bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural and antigenic preservation of plant samples by microwave‐enhanced fixation, using dedicated hardware, minimizing heat‐related effects
Authors: Lería Francisca , Marco Roberto , Medina Francisco Javier
Published: November 2004

We explored the use of microwave technology in fixation with the objective of achieving quicker fixation regimes, lower concentrations of toxic and volatile reagents, and enhanced antigen detection. We used a modified domestic microwave oven (900 W) and a low‐power (5 W) microwave bench. The work was done on plant materials. The oven was supplemented with a cooling device, a stirring system, and a record of the sample temperature and the time of effective irradiation. The sample, immersed in a fixative solution of 1% paraformaldehyde (PFA) in PBS, was irradiated for only 10 minutes. The sample temperature did not exceed 37°C. In these mild conditions, the quality of the (ultra)structural preservation of the samples, morphometrically assessed, was at the same level as obtained with the same fixative, using conventional methods. On the contrary, samples fixed in the same conditions without irradiation showed a poor structural preservation. The antigenic preservation of the irradiated samples was excellent, since the labeling levels of two nucleolar proteins, detected by immunogold, were three times higher than in conventionally fixed samples. In the so‐called microwave bench, the pathway of microwaves is guided, so that low‐power microwaves directly hit the sample and there is no dispersion of energy. Temperature of fixative did not increase after microwave irradiation. Fixation in the bench with either 4% PFA, or 1% PFA, for 20 minutes resulted in structural preservation of samples similar in quality as obtained with conventional fixation and in a similar or better level of antigen preservation. Therefore, controlling temperature and effective irradiation is crucial in order to obtain optimal structural and antigen preservation with microwave‐enhanced fixation. The dramatic differences observed between microwave‐irradiated samples and samples fixed in the same conditions without irradiation, strongly support the existence of specific effects of microwaves on fixation, independent from the mere heating of the samples. Microsc. Res. Tech. 65:86–100, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ultrastructure and cell death of in vivo derived and vitrified porcine blastocysts
Authors: Fabian Dušan , Gjørret Jakob O. , Berthelot Françoise , Martinat‐Botté Françoise , Maddox‐Hyttel Poul
Published: November 2004

Morphological and molecular signs of injury and cell death and subsequent regeneration following vitrification of porcine blastocysts were evaluated by light (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as well as TUNEL/propidium iodide (PI) nuclear staining followed by confocal microscopy (CSM). In vivo derived blastocysts were assigned to one of the following four groups: Controls—(1) fixed immediately after collection (C0h) and (2) after 24 hr culture in vitro (C24h) and vitrified embryos—(3) fixed immediately after vitrification and warming (V0h), and (4) after 24 hr of culture upon warming after vitrification (V24h). Observation by LM and TEM showed that the V0h embryos displayed collapse of the blastocoele cavity (BC) and cell swelling, a general distension or shrinkage of mitochondria and massive increase in the amount of vesicles, vacuoles, and secondary lysosomes (SLs). Approximately 2/3 of the V24h embryos had recovered, whereas the remaining 1/3 were degenerated. Recovered embryos displayed almost normal blastocyst morphology, except for a widening of the perivitelline space, accumulation of debris and partial distension of mitochondria, whereas degenerated embryos were disintegrated into a poorly defined mass of cells and debris including cells with abundant degeneration of mitochondria and other organelles. Both recovered and degenerated embryos displayed a persistent abundance of presence of small membrane bounded vesicles, vacuoles, and SLs. Evaluation of TUNEL/PI stained embryos showed only occasional appearance of TUNEL positive nuclei with typical apoptotic morphology in controls (C0h 0.67%, C24h 1.22%) and in the V0h embryos (0.93%). The percentage of apoptotic nuclei in embryos at V24h was significantly higher than in all other groups (2.64%). Vitrified embryos showed significantly increased appearance of DNA fragmented nuclei without typical morphological features of apoptosis (V0h 1.43%, V24h 4.30%) compared with controls (C0h 0.26%, C24h 0.45%). The observed morphological changes and increased DNA fragmentation observed immediately after vitrification and warming probably reflects a direct damaging effect of vitrification. During 24 hr of culture a portion of the embryos was able to regenerate and along with the regenerative process, apoptosis—a possible pathway for elimination of damaged cells—became evident. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 70: 155–165, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
RNA interference as a tool to study gene function in bovine oocytes
Authors: Paradis François , Vigneault Christian , Robert Claude , Sirard Marc‐André
Published: November 2004

