bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visuomotorische Imaginationstherapie in der Neglektrehabilitation – Grundlagen, Vorgehen und Falldarstellungen
Authors: Welfringer Anouk , Leifert-Fiebach Gundhild , Babinsky Ralf , Brandt Tobias
Published: July 2010

Mentales Training findet vermehrt in der neurologischen Rehabilitation Einsatz. Neglekpatienten mit repräsentationalen Störungen, u. a. des eigenen Körpers, könnten von einer visuomotorischen Imaginationstherapie profitieren. Das therapeutische Vorgehen für die praktische Anwendung in der Neglektrehabilitation wird vorgestellt bezüglich (1) Patientenauswahl, (2) Testdiagnostik, (3) Messung der Imaginationsfähigkeit, (4) Psychoedukation, (5) Setting, (6) Therapiemanual, (7) Frequenz und Komplexitätsgrade, (8) Therapieprotokoll, (9) Elektromyographie sowie (10) Eigentraining. Zwei Fallbeispiele verdeutlichen wie eine visuomotorische Imaginationstherapie selbst im chronischen Krankheitsstadium zu Funktionsverbesserungen führen und bei subakutem personalem Neglekt die Körperwahrnehmung beeinflusst werden kann.
Carboxylic acids, sulfates, and organosulfates in processed continental organic aerosol over the southeast Pacific Ocean during VOCALS‐REx 2008
Authors: Hawkins L. N. , Russell L. M. , Covert D. S. , Quinn P. K. , Bates T. S.
Published: July 2010

Submicron particles were collected on board the NOAA R/V Ronald H. Brown during the VAMOS Ocean‐Cloud‐Atmosphere‐Land Study Regional Experiment (VOCALS‐REx) in the southeast Pacific marine boundary layer in October and November 2008. The aerosol in this region was characterized by low numbers of particles (150–700 cm−3) that were dominated by sulfate ions at concentrations of 0.9 ± 0.7 μg m−3 and organic mass at 0.6 ± 0.4 μg m−3, with no measurable nitrate and low ammonium ion concentrations. Measurements of submicron organic aerosol functional groups and trace elements show that continental outflow of anthropogenic emissions is the dominant source of organic mass (OM) to the southeast Pacific with an additional, smaller contribution of organic mass from primary marine sources. This continental source is supported by a correlation between OM and radon. Saturated aliphatic C‐CH (alkane) composed 41 ± 27% of OM. Carboxylic acid COOH (32 ± 23% of OM) was observed in single particles internally mixed with ketonic carbonyl, carbonate, and potassium. Organosulfate COSO3 (4 ± 8% of OM) was observed only during the periods of highest organic and sulfate concentrations and lowest ammonium concentrations, consistent with a sulfuric acid epoxide hydrolysis for proposed surrogate compounds (e.g., isoprene oxidation products) or reactive glyoxal uptake mechanisms from laboratory studies. This correlation suggests that in high‐sulfate, low‐ammonium conditions, the formation of organosulfate compounds in the atmosphere contributes a significant fraction of aerosol OM (up to 13% in continental air masses). Organic hydroxyl C‐OH composed 20 ± 12% of OM and up to 50% of remote marine OM and was inversely correlated with radon indicating a marine source. A two‐factor solution of positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis resulted in one factor dominated by organic hydroxyl (>70% by mass) and one factor dominated by saturated aliphatic C‐CH (alkane) and carboxylic acid (together, 90% by mass), identified as the marine and combustion factors, respectively. Measurements of particle concentrations in the study region compared with concentrations estimated from MODIS aerosol optical depth indicate that continental outflow results in MBL particle concentrations elevated up to 2 times the background level (less than 300 cm−3) away from shore and up to 10 times the background level at the coast. The presence of both coastal fossil fuel combustion and marine sources of oxygenated organic aerosol results in little change in the oxygenated fraction and oxygen to carbon ratio (O/C) along the outflow of the region's dominant organic particle source.
Depth of the Martian cryosphere: Revised estimates and implications for the existence and detection of subpermafrost groundwater
Authors: Clifford Stephen M. , Lasue Jeremie , Heggy Essam , Boisson Joséphine , McGovern Patrick , Max Michael D.
Published: July 2010

