
DIVISION XII: UNION-WIDE ACTIVITIES
Authors: Smith Malcolm G. , Genova Françoise , Andersen Johannes , Federman Steven R. , Gilmore Alan C. , Nha Il-Seong , Norris Raymond P. , Robson Ian E. , Stavinschi Magda G. , Trimble Virginia L. , Wainscoat Richard J. , Christensen Lars Lindberg
Published: January 2009

Division XII consists of Commissions that formerly were organized under the Executive Committee, that concern astronomers across a wide range of scientific sub-disciplines and provide interactions with scientists in a wider community, including governmental organizations, outside the IAU.
COMMISSION 5: DOCUMENTATION AND ASTRONOMICAL DATA
Authors: Norris Raymond P. , Ohishi Masatoshi , Genova Françoise , Grothkopf Uta , Malkov Oleg Yu. , Pence William D. , Schmitz Marion , Hanisch Robert J. , Zhou Xu
Published: January 2009

IAU Commission 5 deals with data management issues, and its working groups and task groups deal specifically with information handling, with data centres and networks, with technical aspects of collection, archiving, storage and dissemination of data, with designations and classification of astronomical objects, with library services, editorial policies, computer communications, ad hoc methodologies, and with various standards, reference frames, etc., FITS, astronomys Flexible Image Transport System, the major data exchange format, is controlled, maintained and updated by the Working Group FITS.
DIVISION XII / COMMISSION 5 / WORKING GROUP LIBRARIES
Authors: Grothkopf Uta , Murtagh Fionn , Birdie Christina , Bishop Marsha , Bobis Laurence , Coletti Donna J. , Corbin Brenda G. , Gomez Monique , Naimova Halima
Published: January 2009

The IAU Working Group on Libraries was officially recognized for the first time in the Transactions of the IAU XXIA Reports on Astronomy (McNally 1991), but librarians were involved in Commission 5 activities before that (largely due to the efforts of George A. Wilkins, president of the Commission from 1982 to 1988, see Transactions of the IAU XXA Reports on Astronomy, Swings 1988). Wayne Warren (NASA GSFC, MD, USA) and Helen Knudsen (Calech, CA, USA) were the group's first chairpersons, Brenda Corbin (U.S. Naval Observatory) became Helen Knudsen's successor in 1990. Since 1996, Fionn Murtagh (School of Computer Science, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland) and Uta Grothkopf (European Southern Observatory, Germany) have been co-chairs.