bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pula, Croatia: Balkans' Summer Music Camp
Authors: Carmack Elizabeth
Published: February 2005

The Balkans' Summer Music Camp was first established in 1995. Nigel Osborne's initiative was to address the needs of children who had been victims of trauma caught in conflict and warlocked zones in the former Yugoslavia. Through a professional exchange with Nigel Osborne last year at the Cambridge Music Conference, my sister Catherine Carmack (12.10.57–12.12.03) decided to work as a volunteer at the camp this summer. Owing to her untimely death I went in her place, to observe the creative and curative process of the children's development. About 35 children from the Special School of Mostar, Bosnia Herzegovina came to the Adriatic for a week's vacation on the coast of Croatia. Most of these children live in an orphanage in Mostar, but are receiving music therapy through the Pavarotti Music Centre. Although most of the children were attended by carers, a few of the children were accompanied by their mothers. Many of the children are primarily suffering from exposure to violence and remain traumatized. Some of them have special needs including Down's Syndrome; two were marginally disabled with cerebral palsy.
London, South Bank and RAM: ‘Omaggio: a Celebration of Luciano Berio’
Authors: Miller Malcolm
Published: February 2005

The fortnight-long celebration Omaggio to the late Luciano Berio, held 15–30 April 2004, explored the post-modern passion and exuberance of the composer's musical personality, from the experimental daring and fun of the era of new music of the 1960s to the more searching multi-cultural tapestries of the final decades and his last works. Large audiences drawn from all ages enjoyed a wide range of Berio's works at the South Bank Centre and the Royal Academy of Music, including several UK premières including Stanze, his last work, as well as seminal pieces such as Sinfonia, Laborintus II, the fourteen Sequenzas, and electronic music, performed by leading virtuosi and ensembles. Overall, the festival represented a significant and memorable tribute to one of the leading figures of new music in the second half of the 20th century.
London, Temple Church and Cheltenham, Pittville Pump Room: Wood's ‘Cantilena and Fugue’ and ‘Tribute to Michael Berkeley’.
Authors: Venn Edward
Published: February 2005

It has been three years since the last Hugh Wood première (his Fifth String Quartet), and in that time his music has disgracefully become an endangered species – practically extinct – in concert programmes. Therefore, his Cantilena and Fugue op. 47, given its first performance on 7 July as part of the City of London Festival, was doubly welcome. And, as if to compensate for the wait, a second new work followed just two days later, with the première of Wood's Tribute to Michael Berkeley, one of 20 short works commissioned to mark Berkeley's final year as artistic director of the Cheltenham Festival.
Three London reports
Authors: Anderson Martin
Published: February 2005

Conway Hall: Ronald Stevenson's Bax Variations

Barbican: Poul Ruders' ‘Listening Earth’

Conway Hall again: Gerard Schurmann's String Quartet
Landscape and Cosmology in the South Indian Neolithic: New Perspectives on the Deccan Ashmounds
Authors: Boivin Nicole
Published: February 2005

The ashmounds of the central Deccan Plateau remain one of the most enigmatic features of the South Indian Neolithic. While Allchin proposed a primarily ritualistic interpretation for the large mounds of burnt cattle dung, more recent discussion has often stressed more prosaic understandings, underlining the adaptive or economic significance of the ashmounds as indicators of pastoralism or stressing the possibility that they represent accidental or sanitation-related fires. This article argues for a return to more symbolic perspectives on the ashmounds, and offers further support for a ritualistic reading based on evidence relating to the landscape context of ashmounds and other Neolithic remains in the central Deccan region. The article explores the landscape associations of ashmounds in the Bellary District of Karnataka, and in particular draws on new discoveries at the sites of Kudatini and Toranagallu in order to reconstruct aspects of a Southern Neolithic ‘world view’ or cosmology. The article also explores the implications of the ashmounds to subsequent developments in the Indian subcontinent, particularly those relating to the symbolic importance of cattle, dung and ash in Hindu practices, and argues for long-term continuities in certain prehistoric material symbols (though not their associated meanings). In addition, the article takes a wider comparative approach, and explores the implications of South Indian Neolithic practices for our understanding of the Neolithic ‘process’ in general, and in particular the emphasis on transformative processes that appears to distinguish Neolithic approaches to the material world from those that preceded them.
Egypt's Invisible Walls
Authors: Kemp Barry
Published: February 2005

City walls invite functionalist explanations. It is at first sight easy to deduce why they were built. Where contemporary written and pictorial evidence survives, however, the subject begins to take on a cognitive dimension. Did people at the time really perceive them as we are apt to imagine? The subject has been extensively discussed in the context of medieval Europe where contemporary pictures and contemporary accounts can be set against the architectural remains themselves. City walls were built for status and symbolism as much as for protection. The following collective discussion of the subject in the context of Egyptian history, both ancient and medieval, seeks to follow the same approach: to confront the documentation of the changing practice of urban walling with evidence that represents the mindset of the day. For the time of the Pharaohs the subject is complicated — and made more rewarding as a consequence — by the immense effort which the Egyptians also devoted to walled enclosures around prominent religious buildings. Here the temptation for us is to create a separate category from walled settlements, but on a basis that could be quite misleading. Although the dichotomy between the sacred and the profane is apparent in the construction of walls, meanings change and the distinction is far less apparent in the subsequent use of these enclosures. In medieval Egypt the massive walls of Cairo, parts of which are still an impressive sight, also turn out to be a poor guide to how urban defence was generally perceived at that time. As is ever the case in archaeology, the relationship between the minds of the present, the minds of the past and the objects of reflection forms a subtle and complex triangle.
Royal Walling Projects in the Second Millennium bc: Beyond an Interpretation of Defence
Authors: Spence Kate
Published: February 2005

