bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anticonvulsant effect of A1but not A2Aadenosine receptors of piriform cortex in amygdala-kindled rats
Authors: Rezvani Mohammad Ebrahim , Mirnajafi-Zadeh Javad , Fathollahi Yaghoub , Palizvan Mohammad Reza
Published: September 2007

In this study, the effect of A1and A2Aadenosine receptor activity of the piriform cortex (PC) on amygdala-kindled seizures was investigated in rats. Animals were kindled by daily electrical stimulation of the amygdala. In fully kindled rats, N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA, a selective A1agonist), 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dimethylxanthine (CPT, a selective A1antagonist), CGS21680 hydrochloride (CGS, a selective A2Aagonist), and ZM241385 (ZM, a selective A2Aantagonist) were microinjected bilaterally into the PC. Rats were stimulated 5 min post-drug microinjection and seizure parameters were measured. Results showed that intra-PC CHA (10 and 100 μmol/L) decreased the duration of both afterdischarge and stage 5 seizure and significantly increased the latency to stage 4 seizure. Intra-PC CPT increased afterdischarge and stage 5 seizure duration at the dose of 20 μmol/L. The anticonvulsant effect of CHA (100 μmol/L) was eliminated by CPT (10 μmol/L) pretreatment. On the other hand, neither intra-PC CGS nor ZM had a significant effect on kindled seizures. These results suggest that activity of A1, but not A2A, receptors of the PC have anticonvulsant effects on kindled seizures elicited from electrical stimulation of the amygdala.
The kidney is resistant to chronic hypoglycaemia in late-gestation fetal sheep
Authors: Boyce Amanda C. , Gibson Karen J. , Wintour E. Marelyn , Koukoulas Irene , Gatford Kathryn L. , Owens Julie A. , Lumbers Eugenie R.
Published: September 2007

We imposed a sustained reduction in glucose supply to late-gestation fetal sheep to see whether the reduction in glucose and insulin levels affected renal growth, renin expression and synthesis, and renal function. Maternal glucose concentrations were lowered to 1.7–1.9 mmol/L for 12–13 days by i.v. insulin infusion (n = 9, 121 days gestation, term = 150 days). Control ewes (n = 7) received vehicle. Maternal and fetal glucose concentrations were 40% and 31% lower than in controls (p < 0.001), respectively. Fetal plasma insulin levels fell 36% ± 7% by day 7 (p < 0.05); IGF-I levels were unchanged. Arterial PO2and pH increased and PCO2fell (p < 0.05). Renal function was largely unaffected. Longitudinal growth was 28% slower and spleen weights were 36% smaller (p < 0.05); body and kidney weights were not affected. Renal renin levels and renin, angiotensinogen, and angiotensin receptor mRNA levels were similar to those of controls. Plasma renin levels increased from 2.1 ± 0.6 to 7.6 ± 2.8 ng angiotensin I·mL–1·h–1(p = 0.01). Thus reductions in fetal glucose and insulin levels in late gestation that were sufficient to retard skeletal growth had no effect on kidney growth or function or the renal renin–angiotensin system, possibly because IGF-I levels were not reduced. There was, however, increased activity of the circulating renin–angiotensin system similar to that seen during insulin-induced hypoglycaemia.
Effect of artemether on pentobarbitone sleep and electrical activity in rats
Authors: Ejiofor Janet I. , Kwanashie Helen O. , Anuka Joseph A.
Published: September 2007

Artemether (AM), a highly effective treatment for multidrug-resistant malaria and a component of artemisinin combination therapy, has been associated with some neurotoxicity following repeated high doses. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of AM on pentobarbitone sleep and electrical activities in rats. Wistar rats received AM i.p. at 3 dose levels: 1.5, 7.5, and 15 mg/kg, whereas control rats received 0.2 mL of the vehicle (3% v/v Tween 80). AM administered 20 min before pentobarbitone had no significant effect on the onset and duration of sleep. However, after a 7-day pretreatment, AM dose-dependently prolonged pentobarbitone sleep, as did chloramphenicol. Electroencephalogram and electromyogram recordings 20 min after pretreatment showed that AM (15 mg/kg) exhibited inhibitory activity similar to chlorpromazine as opposed to the excitatory effect of amphetamine. When pretreated for 7 days, rats receiving 1.5 mg/kg AM also showed inhibitory activity of the cortical centres, whereas desynchronization of the optic tectum and reticular formation was observed in rats pretreated with 7.5 and 15 mg/kg AM. The present data suggest that although the therapeutic equivalent dose of 1.5 mg/kg AM had no appreciable effects on pentobarbitone sleep but caused reduced electrical activity in rats, higher doses have more profound effects on both indices.
Sensitized airway smooth muscle plasticity and hyperreactivity: a reviewThis article is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Issue on Recent Advances in Asthma Research.
Authors: Stephens N. L. , Cheng Z.-Q. , Fust A.
Published: September 2007

