bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TheSaccharomyces cerevisiae PRM1Homolog inNeurospora crassaIs Involved in Vegetative and Sexual Cell Fusion Events but Also Has Postfertilization Functions
Authors: Fleißner André , Diamond Spencer , Glass N Louise
Published: December 2008

Cell–cell fusion is essential for a variety of developmental steps in many eukaryotic organisms, during both fertilization and vegetative cell growth. Although the molecular mechanisms associated with intracellular membrane fusion are well characterized, the molecular mechanisms of plasma membrane merger between cells are poorly understood. In the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa, cell fusion events occur during both vegetative and sexual stages of its life cycle, thus making it an attractive model for studying the molecular basis of cell fusion during vegetative growth vs. sexual reproduction. In the unicellular yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, one of the few proteins implicated in plasma membrane merger during mating is Prm1p; prm1Δ mutants show an ∼50% reduction in mating cell fusion. Here we report on the role of the PRM1 homolog in N. crassa. N. crassa strains with deletions of a Prm1-like gene (Prm1) showed an ∼50% reduction in both vegetative and sexual cell fusion events, suggesting that PRM1 is part of the general cell fusion machinery. However, unlike S. cerevisiae, N. crassa strains carrying a Prm1 deletion exhibited complete sterility as either a male or female mating partner, a phenotype that was not complemented in a heterokaryon with wild type (WT). Crosses with ΔPrm1 strains were blocked early in sexual development, well before development of ascogenous hyphae. The ΔPrm1 sexual defect in N. crassa was not suppressed by mutations in Sad-1, which is required for meiotic silencing of unpaired DNA (MSUD). However, mutations in Sad-1 increased the number of progeny obtained in crosses with a ΔPrm1 (Prm1-gfp) complemented strain. These data indicate multiple roles for PRM1 during sexual development.
To Intubate or Not to Intubate? Transporting Infants on Prostaglandin E1
Authors: Meckler Garth D. , Lowe Calvin
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this work was to describe the pretransport and transport management of infants receiving prostaglandin E1 infusion for congenital heart disease and to compare transport complications among unintubated and electively intubated infants.

METHODS. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 202 infants receiving prostaglandin E1 during transport to our facility from 2000 to 2005. Prostaglandin E1 adverse effects were described as likely or possible and transport complications as major or minor (requiring no intervention). Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for major transport complications, and subgroup analysis compared risks among unintubated and prophylactically intubated infants.

RESULTS. Sixty-four percent of infants were intubated before transport: 34% emergently before prostaglandin E1, 14% for prostaglandin E1-related adverse effects, and 11% prophylactically. Likely prostaglandin E1 adverse effects were noted in 38% of infants, including 18% with apnea. Major complications occurred during 42% of all of the transports, including 7 (10%) of 73 unintubated infants and 14 (61%) of 23 prophylactically intubated infants. After controlling for multiple factors, elective intubation was a significant predictor of major transport complications.

CONCLUSIONS. Despite high rates of prostaglandin E1 adverse effects, elective intubation of infants for transport significantly increased the odds of a major transport complication. The risks of prophylactic intubation before the transport of otherwise stable infants on prostaglandin E1 must be weighed carefully against possible benefits.
CROSS‐GENERATIONAL EFFECTS OF HABITAT AND DENSITY ON LIFE HISTORY IN RED DEER
Authors: McLoughlin Philip D. , Coulson Tim , Clutton-Brock Tim
Published: December 2008

We used long‐term data on movements, survival, and reproduction of female red deer (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus) of the Isle of Rum, Scotland (1970–2001), to explain variation in life history (age at maturity) from a hind's access to habitat resources and exposure to local density, and cross‐generational (maternal) effects on observed relationships. We described each hind's use of resources relative to availability in the study area from an individual‐based resource selection function (RSF); we defined local density as the total number of hinds aged ≥1 year within the subpopulation cluster to which an individual belonged. The likelihood of a hind producing her first calf in the period from birth to the end of the summer in which she turned age 3 was positively related to relative use of Agrostis/Festuca grasslands and other low‐elevation communities, and inversely related to a hind's mean annual local density. However, when we considered both a daughter's RSF and exposure to local density and her mother's RSF and exposure to local density, maternal data alone most parsimoniously explained variation in age at maturity of daughters. Mothers were able to lower age at maturity in their daughters in two, non‐mutually exclusive ways. First, birth mass of daughters was inversely related to age at maturity, and mothers that used relatively less uplands (Calluna‐dominated heath and heather moorland) and occupied areas of lower density produced larger offspring. Second, mothers could establish a home range that enabled daughters to mature in areas with access to high quality Agrostis/Festuca grasslands at low density. Lifetime reproductive success was inversely associated with a hind's age at maturity via extension of the reproductive life span. Longevity did not change in association with age at maturity. Patterns in how animals use available habitat resources may depend on that of previous generations, especially at larger scales of resource selection.
ECOSYSTEM ENGINEERING BY A COLONIAL MAMMAL: HOW PRAIRIE DOGS STRUCTURE RODENT COMMUNITIES
Authors: Van Nimwegen Ron E. , Kretzer Justin , Cully Jack F.
Published: December 2008