RNA interference (RNAi) has become a well‐established technique to study gene function in several species. Our objective was to develop a RNAi approach to study gene function in bovine oocytes. In the first experiment, three different treatments including a 20 min exposure to cytochalasin B, a 6 hr maturation in cycloheximide, and a combination of these two treatments were tested to improve oocyte survival following microinjection. The cycloheximide/cytochalasin B treatment greatly increased (P<0.02) the survival rate of the microinjected oocytes. In the second experiment, we assessed the effect of both cyclin B1 and GFP dsRNA on cyclin B1 mRNA and protein expression. The injection of cyclin B1 dsRNA resulted in a decrease in cyclin B1 mRNA and protein, while the cyclin B2 mRNA remained unaffected. Furthermore, the injection of GFP dsRNA did not interfere with cyclin B1 mRNA or protein nor with the ability of the oocyte to mature properly. In addition, the lack of cyclin B1 in the oocyte led to activation in 10% of the oocytes as evidenced by the presence of a pronucleus. However, the use of an additional 10 hr of maturation in the presence of 6‐dimethylaminopurine (6‐DMAP) prevented germinal vesicle breakdown and allowed a longer exposure to dsRNA. This procedure increased the percentage of activated oocytes to 33% and is likely to result from an increased length of time for dsRNA processing and for degradation of the cyclin B1 mRNA to occur. In conclusion, RNAi represents a useful technique to study gene function in the bovine oocyte. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 70: 111–121, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Isolation and mapping the chicken zona pellucida genes: An insight into the evolution of orthologous genes in different species
Authors: Smith Jacqueline , Paton Ian R. , Hughes David C. , Burt David W.
Published: November 2004

The avian oocyte is surrounded by a specialized extracellular glycoproteinaceous matrix, the perivitelline membrane, which is equivalent to the zona pellucida (ZP) in mammals and the chorion in teleosts. A number of related ZP genes encode the proteins that make up this matrix. These proteins play an important role in the sperm/egg interaction and may be involved in speciation. The human genome is known to contain ZP1, ZP2, ZP3, and ZPB genes, while a ZPAX gene has also been identified in Xenopus. The rapid evolution of these genes has confused the nomenclature and thus orthologous relationships across species. In order to clarify these homologies, we have identified ZP1, ZP2, ZPC, ZPB, and ZPAX genes in the chicken and mapped them to chromosomes 5, 14, 10, 6, and 3, respectively, establishing conserved synteny with human and mouse. The amino acid sequences of these genes were compared to the orthologous genes in human, mouse, and Xenopus, and have given us an insight into the evolution of these genes in a variety of different species. The presence of the ZPAX gene in the chicken has highlighted a pattern of probable gene loss by deletion in mouse and gene inactivation by deletion, and base substitution in human. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 70: 133–145, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A changing range genetic algorithm
Authors: Amirjanov Adil
Published: November 2004

During the last decade various methods have been proposed to handle linear and non‐linear constraints by using genetic algorithms to solve problems of numerical optimization. The key to success lies in focusing the search space towards a feasible region where a global optimum is located. This study investigates an approach that adaptively shifts and shrinks the size of the search space to the feasible region; it uses two strategies for estimating a point of attraction. Several test cases demonstrate the ability of this approach to reach effectively and accurately the global optimum with a low resolution of the binary representation scheme and without additional computational efforts. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
System safety analysis of hydrogen and methanol vehicle fuels
Authors: Carpenter Andrew R. , Hinze Peter C.
Published: November 2004

Over the next 10 to 25 years, primary fuels used in automobiles may be changing from gasoline and diesel fuels to new “alternative” fuels. Two fuels that have generated much interest are hydrogen and methanol, and will propel vehicles through new power‐plant concepts. However, these new breeds of vehicle systems introduce a new class of safety hazards. This paper will introduce the basic concepts of these new vehicles and briefly describe some of the systems these vehicles have that are not present in conventional gasoline‐ or diesel‐fuels internal combustion vehicles. This paper will then explore the new safety concerns, risks, and hazards associated with these new vehicle systems as well as to predict what elements future safety standards may contain.
The role of ASTM E27 methods in hazard assessment: Part I. Thermal stability, compatibility, and energy release estimation methods
Authors: Frurip David , Britton Larry , Fenlon William , Going John , Harrison B. Keith , Niemeier Jeff , Ural Erdem A.
Published: November 2004

Accurate reactive chemicals data form the cornerstone of procedures used to assess the hazards associated with commercial chemical production and use. Since 1967, the ASTM E27 Committee on the Hazard Potential of Chemicals has issued numerous, widely used consensus standards dealing with diverse testing and predictive procedures used to obtain relevant chemical hazard properties. The decision to issue a standard rests solely with the membership, which consists of representatives from industry, government, consulting firms, and instrument suppliers. Consequently, the procedures are automatically relevant, timely, and widely applicable. The purpose of this paper is to highlight some of the widely used standards, complemented with hypothetical but relevant examples describing the testing strategy, interpretation, and application of the results. A further goal of this paper is to encourage participation in the standards development process.