To help elucidate the mechanisms underlying asthmatic bronchospasm, the goal of our research has been to determine whether airway smooth muscle (ASM) hyperreactivity was the responsible factor. We reported that in a canine model of asthma, the shortening capacity (ΔLmax) and velocity (Vo) of in vitro sensitized muscle were significantly increased. This increase was of sufficient magnitude to account for 75% narrowing of the in vivo airway, but maximal isometric force was unchanged. This last feature has been reported by others. Under lightly loaded conditions, ASM completes 75% of its isotonic shortening within the first 2 s. Furthermore, 90% of the increased shortening of ragweed pollen-sensitized ASM (SASM), compared with control (CASM), is complete within the first 2 s. The study of shortening beyond this period will apparently not yield much useful information, and studies of isotonic shortening should be focused on this interval. Although both CASM and SASM showed plasticity and adaptation with respect to isometric force, neither muscle type showed a difference in the force developed in these phases. During isotonic shortening, no evidence of plasticity was seen, but the equilibrated SASM showed increased ΔLmaxand Voof shortening. Molecular mechanisms of changes in Vocould result from changes in the kinetics of the myosin heavy chain ATPase. Motility assay, however, showed no changes between CASM and SASM in the ability of the purified myosin molecule (SF1) to translocate a marker actin filament. On the other hand, we found that the state of activation of the ATPase by phosphorylation of smooth muscle myosin light chain (molecular mass 20 000 Da) was greater in the SASM. This would account for the increased Vo. Investigating the signalling pathway, we found that whereas [Ca2+]iincreased in both isometric and isotonic contraction, there was no significant difference between CASM and SASM. The content and activity of calmodulin were also not different between the 2 muscles. Nevertheless, we did find that content and total activity of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (smMLCK) and the abundance of its message were greater; this would explain the increased MLC20 phosphorylation. The binding affinity between Ca2+and calmodulin and between 4 Ca2+calmodulin and smMLCK remains to be studied. We conclude that SASM shows increased isotonic shortening capacity and velocity. It also shows increased content and total activity of smMLCK, which is consistent with the increased shortening. Plasticity produced by oscillation is not seen in the shortening muscle, although it is seen with respect to force development. It did not modulate the behaviour of the sensitized muscle.
Level of toll-like receptor agonist exposure differentially determines chemokine production in humansThis article is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Issue on Recent Advances in Asthma Research.
Authors: Lissitsyn Yuriy , Becker Allan B. , Kozyrskyj Anita L. , HayGlass Kent T.
Published: September 2007

Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists, ubiquitously present in the environment, are key players in activating synthesis of cytokines and chemokines that control normal and pathophysiological processes, including multiple inflammatory diseases. TLR2 and TLR4 respond to bacterial cell wall products. We examined the impact of TLR activation on human immune capacity using stimuli ranging from the low levels seen in most environments to the high concentrations widely used for in vitro studies. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 117 healthy children were activated with lipopolysaccharide (TLR4 ligand) or peptidoglycan (TLR2 ligand) over a million-fold range of concentrations. Resulting interleukin-6, CCL2, and CCL22 production were quantified by ELISA. The intensity of cytokine production elicited was linearly related to the intensity of the stimulus up to maximal responses. In marked contrast, chemokine production was not linearly related to agonist concentration. Responses rose with increasing stimulation, and then were markedly reduced (40%–100%, p < 0.0001) in response to the high levels of TLR stimulation most commonly cited. Thus, the levels of TLR4 and TLR2 agonists typically used for in vitro interrogation of immune capacity yield results clearly distinct from those obtained using commonly occurring environmental levels of TLR ligands. These findings demonstrate the importance of utilizing TLR ligands at concentrations more closely mimicking environmental levels when assessing immune capacity.
Resistance of fibrogenic responses to glucocorticoid and 2-methoxyestradiol in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in miceThis article is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Issue on Recent Advances in Asthma Research.
Authors: Langenbach Shenna Y. , Wheaton Ben J. , Fernandes Darren J. , Jones Catherine , Sutherland Tara E. , Wraith Bronwyn C. , Harris Trudi , Schuliga Michael J. , McLean Catriona , Stewart Alastair G.
Published: September 2007

Bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice reproduces some key features of pulmonary fibrosis in humans including alveolar inflammation, myofibroblast proliferation, and collagen deposition. Glucocorticoids have been used as first-line therapy for the treatment of lung fibrosis, although their clinical efficacy is equivocal. We examined the effect of the glucocorticoid, methylprednisolone (MP), and the estrogen metabolite, 2-methoxyestradiol (2MEO) on bleomycin-induced bronchoalveolar inflammation, fibrosis, and changes in lung function. The characterization of the time-course of the bleomycin-induced fibrosis indicated that lung dry mass and hydroxyproline content showed less variance than histopathological assessment of fibrosis. The bleomycin-induced increases in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cell number and protein levels were not significantly influenced by treatment with either MP (1 mg·(kg body mass)–1·day–1, i.p.) or 2MEO (50 mg·(kg body mass)–1·day–1, i.p.). Lung fibrosis, measured histopathologically or by hydroxyproline content, was not significantly influenced by either MP or 2MEO treatment, whereas the latter agent did reduce the increment in lung dry mass. The enlargement of alveolar airspaces and the decline in lung compliance were exacerbated by MP treatment. These data suggest that bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis is resistant to inhibition by concurrent treatment with either glucocorticoids or 2MEO.
Role of natriuretic peptide signaling in modulating asthma and inflammationThis article is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Issue on Recent Advances in Asthma Research.
Authors: Mohapatra Shyam S.
Published: September 2007