As ecosystem engineers, prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) physically alter their environment, but the mechanism by which these alterations affect associated faunal composition is not well known. We examined how rodent and vegetation communities responded to prairie dog colonies and landcover at the Cimarron National Grassland in southwest Kansas, USA. We trapped rodents and measured vegetation structure on and off colonies in 2000 and 2003. We plotted two separate ordinations of trapping grids: one based on rodent counts and a second based on vegetation variables. We regressed three factors on each ordination: (1) colony (on‐colony and off‐colony), (2) cover (shortgrass and sandsage), and (3) habitat (factorial cross of colony × cover). Rodent communities differed by colony but not cover. Vegetation differed across both gradients. Rodent responses to habitat reflected those of colony and cover, but vegetation was found to differ across cover only in the sandsage prairie. This interaction suggested that rodent composition responded to prairie dog colonies, but independently of vegetation differences. We conclude that burrowing and soil disturbance are more important than vegetation cropping in structuring rodent communities.
UNINTENDED FACILITATION BETWEEN MARINE CONSUMERS GENERATES ENHANCED MORTALITY FOR THEIR SHARED PREY
Authors: Fodrie F. Joel , Kenworthy Matthew D. , Powers Sean P.
Published: December 2008

We manipulated predator densities and prey vulnerability to explore how interactions between two predators affect overall mortality of their shared prey. Our three‐member study system included eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and two of its major consumers: southern oyster drills (Stramonita haemastoma) and stone crabs (Menippe adina). Field experiments demonstrated that drills and crabs foraging together generated higher than expected oyster mortality based on each species operating independently, even though crabs also killed some drills. In subsequent laboratory trials, we experimentally mimicked the handling of oysters by foraging crabs and confirmed that crabs facilitated drills by breeching oyster valves, thereby granting easy access for drills to their prey. Facilitation between co‐occurring predators is uncommon and typically occurs because the behavior or habitat selection of a prey species is altered by the presence of one predator, consequently making the prey more susceptible to another predator. Whereas oysters are sedentary regardless of the predator field, we observed an entirely different mechanism that resulted in predator facilitation. This involved direct attacks on the physical defenses of oysters by one predator that ultimately increased the overall consumption rate of foraging species. These dynamics significantly enhanced mortality risk for a foundation species within an estuarine ecosystem.
CLIMATE CHANGE CAN CAUSE SPATIAL MISMATCH OF TROPHICALLY INTERACTING SPECIES
Authors: Schweiger Oliver , Settele Josef , Kudrna Otakar , Klotz Stefan , Kühn Ingolf
Published: December 2008

Climate change is one of the most influential drivers of biodiversity. Species‐specific differences in the reaction to climate change can become particularly important when interacting species are considered. Current studies have evidenced temporal mismatching of interacting species at single points in space, and recently two investigations showed that species interactions are relevant for their future ranges. However, so far we are not aware that the ranges of interacting species may become substantially spatially mismatched. We developed separate ecological‐niche models for a monophagous butterfly (Boloria titania) and its larval host plant (Polygonum bistorta) based on monthly interpolated climate data, land‐cover classes, and soil data at a 10′‐grid resolution. We show that all of three chosen global‐change scenarios, which cover a broad range of potential developments in demography, socio‐economics, and technology during the 21st century from moderate to intermediate to maximum change, will result in a pronounced spatial mismatch between future niche spaces of these species. The butterfly may expand considerably its future range (by 124–258%) if the host plant has unlimited dispersal, but it could lose 52–75% of its current range if the host plant is not able to fill its projected ecological niche space, and 79–88% if the butterfly also is assumed to be highly dispersal limited. These findings strongly suggest that climate change has the potential to disrupt trophic interactions because co‐occurring species do not necessarily react in a similar manner to global change, having important consequences at ecological and evolutionary time scales.
CARBON DIOXIDE AND METHANE FLUXES IN DRAINED TROPICAL PEAT BEFORE AND AFTER HYDROLOGICAL RESTORATION
Authors: Jauhiainen Jyrki , Limin Suwido , Silvennoinen Hanna , Vasander Harri
Published: December 2008

Present tropical peat deposits are the outcome of net carbon removal from the atmosphere and form one of the largest terrestrial organic carbon stores on the Earth. Reclamation of pristine tropical peatland areas in Southeast Asia increased strikingly during the last half of the 20th century. Drainage due to land‐use change is one of the main driving factors accelerating carbon loss from the ecosystem. Dams were built in drainage‐affected peatland area canals in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, in order to evaluate major patterns in gaseous carbon dioxide and methane fluxes and in peat hydrology immediately before and after hydrologic restoration. The sites included peat swamp forest and deforested burned area, both affected by drainage for nearly 10 years. Higher annual minimum soil water table levels prevailed on both sites after restoration; the deforested site water table level prevailed considerably longer near the peat surface, and the forest water table level remained for a longer period in the topmost 30 cm peat profile after restoration. Forest soil gas fluxes were clearly higher in comparison to the deforested area. Cumulative forest floor CO2 emissions (7305–7444 g·m−2·yr−1; 166.0–169.2 mol CO2·m−2·yr−1) and the deforested site CO2 emissions (2781–2608 g·m−2·yr−1; 63.2–59.3 mol CO2·m−2·yr−1) did not markedly reflect the notably differing hydrological conditions the year before and after restoration. The forest floor was a weak CH4 sink (−0.208 to −0.368 g·m−2·yr−1; −13.0 to −22.9 mmol CH4·m−2·yr−1) and the deforested site a comparable CH4 source (0.197–0.275 g·m−2·yr−1; 12.3–17.1 mmol CH4·m−2·yr−1) in the study period. In general, higher soil water table levels had a relatively small effect on the annual CH4 emission budgets. In the two site types the gas flux response into hydrological conditions in degraded tropical peat can be attributed to differing CO2 and CH4 dynamics, peat physical characteristics, and vegetation.
CAN WE IMPROVE ESTIMATES OF JUVENILE DISPERSAL DISTANCE AND SURVIVAL
Authors: Cooper Caren B. , Daniels Susan J. , Walters Jeffrey R.
Published: December 2008