The Martian cryosphere is defined as that region of the crust where the temperature remains continuously below the freezing point of water. Previous estimates of its present thickness have ranged from ∼2.3–4.7 km at the equator to ∼6.5–12.5 km at the poles. Here we revisit these calculations, review some of the assumptions on which they were based, and investigate the effects of several parameters, not previously considered, on the cryosphere's thermal evolution and extent. These include astronomically driven climate change, the temperature‐dependent thermal properties of an ice‐rich crust, the potential presence of gas hydrate and perchlorate‐saturated groundwater, and consideration of recent lower estimates of present‐day global heat flow (which suggest a mean value roughly half that previously thought, effectively doubling the potential thickness of frozen ground). The implications of these findings for the continued survival of subpermafrost groundwater and its potential detection by the MARSIS radar sounder onboard Mars Express are then discussed. Although our estimates of the maximum potential thickness of the cryosphere have significantly increased, consideration of the likely range and spatial variability of crustal heat flow and thermal properties, in combination with the potential presence of potent freezing point depressing salts, may result in substantial local variations in cryosphere thickness. The locations that appear best suited for the detection of groundwater are those that combine low latitude (minimizing the thickness of frozen ground) and low elevation (minimizing the depth to a water table in hydrostatic equilibrium). Preliminary results from a MARSIS investigation of one such area are discussed.
A Brief History of Laryngeal Imaging: Informing our Current Clinical Practice
Authors: Bless Diane M. , Welham Nathan V.
Published: July 2010

This article provides an overview of the history of laryngeal illumination as it informs current clinical practice. We argue that two pioneers, G. Paul Moore and Hans von Leden, were critical to the development of the analysis and interpretation of laryngeal images. The material presented here was originally part of a Short Course at the 2009 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention. For readers desiring greater detail, references to key articles are provided.
A concrete roadmap toward a low-carbon society in case of Kyoto City
Authors: Gomi Kei , Ochi Yuki , Matsuoka Yuzuru
Published: July 2010

Although several central and local governments around the world have set long term low-carbon targets, they do not always have concrete plans toward the goals. In order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission significantly, various kinds of measures in various sectors will be required. Some measures reduce GHG emissions directly and are called “direct measures” in this study. To implement those direct measures by the target year, indirect measures are also required, such as economic incentives, regulations, and urban planning. This study proposes a method to develop a concrete long-term schedule of direct and indirect measures, a “roadmap,” based on the idea of backcasting. To formulate the implementation of and relations between measures, and to estimate the concrete schedule to achieve the targets, we developed a model called “backcasting tool” (BCT). Given the information of measures including GHG emission reduction by measures, required resource input and maximum total resource input, and so on, BCT estimates the progress of the measures from the current to the target year. The method was applied in Kyoto City with a low-carbon target, 40% reduction in CO2 emission from fossil fuel by 2030 compared with 1990. Using BCT, we showed that a detailed schedule consists of about 100 measures classified into six fields. The result shows it is possible to achieve the target if all the measures, both direct and indirect, are implemented in time.
An update of Spanish renewable energy policy and achievements in a low carbon context
Authors: San Miguel Guillermo , del Río Pablo , Hernández Félix
Published: July 2010

Following environmental and economic motivations, most countries in the world are confronting the challenge of reducing both their dependence on fossil fuels and their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The promotion of renewable energy sources (RES) contributes to these two goals while simultaneously bringing economic opportunities in less industrialized areas and positioning national companies in a rapidly expanding sector. These benefits have been acknowledged by successive Spanish governments over the past decade, leading to the implementation of a stable regulatory framework that has been effective in encouraging the deployment of some renewable energy technologies (particularly wind and solar), but not others (biomass). The aim of this paper is to give an update of the current situation regarding the use of RES in Spain, provide a description of the existing regulatory framework, and discuss its actual effectiveness in reducing GHG emissions. Some discussion is also provided about the incidence of other socioeconomic cobenefits, the evolution in time of support schemes, and the changes envisaged for the following years. The paper also provides a snapshot of the Spanish renewable sector, with up-to-date information about some of the most representative projects and organizations.
The budget approach: A framework for a global transformation toward a low-carbon economy
Authors: Messner Dirk , Schellnhuber John , Rahmstorf Stefan , Klingenfeld Daniel
Published: July 2010