The majority of large-scale enclosure walls constructed in Egypt in the second millennium bc were built around temples rather than towns. These walls were high and massive, sometimes with multiple enceintes, while details such as buttresses and crenellations appear to have related the design to contemporary defensive architecture. A libation basin from Memphis demonstrates clearly that a temple could be viewed as equivalent to a fortress by local inhabitants while the mortuary temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu was closely modelled on contemporary fortress construction. These enclosure walls often represent a very significant investment of resources but are difficult to explain as defensive. Unlike town walls, temple enclosures were not optional extras but were an essential part of the architecture of the shrine.
The First Millennium bc: Temple Enclosure or Urban Citadel?
Authors: Kemp Barry
Published: February 2005

The first millennium bc brought warfare to the interior of Egypt on a significant scale. We have two vivid records, one written and the other pictorial. The former is a first-person narrative of the Napatan (Sudanese) king Piankhy who, having gained control of the south of Egypt, embarked in 730 bc on a methodical subjugation of the rest of the country, then under the rule of several local families. During the seemingly irresistible northward progress of his army Piankhy makes frequent reference to walls with battlements and gates which could be countered with siege towers/battering rams and the erection of earthen ramps, although Piankhy himself preferred the tactic of direct storming. Within the circuit of these walls lay treasuries and granaries and, in the case of the city of Hermopolis in Middle Egypt, the palace of the local king Nemlut together with its stables for horses.
Pharmacological neutropenia prevents endothelial dysfunction but not smooth muscle functions impairment induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion
Authors: Pétrault Olivier , Ouk Thavarak , Gautier Sophie , Laprais Maud , Gelé Patrick , Bastide Michèle , Bordet Régis
Published: February 2005

The polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) activation and mobilization observed in acute cerebral infarction contribute to the brain tissue damage, but PMN could also be involved in postischemic functional injury of ischemied blood vessel.

This study was undertaken to investigate whether pharmacological neutropenia could modify the postischemic endothelial dysfunction in comparison to smooth muscle whose impairment is likely more related to reperfusion and oxidative stress.

A cerebral ischemia–reperfusion by endoluminal occlusion of right middle cerebral artery (MCA) was performed 4 days after intravenous administration of vinblastine or 12 h after RP‐3 anti‐rat neutrophils monoclonal antibody (mAb RP‐3) injection into the peritoneal cavity, on male Wistar rats with 1‐h ischemia then followed by 24‐h reperfusion period. Brain infarct volume was measured by histomorphometric analysis and vascular endothelial and smooth muscle reactivity of MCA was analysed using Halpern myograph.

Neutropenia induced a neuroprotective effect as demonstrated by a significant decrease of brain infarct size. In parallel to neuroprotection, neutropenia prevented postischemic impairment of endothelium‐dependent relaxing response to acetylcholine. In contrast, smooth muscle functional alterations were not prevented by neutropenia. Ischemia–reperfusion‐induced myogenic tone impairment remained unchanged in vinblastine and mAb RP‐3‐treated rats. Postischemic Kir2.x‐dependent relaxation impairment was not prevented in neutropenic conditions. The fully relaxation of smooth muscle response to sodium nitroprusside was similar in all groups.

Our results evidenced the dissociate prevention of pharmacologically induced neutropenia on postischemic vascular endothelial and smooth muscle impairment. The selective endothelial protection by neutropenia is parallel to a neuroprotective effect suggesting a possible relationship between the two phenomena.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 144, 1051–1058. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706124
The role of substance P in microvascular responses in murine joint inflammation
Authors: Keeble Julie , Blades Mark , Pitzalis Costantino , Castro da Rocha Fransisco Airton , Brain Susan Diana
Published: February 2005

Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious, inflammatory disease of the distal joints that has a possible neurogenic component underlying its pathology.

Substance P (SP), an endogenous neuropeptide that acts upon the neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor, is released from sensory nerves and is involved in neurogenic inflammation.

In this study, we have developed novel techniques to determine the contribution of SP to microvascular responses in a model of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)‐induced arthritis in NK1 knockout mice.

Detailed analysis in normal mice revealed that CFA (20 μg i.art.)‐induced plasma extravasation was raised from 18 to 72 h, when compared with intravascular volume. By comparison, knee swelling was sustained for 3 weeks. Neutrophil accumulation mirrored plasma extravasation. SP (10 pmol i.art.) caused significant acute plasma extravasation, but not other parameters, in wild type (WT), but not NK1 knockout mice. CFA (10 μg i.art.) induced a significantly decreased intravascular volume, presumably due to decreased blood flow, at early time points (5 and 7 h) in WT but not NK1 knockouts. Otherwise, similar responses in WT and NK1 knockout mice were observed. However, injection of SP into CFA‐pretreated joints caused a significant enhancement of plasma extravasation and knee swelling in the WT but not NK1 knockouts.