Estimates of distributions of natal dispersal distances and juvenile recruitment rates in open populations are strongly influenced by the extent and shape of the areas sampled. Techniques to improve biased dispersal and survival estimates include area–ratio methods based on weighting observations by sampling effort, the extent and shape of the area sampled, and the amount and distribution of preferred habitat surrounding the area sampled. We partitioned territories within the boundaries of a large, almost geographically closed, population of individually marked Red‐cockaded Woodpeckers (Picoides borealis) and estimated dispersal and survival parameters from hypothetical smaller study areas (sampling areas) of varying sizes and shapes in order to examine whether an area–ratio method provides accurate or improved estimates of juvenile dispersal distance and survival. Non‐aggregated sampling areas resulted in the detection of fewer dispersal events, but because of their large spatial extent, produced unbiased dispersal estimates. The use of aggregated sampling areas (circular or linear) resulted in the detection of higher numbers of dispersal events, but produced biased dispersal estimates that were generally improved by the area–ratio method. Area–ratio corrections usually provided better estimates of median dispersal distance than uncorrected estimates. Survival to breeding was usually underestimated and often not improved by the area–ratio method, regardless of extent and shape of the sampling area. Estimates of juvenile survival to breeding were improved by assuming that rates of emigration were equivalent to immigration, and correcting survival estimates accordingly. Small, local studies should use an area–ratio method to improve their estimates of median dispersal distance. Because the correction method estimates relative, but not absolute, numbers of individuals dispersing across distance categories, the area–ratio method should not be used for estimating survival. Non‐aggregated sampling areas may be an effective design to increase spatial extent (and thus decrease bias) without proportionately increasing the amount of habitat sampled.
CFD Simulation of Catalytic Oxidation of Ethyl Acetate over Cr-HZSM-5 Catalyst
Authors: Niaei Aligholi , Salari Darioush , Hosseini Seyed Ali , Nabavi Reza , Jodaei Azadeh
Published: December 2008

This paper reports the results of a study on a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation for a study of gas catalytic oxidation of ethyl acetate over Cr-HZSM-5 catalyst. A gaseous stream, containing N2, O2 and ethyl acetate (in which ethyl acetate concentration in mixture was 2000 ppmV) with GHSV= 32000 h-1 as the feed, was inserted into a glass reactor, charged with a required amount of Cr-HZSM-5 catalyst under atmospheric pressure. The catalytic reactions were allowed to occur at atmospheric pressure and at different temperatures. Fluent 6.2 was used for the simulation of the catalytic process. The simulation was present for the model geometry of 20 solid spheres in a tube with a tube-to-particle diameter ratio equal to 2. Results of the simulation showed a good agreement with the experimental results. It was experimentally, and by simulation, observed that the increasing of the temperature and the decreasing of the inlet mass flow rate led to the increase of ethyl acetate conversion. Velocity vector profiles of the fluid were obtained with an emphasis on the catalytic region. Temperature and pressure contours of the fluid inside the reactor were predicted by simulation. Furthermore, the surface deposition rate of oxygen (during the step of catalyst oxidation) and species concentration along the reactor were obtained. This study revealed that CFD is the best tool to study detailed homogeneous and heterogeneous reaction schemes, even for complex catalyst geometries.
An Investigation of the Synthesis Parameters of the Reaction of Hydroxyapatite Precipitation in Aqueous Media
Authors: Gomes João F , Granadeiro Cristina C , Silva Miguel A , Hoyos Milton , Silva Rodrigo , Vieira Teresa
Published: December 2008

Hydroxyapatite (HAP), described by the formula Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, is one of the inorganic components of the hard tissues of living bodies such as bones and teeth. HAP is a calcium phosphate-based bio-ceramic, which has been used for several years in medicine and dentistry because of its excellent biocompatibility with human tissues. The success of its application in these fields depends upon factors such as the composition, crystallinity, size and morphology of HAP particles. This paper describes the work performed regarding the synthesis of this compound by a wet method comprising the direct precipitation of orthophosphoric acid solution to a calcium hydroxide solution, the process being described by the following reaction: 10 Ca(OH)2 + 6 H3(PO4) <=> Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 + 18 H2O. Synthesis was performed in a laboratory reactor, 700mL in capacity, which was instrumented and controlled using a computer interface, so that the influence on process variables, such as reaction temperature, pH, medium inertization by N2, velocity of stirring and the flow rate input of H3(PO4), could be assessed. The influence of these parameters was, therefore, evaluated in terms of the required composition and morphology of HAP formed particles. The particles were analysed by FTIR, XRD, SEM and EPMA for the determination of the Ca/P ratio. From the obtained results, it can be concluded that HAP particles, having suitable properties for use in medicine, could effectively be prepared by this technique, provided that a good control of the involved process variables is maintained.
Efficacy of Mineral Cationic Carrier Against Sulphur Mustard in Skin Decontamination
Authors: Vučemilović Ante , Hadžija Mirko , Jukić Ivan
Published: December 2008