The paper is published in two parts. The first part deals with the E27 standards pertaining to thermodynamics, thermal stability, and chemical compatibility. The second part, to be published in the next issue of this journal, focuses on the flammability, ignitability, and explosibility of fuel/air mixtures. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2004
Ferrocement confinement of plain and reinforced concrete
Authors: Rathish Kumar P , Oshima T , Mikami S
Published: November 2004

The sophisticated arrangement of confinement in columns using closely spaced stirrups not only interrupts the continuity and creates a plane of weakness between core and concrete cover, but also adds to the problem of congestion. This is the reason why most of the time it may not be possible to confine the structure sufficiently by providing laterals alone, and supplementary confinement such as ferrocement composites may be necessary. The success of the ferrocement technology is attributed to the ready availability of its component materials, low level of technology needed for construction and low cost. In the past decades, ferrocement has emerged as a very good rehabilitating/restrengthening material because of its superior mechanical properties, high in‐plane strength and mouldability. In the present paper a review of the research on ferrocement confinement of plain and reinforced concrete with applications to column retrofitting is presented.
Green's function calculation of through‐bond electronic coupling in donor–bridge–acceptor model systems II: Importance factors applied to atomic sites
Authors: De Santana O. L. , Da Gama A. A. S.
Published: November 2004

Importance factors, associated with the Green's function formalism, are introduced. They are applied for the determination of the relative atomic site contribution to the electronic interaction propagation in a molecular system. The calculation is performed at the Hartree–Fock (self‐consistent) level, using ab initio STO‐3G, 4‐31G, and D95 basis sets. The results are compared with those obtained from the charge densities of the appropriate molecular orbitals at the ab initio STO‐3G level. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
Chemical reaction dynamics of PeCB and TCDD decomposition: A tight‐binding quantum chemical molecular dynamics study with first‐principles parameterization
Authors: Suzuki Ai , Selvam Parasuraman , Kusagaya Tomonori , Takami Seiichi , Kubo Momoji , Imamura Akira , Miyamoto Akira
Published: November 2004

The decomposition reaction dynamics of 2,3,4,4′,5‐penta‐chlorinated biphenyl (2,3,4,4′,5‐PeCB), 3,3′,4,4′,5‐penta‐chlorinated biphenyl (3,3′,4,4′,5‐PeCB), and 2,3,7,8‐tetra‐chlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxin (2,3,7,8‐TCDD) was clarified for the first time at atomic and electronic levels, using our novel tight‐binding quantum chemical molecular dynamics method with first‐principles parameterization. The calculation speed of our new method is over 5000 times faster than that of the conventional first‐principles molecular dynamics method. We confirmed that the structure, energy, and electronic states of the above molecules calculated by our new method are quantitatively consistent with those by first‐principles calculations. After the confirmation of our methodology, we investigated the decomposition reaction dynamics of the above molecules and the calculated dynamic behaviors indicate that the oxidation of the 2,3,4,4′,5‐PeCB, 3,3′,4,4′,5‐PeCB, and 2,3,7,8‐TCDD proceeds through an epoxide intermediate, which is in good agreement with the previous experimental reports and consistent with our static density functional theory calculations. These results proved that our new tight‐binding quantum chemical molecular dynamics method with first‐principles parameterization is an effective tool to clarify the chemical reaction dynamics at reaction temperatures. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
Humidity‐induced surface modification of boric acid
Authors: Cleaver J. A. S. , Wong P.
Published: November 2004

Previous studies of boric acid powder suggest that the surface undergoes restructuring when exposed to changes in relative humidity of the surrounding air. This present work investigates these surface changes using atomic force microscopy (AFM) to provide quantitative topographic information, supplemented by gravimetric analysis of water sorption. The AFM images clearly show the dissolution of small rounded features and z‐height growth of the larger flatter areas, indicating that Ostwald ripening was the prevailing mechanism in the restructuring. Estimation of radii of curvature of asperities on the surface enabled the approximation of supersaturation ratio in the surface film using the Kelvin equation. The value of 1.007 obtained is much less than the value of 3.2 reported for solution‐grown boric acid. It is this high level of supersaturation that is thought to account for the inherent roughness of boric acid, associated with dendritic growth. Conversely, the low supersaturation ratio estimated for the adsorbed surface layer results in regular crystal growth and a decrease in surface roughness. Gravimetric analysis of boric acid revealed a steady loss in water with increase in relative humidity from 10% to 60%. This is attributed to loss of available surface area through the progressive dissolution of fine surface features. Desorption showed a monotonic decrease in water uptake, confirming that the restructuring is not reversible. Changes in surface area were estimated from the AFM images. The loss of surface area between dry and ambient conditions was greater than that inferred from the loss of mass in the gravimetric analysis. This suggests that water is retained on the surface in capillaries that are not apparent in the AFM surface scans. Statistical monolayer coverage of water is achieved at 10% relative humidity, which corresponds to the onset of surface restructuring indicated by the water sorption isotherm. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhancement of the static SIMS secondary ion yields of lipid moieties by ultrathin gold coating of aged oil paint surfaces
Authors: Keune K. , Boon J. J.
Published: November 2004