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), the C-terminal peptide comprising residues 99–126 of the pro-ANP hormone, has been studied for 3 decades for its cardiovascular effects. Recent reports suggest that it plays a significant role in modulation of the immune system. Immune cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells, and T lymphocytes, express receptors for ANP. ANP plays a significant role in shaping the early immune response to environmental antigens and may play a critical role in the interaction between cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems; it also appears to be involved in polarizing the immune response to allergens. Thus, ability to alter the magnitude of natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPRA) signaling could be exploited to develop therapeutics for several allergic diseases, including asthma. This report will review and critically evaluate the role of the ANP pathway in asthma and inflammation.
A HEURISTIC APPROACH FOR SOLVING SERIALLY DISTRIBUTED STORAGE DEPOTS UNDER GENERAL-INTEGER POLICY
Authors: LEE FANG-CHUAN , WEN UE-PYNG
Published: September 2007

In this study, we present the problems of shipping a single product from a single supply origin, through a serial system of storage depots, to a single demand destination by trucks or ships, and aim to minimize the sum of ordering, inventory and transportation costs over an infinite time horizon. We formulate the problem consisting of general-integer (GI), stationary and nested replenishment policies for the multistage inventory/distribution system. This paper presents the near-optimal cost-curve structure analysis for this serially distributed storage depot problem (SDSDP) and show that the ordering quantities for each storage depot always comply with the GI replenishment policy. Moreover, we develop a heuristic approach, which is based on an efficient search procedure to obtain satisfactory results. A comparison of the results obtained from the proposed heuristic method has been made with that from the LINGO® software on randomly generated problems. The proposed heuristic is the first solution approach in the literature to solve the single link problems based on the cost-curve structure analysis. Furthermore, we provide an important foundation for carrying out investigations on lot sizing and distribution problems with other supply chain configurations.
FREIGHT TRAIN ROUTING AND SCHEDULING IN A PASSENGER RAIL NETWORK: COMPUTATIONAL COMPLEXITY AND THE STEPWISE DISPATCHING HEURISTIC
Authors: GODWIN T. , GOPALAN RAM , NARENDRAN T. T.
Published: September 2007

In many countries, freight trains have to share a rail network with passenger trains. In this paper, we consider a situation where passenger trains must adhere to a strict published schedule, whereas freight train movements can be inserted at any convenient time, without disrupting scheduled passenger trains. We propose an algorithm for the problem of routing and scheduling of a single freight train in a passenger rail network. However, the multiple freight train routing and scheduling problem is shown to be NP-complete, even for simplified instances. Specifically, we show that both routing and scheduling of freight trains are difficult, even when only two freight trains are considered. It is also difficult when freight train movements are restricted to reach their destinations with no idling permitted at intermediate stations. We have developed a Stepwise Dispatching Heuristic for routing and scheduling multiple freight trains in a passenger rail network. Computational results confirm the efficacy of our algorithm for single freight train routing and of the proposed Stepwise Dispatching Heuristic.
AN EOQ MODEL WITH LIMITED STORAGE CAPACITY UNDER TRADE CREDITS
Authors: OUYANG LIANG-YUH , WU KUN-SHAN , YANG CHIH-TE
Published: September 2007

In the classical economic order quantity (EOQ) inventory model, it was assumed that the retailer must pay for the received items immediately. However, in practice, the supplier not only allows retailer to settle the account after a certain fixed period but also may offer a cash discount to encourage the retailer to pay for his purchases as soon as possible. On the other hand, it is common practice in most inventory systems to hold excess stocks in a rented warehouse whenever the storage capacity of the owned warehouse is insufficient. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to establish an EOQ model with limited storage capacity, in which the supplier provides cash discount and permissible delay in payments for the retailer. In the model, we develop some useful theorems to characterize the optimal solution and provide a simple method to find the optimal replenishment cycle time and payment time. Finally, several numerical examples are given to illustrate the theoretical results and some managerial insights are also obtained.
MODELING TRAFFIC FLOWS WITH QUEUEING MODELS: A REVIEW
Authors: VAN WOENSEL TOM , VANDAELE NICO
Published: September 2007

In this paper, an overview of different analytic queueing models for traffic on road networks is presented. In the literature, it has been shown that queueing models can be used to adequately model uninterrupted traffic flows. This paper gives a broad review on this literature. Moreover, it is shown that the developed published methodologies (which are mainly single node oriented) can be extended towards queueing networks. First, an extension towards queueing networks with infinite buffer sizes is evaluated. Secondly, the assumption of infinite buffer sizes is dropped leading to queueing networks with finite buffer sizes. The impact of the buffer size when comparing the different queueing network methodologies is studied in detail. The paper ends with an analytical application tool to facilitate the optimal positioning of the counting points on a highway.
NEUTRINO PROPERTIES, COSMOLOGY
Authors: HENLEY ERNEST M.
Published: September 2007

This is a review of our present knowledge of neutrino properties and what remains to be determined. It is followed by a description of double beta decay and very high energy neutrinos. Finally, there is a description of leptogenesis. In this talk I will neglect sterile neutrinos, and thus the LSND problem.
STRING GAS COSMOLOGY AND STRUCTURE FORMATION
Authors: BRANDENBERGER ROBERT H.
Published: September 2007

For suitable cosmological backgrounds, thermal fluctuations of a gas of strings can generate a scale-invariant spectrum of cosmological fluctuations without requiring a phase of inflationary expansion. We highlight the key points of this mechanism, and discuss cosmological backgrounds in which this scenario can be realized. The spectrum of cosmo-logical perturbations has a small red tilt (like in scalar field-driven inflation) but (unlike in inflation) there is a small blue tilt of the spectrum of gravitational waves.
NEUTRINO PHYSICS AND GEOPHYSICS WITH A DEEP OCEAN ANTINEUTRINO OBSERVATORY
Authors: PAKVASA SANDIP
Published: September 2007