Latest research shows that there is only a realistic chance of restricting global warming to 2 °C if a limit is set to the total amount of CO2 emitted globally between now and 2050 (global carbon dioxide budget). We move this global budget to the forefront of our considerations regarding a new global climate treaty in the post-Copenhagen process. [The authors are members of the “German Advisory Council on Global Change” (WBGU). The WBGU recently published a study on “Solving the climate dilemma: The budget approach.” This paper builds on the fundamental ideas and findings of the WBGU study and demonstrates that the budget approach could serve as a cornerstone for an institutional design for a global low-carbon economy.] Combining findings from climate science and economics with fundamental concepts of equity, the “budget approach” provides concrete figures for the emission allowances that are still available to countries, assuming they want to prevent the destabilization of the planet’s climate system. Our calculations demonstrate that the time pressure for acting is almost overwhelming—in industrialized countries and also in emerging economies and many developing nations. We suggest several institutional innovations and rules to manage the global and the national CO2 budgets in a transparent, fair, and flexible way. A sober analysis of the state of the art of climate change science and of the state of multilateral attempts to create an effective climate protection accord so far reveals that the budget approach can provide crucial orientation for the negotiations toward a comprehensive post-Copenhagen climate regime. The approach facilitates at the same time an institutional design for a low-carbon global economy, setting the necessary incentives for decoupling economic growth from the burning of fossil fuels.
Perspectives on achieving sustainable energy production and use
Authors: Hecht Alan D. , Miller C. Andrew
Published: July 2010

The traditional definition of sustainability calls for policies and strategies that meet society’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Through the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act, U.S. policy formally established the goal of creating and maintaining “conditions under which [humans] and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans.” However, we have not yet succeeded in making sustainability operational. The long-standing and current debates on setting energy policy, regulating greenhouse gases, and promoting alternate fuels illustrate the complexity of making sustainability operational. Achieving operational sustainability requires three critical elements: advances in science and technology, application of effective government regulations and policies, and green business practices. Not only are these elements necessary, all three must work together across the economy. A key lesson drawn from the history of environmental regulation and especially in the climate debate is that sustainability cannot be advanced without a convergence of government and business interests even when the requisite technology is available. The biofuel system presents an immediate and tangible test case for the successful interaction of these three critical elements. The massive investments in science and technology by both government and industry to develop new feedstocks and conversion methods are showing promise. From a regulatory perspective, existing statutes and new mandates impact all parts of the biofuel supply chain—a complex system involving feedstocks, conversion technologies, transport, storage, handling, and end use. Forward-looking businesses in the biofuel sector are integrating sustainability objectives into their business strategies, such as designing feedstock conversion processes to generate biofuel coproducts that can add substantial revenue. The combination and coordination of such activities have the potential to achieve sustainable biofuel production and to demonstrate the kind of critical approaches that are essential to making sustainability operational in this and other energy sectors.
Another “Great Transformation”? Social and cultural consequences of climate change
Authors: Leggewie Claus , Welzer Harald
Published: July 2010

The dynamics of anthropogenic climate change is not merely a question of natural processes, but first and foremost, a question of economy, society, and culture. The humanities are therefore crucial to analyzing issues like migration, new risks because of extreme weather events, violent conflict, and the impact of global warming on political stability.
Influence of Zr doping on the structure and ferroelectric properties of BiFeO3 thin films
Authors: Mukherjee Somdutta , Gupta Rajeev , Garg Ashish , Bansal Vipul , Bhargava Suresh
Published: July 2010

We have prepared thin films of BiFe1−xZrxO3 (x=0.0–0.15) by chemical solution deposition on Pt/Si substrates. Structural characterization of the films using x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy suggests lattice distortion upon doping for x<0.15. This also appears to be the limit for pure phase formation. Ferroelectric measurements reveal that Zr doping leads to reduction in the remnant polarization and an increase in the coercive field, attributed to lattice distortion. Dielectric measurements indicate that the doped compositions exhibit absence of low frequency relaxation, usually associated with defects and grain boundaries. Absence of Fe2+ in our films was verified using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Role of Zr in controlling the film’s properties has been explained in terms of changes in the bond strength.
Relative phase interactions of two copropagating laser beams in underdense plasmas at different intensities and spot sizes
Authors: Mahdy A. I.
Published: July 2010