Static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) is a powerful technique for identification and localization of pigments and binding media present in traditional paintings. Coating the surface of a cross‐section with a 20 Å thick gold layer improves the yields of secondary ions from the fatty acids and diacids. A chalk tablet containing 1% stearic acid, which was partially covered during gold deposition, is used as a test system to investigate the increase of the organic secondary ion yields upon gold deposition in SIMS imaging. A comparative study of a native and gold‐coated aged surface of a lead white‐containing linseed oil paint demonstrates the enhancement of the organic ion yields on a sample relevant for painting studies. The yields of oil paint‐derived negative ions increase by a factor of 3 whereas the yields of positive ions increase by a factor of 2–4. The different types of charged functional groups determine the degree of improvement in yield. Gold coating improves the ionization process of the fatty acids and does not influence their fragmentation. The dissociation of the lead white by the primary ion beam is reduced due to the gold coating. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimating treatment effect in the presence of non‐compliance measured with error: precision and robustness of data analysis methods
Authors: Kenna Leslie A. , Sheiner Lewis B.
Published: November 2004

Non‐compliance with the nominal prescribed dosage causes unintended variability in actual drug exposure during clinical trials. In the ideal case that compliance is not a confounder, and it is known—hence actual dosage is known—true dose–response can be validly estimated. Measuring compliance presents a challenge, however. A simulation study of the case that dosage history questionnaires (CQ—usually over‐optimistic estimates of actual compliance) are available in all subjects enrolled in a clinical trial, but accurate compliance measurements (C—e.g. from electronic medication event monitors), are only available in a (random) fraction of subjects is reported. It reveals that a ‘Maximum Penalized Marginal Likelihood’ (MPML) method which uses all compliance data, effectively calibrating CQ to C, is superior to other methods which use only one compliance measure, or both, or neither (neither = ITT, intention to treat, which assumes actual dosage equals nominal dosage), but do not calibrate. MPML yields the most precise estimates of dose–response over widely varying clinical trial designs, extremes in quality and quantity of compliance information, and a range of drug effect sizes. It is most beneficial when compliance data are sparse and maintains good performance even when its key assumptions are somewhat violated. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The use of bootstrap methods for estimating sample size and analysing health‐related quality of life outcomes
Authors: Walters Stephen J. , Campbell Michael J.
Published: November 2004

Health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) measures are increasingly used in trials as primary outcome measures. Investigators are now asking statisticians for advice on how to plan and analyse studies using such outcomes. HRQoL outcomes, like the SF‐36, are usual measured on an ordinal scale, although most investigators assume that there exists an underlying continuous latent variable and that the actual measured outcomes (the ordered categories) reflect contiguous intervals along this continuum. The ordinal scaling of HRQoL measures means they tend to generate data that have discrete, bounded and skewed distributions. Thus, standard methods of analysis that assume Normality and constant variance may not be appropriate. For this reason, conventional statistical advice would suggest non‐parametric methods be used to analyse HRQoL data. The bootstrap is one such computer intensive non‐parametric method for estimating sample sizes and analysing data.

We describe three methods of estimating sample sizes for two‐group cross‐sectional comparisons of HRQoL outcomes. We then compared the power of the three methods for a two‐group cross‐sectional study design using bootstrap simulation. The results showed that under the location shift alternative hypothesis, conventional methods of sample size estimation performed well, particularly Whitehead's method. Whitehead's method is recommended if the HRQoL outcome has a limited number of discrete values (<7) and/or the expected proportion of cases at either of the bounds is high. If a pilot data set is readily available then bootstrap simulation will provide a more accurate and reliable estimate, than conventional methods.

Finally, we used the bootstrap for hypothesis testing and the estimation of standard errors and confidence intervals for parameters, in an example data set. We then compared and contrasted the bootstrap with standard methods of analysing HRQoL outcomes. In the data set studied, with the SF‐36 outcome, the use of the bootstrap for estimating sample sizes and analysing HRQoL data produces results similar to conventional statistical methods. These results suggest that bootstrap methods are not more appropriate for analysing HRQoL outcome data than standard methods. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Verification and validation of operational software: a process and methodology critique
Authors: Arthur James D. , Gröner Markus K.
Published: November 2004

Verification and Validation (V&V) play a crucial role in producing a quality product on time, within budget and within scope. In this article, we examine the effectiveness of the Software Engineering Evaluation System (SEES), a V&V methodology developed by the U.S. Army Software Engineering Directorate. The critique draws on experiences and insights stemming from an application of that methodology to a controlled software development effort. In addition to citing the beneficial activities mandated by the V&V methodology, we also provide a discussion of prescribed (or lacking) activities having an adverse impact on the V&V effort. Recommendations to improve V&V effectiveness are also presented. Although our discussion focuses on V&V activities defined by the Army's methodology, the insights, lessons learned, and suggested improvements are widely applicable to the more generalized approaches to V&V. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Innovative design approaches for large wind turbine blades
Authors: Jackson K. J. , Zuteck M. D. , van Dam C. P. , Standish K. J. , Berry D.
Published: November 2004