Efficacy of Mineral Cationic Carrier Against Sulphur Mustard in Skin Decontamination

The aim of this study was to evaluate decontamination (absorption) efficacy of a preparation called Mineral Cationic Carrier (MCC®) against skin contamination with sulphur mustardin vivo. MCC® is a synthetic preparation with known ion exchange, absorption efficiency, and bioactive potential. CBA mice were applied increasing doses of sulphur mustard on their skin and MCC® was administered immediately after skin contamination. The results have confirmed the decontamination efficacy of MCC® preparation, corresponding to 8.4 times the LD50of percutaneous sulphur mustard, and call for further investigation.
EPR Study of Paramagnetic Defects in Clay Minerals
Authors: Babińska Joanna , Dyrek Krystyna , Wyszomirski Piotr
Published: December 2008

EPR Study of Paramagnetic Defects in Clay Minerals

Radiation induced defects (RID-s) and transition metal ion impurities were revealed by EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) spectroscopy in kaolinites from a number of Polish deposits. Arelationship between the intensity of the EPR signals of the RID-s and quantity of radioactive elements was defined in these minerals. In one of the deposits of kaolinites (Wyszonowice) the EPR signal intensity depends on grain size. Other clay minerals studied (illites, montmorillonites) only show weak signals of the RID type.
Gorceixite from the Upper Cambrian Rocks of the podwiśniówka Mine Pit, Holy Cross Mountains (South-Central Poland)
Authors: Migaszewski Zdzisław , Starnawska Ewa , Gałuszka Agnieszka
Published: December 2008

Gorceixite from the Upper Cambrian Rocks of the podwiśniówka Mine Pit, Holy Cross Mountains (South-Central Poland)

This report presents the results of a petrographical, mineralogical (SEM/EDS, XRD) and geochemical (XRF, CV-AAS, ICP-MS) study of gorceixite (barium aluminophosphate) from the abandoned Podwiśniówka mine pit. This site is highlighted by the presence of highly acidic pit pond whose chemistry is strongly affected by the exposed pyrite-bearing zone. The gorceixite occurs in the Upper Cambrian carbonaceous clayey shales, quartzites and tuffs in form of minute accumulations varying from about 0.5 to 100 μm in diameter. These accumulations infill voids, cavities, cracks and partly fissures in the rocks examined. The other minerals of the crandallite series, i.e. florencite and goyazite, can be found only in trace amounts. The gorceixite-bearing rocks, especially carbonaceous clayey shales, are characterized by the highest concentrations of REE reaching 455.09 mg·kg-1. In addition, these rocks are distinctly enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE), with the La/Yb ratio ranging from 24.44 through 36.30. Some of the examined gorceixite accumulations are paragenetically linked to the veined pyrite and nacrite. The latter mineral is indicative of crystallization temperatures of about 200 to 300°C. The coexistence of gorceixite with the veined nacrite or pyrite mineralization and the volcaniclastic rocks, as well as the microtextural features and high concentrations of REE in the gorceixite-bearing parent rocks suggest that this mineral formed as a result of both hydrothermal and volcanic activity in a shallow-marine basin during the late Cambrian.
Dubbing Dark Humour: A Case Study in Audiovisual Translation
Authors: Bucaria Chiara
Published: December 2008

Dubbing Dark Humour: A Case Study in Audiovisual Translation

In an attempt to analyze the ways in which dark humour travels cross-culturally in audiovisual translation, the present study takes into consideration the processes involved in dubbing humour from English into Italian as observed in the English- and Italian-language versions of ten British and American dark comedies from the 1940s to the 2000s. In order to identify some of the main mechanisms of the dark humour genre, the humorous content of the films was analyzed in terms of the elements on which specific scenes are based, mainly the non-verbal and verbal components. In the cases in which verbal elements were involved, i.e. the examples of verbally expressed humour, the analysis was concerned with the translation strategies adopted and with possible effects of alteration of the dark humour content as a result of translation.
Between Multiculturalism and Nationalism - A Discursive Construction of Britishness in the Spectator in the Wake of the London Bombings
Authors: Molek-Kozakowska Katarzyna
Published: December 2008

Between Multiculturalism and Nationalism - A Discursive Construction of Britishness in the Spectator in the Wake of the London Bombings

In his interdisciplinary work Ideology (1998), Teun A. van Dijk proposes to study ideology as a cognitive, social and linguistic enterprise. Such an integrative approach is assumed to model interfaces between social structure and cognition through discourse. The notion of ideology it presupposes may be described as shared social representations (group self-schemata), which become a group's defining attributes, and govern its ideological expression in discourse. It seems that this approach can be productively applied to a study of ideological relations in the discourses of multicultural societies, such as Britain.