This paper presents the science potential of a deep ocean antineutrino observatory being developed at Hawaii. The observatory design allows for relocation from one site to another. Positioning the observatory 60 km distant from a nuclear reactor complex enables precision measurement of neutrino mixing parameters, leading to a determination of neutrino mass hierarchy and θ13. At a mid-Pacific location the observatory measures the flux and ratio of uranium and thorium neutrinos from earth's mantle and performs a sensitive search for a hypothetical natural fission reactor in earth's core. A subsequent deployment at another mid-ocean location would test lateral heterogeneity of uranium and thorium in earth's mantle.
BERKELEY CMB EXPERIMENTS
Authors: RICHARDS P. L.
Published: September 2007

This paper describes the status of four CMB cosmology experiments which are currently being developed by the Berkeley group. These include the APEXSZ and South Pole Telescope searches for clusters of galaxies using the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect and the Polar Bear and EBEX CMB polarization anisotropy experiments. These experiments exploit new detector technologies with Superconducting TES bolometers and frequency domain output multiplexing, which has been developed at Berkeley.
QUANTUM FLUCTUATIONS IN THE INFLATIONARY UNIVERSE
Authors: KIM SANG PYO
Published: September 2007

The recent three-year WMAP data selects large-field models with certain power-law potentials and small-field models for all power-law potentials as consistent inflation models. We study the large-field and small-field inflation model with a quadratic and a quartic potential within the framework of quantum field theory in an expanding Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe. We find that quantum fluctuations in the small-field model lead to a significant contribution to the effective potential and may have non-negligible effects on the slow-roll parameters predicted by classical theory.
GENERAL MATCHING CONDITIONS IN BOUNCING COSMOLOGY AND CMB SPECTRUM
Authors: CHU CHONG-SUN , FURUTA KO , LIN FENG-LI
Published: September 2007

To clarify the issue of obtaining the scale invariant CMB spectrum in bouncing cosmology, we examine the matching condition between the metric perturbations before and after the bounce. We prove a no-go theorem: independent of the details of the matching condition, a scale invariant spectrum is impossible as long as the local causality condition is satisfied. In our framework, it is easy to show that a violation of local causality around the bounce is needed in order to give a scale invariant spectrum. We study a specific scenario of this possibility by considering a nonlocal effective theory inspired by noncommutative geometry around the bounce and show that a scale invariant spectrum is possible.
QUANTUM NOISES AND THE LARGE SCALE STRUCTURE
Authors: LEE WO-LUNG
Published: September 2007

We propose that cosmological density perturbation may originate from passive fluctuations of the inflaton, which are induced by colored quantum noise due to the coupling of the inflaton to the quantum environment. At small scales, the fluctuations grow with time to become nearly scale-invariant. However, the larger-scale modes cross out the horizon earlier and do not have enough time to grow, thus resulting in a suppression of the density perturbation. This may explain the observed low quadrupole in the CMB anisotropy data and potentially unveil the initial time of inflation. We also discuss the implications to the running spectral index and the non-Gaussianity of the primordial density perturbation.
COUPLING OF QUINTESSENCE TO PSEUDOSCALAR OF ELECTROMAGNETISM AND CMB POLARIZATION
Authors: LIU GUO CHIN
Published: September 2007

Coupling between quintessence and pseudoscalar of electromagnetism induces the rotation of the polarization plane of Cosmic Microwave Background(CMB). This rotation mixes the power between E and B modes and generates parity-violating TB and EB modes. Given the potential of a quintessence model, we present the full set of CMB power spectra for temperature and polarization anisotropies. These power spectra can be used to constrain the coupling and quintessence model.
SCALAR KINK BRANEWORLDS AND COSMOLOGY
Authors: VOLKAS RAYMOND R.
Published: September 2007

Our universe might be a domain wall or kink carrying localized standard model fields embedded in a 4 + 1-dimensional space. I report on some initial studies of the cosmology of such a model, focusing on the relatively simple de Sitter (dS) and Anti-de Sitter (AdS) cases for the effective 3 + 1-dimensional FRW metric. Fermion localization to the AdS4 and dS4 domain walls is briefly discussed.
DARK MATTER AND COSMOLOGICAL QCD PHASE TRANSITION
Authors: HWANG W-Y. P.
Published: September 2007

In this talk, we take the wisdom that the cosmological QCD phase transition, which happened at a time between 10−5 sec and 10−4 sec or at the temperature of about 150 MeV and accounts for confinement of quarks and gluons to within hadrons, would be of first order, i.e., would release latent "heat" or latent energy. I wish to base on two important points, i.e. (1) that we have 25% dark matter in the present Universe, and (2) that when the early universe underwent the cosmological QCD phase transition it released 1.02 × 10gm/cm3 in latent energy huge compared to 5.88 × 109 gm/cm3 radiation (photon) energy, to deduce that the two numbers are in fact closely related. It is sufficient to approximate the true QCD vacuum as one of degenerate θ-vacua and can be modelled effectively via a complex scalar field with spontaneous symmetry breaking. We examine how "pasted" or "patched" domain walls are formed, how such walls evolve in the long run, and we believe that the majority of dark matter could be accounted for in terms of such domain-wall structure and its remnants. The latent energy released due to the conversion of the false vacua to the true vacua, in the form of "pasted" or "patched" domain walls at first and their evolved objects, make it obsolete the "radiation-dominated" epoch or later on the "matter-dominated" epoch.
INFLATION WITH HIGH DERIVATIVE COUPLINGS
Authors: CHEN BIN , LI MIAO , WANG TOWER , WANG YI
Published: September 2007