A preliminary design study of an advanced 50 m blade for utility wind turbines is presented and discussed. The effort was part of the Department of Energy WindPACT Blade System Design Study with the goal to investigate and evaluate design and manufacturing issues for wind turbine blades in the 1–10 MW size range. Two different blade designs are considered and compared in this article. The first is a fibreglass design, while the second design selectively incorporates carbon fibre in the main structural elements. The addition of carbon results in modest cost increases and provides significant benefits, particularly with respect to blade deflection. The structural efficiency of both designs was maximized by tailoring the thickness of the blade cross‐sections to simplify the construction of the internal members. Inboard the blades incorporate thick blunt trailing edge aerofoils (flatback aerofoils), while outboard more conventional sharp trailing edge high‐lift aerofoils are used. The outboard section chord lengths were adjusted to yield the least complex and costly internal blade structure. A significant portion of blade weight is related to the root buildup and metal hardware for typical root attachment designs. The results show that increasing the number of studs has a positive effect on total weight, because it reduces the required root laminate thickness. The aerodynamic performance of the blade aerofoils was predicted using computational techniques that properly simulate blunt trailing edge flows. The performance of the rotor was predicted assuming both clean and soiled blade surface conditions. The rotor is shown to provide excellent performance at a weight significantly lower than that of current rotors of this size. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
RUSSIA IN THE AGE OF WAR AND REVOLUTION, 1880–1940
Authors: BEER DANIEL
Published: November 2004

The alcoholic empire: vodka and politics in late Imperial Russia. By Patricia Herlihy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Pp. vi+244. ISBN 0-19-513431-1. £25.00.

Nikolai Sukhanov: chronicler of the Russian Revolution. By Israel Getzler. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2002. Pp. xix+226. ISBN 0-333-97035-7. £45.00.

Making war, forging revolution: Russia's continuum of crisis, 1914–1921. By Peter Holquist. Cambridge, MA, and London: Harvard University Press, 2002. Pp. xi+359. ISBN 0-674-00907-X. £29.95.

The Russian Civil War: primary sources. Edited by A. B. Murphy. Basingstoke: Macmillan Press, 2000. Pp. xviii+274. ISBN 0-333-77013-7. £45.00.

Homosexual desire in revolutionary Russia: the regulation of sexual and gender dissent. By Dan Healey. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2001. Pp. xvi+392. ISBN 0-226-32233-5. £25.00.

These five volumes under review each address different aspects of Russia's experience of modernization and revolution from the 1880s to the 1930s. Our understanding of the scale and complex nature of the changes wrought during these years has been immeasurably enriched by two important factors: first, the recent opening of the former Soviet archives and the detailed case studies that their contents have facilitated; secondly, a mounting reluctance to see 1917 as a radical break with the past and hence an increasing tendency to reinsert the Revolution into a broader series of dynamic and momentous changes that rocked Russia during the period. The rapid expansion of cultural history in the discipline has prompted many scholars to rethink central features of the revolutionary period and to open up new fields of study. Over the last decade, attention has turned to the dynamism and diversity of late tsarist and early Soviet culture embracing topics as wide-ranging as crime, popular religion, the natural and social sciences, and representations of sex.1 Another recent focus has been the experience of conflict across the years of the Revolution and Civil War and its impact on prospects for democracy in Russia.2 The rise to prominence in the historiography of the term ‘modernity’ is an obvious feature of a more comparative analytical framework that has sought to re-insert Russia's revolutionary experience into a pan-European perspective.
“To Fight the Battles of the Workers”: The Emergence of Pro-strike Publications in Early Twentieth-Century South Africa
Authors: Visser Wessel P.
Published: November 2004

The role of pro-strike newspapers during the first two decades of labour history in twentieth-century South Africa, an era of intense industrial strife, has not been researched in depth by labour historians. This article examines the emergence of a pro-strike press and examines its position on various strike issues. It served as a conduit for workers' grievances during industrial disputes, such as the strikes of 1911, 1913, 1914, and 1922. Such papers were often also the only means of communication between the strike committee and the strikers themselves. The article also discusses the extent to which such publications might have impacted upon their readership and actual strike action. It concludes that pro-strike literature in essence reflects a “white-labour” discourse and a fusion of the class and racial consciousness that prevailed among the white working class of South Africa.
Stratification of anisotropy in the Pacific upper mantle
Authors: Smith Daniel B. , Ritzwoller Michael H. , Shapiro Nikolai M.
Published: November 2004