In the wake of the London bombings in July 2005, the British rightwing quality weekly the Spectator published a series of articles raising alarming questions about the misguided ideological priorities of modern Britain, and envisioning a deepening crisis of national identity. According to the magazine, the heritage and values of mainstream British society are being endangered by the political promotion of multiculturalism. This in turn has instigated terrorist threats from Islamic extremists, who have been nurtured by the British welfare state and emboldened by its permissive policies. Thus the increasing ideological split between the militancy of the non-integrated Muslim minority in Britain and the decadence of national culture has become the subject of a number of articles. As a result, one of the pervasive discursive mechanisms emerging in the publication has been an ideological confrontation between "us" and "them"

The aim of the present study is to survey the pragmatic and rhetorical devices used to construct the image of British society tied in a discursive struggle to define its modern identity-oscillating between the ideals of multiculturalism and the ideology of nationalism. The material for the study is taken from over fifteen articles that come from three subsequent issues of the Spectator published on 16, 23, and 30 July 2005. The methodological framework of the study draws on the research procedures of Critical Discourse Analysis accommodated to the analysis of ideological discourse in the press.
Symbolic Annihilation or Alternative Femininity? The (Linguistic) Portrayal of Women in Selected Polish Advertisements
Authors: Pawelczyk Joanna
Published: December 2008

Symbolic Annihilation or Alternative Femininity? The (Linguistic) Portrayal of Women in Selected Polish Advertisements

The year 1989 marks the beginning of sweeping political, economic and social changes in Poland. Since that time an expansion of women into top professional positions can be observed. Data from the last national census (2002) clearly indicate that women in Poland are better educated than their male counterparts, increasingly careeroriented as well as aggressively pursuing managerial occupations. A modern woman is, by popular belief, no longer obliged to conform to the so-called dominant (Coates 1997) or emphasized (Connell 1987) [i.e. hegemonic] form of femininity. There appears to be greater social latitude for her professional development. The paper explores whether print advertisements (playing a crucial role in the construction of social identities) of certain products incorporate new powerful discourse of femininity. The three advertised products and services (cars, telephones, and banking) selected for the analysis have been commonly associated in Poland with the dominant form of masculinity. Consequently, it is interesting to examine whether women function there, and if so, how. The analyzed advertisements have been collected over the period of one year from three magazines addressed to the emerging Polish middle class. Drawing on Goffman's concepts of function ranking and ritualization of subordination as well as Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), I will attempt to determine whether the selected print advertisements reflect the new femininity in Poland.
The Use of Standardized Clients in Research in the Veterinary Clinical Setting
Authors: Nogueira Borden Leandra J. , Adams Cindy L. , Ladner Lynda D.
Published: December 2008

This article describes the first use of undisclosed standardized clients (SCs) for research in the veterinary clinical setting. The study described here used SCs to investigate veterinarian–client communication during euthanasia discussions. Use of this methodology allowed us to avoid several ethical and logistical challenges associated with gathering observational data on sensitive subject matter. In medicine, standardized patients (SPs) are used extensively in teaching, medical school examinations, and licensing examinations. Increasingly, SPs are being used in research to evaluate physicians’ performance in the clinical setting, including assessment of physician–patient communication. Several veterinary schools have recently introduced SCs for teaching and evaluation of student veterinarians. Until now, however, SCs have not been used for research in the veterinary clinical setting. Two cases were designed to reflect common reasons for discussion of euthanasia in private practice. A random sample of 32 consenting veterinarians in southern Ontario saw each case. Appointments were audio-recorded and analyzed using a communication assessment tool adapted from human medicine. At the end of each appointment, the SC disclosed his or her identity and both veterinarian and SC completed questionnaires to describe their perceptions of the communication that took place. This article describes in detail the use of SCs in this study, including case design, training, preparation for visits, use of animal patients, and challenges faced. The use of SCs was shown to be a feasible method of assessing veterinarian–client communication in the clinical setting.
Globally Optimal Multisensor Distributed Random Parameter Matrices Kalman Filtering Fusion with Applications
Authors: Luo Yingting , Zhu Yunmin , Luo Dandan , Zhou Jie , Song Enbin , Wang Donghua
Published: December 2008

This paper proposes a new distributed Kalman filtering fusion with random state transition and measurement matrices, i.e., random parameter matrices Kalman filtering. It is proved that under a mild condition the fused state estimate is equivalent to the centralized Kalman filtering using all sensor measurements; therefore, it achieves the best performance. More importantly, this result can be applied to Kalman filtering with uncertain observations including the measurement with a false alarm probability as a special case, as well as, randomly variant dynamic systems with multiple models. Numerical examples are given which support our analysis and show significant performance loss of ignoring the randomness of the parameter matrices.
Residual Cancer Burden in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: A Superior Tool
Authors: Nahleh Z. , Sivasubramaniam D. , Dhaliwal S. , Sundarajan V. , Komrokji R.
Published: December 2008