In conclusion, the present study has used novel techniques in WT and NK1 knockout mice to show that SP can modulate vascular tone and permeability in the inflamed joint via activation of the NK1 receptor and that SP‐induced responses are more pronounced where pre‐existing inflammation is present.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 144, 1059–1066. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706131
Effects of serum from patients with chronic renal failure on rat hepatic cytochrome P450
Authors: Michaud Josée , Dubé Pierre , Naud Judith , Leblond Francois A , Desbiens Karine , Bonnardeaux Alain , Pichette Vincent
Published: February 2005

In humans, chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with decreased hepatic drug metabolism, particularly that mediated by the cytochrome P450 (P450). The mechanisms remain poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the serum of patients with CRF on liver P450, and to evaluate whether renal replacement therapies (dialysis or transplantation) impede the inhibition of CRF serum on P450.

Rat hepatocytes were incubated for 24 h with serum from patients with severe CRF and from controls to measure (1) P450 level, (2) protein expression and mRNA levels of P450 isoforms and (3) metabolic activities of CYP3A and CYP1A. Similar experiments were performed with serum of patients once on chronic hemodialysis and after kidney transplantation.

In rat hepatocytes incubated for 24 h with serum from patients with CRF, P450 level and protein expression, as well as mRNA levels of P450 isoforms (CYP1A2, 2C6, 2C11, 2D1/2D2, 3A2 and 4A1/4A3), were decreased by more than 45% (P<0.001) compared to control serum, while the levels of CYP2E1 were not modified. CYP3A and CYP1A activities were decreased by 51 and 59% (P<0.001), respectively. The inhibitory effect of serum obtained from patients before first dialysis was similar after 1 or 6 months on chronic hemodialysis but was lost after successful kidney transplantation. In CRF serum, the fraction containing proteins between 10 and 15 kDa decreases P450.

Human uremic serum contains mediator(s) that decreases rat hepatic P450 activity and expression secondary to reduced gene expression. The inhibitory effect of serum persists even after initiation of dialysis, but disappears after normalization of renal function following kidney transplantation.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 144, 1067–1077. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706138
Urinary responses to acute moxonidine are inhibited by natriuretic peptide receptor antagonist
Authors: El‐Ayoubi Rouwayda , Menaouar Ahmed , Gutkowska Jolanta , Mukaddam‐Daher Suhayla
Published: February 2005

We have previously shown that acute intravenous injections of moxonidine and clonidine increase plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a vasodilator, diuretic and natriuretic hormone. We hypothesized that moxonidine stimulates the release of ANP, which would act on its renal receptors to cause diuresis and natriuresis, and these effects may be altered in hypertension.

Moxonidine (0, 10, 50, 100 or 150 μg in 300 μl saline) and clonidine (0, 1, 5 or 10 μg in 300 μl saline) injected intravenously in conscious normally hydrated normotensive Sprague–Dawley rats (SD, ∼200 g) and 12–14‐week‐old Wistar‐Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) dose‐dependently stimulated diuresis, natriuresis, kaliuresis and cGMP excretion, with these effects being more pronounced during the first hour post‐injection. The actions of 5 μg clonidine and 50 μg moxonidine were inhibited by yohimbine, an α2‐adrenoceptor antagonist, and efaroxan, an imidazoline I1‐receptor antagonist.

Moxonidine (100 μg) stimulated (P<0.01) diuresis in SHR (0.21±0.04 vs 1.16±0.06 ml h−1 100 g−1), SD (0.42±0.06 vs 1.56±0.19 ml h−1 100 g−1) and WKY (0.12±0.04 vs 1.44±0.21 ml h−1 100 g−1). Moxonidine‐stimulated urine output was lower in SHR than in SD and WKY. Moxonidine‐stimulated sodium and potassium excretions were lower in SHR than in SD, but not WKY, demonstrating an influence of strain but not of pressure. Pretreatment with the natriuretic peptide antagonist anantin (5 or 10 μg) resulted in dose‐dependent inhibition of moxonidine‐stimulated urinary actions. Anantin (10 μg) inhibited (P<0.01) urine output to 0.38±0.06, 0.12±0.01, and 0.16±0.04 ml h−1 100 g−1 in SD, WKY, and SHR, respectively. Moxonidine increased (P<0.01) plasma ANP in SD (417±58 vs 1021±112 pg ml−1) and WKY (309±59 vs 1433±187 pg ml−1), and in SHR (853±96 vs 1879±229 pg ml−1).

These results demonstrate that natriuretic peptides mediate the urinary actions of moxonidine through natriuretic peptide receptors.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 145, 50–56. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706146
Stimulation of protease‐activated receptor‐2 inhibits airway eosinophilia, hyperresponsiveness and bronchoconstriction in a murine model of allergic inflammation
Authors: De Campo Benjamin A , Henry Peter J
Published: February 2005

An emerging body of evidence indicates that PGE2 has a privileged anti‐inflammatory role within the airways. Stimulants of protease‐activated receptor‐2 (PAR2) inhibit airway smooth muscle tone in vitro and in vivo predominantly via cyclooxygenase (COX)‐dependent generation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Thus, the current study tested the hypothesis that PAR2‐induced generation of PGE2 inhibits the development of allergic airways inflammation and hyperresponsiveness.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid recovered from ovalbumin (OVA)‐sensitised and ‐challenged (allergic) mice contained elevated numbers of eosinophils, which peaked at 48 h postchallenge. Intranasal (i.n.) administration of a PAR2‐activating peptide (PAR2‐AP) SLIGRL (25 mg kg−1, at the time of OVA challenge) caused a 70% reduction in the numbers of BAL eosinophils (compared to the scrambled peptide LSIGRL, 25 mg kg−1).