On the basis of the use of broadband (25–150 s) Rayleigh wave group speeds to estimate the 2ψ component of azimuthal anisotropy, we present evidence for a stratification of anisotropy in the uppermost mantle at large scales across the Pacific basin. We confirm previous surface wave studies that established that the fast axis directions of azimuthal anisotropy for intermediate‐ and long‐period Rayleigh waves approximately align with present‐day plate motions. At shorter periods (25–50 s), however, fast axes align nearer to the paleospreading or fossil spreading direction which differs from present‐day plate motion in the old Pacific. These observations, as well as observations of the age dependence of the amplitude of azimuthal anisotropy, imply that azimuthal anisotropy in the Pacific upper lithosphere (<100 km depth) is fixed or “fossilized,” on average, reflecting the strain conditions extant during the early evolution of the lithosphere rather than the current ambient flow direction. In the deeper lithosphere and asthenosphere, anisotropic fast axis directions align nearer to present‐day plate motions, apparently having reoriented to conform to the current conditions of mantle flow. The mechanism of anisotropy stratification remains unclear, but observations are consistent with the anisotropy of the shallow lithosphere being fixed because the shear flows that can produce dislocation creep and a change in anisotropy will occur at increasing depths as the plate ages.
Leaf Traits and Herbivory Rates of Tropical Tree Species Differing in Successional Status
Authors: Poorter L. , van de Plassche M. , Willems S. , Boot R. G. A.
Published: November 2004

Abstract: We evaluated leaf characteristics and herbivory intensities for saplings of fifteen tropical tree species differing in their successional position. Eight leaf traits were selected, related to the costs of leaf display (specific leaf area [SLA], water content), photosynthesis (N and P concentration per unit mass), and herbivory defence (lignin concentration, C: N ratio). We hypothesised that species traits are shaped by variation in abiotic and biotic (herbivory) selection pressures along the successional gradient. All leaf traits varied with the successional position of the species. The SLA, water content and nutrient concentration decreased, and lignin concentration increased with the successional position. Herbivory damage (defined as the percentage of damage found at one moment in time) varied from 0.9 ‐ 8.5 % among the species, but was not related to their successional position. Herbivory damage appeared to be a poor estimator of the herbivory rate experienced by species, due to the confounding effect of leaf lifespan. Herbivory rate (defined as percentage leaf area removal per unit time) declined with the successional position of the species. Herbivory rate was only positively correlated to water content, and negatively correlated to lignin concentration, suggesting that herbivores select leaves based upon their digestibility rather than upon their nutritive value. Surprisingly, most species traits change linearly with succession, while resource availability (light, nutrients) declines exponentially with succession.
Phylogeny of Veronica ‐ a Combination of Molecular and Chemical Evidence
Authors: Taskova R. M. , Albach D. C. , Grayer R. J.
Published: November 2004

Abstract: A molecular phylogenetic tree of the genus Veronica, based on sequences of the ITS region of nuclear ribosomal DNA, provided a framework to test the use of iridoid chemical data in the classification of the genus. The distribution of ten iridoid glucosides, determined in 27 species of Veronica, supported the molecular results. The nine clades of the molecular tree appeared to correlate with a specific pattern of catalpol esters and chromosome base numbers. Some relationships within Veronica, previously suggested on the basis of morphological and karyological characters, were supported by our data. Neither the molecular, nor the chemical features were in favour of the classical circumscription and classification of the genus.
Reduced Fecundity in Small Populations of the Rare PlantGentianopsis ciliate(Gentianaceae)
Authors: Kéry M. , Matthies D.
Published: November 2004

Abstract:Habitat destruction is the main cause for the biodiversity crisis. Surviving populations are often fragmented, i.e., small and isolated from each other. Reproduction of plants in small populations is often reduced, and this has been attributed to inbreeding depression, reduced attractiveness for pollinators, and reduced habitat quality in small populations. Here we present data on the effects of fragmentation on the rare, self‐compatible perennial herbGentianopsis ciliata(Gentianaceae), a species with very small and presumably well‐dispersed seeds. We studied the relationship between population size, plant size, and the number of flowers produced in 63 populations from 1996 ‐ 1998. In one of the years, leaf and flower size and the number of seeds produced per fruit was studied in a subset of 25 populations. Plant size, flower size, and the number of seeds per fruit and per plant increased with population size, whereas leaf length and the number of flowers per plant did not. The effects of population size on reproduction and on flower size remained significant if the effects were adjusted for differences in plant size, indicating that they could not be explained by differences in habitat quality. The strongly reduced reproduction in small populations may be due to pollination limitation, while the reduced flower size could indicate genetic effects.
The Effect of Fruit Age on Seed Germinability of a Heterocarpic Species, Atriplex sagittata
Authors: Mandák B. , Holmanová Š.
Published: November 2004