Objectives: Locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) poses a difficult clinical challenge with an overall poor long-term prognosis. The strength of the association between tumour characteristics, treatment response, and outcome is not well defined. In the present study, we attempted to gain further insight into LABC by reviewing tumour characteristics of patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and by studying the association of those characteristics with outcome. We calculated the residual cancer burden (RCB) score obtained at surgery and attempted to study its correlation with event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). Methods: We studied patients diagnosed primarily with LABC (n = 45). Pathologic and clinical responses were determined. Pathology slides were reviewed. Results: Of the 45 study patients, 9% had stage iib disease; 29%, stage IIIA; 51%, stage IIIB; and 11%, stage IIIC. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) was found in 16%. Pathologic complete response (pCR) was achieved in 22% of all patients. None of the patients with IBC achieved pCR. Patients with estrogen receptor–negative (ER−)/progesterone receptor–negative (PR−) tumours were more likely to achieve pCR than were those with ER+/PR+ tumours. Among patients with tumours that overexpressed human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu), 17% achieved pCR as compared with 25% of patients with non-overexpressing tumours; only 1 patient had received trastuzumab. The RCB scores were calculated in 32 patients and ranged between 0 and 4.6. Conclusions: The present study examined practical issues related to the classification and management of LABC and IBC. The RCB, defined from routine pathology materials, was easily quantifiable. It appears to be a better predictor than pCR of outcome following neoadjuvant chemotherapy in LABC. Higher RCB scores were associated with lower EFS and a lower rate of OS. A continual quest for reliable predictive and correlative prognostic markers, and for better surrogate endpoints for outcome, is essential to advance our understanding of LABC and to improve treatment outcomes.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Pancreas
Authors: Al-Shehri A. , Silverman S. , King K. M.
Published: December 2008

Pancreatic malignancies can be subdivided into endocrine and non-endocrine processes. Of the non-endocrine tumours, ductal carcinoma is the most common, and the ductal carcinomas can be further subdivided into adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. The adenocarcinomas constitute most of the non-endocrine pancreatic malignancies, and the treatment options for these, although limited in efficacy, are relatively well established. The squamous cell carcinoma pathology is a rare entity, and few reports of it are found in the literature. As a result, treatment options for squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas are poorly understood. Here, we report the presentation of a 48-year-old woman with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas. The subsequent investigations, treatment, and outcome are described.
SPLINES IN CONVEX SETS UNDER CONSTRAINTS OF TWO‐SIDED INEQUALITY TYPE IN A HYPERPLANE
Authors: Asmuss Svetlana
Published: December 2008

The problem of minimization of a smoothing functional under inequality constraints is considered in a hyperplane. The conditions of the existence of a solution are obtained and some properties of this solution are investigated. It is proved that the solution is a spline. The method for its construction is suggested.
FINITE DIFFERENCE SCHEME FOR A SINGULARLY PERTURBED PARABOLIC EQUATIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF INITIAL AND BOUNDARY LAYERS
Authors: Cordero Nicolas , Cronin Kevin , Shishkin Grigorii , Shishkina Lida , Stynes Martin
Published: December 2008

The grid approximation of an initial‐boundary value problem is considered for a singularly perturbed parabolic reaction‐diffusion equation. The second‐order spatial derivative and the temporal derivative in the differential equation are multiplied by parameters å 2 1 and å 2 2, respectively, that take arbitrary values in the open‐closed interval (0,1]. The solutions of such parabolic problems typically have boundary, initial layers and/or initial‐boundary layers. A priori estimates are constructed for the regular and singular components of the solution. Using such estimates and the condensing mesh technique for a tensor‐product grid, piecewise‐uniform in xand t, a difference scheme is constructed that converges å‐uniformly at the rate O(N−2 ln2 N + N0 −1 ln N0 ), where (N + 1) and (N0 + 1) are the numbers of mesh points in x and t respectively.
UNSTEADY SQUEEZING FLOW OF A VISCOUS MHD FLUID BETWEEN PARALLEL PLATES, A SOLUTION USING THE HOMOTOPY PERTURBATION METHOD
Authors: Siddiqui Abdul M. , Irum Sania , Ansari Ali R.
Published: December 2008

The present paper analyses the unsteady 2‐dimensional flow of a viscous MHD fluid between two parallel infinite plates. The two infinite plates are considered to be approaching each other symmetrically, causing the squeezing flow. A similarity transformation is used to reduce the partial differential equations modeling the flow, to a single fourth‐order non‐linear differential equation containing the Reynolds number and the magnetic field strength as parameters. The velocity functions are obtained for a range of values of both parameters by using the homotopy perturbation method. The total resistance to the upper plate is presented.
DIFFERENCE SEQUENCE SPACE M(M,Ø,ÄMN,P) F OF FUZZY REAL NUMBERS
Authors: Tripathy Binod Chandra , Borgohain Stuti
Published: December 2008

The difference sequence space m(M, ø, Äm n,p) F of fuzzy real numbers for both 1 ≤ p < 8 and 0 < p < 1, is introduced. Some properties of this sequence space like solidness, symmetricity, convergence-free are studied. Some inclusion relations involving this sequence space are obtained.
Mapas de susceptibilidad de deslizamientos basados en GIS aplicados a la planificación natural y urbanística en Trikala, Grecia Central
Authors: Bathrellos G. D. , Kalivas D. P. , Skilodimou H. D.
Published: December 2008