The mutual interactions of two copropagating laser beams at a relative phase are studied using a two-dimensional fluid code. The interactions are investigated in underdense plasma at selected beam configurations and beam parameters for two separate nonlinearities, i.e., the ponderomotive and the relativistic nonlinearity. The selected beam configurations are introduced by different initial transverse spot size perturbations (finite and infinite) and different initial transversal intensity distributions (nonuniform and uniform) over those spot sizes and the selected beam parameters are given by different initial beam intensities relevant to each nonlinearity. In the ponderomotive nonlinearity, simulation results show that no mutual interactions are demonstrated between the copropagating beams regardless of the initial beam configurations and parameters. In nonlinear relativistic simulations, the mutual interactions between the beams are clearly observed, a mutual repulsion is formed in the presence of initial intensities that are nonuniformly distributed over finite spot sizes, and an effective strongly modulated mutual attraction takes places in the presence of initial intensities that are uniformly distributed over infinite spot sizes. Moreover, it is found in these simulations that increasing the initial beam intensities improves the attraction properties between the copropagationg beams.
Electrical characteristics of DNA-based metal-insulator-semiconductor structures
Authors: Sönmezoğlu S. , Sönmezoğlu Ö. Ateş , Çankaya G. , Yıldırım A. , Serin N.
Published: July 2010

High quality sandwich device was fabricated from wheat DNA molecular film by solution processing located between Au and n-type silicon inorganic semiconductor. We have performed the electrical characteristics of the device such as current–voltage (I–V) and capacitance–voltage (C–V) at room temperature. DNA-based on this structure showed an excellent rectifying behavior with a typical ideality factor of 1.22, and that DNA film increased the effective barrier height by influencing the space charge region of Si. We proposed that DNA could be an insulatorlike material with a wide optical band energy gap of 4.19 eV from its optical absorbance characteristics. Additionally, the energy distribution of interface state density, determined from the forward bias I–V characteristics by taking into account the bias dependence of the effective barrier height, decreases exponentially with bias from 7.48×1015 m−2 eV−1 in (Ec−0.40) eV to 8.56×1014 m−2 eV−1 in (Ec−0.72) eV.
Global and local instability of flow focusing: The influence of the geometry
Authors: Vega Emilio J. , Montanero José M. , Herrada Miguel A. , Gañán-Calvo Alfonso M.
Published: July 2010

In the flow focusing technique, a liquid flow rate Q is injected through a microcapillary to form a meniscus attached to its edge. The meniscus is stretched until a thin jet tapers from its tip due to the action of a gas stream driven by a pressure drop Δp. Both the liquid jet and the gas stream cross the orifice of a plate located in front of the capillary at a distance H. In the present work, the stability of both the tapering liquid meniscus and the emitted jet is analyzed experimentally. Three regimes are identified: (i) the steady jetting regime, where the liquid meniscus is stable and the jet is convectively unstable; (ii) the local instability regime, where the liquid meniscus is stable and the jet is absolutely unstable; and (iii) the global instability regime, where the liquid meniscus is unstable. The mechanisms responsible for the transitions between those regimes are described. The experiments show the existence of a minimum value Qmin of the flow rate Q below which flow focusing is globally unstable independent of the pressure drop Δp applied to the gas stream. The dependence of the stability threshold Qmin with respect to the capillary-to-orifice distance H is analyzed considering different liquids. If the rest of the geometrical parameters are fixed, there is an optimum value Hopt of the capillary-to-orifice distance H for which the stability threshold Qmin is minimum. We also determine the dependence of Hopt and the corresponding minimum flow rate Qopt with respect to the capillary diameter. In addition, we find that Qmin diverges as the capillary-to-orifice distance H decreases and approaches a certain critical value, at which the transition from flow focusing to “flow blurring” takes place. We confirm our interpretation of the experimental results by conducting numerical simulations for the aforementioned three regimes.
Multiple peaks and reciprocal sign epistasis in an empirically determined genotype-phenotype landscape
Authors: Dawid Alexandre , Kiviet Daniel J. , Kogenaru Manjunatha , de Vos Marjon , Tans Sander J.
Published: July 2010