We study a class of generalized inflation models in which the inflaton is coupled to the Ricci scalar by a general f(φ, R) term. The scalar power spectrum, the spectral index, the running of the spectral index, the tensor mode spectrum and a new consistency relation of the model are calculated.
A POSSIBLE CONNECTION BETWEEN DARK ENERGY AND THE HIERARCHY
Authors: CHEN PISIN , GU JE-AN
Published: September 2007

Recently it was suggested that the dark energy maybe related to the well-known hierarchy between the Planck scale (~ 1019 GeV ) and the TeV scale. The same brane-world setup to address this hierarchy problem may also in principle address the smallness problem of dark energy. Specifically, the Planck-SM hierarchy ratio was viewed as a quantum gravity-related, dimensionless fine structure constant where various physical energy scales in the system are associated with the Planck mass through different powers of the 'gravity fine structure constant'. In this paper we provide a toy model based on the Randall-Sundrum geometry where SUSY-breaking is induced by the coupling between a SUSY-breaking Higgs field on the brane and the KK gravitinos. We show that the associated Casimir energy density indeed conforms with the dark energy scale.
TIME VARIATION OF FINE STRUCTURE CONSTANT AND PROTON-ELECTRON MASS RATIO WITH QUINTESSENCE
Authors: LEE SEOKCHEON
Published: September 2007

Recent astrophysical observations of quasar absorption systems indicate that the fine structure constant α and the proton-electron mass ratio μ may have evolved through the history of the universe. Motivated by these observations, we consider the cosmological evolution of a quintessence-like scalar field ϕ coupled to gauge fields and matter which leads to effective modifications of the coupling constants and particle masses over time. We show that a class of models where the scalar field potential V(ϕ) and the couplings to matter B(ϕ) admit common extremum in ϕ naturally explains constraints on variations of both the fine structure constant and the proton-electron mass ratio.
EFFECTS OF INHOMOGENEITY ON THE COSMIC EVOLUTION
Authors: GU JE-AN
Published: September 2007

Regarding the possible effects of inhomogeneity on the cosmic evolution, two of the essential issues are discussed. The most fundamental one is whether the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker cosmology is a good approximation for describing our universe. The other is whether the accelerating expansion can be driven by the inhomogeneity of the universe.
POSSIBILITY OF A SIGNATURE OF THE RADIATIVE DECAY OF RELIC PARTICLES ON LIGHT ELEMENT ABUNDANCES
Authors: KUSAKABE MOTOHIKO , KAJINO TOSHITAKA , MATHEWS GRANT J.
Published: September 2007

Recent spectroscopic observations of metal poor stars have indicated that both 7 Li and 6 Li have abundance plateaus as a function of the metallicity. Abundances of 7 Li are about a factor three lower than the primordial abundance predicted by standard big-bang nucleosynthesis (SBBN), and 6 Li abundances are ~ 1/20 of 7 Li , whereas SBBN predicts negligible amounts of 6 Li compared to the detected level. These discrepancies suggest that 6 Li has another cosmological or Galactic origin. Furthermore, it appear that 7 Li (and also 6 Li ) has been depleted from its primordial abundance by some post-BBN processes. We study the possibility that the radiative decay of long-lived particles has affected the cosmological lithium abundances in reality. We calculate the non-thermal nucleosynthesis associated with the radiative decay, and explore the allowed region of the parameters specifying the properties of long-lived particles. We also impose constraints from observations of the CMB energy spectrum. It is found that non-thermal nucleosynthesis could produces 6 Li at the level detected in metal poor halo stars (MPHSs), when the lifetime of the unstable particles is of the order ~ 108 − 1012 s depending on their initial abundance. We conclude that a combination of two different processes could explain the lithium isotopic abundances in MPHSs. First, a non-thermal cosmological nucleosynthesis associated with the radiative decay of unstable particles; and second, about the same degree of stellar depletion of both primordial lithium isotopic abundances. If MPHSs experience 6 Li depletion of factor much greater than ~ 3, the simple radiative decay process can not be the cause of large 6 Li abundances in MPHSs.
PLANCK LENGTH AND COSMOLOGY
Authors: CALMET XAVIER
Published: September 2007

We show that an unification of quantum mechanics and general relativity implies that there is a fundamental length in Nature in the sense that no operational procedure would be able to measure distances shorter than the Planck length. Furthermore we give an explicit realization of an old proposal by Anderson and Finkelstein who argued that a fundamental length in nature implies unimodular gravity. Finally, using hand waving arguments we show that a minimal length might be related to the cosmological constant which, if this scenario is realized, is time dependent.
GENERATION OF LARGE-SCALE MAGNETIC FIELDS FROM PRIMORDIAL DENSITY FLUCTUATIONS
Authors: ICHIKI KIYOTOMO , TAKAHASHI KEITARO , SUGIYAMA NAOSHI , HANAYAMA HIDEKAZU , OHNO HIROSHI
Published: September 2007