Pretreatment of allergic mice with either indomethacin (1 mg kg−1, dual COX inhibitor) or nimesulide (3 mg kg−1, COX‐2‐selective inhibitor) blocked SLIGRL‐induced reductions in BAL eosinophils.

I.n. SLIGRL, but not LSIGRL, inhibited the development of antigen‐induced airways hyperresponsiveness. The inhibitory effect of SLIGRL was blocked by indomethacin.

Exposure of isolated tracheal preparations from allergic mice to 100 μM SLIGRL was associated with a 5.0‐fold increase in PGE2 levels (P<0.05, compared to 100 μM LSIGRL). SLIGRL induced similar increases in PGE2 levels in control mice (OVA‐sensitised, saline‐challenged).

I.n. administration of PGE2 (0.15 mg kg−1) to allergic mice significantly inhibited eosinophilia and airways hyperresponsiveness to methacholine.

In anaesthetised, ventilated allergic mice, SLIGRL (5 mg kg−1, i.v.) inhibited methacholine‐induced increases in airways resistance. Consistent with this bronchodilator effect, SLIGRL induced pronounced relaxation responses in isolated tracheal preparations obtained from allergic mice. LSIGRL did not inhibit bronchomotor tone in either of these in vivo or in vitro experiments.

In summary, a PAR2‐AP SLIGRL inhibited the development of airway eosinophilia and hyperresponsiveness in allergic mice through a COX‐dependent pathway involving COX‐2‐mediated generation of the anti‐inflammatory mediator PGE2. SLIGRL also displayed bronchodilator activity in allergic mice. These studies support the concept that PAR2 exerts predominantly bronchoprotective actions within allergic murine airways.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 144, 1100–1108. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706150
Sulfur‐containing amino acids block stretch‐dependent K+ channels and nitrergic responses in the murine colon
Authors: Park Kyu Joo , Baker Salah A , Cho Sang Yun , Sanders Kenton M , Koh Sang Don
Published: February 2005

Efforts to determine the role of stretch‐dependent K+ (SDK) channels in enteric inhibitory neural responses in gastrointestinal muscles are difficult due to a lack of blocking drugs for SDK channels.

SDK channels are blocked by sulfur‐containing amino acids. These compounds reduced the open probability of SDK channels in on and off‐cell patches of murine colonic myocytes. L‐Methionine was the most selective and had little or no effect on other known K+ conductances in colonic myocytes.

Application of L‐cysteine, L‐methionine or DL‐homocysteine depolarized intact muscles and enhanced spontaneous contractions. D‐Stereoisomers of these amino acids were less effective than L‐stereoisomers.

Pretreatment of muscles with tetrodotoxin, NW‐nitro‐L‐arginine or 1H‐[1,2,4] oxadiazolo [4,3‐a] quinoxalin‐1‐one reduced the depolarization responses to these compounds, suggesting that spontaneous neural activity and release of NO tonically activates SDK channels.

Nitrergic responses to nerve stimulation were reduced by sulfur‐containing amino acids.

These data suggest that nitrergic inhibitory junction potentials are mediated, in part, by activation of SDK channels in murine colonic muscles.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 144, 1126–1137. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706154
Generalized effective-mass approach for n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors on arbitrarily oriented wafers
Authors: Rahman Anisur , Lundstrom Mark S. , Ghosh Avik W.
Published: February 2005

The general theory for quantum simulation of cubic semiconductor n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors is presented within the effective-mass equation approach. The full three-dimensional transport problem is described in terms of coupled transverse subband modes which arise due to quantum confinement along the body thickness direction. Couplings among the subbands are generated for two reasons: due to spatial variations of the confinement potential along the transport direction and due to nonalignment of the device coordinate system with the principal axes of the constant energy conduction-band ellipsoids. The problem simplifies considerably if the electrostatic potential is separable along the transport and confinement directions, and further if the potential variations along the transport direction are slow enough to prevent dipolar coupling (Zener tunneling) between subbands. In this limit, the transport problem can be solved by employing two unitary operators to transform an arbitrarily oriented constant energy ellipsoid into a regular ellipsoid with principal axes along the transport, width, and confinement directions of the device. The effective masses for several technologically important wafer orientations for silicon and germanium are calculated in this paper.
Variational two-fermion wave equations in quantum electrodynamics: Muoniumlike systems
Authors: Terekidi Andrei G. , Darewych Jurij W.
Published: February 2005

We consider a reformulation of quantum electrodynamics in which covariant Green functions are used to solve for the electromagnetic field in terms of the fermion fields. The resulting modified Hamiltonian contains the photon propagator directly. A simple Fock-state variational trial function is used to derive relativistic two-fermion equations variationally from the expectation value of the Hamiltonian of the field theory. The interaction kernel of the equation is shown to be, in essence, the invariant M matrix in lowest order. Solutions of the two-body equations are presented for muoniumlike systems for small coupling strengths. The results compare well with the observed muonium spectrum, as well as that for hydrogen and muonic hydrogen. Anomalous magnetic moment effects are discussed.
Focal length control of complex harmonic and complex pulsed ultrasonic bounded beams
Authors: Declercq Nico F. , Degrieck Joris , Leroy Oswald
Published: February 2005