Abstract: Atriplex sagittata is an annual heterocarpic plant that produces three different fruit types (termed A, B, and C). To examine the consequence of heterocarpy on germinability patterns over long time periods, we compared seed germinability of different fruit types that had been stored for up to 8 years. While germinability of non‐dormant type C fruits in distilled water was high (up to 100 %) in the first 2 years, it rapidly decreased over time. Dormant fruit types A and B showed increased germinability up to 7 years, though loss of germinability was lower for type B than for type A fruits. Eight‐year‐old fruits of all types had significantly lower germinability than younger fruits, probably due to loss of viability. Heterocarpy, therefore, ensures that emergence rates for seedlings of A. sagittata will be maintained over relatively long periods, even in years of strong disturbance when all adult plants may be destroyed. The experiment further showed that germinability of all fruit types in high concentrations of salt, as compared with water treatment, changed over the course of 8 years. Whilst dormant types (A and B) of A. sagittata show increased germinability with age of the seed in water treatment, they significantly lose germinability over time with salinity treatment. Type C fruit was not influenced by salt in the first year, but germinability rapidly decreased with time. It follows that the species is able to germinate under high salt concentration in the first year, but this advantage gradually disappears.
Fundamental properties of Tsallis relative entropy
Authors: Furuichi S. , Yanagi K. , Kuriyama K.
Published: November 2004

Fundamental properties for the Tsallis relative entropy in both classical and quantum systems are studied. As one of our main results, we give the parametric extension of the trace inequality between the quantum relative entropy and the minus of the trace of the relative operator entropy given by Hiai and Petz. The monotonicity of the quantum Tsallis relative entropy for the trace preserving completely positive linear map is also shown without the assumption that the density operators are invertible. The generalized Tsallis relative entropy is defined and its subadditivity is shown by its joint convexity. Moreover, the generalized Peierls–Bogoliubov inequality is also proven.
Room temperature, THz photomixing sweep oscillator and its application to spectroscopic transmission through organic materials
Authors: Brown E. R. , Bjarnason J. , Chan T. L. J. , Driscoll D. C. , Hanson M. , Gossard A. C.
Published: November 2004

An all-solid-state continuous-wave sweep oscillator has been developed that provides high-resolution, transmission measurements between ∼30 GHz and 3 THz. It is based on difference-frequency generation between two cw frequency-offset lasers driving an ultrafast photoconductive mixer (photomixer). The output power around 100 GHz is approximately 10 μW, falling to about 1 μW around 1 THz and 0.1 μW around 3 THz. The sweep oscillator is used with two types of detectors: a hot electron bolometer for high-sensitivity measurements of weak absorption features below 1 THz, and a room temperature Golay cell for coarse measurements anywhere between 30 GHz and 3 THz. The sweep oscillator facilitates the rapid characterization of a broad variety of materials including inorganic solids, biological materials, liquids, and gases with far greater resolution (∼10 MHz), frequency accuracy (∼0.1 GHz), and spectral density (∼1 μW/MHz) than competitive wideband instruments such as Fourier-transform or time-domain spectrometers. To demonstrate the versatility of the sweep oscillator, results are presented for two diverse cases of interest: (1) fast scan, broadband (>1 THz) absorption profiles from biomaterials such as polysaccharides, and (2) slow scan, narrow-band (∼1 GHz) atmospheric lines from water vapor.
Semiologic and Electrophysiologic Correlations in Temporal Lobe Seizure Subtypes
Authors: Maillard Louis , Vignal Jean‐Pierre , Gavaret Martine , Guye Maxime , Biraben Arnaud , McGonigal Aileen , Chauvel Patrick , Bartolomei Fabrice
Published: November 2004

Summary: Purpose:The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classification distinguishes medial and neocortical temporal lobe epilepsies. Among other criteria, this classification relies on the identification of two different electroclinical patterns, those of medial (limbic) and lateral (neocortical) temporal lobe seizures, depending on the structure initially involved in the seizure activity. Recent electrophysiologic studies have now identified seizures in which medial and neocortical structures are both involved at seizure onset. The purpose of the study was therefore to study the correlations of ictal semiology with the spatiotemporal pattern of discharge in temporal lobe seizures.

Methods: The 187 stereoelectroencephalography‐recorded seizures from 55 patients were analyzed. Patients were classified into three groups according to electrophysiologic findings: medial (M; seizure onset limited to medial structures, n = 24), lateral (L; seizure onset limited to lateral structures, n = 13), and medial‐lateral (ML; seizure onset involving both medial and lateral structures, n = 18). Clinical findings were compared between groups.

Results: Initial epigastric sensation, initial fear, delayed oroalimentary and elementary upper limb automatisms, delayed loss of contact, long seizure duration, and absent or rare secondary generalizations were associated with M seizures. Initial auditory illusion or hallucination, initial loss of contact, shorter duration of seizures, and more frequent generalizations were associated with L seizures. Initial epigastric sensation, initial loss of contact, early oroalimentary and verbal automatisms, and long duration of seizures were associated with ML seizures.