Los mapas de susceptibilidad de deslizamientos representan una práctica herramienta en la planificación urbana y de espacios naturales. Así, puede aplicarse a la determinación de los usos de terrenos, en el diseño de construcción civil y para la planificación de gran variedad de actividades. En este estudio se generaron dos tipos diferentes de mapas de susceptibilidad basados en GIS para la parte montañosa de la prefectura de Trikala en Tesalia (Grecia Central). Estos se llevaron a cabo usando dos métodos de correlación de los factores que pueden tener un efecto en la generación de deslizamientos. Los factores de desestabilización tenidos en cuenta fueron: litología, aspectos tectónicos, pendiente, red de carreteras, red de drenaje, uso de la tierra y pluviometría. La distribución de frecuencias de la media de eventos de deslizamiento en cada clase de factores de desestabilización, fue utilizada para clasificar cada una de dichas clases. Para combinar los factores de desestabilización y estimar la susceptibilidad a la generación de deslizamientos, se usaron dos tipos de modelos: el Weight Factor Model (WeF), basado en estimaciones estadísticas, y el Multiple Factor Model (MuF) basado en operadores lógicos. Los mapas producidos se dividieron en cuatro zonas en función de su grado de susceptibilidad: Bajo, Moderado, Alto y Muy Alto. Su validez se ponderó a partir de los valores medios de deslizamientos detectados en cada zona. Se propone que la evaluación de cada modelo se puede optimizar mediante la aplicación de un factor denominado Indicador de Modelos de Deslizamientos (Landslide Models Indicator, La.M.I.).
Erratum: Eyewitness identification under stress in the London Dungeon
Authors: Valentine Tin , Mesout Jan
Published: December 2008

The above article (DOI: 10.1002/acp.1463) was published online in Early View on 31 May 2008. A printing error was subsequently identified in the article.

Page 1: Incorrect author name. ‘Tin Valentine’ should be ‘Tim Valentine’
Nickel‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Phosphonium Salts from Aryl Halides and Triphenylphosphine
Authors: Marcoux David , Charette André B.
Published: December 2008

An efficient method to synthesize functionalized tetraarylphosphonium salts is described. The nickel‐catalyzed coupling reaction between aryl iodides, bromides, chlorides, or triflates and triphenylphosphine generates tetraarylphosphonium salts in high yields. The coupling is wide in scope and tolerates a variety of functional groups such as alcohols, amides, ketones, aldehydes, phenols, phosphines and amines.
Methods for calculating activity budgets compared: a case study using orangutans
Authors: Harrison Mark E. , Vogel Erin R. , Morrogh‐Bernard Helen C. , van Noordwijk Maria A.
Published: December 2008

The results of comparisons of behavioral data between individuals, age–sex classes, seasons, sites and possibly even species may depend on sample size and the computational method used. To establish whether these are valid concerns, we compared results for percentage time spent feeding on major food types (fruit, leaves, flowers, invertebrates, bark, pith and other) for two orangutan populations in Sabangau (24 months) and Tuanan (29 months), Indonesian Borneo. Both the minimum follow limit included in analyses and the computational method used produced small, but statistically significant, differences in the results obtained, and the differences were more common for food types eaten less frequently. In addition, using different computational methods produced more significant differences than did including different minimum follow lengths in analyses. The computational method used also influenced the results of tests for differences in diet composition between age–sex classes. Thus, the method used can influence the results obtained and, hence, it is important to state explicitly the minimum follow limit included and computational method used to compile averages, and to ensure standardization in methods when comparing data between age–sex classes, time periods, field sites or species. Am. J. Primatol. 71:353–358, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molekulartechnische DNA‐Modifizierung: Molecular Beacons
Authors: Wang Kemin , Tang Zhiwen , Yang Chaoyong James , Kim Youngmi , Fang Xiaohong , Li Wei , Wu Yanrong , Medley Colin D. , Cao Zehui , Li Jun , Colon Patrick , Lin Hui , Tan Weihong
Published: December 2008

Molecular Beacons (MBs) sind spezifisch entworfene DNA‐Haarnadelstrukturen, die als Fluoreszenzsonden für verschiedenste Zwecke eingesetzt werden. Die Anwendungen reichen von genetischem Screening über die Herstellung von Biochips und den Nachweis von Einzelnucleotidpolymorphien bis hin zum mRNA‐Monitoring in lebenden Zellen und der Untersuchung von Protein‐Protein‐Wechselwirkungen. Ermöglicht wird dieses breite Anwendungsspektrum durch die besondere Art, mit der MBs mit DNA‐, RNA‐ und Proteinmolekülen wechselwirken. Durch die Haarnadelstruktur der MBs wird eine enge Nachbarschaft zwischen einem Fluoreszenzdonor und einem ‐akzeptor hergestellt, wodurch es zu einem resonanten Energietransfer kommt. Die Hybridisierung der Schleifenregion mit der Zielsequenz bewirkt eine Konformationsänderung der Sonden, die den Donor und Akzeptor auseinanderbewegt und die Fluoreszenz wieder herstellt. Die aktuelle Forschung zielt auf die Verbesserung der Sonden, die intrazelluläre Quantifizierung von Genen und die Anwendung in Studien von Protein‐Protein‐Wechselwirkungen.
Modulare Synthese von funktionellen nanoskaligen Koordinationspolymeren
Authors: Lin Wenbin , Rieter William J. , Taylor Kathryn M. L.
Published: December 2008