This article describes a way to change the focal length of a single transducer without phased array technology and without changing the (real) frequency. The physical effect is induced by changing the signal’s amplitude in a precise manner in order to approach the complex harmonic wave regime. In this regime, changing the imaginary frequency results in a change of the focal length. A study is performed for different beam shapes and for complex harmonic signals as well as for complex pulsed signals.
Transmission electron microscopy study on Nd-rich phase and grain boundary structure of Nd–Fe–B sintered magnets
Authors: Shinba Y. , Konno T. J. , Ishikawa K. , Hiraga K. , Sagawa M.
Published: February 2005

The crystal structure and morphology of the Nd-rich phase in postannealed sintered Nd–Fe–B hard magnets were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Nd-rich phase at grain boundaries thinner than about 2nm was found to be amorphous; as the boundary region broadened, it assumed a face-centered cubic (fcc) structure with a≈0.54nm; eventually, the selected area diffraction pattern exhibited systematically allowed superlattice spots, revealing that the Nd-rich phase belongs to the space group Ia3¯ with a≈1.1nm. The elemental analysis of the Nd-rich phase showed that it contains a considerable amount of oxygen. These findings indicate that the Nd-rich phase with a≈1.1nm is in fact isostructural to cubic Nd2O3 (Mn2O3 structure). We also found Nd-rich fcc precipitates (a≈0.54nm) of several ten to hundred nm inside the Nd2Fe14B grains. Both intergranular and intragrain Nd-rich phases possess simple orientation relationships with the matrix Nd2Fe14B phase, such as (111)Nd2Fe14B‖(111)Nd-rich [2¯11]Nd2Fe14B‖[2¯11]Nd-rich and (010)Nd2Fe14B‖(111)Nd-rich [001]Nd2Fe14B‖[1¯10]Nd-rich. Our Lorentz TEM observation suggested that the intragrain Nd-rich precipitates frequently disrupt magnetic domain wall arrangements, and that the magnetic interactions across thin amorphous Nd-rich phase are dominated by a simple dipole interaction.
A theory for the pressure pedestal in high (H) mode tokamak discharges
Authors: Guzdar P. N. , Mahajan S. M. , Yoshida Z.
Published: February 2005

When a tokamak plasma makes a transition into the good or the high confinement H mode, the edge density and pressure steepen and develop a very sharp pressure pedestal. Prediction of the height and width of this pressure profile has been actively pursued so as to provide a reliable extrapolation to future burning plasma devices. The double-Beltrami two-fluid equilibria of Mahajan and Yoshida [Phys. Plasmas 7, 635 (2000)] are invoked and extended to derive scalings for the edge pedestal width and height with plasma parameters: these scalings come out in agreement with the established semiempirical scalings. The theory predictions are also compared with limited published H-mode data and the agreement is found to be very encouraging.
Precession driven dynamos
Authors: Tilgner A.
Published: February 2005

The dynamo effect is demonstrated numerically in precession driven flow in a spherical container. Both laminar as well as unstable flows act as dynamos. At low Ekman numbers in unstable flows, the dynamo mechanism relies predominantly on the components of the flow excited by instabilities. All calculations are performed in a frame of reference attached to the boundaries. In this frame, the rotation axis of the fluid executes a periodic motion with a period equal to the rotation period of the boundaries, whereas the magnetic dipole moment undergoes slower variations interrupted by reversals.
Current injection efficiency of InGaAsN quantum-well lasers
Authors: Tansu Nelson , Mawst Luke J.
Published: February 2005

The concept of below-threshold and above-threshold current injection efficiency of quantum well (QW) lasers is clarified. The analysis presented here is applied to the current injection efficiency of 1200nm emitting InGaAs and 1300nm emitting InGaAsN QW lasers. The role of heavy-hole leakage in the InGaAsN QW lasers is shown to be significant in determining the device temperature sensitivity. The current injection efficiency of QW lasers with large monomolecular recombination processes is shown to be less temperature sensitive. Excellent agreement between theory and experiment is obtained for both the 1200nm emitting InGaAs QW and the 1300nm emitting InGaAsN QW lasers. Suppression of thermionic carrier escape processes in the InGaAsN QW results in high performance 1300nm emitting lasers operating up to high temperature.
Flight in a viscous fluid: Asymptotic theory of the vortex wake
Authors: Afanasyev Yakov
Published: February 2005

Solutions for the three-dimensional distributions of vorticity in the wake behind localized forces moving in a viscous fluid are obtained. The forces simulate the drag, thrust, and lift forces applied on the fluid by a flying animal such as a small insect. Concentrated vortex tubes in the wake are also illustrated in a visualization experiment where a “virtual” insect is modeled using the electromagnetic method of forcing.
An algebro-geometric solution for a Hamiltonian system with application to dispersive long wave equation
Authors: Hon Y. C. , Fan E. G.
Published: February 2005

By using an iterative algebraic method, we derive from a spectral problem a hierarchy of nonlinear evolution equations associated with dispersive long wave equation. It is shown that the hierarchy is integrable in Liouville sense and possesses bi-Hamiltonian structure. Two commutators, with zero curvature and Lax representations, for the hierarchy are constructed, respectively, by using two different systematic methods. Under a Bargmann constraint the spectral is nonlinearized to a completely integrable finite dimensional Hamiltonian system. By introducing the Abel–Jacobi coordinates, an algebro-geometric solution for the dispersive long wave equation is derived by resorting to the Riemann theta function.
Measurement of micromovements with the help of a nonlinear sinusoidal oscillator and an inductive sensor
Authors: Bayard J.
Published: February 2005