Insight into the ruggedness of adaptive landscapes is central to understanding the mechanisms and constraints that shape the course of evolution. While empirical data on adaptive landscapes remain scarce, a handful of recent investigations have revealed genotype-phenotype and genotype-fitness landscapes that appeared smooth and single peaked. Here, we used existing in vivo measurements on lac repressor and operator mutants in Escherichia coli to reconstruct the genotype-phenotype map that details the repression value of this regulatory system as a function of two key repressor residues and four key operator base pairs. We found that this landscape is multipeaked, harboring in total 19 distinct optima. Analysis showed that all direct evolutionary pathways between peaks involve significant dips in the repression value. Consistent with earlier predictions, we found reciprocal sign epistatic interactions at the repression minimum of the most favorable paths between two peaks. These results suggest that the occurrence of multiple peaks and reciprocal epistatic interactions may be a general feature in coevolving systems like the repressor-operator pair studied here.
Introduction to Special Topic: Energy Pathways to a Low-Carbon Society
Authors: Htun Nay , Messner Dirk , Mahajan Devinder , Nishioka Shuzo , Zhang Xuliang
Published: July 2010

Energy and carbon are at the nexus of climate change, environment, health, and socio-economic development. The imperative to move towards cleaner and renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas is gaining significant public and private sector support. Reducing carbon in the atmosphere has fast emerged as a major means to achieve this, since carbon content can be measured and hence the pathways can be well-defined. The December 2009 Copenhagen Accord recognized “the scientific view that the increase in global temperature should be below 2 degrees Celsius on the basis of equity and in the context of sustainable development.” To achieve this goal, the emerging scenario (e.g., the International Energy Agency (IEA) Report: World Energy Outlook 2009) is that the atmospheric concentration of CO2 be stabilized at around 450 ppm. If global emissions peak in 2015, we estimate that annual reductions in CO2 concentration of up to 5% would be necessary, equivalent to the Kyoto Protocol targets. Delaying reductions beyond the 2015 peak, however, would necessitate more drastic reduction rates that would be very difficult to achieve. To reach the necessary annual reduction in either case, investment in nonfossil energy must be significantly increased.
Endocrine milieu of perioestrus in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), as determined by non-invasive hormone measures
Authors: Kersey David C. , Wildt David E. , Brown Janine L. , Snyder Rebecca J. , Huang Yan , Monfort Steven L.
Published: July 2010

The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of faecal hormonal measures for evaluating ovarian activity in a significant sized cohort of giant pandas during the perioestrual period. Faecal excretion of oestrogen and progestagen metabolites corresponded with urinary patterns and receptive behaviours. Longitudinal assessment of 10 females revealed that, on average, faecal oestrogen concentrations started to rise (P < 0.05) above baseline (baseline mean ± s.e.m.; 64.7 ± 6.6 ng g−1) 5 days before the preovulatory oestrogen peak (484.6 ± 126.8 ng g−1), which was followed by a gradual descent over 4 days to nadir. Mean faecal progestagen metabolite concentrations increased approximately twofold above baseline (from 186.2 ± 37.7 to 347.2 ± 75.7 ng g−1; P < 0.05) during the 20-day interval after the preovulatory oestrogen surge. Variability within and among females precluded the use of a threshold of oestrogen or progestagen metabolites to predict reproductive status, yet faeces collected 2–3 days per week provided sufficient data to recognise that an individual was in the perioestrual period. Finally, in females that were examined for at least 3 consecutive years, there was an 18–53 day variation in the onset and an 8–13 day variation in the duration of perioestrual behaviour from year to year. In summary, these findings indicate that gonadal hormone profiles associated with the period immediately before, during and after oestrus are accurately revealed by analysis of the fibrous faeces of the giant panda. This approach has potential value for providing point-in-time information on the reproductive status of free-living individuals.
Decorin expression is decreased in human idiopathic fetal growth restriction
Authors: Swan B. C. , Murthi P. , Rajaraman G. , Pathirage N. A. , Said J. M. , Ignjatovic V. , Monagle P. T. , Brennecke S. P.
Published: July 2010