We investigate a generation of magnetic fields from cosmological density perturbations. In the primordial plasma before cosmological recombination, all of the materials except dark matter in the universe exist in the form of photons, electrons, and protons (and a small number of light elements). Due to the different scattering nature of photons off electrons and protons, electric currents and electric fields are inevitably induced, and thus magnetic fields are generated. We numerically obtain the power spectrum of magnetic fields over a wide range of scales, from k ~ 10−5 Mpc −1 to k ~ 109 Mpc −1. Implications of these cosmologically generated magnetic fields are discussed.
SIGNALS FOR LIGHT DARK MATTER AXINO
Authors: KIM HANG BAE
Published: September 2007

Light dark matter aims at explaining the 511 keV γ-ray line emission from the galactic bulge as well as cold dark matter in our universe. The former is achieved via the annihilations or decays of light dark matter particles, which implies interesting observational consequences in addition to 511 keV γ-rays. We consider the axino in the 1 ~ 10 MeV mass range as the light dark matter particle and discuss the particle physics models for it, its cosmological production, and its decay arising from R-parity violation. For additional observational signals, we consider the connection to the neutrino data made by bilinear R-parity violations and the continuum γ-ray emission from light dark matter particles.
EFFECTIVE FIELD THEORY PREDICTIONS FOR THE SOLAR PROTON AND 3He BURNING PROCESSES
Authors: PARK TAE-SUN
Published: September 2007

A modern effective field theory is exploited to pin down accurately the flux S factors for the pp and hep processes in the Sun. The technique used is to combine the high accuracy established in few-nucleon systems of the "standard nuclear physics approach" (SNPA) and the systematic power counting of chiral perturbation theory (ChPT) into a consistent effective field theory framework. Using highly accurate wave functions obtained in the SNPA and working to N 3 LO in the chiral counting for the current, we make totally parameter-free and error-controlled predictions for the pp and hep processes in the Sun. We also discuss the convergence with respect to chiral expansion.
INDIA-BASED NEUTRINO OBSERVATORY: STATUS REPORT
Authors: INDUMATHI D.
Published: September 2007

We briefly review neutrino properties, with emphasis on neutrino oscillations. We then present a status report on the proposed India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO). We focus on the physics studies possible with an iron calorimeter detector (ICAL) and the logistics of constructing this detector at INO. Such a detector would study atmospheric neutrinos in the first phase with the possibility of acting as a far-end detector of a future neutrino factory or beta beam. This talk was given at the Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics (CosPA) conference at Taipei, in Nov 2006.
E0-SEMIGROUPS FOR CONTINUOUS PRODUCT SYSTEMS
Authors: SKEIDE MICHAEL
Published: September 2007

We show that every continuous product system of correspondences over a unitalC*-algebra occurs as the product system of a strictly continuousE0-semigroup.
PARTICLE PICTURE APPROACH TO THE SELF-INTERSECTION LOCAL TIME OF BRANCHING DENSITY PROCESSES IN ${\mathcal S}' ({\mathbb R}^d)$
Authors: TALARCZYK ANNA
Published: September 2007

The problems studied in this paper are associated with a critical branching particle system in [Formula: see text], where the particle motion is described by a Lévy process. We define the intersection local time (ILT) of two independent trees, i.e. two independent particle systems, each starting from a single particle and we give sufficient conditions for its existence. The [Formula: see text]-valued density process arises as the high density limit of a "charged" particle system, where the initial positions of particles are given by a Poisson random measure. We express the self-intersection local time of this density process by means of ILTs of pairs of trees.
CONCENTRATION OF INVARIANT MEASURES FOR STOCHASTIC GENERALIZED POROUS MEDIA EQUATIONS
Authors: RÖCKNER MICHAEL , WANG FENG-YU
Published: September 2007

By using Bernstein functions, existence and concentration properties are studied for invariant measures of the infinitesimal generators associated to a large class of stochastic generalized porous media equations. In particular, results derived in Ref. 4 are extended to equations with non-constant and stronger noises. Analogous results are also proved for invariant probability measures for strong solutions.
The Role of Behavior in the Evolution of Spiders, Silks, and Webs
Authors: Vollrath Fritz , Selden Paul
Published: September 2007

Spiders’ silks and webs have made it possible for this diverse taxon to occupy a unique niche as the main predator for another, even more diverse taxon, the insects. Indeed, it might well be that the spiders, which are older, were a major force driving the insects into their diversity in a coevolutionary arms race. The spiders’ weapons were their silks and here we explore the evidence for the evolution of silk production and web building as traits in spider phylogeny.
Stochastic Dynamics of Plant-Water Interactions
Authors: Katul Gabriel , Porporato Amilcare , Oren Ram
Published: September 2007

Describing water flow from soil through plants to the atmosphere remains a formidable scientific challenge despite years of research. This challenge is not surprising given the high dimensionality and degree of nonlinearity of the soil-plant system, which evolves in space and time according to complex internal physical, chemical, and biological laws forced by external hydroclimatic variability. Although rigorous microscopic laws for this system still await development, some progress can be made on the formulation of macroscopic laws that upscale known submacroscopic processes and use surrogate stochasticity to preserve the probabilistic and spectral information content of the high dimensional system. The external hydroclimatic forcing is inherently intermittent with variability across all scales, thereby precluding the use of standard approximations employed in analysis of stochastic processes (e.g., small noise perturbations). Examples are provided to show how superposition of stochasticity at multiple space-time scales shapes plant-water interactions.
Diversity and Evolution of the Insect Ventral Nerve Cord
Authors: Niven Jeremy E. , Graham Christopher M. , Burrows Malcolm
Published: September 2007