Proximity magnetic sensors are based on an induction coil that creates a magnetic field. The presence of a metal target in the vicinity of this coil modifies the properties of the field created by the coil and consequently the value of its equivalent R∕L circuit. The sensor is usually used as a coil to fix the frequency value of a sinusoidal oscillator. The types of oscillators used (and the suggested linear analysis) do not make it possible to determine the oscillation amplitude value. So, designers of such sensors have to connect the distance target/sensor only to the variation of the oscillation frequency value. We propose the development of a nonlinear oscillator that allows linking oscillation amplitude and parallel resistance of the sensor. One can thus connect the distance target/sensor to the amplitude and/or the frequency of the oscillation.
The influence of turbulence on a columnar vortex
Authors: Takahashi Naoya , Ishii Hiroyuki , Miyazaki Takeshi
Published: February 2005

The interaction between a columnar vortex and external turbulence is investigated numerically. A Lamb–Oseen vortex is immersed in an initially isotropic homogeneous turbulence field, which itself is produced numerically by a direct numerical simulation of decaying turbulence. The formation of inhomogeneous fine turbulent eddies around the columnar vortex and the vortex-core deformations are studied in detail by visualizing the flow field. The initially random turbulent eddies (worms) are wrapped around the columnar vortex and become spirals. Statistical quantities, such as two-point-energy spectra and two-point-enstrophy spectra, are evaluated and compared with the theoretical predictions from rapid distortion theory. The axial velocity correlation dominates near the vortex surface, whereas the radial velocity correlation becomes larger where the worms are wrapped. Where the columnar vortex is strong compared with the external turbulence, external velocity disturbances are blocked by the vortex and they cannot penetrate into the vortex core directly, whereas various types of vortex waves (Kelvin waves) are excited.
High-quality quantum point contacts in GaN∕AlGaN heterostructures
Authors: Chou H. T. , Lüscher S. , Goldhaber-Gordon D. , Manfra M. J. , Sergent A. M. , West K. W. , Molnar R. J.
Published: February 2005

We study the transport properties of quantum point contacts in a GaN∕AlGaN heterostructure. The conductance of our devices shows well-quantized plateaus, which spin-split in high perpendicular magnetic field. The g factor is 2.55, as derived from the point contact subband splitting versus perpendicular magnetic field. In addition to the well-resolved plateaus, we also observe evidence of “0.7 structure” which has been mainly investigated in the GaAs system.
Direct observation and theoretical interpretation of strongly enhanced lateral diffusion of photogenerated carriers in InGaN∕GaN quantum well structures
Authors: Xu S. J. , Wang Y. J. , Li Q. , Zhang X. H. , Liu W. , Chua S. J.
Published: February 2005

Strongly enhanced lateral diffusion of photogenerated carriers was directly observed in the luminescent image of the InGaN∕GaN quantum wells. Such an effect was quantitatively modeled using diffusion equation and the ambipolar diffusion coefficient derived by K. H. Gulden and his co-workers [Phys. Rev. Lett. 66, 373 (1991)]. Our simulation shows that the vertical piezoelectric field existing in strained InGaN∕GaN quantum wells is the original “driving force” for the enhancement of lateral diffusion. Influence of the density of photogenerated carriers and their average mobility on the enhancement was discussed.
100% phosphorescence quantum efficiency of Ir(III) complexes in organic semiconductor films
Authors: Kawamura Yuichiro , Goushi Kenichi , Brooks Jason , Brown Julie J. , Sasabe Hiroyuki , Adachi Chihaya
Published: February 2005

We demonstrate that three Ir(III) complexes used as principal dopants in organic electrophosphorescent diodes have very high photoluminescence quantum efficiency (ηPL) in a solid-state film. The green emitting complex, fac-tris(2-phenylpyridinato)iridium(III) [Ir(ppy)3], the red-emitting bis[2-(2′-benzothienyl)pyridinato-N,C3′] (acetylacetonato)iridium(III) [Btp2Ir(acac)], and the blue complex bis[(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridinato-N,C2](picolinato)iridium(III) (FIrpic) were prepared as codeposited films of varying concentration with 4,4′-bis(N-carbazolyl)-2,2′-biphenyl, a commonly used host material. The maximum ηPL values for Ir(ppy)3, Btp2Ir(acac), and FIrpic were, respectively, 97%±2% (at 1.5mol%), 51%±1% (at 1.4mol%), and 78%±1% (at 15mol%). Furthermore, we also observed that the maximum ηPL of FIrpic reached 99%±1% when doped into the high triplet energy host, m-bis(N-carbazolyl)benzene, at an optimal concentration of 1.2mol%.
Ballistic emission spectroscopy and imaging of a buried metal∕organic interface
Authors: Troadec Cedric , Kunardi Linda , Chandrasekhar N.
Published: February 2005

The silver∕polyparaphenylene interface is investigated using ballistic electron emission microscopy (BEEM). Multiple injection barriers and spatial nonuniformity of carrier injection over nanometer length scales are observed. No unique injection barrier is found. Physical reasons for these features are discussed. BEEM current images and the surface topography of the silver film are uncorrelated.
Temperature-dependent luminescent properties of Eu–Tb complexes synthesizedin situin gel glass
Authors: Liu Yan , Qian Guodong , Wang Zhiyu , Wang Minquan
Published: February 2005