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a clinically significant pregnancy disorder in which the fetus fails to achieve its full growth potential in utero. Most cases of FGR are idiopathic and are associated with placental thrombosis. Previous studies suggest that proteoglycans, such as decorin, that contain the glycosaminoglycan dermatan sulfate are the principal anticoagulants in the normal placenta. The present study investigated decorin expression in placentas from pregnancies complicated by idiopathic FGR (n = 26) and gestation-matched controls (n = 27). Real-time polymerase chain reaction demonstrated significantly reduced decorin mRNA expression in FGR compared with control (1.52 ± 0.14 v. 2.21 ± 0.22, respectively; P < 0.01). Immunoblotting revealed decreased decorin protein (40 kDa) expression in FGR compared with controls (420.8 ± 39.0 v. 690.1 ± 42.2, respectively; n = 12 in each group; P = 0.0007). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of immunoreactive decorin protein in the placental villous stroma surrounding the fetal capillaries and a significant decrease in decorin protein presence in FGR compared with control (1.75 ± 0.66 v. 2.98 ± 1.12, respectively; n = 6 in each group; P < 0.01, t-test). This is the first study to demonstrate reduced decorin in idiopathic FGR, indicating a potentially significant role for decorin in the aetiology of placental thrombosis in idiopathic FGR.
Characterisation of endometrial gene expression and metabolic parameters in beef heifers yielding viable or non-viable embryos on Day 7 after insemination
Authors: Beltman M. E. , Forde N. , Furney P. , Carter F. , Roche J. F. , Lonergan P. , Crowe M. A.
Published: July 2010

The aim of the present study was to compare the hormonal and metabolic characteristics and endometrial gene expression profiles in beef heifers yielding either a viable or degenerate embryo on Day 7 after insemination as a means to explain differences in embryo survival. Oestrus was synchronised in cross-bred beef heifers (n = 145) using a controlled internal drug release (CIDR)–prostaglandin protocol. Heifers (n = 102) detected in standing oestrus (within 24–48 h after CIDR removal) were inseminated 12–18 h after detection of oestrus (Day 0) with frozen–thawed semen from a single ejaculate of a bull with proven fertility. Blood samples were collected from Day 4 to Day 7 after oestrus to measure progesterone (on Days 4, 5 and 7), insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I (on Days 4 and 6) and urea (on Day 7) concentrations. All animals were killed on Day 7. Uterine pH was determined at the time of death. Animals from which an embryo was recovered were classified as either having a viable embryo (morula/blastocyst stage; n = 32) or a retarded embryo (arrested at the two- to 16-cell stage; n = 19). In addition, 14 single-celled unfertilised oocytes were recovered, giving an overall recovery rate of 64%. There was no significant difference in the blood parameters determined or uterine pH at the time of death between heifers with either a viable or retarded embryo. The relative abundance of nine transcripts (i.e. MOGAT1, PFKB2, LYZ2, SVS8, UHRF1, PTGES, AGPAT4, DGKA and HGPD) of 53 tested in the endometrial tissue differed between heifers with a viable or retarded embryo. Both LYZ2 and UHRF1 are associated with regulation of the immune system; PFKFB2 is a mediator in glycolysis; MOGAT, AGPAT4 and DGKA belong to the triglyceride synthesis pathway; and PTGES and HGPD belong to the prostaglandin pathway. Both these metabolic pathways are important for early embryonic development. In conclusion, retarded embryo development in the present study was not related to serum progesterone, IGF-I, insulin or urea concentrations, nor to uterine pH at the time of death. However, altered expression of genes involved in the prostaglandin and triglyceride pathways, as well as two genes that are closely associated with the regulation of immunity, in the endometrium may indicate a uterine component in the retardation of embryo development in these beef heifers.
Role of Fyn kinase in oocyte developmental potential
Authors: Luo Jinping , McGinnis Lynda K. , Kinsey William H.
Published: July 2010