Conclusions: Although the syndrome of mesial temporal epilepsy is now relatively well defined, our findings support the idea that the organization of temporal lobe seizures may be complex and that different patterns exist. We demonstrate three distinct patterns, characterized by both semiologic and electrophysiologic features. This distinction may help to define better the epileptogenic zone and the subsequent surgical procedure.
Altered Expression of Neurotransmitter‐receptor Subunit and Uptake Site mRNAs in Hemimegalencephaly
Authors: Baybis Marianna , Lynch David , Lee Allana , Patel Anita , McKhann Guy , Chugani Diane , J.Kupsky William , Aronica Eleonora , Crino Peter B.
Published: November 2004

Summary:  Purpose: Hemimegalencephaly (HMEG) is characterized by unilateral hemispheric enlargement and severe cytoarchitectural abnormalities that are highly associated with intractable epilepsy. No studies have defined alterations in neurotransmitter‐receptor subunit gene expression in HMEG. We hypothesize that a differential expression of excitatory amino acid and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)A‐receptor subunit messenger RNAs (mRNAs) exists in HMEG.

Methods: The expression of mRNAs encoding 20 neurotransmitter‐receptor subunits, synthetic enzymes, and uptake sites as well as select additional candidate genes was defined in HMEG samples (n = 8) compared with homotopic control cortex specimens by using targeted complementary DNA (cDNA) arrays. Expression of GLT‐1 (a glial glutamate transporter), EAAC‐1 (neuronal glutamate transporter), and NMDA2B was corroborated by immunohistochemical, Western, and ligand‐binding assays.

Results: Differential expression of 11 neurotransmitter‐related mRNAs was demonstrated in HMEG compared with control cortex. For example, expression of GLT‐1 and GluR6 mRNAs was enhanced, whereas diminished expression of the neuronal glutamate transporter EAAC‐1, GABAAα2, GABAAγ2, GABAAγ3, NMDA2B, GluR1, GluR2, GluR4, and GluR5 subunits occurred. Reduced NMDA2B subunit mRNA expression in HMEG was confirmed by receptor ligand‐binding assays by using the NMDA2B‐receptor antagonist ifenprodil, which revealed barely detectable levels of NMDA2B binding compared with that in control cortex.

Conclusions: Selective alterations occur in distinct neurotransmitter‐receptor and ‐uptake sites in HMEG. Differential expression of neurotransmitter‐receptor and ‐uptake sites in HMEG may contribute to epileptogenesis in HMEG.
Effect of an External Responsive Neurostimulator on Seizures and Electrographic Discharges during Subdural Electrode Monitoring
Authors: Kossoff Eric H. , Ritzl Eva K. , Politsky Jeffrey M. , Murro Anthony M. , Smith Joseph R. , Duckrow Robert B. , Spencer Dennis D. , Bergey Gregory K.
Published: November 2004

Summary:  Purpose: Approved neural‐stimulation therapies for epilepsy use prolonged intermittent stimulation paradigms with no ability to respond automatically to seizures.

Methods: A responsive neurostimulator that can automatically analyze electrocortical potentials, detect electrographic seizures, and rapidly deliver targeted electrical stimuli to suppress them was evaluated in an open multicenter trial in 50 patients, 40 of whom received responsive cortical stimulation via subdural electrodes implanted for epilepsy surgery evaluations.

Results: Four patients, ages 15 to 28 years, monitored at three institutions, with clinical and electrographic response to neurostimulation, are described. Electrographic seizures were altered and suppressed in these patients during trials of neurostimulation lasting ≤68 h, with no major side effects. In one patient, stimulation appeared also to improve the baseline EEG.

Conclusions: Responsive cortical neurostimulation may be a safe and effective treatment for partial epilepsy. This information was derived from a small group of patients in an observation study. A double‐blind, controlled Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐approved study of a permanently implanted responsive neurostimulation system to treat medically refractory partial seizures is under way.
Epilepsy and Driving in Japan
Authors: Inoue Yushi , Ito Masotoshi , Kurihara Mana , Morimoto Kiyoshi ,   Commission on Legal Affairs, Japan Epilepsy Society (Japan chapter of ILAE)
Published: November 2004

Summary:  Purpose: The driving regulations in Japan were amended in 2002, which lifted the absolute ban on driving by persons with epilepsy (PWE) and granted licenses to PWE after a 2‐year seizure‐free period.

Methods: To survey the effect of the new driving regulations, we sent questionnaires both to the driving authorities (DAs) and to doctors of the Japan Epilepsy Society (JES).

Results: Around 1,400 PWE legally obtained a driving license within 1 year after the amendment, licenses were rejected in 157, and 61 had the license withheld for <6 months. In most cases, the attending doctor assessed fitness for driving; 171 doctors responded to the questionnaire. One third of them commented on a positive change in attitude of PWE with respect to driving. Their main remarks included the need to shorten the seizure‐free period to qualify for fitness to drive and the need for special guidelines for conditions such as rare seizure occurrence, recently diagnosed epilepsy, or reflex epilepsy. Problems of assessment identified included difficulty in deciding the time for reassessment, distress of PWE over cancellation of license, cost of the assessment, responsibility of the assessing doctors in case of seizure recurrence, and protection of privacy. They requested the DAs to promote publicity about the information and asked the JES to establish a guideline for assessing fitness to drive.

Conclusions: The results highlighted the need for cooperation between the DAs and the JES for further amendment of the regulations as well as the importance of education for the public, patients, and professionals.