The chelates of europium and terbium with hexafluoroacetylacetone (HFA) and triphenylphoshine oxide (TPPO), Eu∕Tb(HFA)3(TPPO)2, have been synthesized in situ in gel glasses with various concentrations of Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions. The photoluminescence spectra have been measured and the characteristic transitions of Tb3+ and Eu3+ have been observed. Due to the variance of energy transfer efficiencies from Tb3+ to Eu3+, the intensity ratios of europium luminescent band to terbium band vary remarkably with measurement temperatures. In addition, the Förster mechanism has been proved to be responsible for the energy transfer between Eu3+ and Tb3+. The materials doped with Eu∕Tb(HFA)3(TPPO)2 are promising for being used as a temperature detector and thermal-sensitive probe of optical fiber sensor.
Electroluminescent three-dimensional photonic crystals based on opal–phosphor composites
Authors: Kaplan Saveliy F. , Kartenko Nelli F. , Kurdyukov Dmitry A. , Medvedev Alexander V. , Golubev Valery G.
Published: February 2005

The composites opal–Zn2SiO4:Mn and opal–GaN–ZnS:Mn were synthesized by chemical bath deposition. These materials are perfect three-dimensional photonic crystals which produce effective fluorescence at room temperature when excited by an alternating current electric field. The electroluminescence spectrum is considerably modified by the photonic band gap to become anisotropic in accordance with the photonic band gap angular dispersion.
A Fabry–Perot interferometer for micrometer-sized cantilevers
Authors: Hoogenboom B. W. , Frederix P. L. T. M. , Yang J. L. , Martin S. , Pellmont Y. , Steinacher M. , Zäch S. , Langenbach E. , Heimbeck H.-J. , Engel A. , Hug H. J.
Published: February 2005

We have developed a Fabry–Perot interferometer detecting the deflection of micrometer-sized cantilevers and other micromechanical devices, at a working distance of 0.8mm. At 1MHz, a noise floor of 1fm∕Hz is obtained. The detector is mounted on a piezo motor for three-axis alignment. The angular alignment is not critical. The interferometer can be operated in vacuum, air, and liquid. It is particularly suited for scanning force microscopy with small cantilevers, or with larger cantilevers simultaneously monitoring vertical and lateral forces.
Consumer understanding and use of nutrition labelling: a systematic review
Authors: Cowburn Gill , Stockley Lynn
Published: February 2005

Objective

To explore published and unpublished research into consumer understanding and use of nutrition labelling which is culturally applicable in Europe.

Design

A systematic review undertaken between July 2002 and February 2003.

Results

One hundred and three papers were identified that reported on consumer understanding or use of nutrition labelling, most originating from North America or northern Europe. Only a few studies (9%) were judged to be of high or medium–high quality. We found that reported use of nutrition labels is high but more objective measures suggest that actual use of nutrition labelling during food purchase may be much lower. Whether or not consumers can understand and use nutrition labelling depends on the purpose of the task. Available evidence suggests that consumers who do look at nutrition labels can understand some of the terms used but are confused by other types of information. Most appear able to retrieve simple information and make simple calculations and comparisons between products using numerical information, but their ability to interpret the nutrition label accurately reduces as the complexity of the task increases. The addition of interpretational aids like verbal descriptors and recommended reference values helps in product comparison and in putting products into a total diet context.

Conclusions

Improvements in nutrition labelling could make a small but important contribution towards making the existing point-of-purchase environment more conducive to the selection of healthy choices. In particular, interpretational aids can help consumers assess the nutrient contribution of specific foods to the overall diet.
Direct cleavage of ROCK II by granzyme B induces target cell membrane blebbing in a caspase-independent manner
Authors: Sebbagh Michael , Hamelin Jocelyne , Bertoglio Jacques , Solary Eric , Bréard Jacqueline
Published: February 2005

Caspase activation in target cells is a major function of granzyme B (grB) during cytotoxic lymphocyte granule-induced apoptosis. grB-mediated cell death can occur in the absence of active caspases, and the molecular targets responsible for this additional pathway remain poorly defined. Apoptotic plasma membrane blebbing is caspase independent during granule exocytosis–mediated cell death, whereas in other instances, this event is a consequence of the cleavage by caspases of the Rho effector, Rho-associated coiled coil–containing protein kinase (ROCK) I. We show here that grB directly cleaves ROCK II, a ROCK family member encoded by a separate gene and closely related to ROCK I, and this causes constitutive kinase activity and bleb formation. For the first time, two proteins of the same family are found to be specifically cleaved by either a caspase or grB, thus defining two independent pathways with similar phenotypic consequences in the cells. During granule-induced cell death, ROCK II cleavage by grB would overcome, for this apoptotic feature, the consequences of deficient caspase activation that may occur in virus-infected or malignant target cells.
Plasmacytoid precursor dendritic cells facilitate allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell engraftment
Authors: Fugier-Vivier Isabelle J. , Rezzoug Francine , Huang Yiming , Graul-Layman Amanda J. , Schanie Carrie L. , Xu Hong , Chilton Paula M. , Ildstad Suzanne T.
Published: February 2005