Die koordinativ vermittelte Organisation von Metallionen und organischen Brückenliganden liefert Hybridmaterialien mit vielversprechenden Eigenschaften für Anwendungen etwa in der Gasspeicherung und heterogenen Katalyse. Eine besondere Klasse von Hybridmaterialien sind die Koordinationspolymere. In diesem Kurzaufsatz betrachten wir jüngste Entwicklungen bei der Synthese von amorphen und kristallinen nanoskaligen Koordinationspolymeren und zeigen, dass die Maßstabsverkleinerung in den Nanometerbereich zu breiten Anwendungsmöglichkeiten führt, z. B. in der Katalyse, für Spin‐Crossover‐Materialien, zur Verwendung als Templat, in der Biosensorik, der biomedizinischen Bildgebung und im Wirkstofftransport. Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen das Potenzial funktioneller Nanomaterialien aus molekularen Komponenten.
Microcontainers with Fluorescent Anisotropic Zeolite L Cores and Isotropic Silica Shells
Authors: Guerrero‐Martínez Andrés , Fibikar Sandra , Pastoriza‐Santos Isabel , Liz‐Marzán Luis M. , De Cola Luisa
Published: December 2008

Vielfarbig fluoreszierende Container: Multifluoreszierende farbstoffmarkierte Zeolith‐L‐Kristalle mit lumineszierenden anisotropen Kernen und isotropen Hüllen wurden durch Beschichten mit Kieselgel erhalten. Dazu wurde der Aufbau von Polyelektrolytschichten mit einer Stöber‐Synthese kombiniert (siehe Schema, TEM‐Bild und fluoreszenzmikroskopische Aufnahmen).

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Synthesis of 2‐hydroxypropyl dimethylbenzylammonium N,O‐(2‐carboxyethyl) chitosan chloride and its antibacterial activity
Authors: Cai Zhao‐Sheng , Song Zhan‐Qian , Yang Chun‐Sheng , Shang Shi‐Bin , Yin Yan‐Bai
Published: December 2008

N,O‐(2‐carboxyethyl)chitosan (N,O‐2‐CEC) was prepared from chitosan with 3‐chloropropionic acid as modifying agent and NaOH as binding‐acid agent. 2‐Hydroxypropyl dimethylbenzylammonium N,O‐(2‐carboxyethyl) chitosan chloride (HPDMBA‐CEC) was obtained by the reaction of N,O‐2‐CEC with glycidyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (GDMBA) using NaOH as catalyst. The structures of chitosan derivatives were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, and gel permeation chromatography. The antimicrobial activity of HPDMBA‐CEC was evaluated against a Gram‐negative bacterium Escherichia coli (E.coli) and a Gram‐positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Compared with CTS, N,O‐2‐CEC, and HPDMBA‐CTS, HPDMBA‐CEC had much stronger antimicrobial activity, and this activity increased with increasing substitution degree of quaternary ammonium group (DQ). When the substitution degree of carboxyethylation (DS of CE) was 0.72 and DQ was 0.60, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of HPDMBA‐CEC were 3.1 and 6.3 μg/mL against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Automatic detection of circular structures in high‐resolution satellite images of agricultural land
Authors: Trier Øivind Due , Larsen Siri Øyen , Solberg Rune
Published: December 2008

Archaeological sites are sometimes visible in satellite images as soil or crop marks. At best, the marks are distinct, but they tend to have less contrast with the background than many other patterns in the images. Consequently, reliable automated detection based on pattern recognition is very difficult. Our method detects circle‐shaped soil and crop marks in the panchromatic band of high‐resolution satellite images of agricultural fields. Such circular marks may be caused by burial mounds. In our approach, local contrast enhancement is applied in order to make weak marks more distinct. The image is then convolved with ring templates of varying sizes, giving high absolute values at candidate circular mark locations. Each candidate mark is presented to an operator, who may reject it. We tested our method on Quickbird images from southeast Norway. The number of detected candidate marks could be varied by changing a threshold value. A reasonable compromise between not detecting too many false rings and at the same time detecting as many true rings as possible, might be when the number of false detections is approximately seven times the number of true detections. In this case, 11 out of 15, or 73%, of the strong rings were detected, and 5 out of 10, or 50%, of the fairly strong rings were detected. This is 16 out of 25 of the strong and fairly strong rings, or 64%. Archaeologists state that the software tool we developed will be helpful for locating potential cultural heritage sites. Although it makes many false detections, it will relieve the operators from time‐consuming manual inspection of entire images. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Web site topic‐hierarchy generation based on link structure
Authors: Yang Christopher C. , Liu Nan
Published: December 2008

Navigating through hyperlinks within a Web site to look for information from one of its Web pages without the support of a site map can be inefficient and ineffective. Although the content of a Web site is usually organized with an inherent structure like a topic hierarchy, which is a directed tree rooted at a Web site's homepage whose vertices and edges correspond to Web pages and hyperlinks, such a topic hierarchy is not always available to the user. In this work, we studied the problem of automatic generation of Web sites' topic hierarchies. We modeled a Web site's link structure as a weighted directed graph and proposed methods for estimating edge weights based on eight types of features and three learning algorithms, namely decision trees, naïve Bayes classifiers, and logistic regression. Three graph algorithms, namely breadth‐first search, shortest‐path search, and directed minimum‐spanning tree, were adapted to generate the topic hierarchy based on the graph model. We have tested the model and algorithms on real Web sites. It is found that the directed minimum‐spanning tree algorithm with the decision tree as the weight learning algorithm achieves the highest performance with an average accuracy of 91.9%.