Is the remarkable diversity in the behavior of insects reflected in the organization of their nervous systems? The ventral nerve cords (VNCs) have been described from over 300 insect species covering all the major orders. Interpreting these data in the context of phylogenetic relationships reveals remarkable diversity. The presumed ancestral VNC structure is rarely observed; instead the VNCs of most insects show extensive modification and substantial convergence. Modifications include shifts in neuromere positions, their fusion to form composite ganglia, and, potentially, their separation to revert to individual ganglia. These changes appear to be facilitated by the developmental and functional modularity of the VNC, a neuromere for each body segment. The differences in VNC structure emphasize trade-offs between behavioral requirements and the costs incurred while maintaining the nervous system and signaling between its various parts. The diversity in structure also shows that nervous systems may undergo dramatic morphological changes during evolution.
Dengue Virus–Mosquito Interactions
Authors: Halstead Scott B.
Published: September 2007

The mosquito Aedes aegypti is more widely dispersed now than at any time in the past, placing billions of humans at risk of infection with one or more of the four dengue viruses. This review presents and discusses information on mosquito-dengue infection dynamics and describes the prominent role that temperature and rainfall play in controlling dengue viral transmission including discussions of the effect of interannual climate variations and the predicted effect of global warming. Complementary human determinants of dengue epidemiology include viremia titer, variation in viremic period, enhanced viremias, and threshold viremia. Topics covered include epidemiological phenomena such as traveling waves, the generation of genetic diversity of dengue viruses following virgin soil introductions and in hyperendemic settings, and evidence for and against viral virulence as a determinant of the severity of dengue infections. Also described is the crucial role of monotypic and heterotypic herd immunity in shaping dengue epidemic behavior.
Microbial Control of Insect Pests in Temperate Orchard Systems: Potential for Incorporation into IPM
Authors: Lacey Lawrence A. , Shapiro-Ilan David I.
Published: September 2007

Because of their selectivity and safety, microbial control agents (MCAs) appear to be ready-made components of integrated pest management (IPM) systems that do not pose a threat to applicators or the environment and allow other natural enemies to function. Control of several orchard pest insects using MCAs, including viruses, Bacillus thuringiensis, fungi, and entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), have been demonstrated in apple, pear, stone fruits, citrus, and several nut crops. B. thuringiensis is the most used MCA for control of lepidopteran orchard pests. Significant use of EPNs in citrus for control of root weevils is also reported. The granulovirus of codling moth is used increasingly in apple and pear by organic growers, with interest also shown by conventional growers. Although some success has been achieved, in most orchard systems MCAs account for a relatively small proportion of the pest control tactics employed, and in some systems they are not used at all. Research toward improving MCA efficacy and economic competitiveness is required to enhance the role of MCAs in IPM.
Sex Determination in the Hymenoptera
Authors: Heimpel George E. , de Boer Jetske G.
Published: September 2007

The dominant and ancestral mode of sex determination in the Hymenoptera is arrhenotokous parthenogenesis, in which diploid females develop from fertilized eggs and haploid males develop from unfertilized eggs. We discuss recent progress in the understanding of the genetic and cytoplasmic mechanisms that make arrhenotoky possible. The best-understood mode of sex determination in the Hymenoptera is complementary sex determination (CSD), in which diploid males are produced under conditions of inbreeding. The gene mediating CSD has recently been cloned in the honey bee and has been named the complementary sex determiner. However, CSD is only known from 4 of 21 hymenopteran superfamilies, with some taxa showing clear evidence of the absence of CSD. Sex determination in the model hymenopteran Nasonia vitripennis does not involve CSD, but it is consistent with a form of genomic imprinting in which activation of the female developmental pathway requires paternally derived genes. Some other hymenopterans are not arrhenotokous but instead exhibit thelytoky or paternal genome elimination.
Decline and Conservation of Bumble Bees
Authors: Goulson D. , Lye G.C. , Darvill B.
Published: September 2007

Declines in bumble bee species in the past 60 years are well documented in Europe, where they are driven primarily by habitat loss and declines in floral abundance and diversity resulting from agricultural intensification. Impacts of habitat degradation and fragmentation are likely to be compounded by the social nature of bumble bees and their largely monogamous breeding system, which renders their effective population size low. Hence, populations are susceptible to stochastic extinction events and inbreeding. In North America, catastrophic declines of some bumble bee species since the 1990s are probably attributable to the accidental introduction of a nonnative parasite from Europe, a result of global trade in domesticated bumble bee colonies used for pollination of greenhouse crops. Given the importance of bumble bees as pollinators of crops and wildflowers, steps must be taken to prevent further declines. Suggested measures include tight regulation of commercial bumble bee use and targeted use of environmentally comparable schemes to enhance floristic diversity in agricultural landscapes.
Dopamine induces apoptosis in young, but not in neonatal, neurons via Ca2+-dependent signal
Authors: Iwatsubo Kousaku , Suzuki Sayaka , Li Chanxia , Tsunematsu Takashi , Nakamura Fumi , Okumura Satoshi , Sato Motohiko , Minamisawa Susumu , Toya Yoshiyuki , Umemura Satoshi , Ishikawa Yoshihiro
Published: September 2007