Bone marrow transplantation offers great promise for treating a number of disease states. However, the widespread application of this approach is dependent upon the development of less toxic methods to establish chimerism and avoid graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). CD8+/TCR− facilitating cells (FCs) have been shown to enhance engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in allogeneic recipients without causing GVHD. In the present studies, we have identified the main subpopulation of FCs as plasmacytoid precursor dendritic cells (p-preDCs). FCs and p-preDCs share many phenotypic, morphological, and functional features: both produce IFN-α and TNF-α, both are activated by toll-like receptor (TLR)-9 ligand (CpG ODN) stimulation, and both expand and mature after Flt3 ligand (FL) treatment. FL-mobilized FCs, most of which express a preDC phenotype, significantly enhance engraftment of HSCs and induce donor-specific tolerance to skin allografts. However, p-preDCs alone or p-preDCs from the FC population facilitate HSC engraftment less efficiently than total FCs. Moreover, FCs depleted of preDCs completely fail to facilitate HSC engraftment. These results are the first to define a direct functional role for p-preDCs in HSC engraftment, and also suggest that p-preDCs need to be in a certain state of maturation/activation to be fully functional.
Dlgh1 coordinates actin polymerization, synaptic T cell receptor and lipid raft aggregation, and effector function in T cells
Authors: Round June L. , Tomassian Tamar , Zhang Min , Patel Viresh , Schoenberger Stephen P. , Miceli M. Carrie
Published: February 2005

Lipid raft membrane compartmentalization and membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) family molecular scaffolds function in establishing cell polarity and organizing signal transducers within epithelial cell junctions and neuronal synapses. Here, we elucidate a role for the MAGUK protein, Dlgh1, in polarized T cell synapse assembly and T cell function. We find that Dlgh1 translocates to the immune synapse and lipid rafts in response to T cell receptor (TCR)/CD28 engagement and that LckSH3-mediated interactions with Dlgh1 control its membrane targeting. TCR/CD28 engagement induces the formation of endogenous Lck–Dlgh1–Zap70–Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) complexes in which Dlgh1 acts to facilitate interactions of Lck with Zap70 and WASp. Using small interfering RNA and overexpression approaches, we show that Dlgh1 promotes antigen-induced actin polymerization, synaptic raft and TCR clustering, nuclear factor of activated T cell activity, and cytokine production. We propose that Dlgh1 coordinates TCR/CD28-induced actin-driven T cell synapse assembly, signal transduction, and effector function. These findings highlight common molecular strategies used to regulate cell polarity, synapse assembly, and transducer organization in diverse cellular systems.
Visual perception of male body attractiveness
Authors: Fan J. , Dai W. , Liu F. , Wu J.
Published: February 2005

Based on 69 scanned Chinese male subjects and 25 Caucasian male subjects, the present study showed that the volume height index (VHI) is the most important visual cue to male body attractiveness of young Chinese viewers among the many body parameters examined in the study. VHI alone can explain
ca
. 73% of the variance of male body attractiveness ratings. The effect of VHI can be fitted with two half bell–shaped exponential curves with an optimal VHI at 17.6 l m
–2
and 18.0 l m
–2
for female raters and male raters, respectively. In addition to VHI, other body parameters or ratios can have small, but significant effects on male body attractiveness. Body proportions associated with fitness will enhance male body attractiveness. It was also found that there is an optimal waist–to–hip ratio (WHR) at 0.8 and deviations from this optimal WHR reduce male body attractiveness.
Protease susceptibility of the Caulobacter crescentus flagellar hook–basal body: a possible mechanism of flagellar ejection during cell differentiation
Authors: Kanbe M. , Shibata S. , Umino Y. , Jenal U. , Aizawa S.-I.
Published: February 2005

When motile swarmer cells of Caulobacter crescentus differentiate into sessile stalked cells, the flagellum is ejected. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of the flagellar ejection, flagellar hook–basal body (HBB) complexes from C. crescentus were purified and characterized. The purified HBBs were less stable against acidic pH or protease treatment than HBBs of Salmonella typhimurium, supporting the view that flagellar ejection from C. crescentus is initiated by destruction of the fragile basal structures. In addition, protease treatment of the purified flagella resulted in the specific digestion of the MS ring complex, revealing for the first time the intact structure of the whole rod.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa tolerance to tobramycin, hydrogen peroxide and polymorphonuclear leukocytes is quorum-sensing dependent
Authors: Bjarnsholt Thomas , Jensen Peter Østrup , Burmølle Mette , Hentzer Morten , Haagensen Janus A. J. , Hougen Hans Petter , Calum Henrik , Madsen Kit G. , Moser Claus , Molin Søren , Høiby Niels , Givskov Michael
Published: February 2005

The opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the predominant micro-organism of chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. P. aeruginosa colonizes the CF lungs by forming biofilm structures in the alveoli. In the biofilm mode of growth the bacteria are highly tolerant to otherwise lethal doses of antibiotics and are protected from bactericidal activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). P. aeruginosa controls the expression of many of its virulence factors by means of a cell–cell communication system termed quorum sensing (QS). In the present report it is demonstrated that biofilm bacteria in which QS is blocked either by mutation or by administration of QS inhibitory drugs are sensitive to treatment with tobramycin and H2O2, and are readily phagocytosed by PMNs, in contrast to bacteria with functional QS systems. In contrast to the wild-type, QS-deficient biofilms led to an immediate respiratory-burst activation of the PMNs in vitro. In vivo QS-deficient mutants provoked a higher degree of inflammation. It is suggested that quorum signals and QS-inhibitory drugs play direct and opposite roles in this process. Consequently, the faster and highly efficient clearance of QS-deficient bacteria in vivo is probably a two-sided phenomenon: down regulation of virulence and activation of the innate immune system. These data also suggest that a combination of the action of PMNs and QS inhibitors along with conventional antibiotics would eliminate the biofilm-forming bacteria before a chronic infection is established.