Dopamine signaling plays a major role in regulation of neuronal apoptosis. During the postnatal period, dopamine signaling is known to be dramatically changed in the striatum. However, because it is difficult to culture neurons after birth, little is known about developmental changes in dopamine-mediated apoptosis. To examine such changes, we established the method of primary culture of striatal neurons from 2- to 3-wk-old (young) mice. Dopamine, via D1-like receptors, induced apoptosis in young, but not neonatal, striatal neurons, suggesting that the effect of dopamine on apoptosis changed with development. In contrast, although isoproterenol (Iso), a β-adrenergic receptor agonist, increased cAMP production to a greater degree than dopamine, Iso did not increase apoptosis in striatal neurons from young and neonatal mice, suggesting a minor role of cAMP in dopamine-mediated apoptosis. Next, we examined the effect of dopamine on Ca2+ signaling. Dopamine, but not Iso, markedly increased intracellular Ca2+ in striatal neurons from young mice, and Ca2+-chelating agents abolished dopamine-induced apoptosis, suggesting that Ca2+ played a major role in the dopamine-mediated apoptosis pathway. In contrast, dopamine failed to increase intracellular Ca2+ in neonatal neurons, and the expression of PLC, which can increase intracellular Ca2+ via D1-like receptor activation, was significantly greater in young than in neonatal striatal neurons. These data suggest that the developmental change in dopamine-mediated Ca2+ signaling was responsible for differences between young and neonatal striatum in induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, the culture of young striatal neurons is feasible and may provide a new tool for developmental studies.
Inhibition of glycosaminoglycan synthesis and protein glycosylation with WAS-406 and azaserine result in reduced islet amyloid formation in vitro
Authors: Hull Rebecca L. , Zraika Sakeneh , Udayasankar Jayalakshmi , Kisilevsky Robert , Szarek Walter A. , Wight Thomas N. , Kahn Steven E.
Published: September 2007

Deposition of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) as amyloid in the pancreatic islet occurs in ∼90% of individuals with Type 2 diabetes and is associated with decreased islet β-cell mass and function. Human IAPP (hIAPP), but not rodent IAPP, is amyloidogenic and toxic to islet β-cells. In addition to IAPP, islet amyloid deposits contain other components, including heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs). The small molecule 2-acetamido-1,3,6-tri- O-acetyl-2,4-dideoxy-α-d- xylo-hexopyranose (WAS-406) inhibits HSPG synthesis in hepatocytes and blocks systemic amyloid A deposition in vivo. To determine whether WAS-406 inhibits localized amyloid formation in the islet, we incubated hIAPP transgenic mouse islets for up to 7 days in 16.7 mM glucose (conditions that result in amyloid deposition) plus increasing concentrations of the inhibitor. WAS-406 at doses of 0, 10, 100, and 1,000 μM resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in amyloid deposition (% islet area occupied by amyloid: 0.66 ± 0.14%, 0.10 ± 0.06%, 0.09 ± 0.07%, and 0.004 ± 0.003%, P < 0.001) and an increase in β-cell area in hIAPP transgenic islets (55.0 ± 2.6 vs. 60.6 ± 2.2% islet area for 0 vs. 100 μM inhibitor, P = 0.05). Glycosaminoglycan, including heparan sulfate, synthesis was inhibited in both hIAPP transgenic and nontransgenic islets (the latter is a control that does not develop amyloid), while O-linked protein glycosylation was also decreased, and WAS-406 treatment tended to decrease islet viability in nontransgenic islets. Azaserine, an inhibitor of the rate-limiting step of the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway, replicated the effects of WAS-406, resulting in reduction of O-linked protein glycosylation and glycosaminoglycan synthesis and inhibition of islet amyloid formation. In summary, interventions that decrease both glycosaminoglycan synthesis and O-linked protein glycosylation are effective in reducing islet amyloid formation, but their utility as pharmacological agents may be limited due to adverse effects on the islet.
Obese OLETF rats exhibit increased operant performance for palatable sucrose solutions and differential sensitivity to D2 receptor antagonism
Authors: Hajnal Andras , Acharya Nikhil K. , Grigson Patricia S. , Covasa Mihai , Twining Robert C.
Published: September 2007

CCK-1-receptor-deficient Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats are hyperphagic and exhibit a greater preference for sucrose compared with lean controls [Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO)]. To directly assess motivation to work for sucrose reward in this model of obesity and type 2 diabetes, we examined the operant performance of OLETF rats at nondiabetic and prediabetic stages (14 and 24 wk of age, respectively) on fixed-ratio (FR) and progressive-ratio (PR) schedules of reinforcement. To evaluate the involvement of dopamine systems, the effects of the D1 receptor antagonist SCH23390 (100 and 200 nmol/kg ip) and the D2 receptor antagonist raclopride (200 and 400 nmol/kg ip), were also tested on PR responding for sucrose. Compared with age-matched LETO rats, 14-wk-old OLETF rats emitted more licks on the “active” empty spout operant on the FR-10 schedule of reinforcement to obtain 0.01 M and 0.3 M sucrose and completed higher ratio requirements on the PR schedule to gain access to 0.3 M and 1.0 M sucrose. At 24 wk, this effect was limited to 1.0 M sucrose. Both antagonists were potent in reducing operant responding to 0.3 M sucrose in both strains at both ages, and there was no strain effect to SCH23390 at either age. OLETF rats, on the other hand, showed an increased sensitivity to the higher dose of raclopride, resulting in reduced responding to sucrose reinforcement at 24 wk. Taken together, these findings provide the first direct evidence for an increased motivation for sucrose reward in the OLETF rats and suggest altered D2 receptor regulation with the progression of obesity and prediabetes.