Fyn kinase is highly expressed in oocytes, with inhibitor and dominant-negative studies suggesting a role in the signal transduction events during egg activation. The purpose of the present investigation was to test the hypothesis that Fyn is required for calcium signalling, meiosis resumption and pronuclear congression using the Fyn-knockout mouse as a model. Accelerated breeding studies revealed that Fyn-null females produced smaller litter sizes at longer intervals and exhibited a rapid decline in pup production with increasing age. Fyn-null females produced a similar number of oocytes, but the frequency of immature oocytes and mature oocytes with spindle chromosome abnormalities was significantly higher than in controls. Fertilised Fyn-null oocytes frequently (24%) failed to undergo pronuclear congression and remained at the one-cell stage. Stimulation with gonadotropins increased the number of oocytes ovulated, but did not overcome the above defects. Fyn-null oocytes overexpressed Yes kinase in an apparent effort to compensate for the loss of Fyn, yet still exhibited an altered pattern of protein tyrosine phosphorylation. In summary, Fyn-null female mice exhibit reduced fertility that appears to result from actin cytoskeletal defects rather than calcium signalling. These defects cause developmental arrest during oocyte maturation and pronuclear congression.
Point defects at the ice (0001) surface
Authors: Watkins Matthew , VandeVondele Joost , Slater Ben
Published: July 2010

Using density functional theory we investigate whether intrinsic defects in ice surface segregate. We predict that hydronium, hydroxide, and the Bjerrum L- and D-defects are all more stable at the surface. However, the energetic cost to create a D-defect at the surface and migrate it into the bulk crystal is smaller than its bulk formation energy. Absolute and relative segregation energies are sensitive to the surface structure of ice, especially the spatial distribution of protons associated with dangling hydrogen bonds. It is found that the basal plane surface of hexagonal ice increases the bulk concentration of Bjerrum defects, strongly favoring D-defects over L-defects. Dangling protons associated with undercoordinated water molecules are preferentially injected into the crystal bulk as Bjerrum D-defects, leading to a surface dipole that attracts hydronium ions. Aside from the disparity in segregation energies for the Bjerrum defects, we find the interactions between defect species to be very finely balanced; surface segregation energies for hydronium and hydroxide species and trapping energies of these ionic species with Bjerrum defects are equal within the accuracy of our calculations. The mobility of the ionic hydronium and hydroxide species is greatly reduced at the surface in comparison to the bulk due to surface sites with high trapping affinities. We suggest that, in pure ice samples, the surface of ice will have an acidic character due to the presence of hydronium ions. This may be important in understanding the reactivity of ice particulates in the upper atmosphere and at the boundary layer.
Biological knowledge bases using Wikis: combining the flexibility of Wikis with the structure of databases
Authors: Brohée Sylvain , Barriot Roland , Moreau Yves
Published: July 2010

Summary: In recent years, the number of knowledge bases developed using Wiki technology has exploded. Unfortunately, next to their numerous advantages, classical Wikis present a critical limitation: the invaluable knowledge they gather is represented as free text, which hinders their computational exploitation. This is in sharp contrast with the current practice for biological databases where the data is made available in a structured way. Here, we present WikiOpener an extension for the classical MediaWiki engine that augments Wiki pages by allowing on-the-fly querying and formatting resources external to the Wiki. Those resources may provide data extracted from databases or DAS tracks, or even results returned by local or remote bioinformatics analysis tools. This also implies that structured data can be edited via dedicated forms. Hence, this generic resource combines the structure of biological databases with the flexibility of collaborative Wikis.

Availability: The source code and its documentation are freely available on the MediaWiki website: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:WikiOpener.

Contact:  sbrohee@esat.kuleuven.be

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A review of the spatial extent of fishery effects and species vulnerability of the deep-sea demersal fish assemblage of the Porcupine Seabight, Northeast Atlantic Ocean (ICES Subarea VII)
Authors: Priede Imants G. , Godbold Jasmin A. , Niedzielski Tomasz , Collins Martin A. , Bailey David M. , Gordon John D. M. , Zuur Alain F.
Published: July 2010

Priede, I. G., Godbold, J. A., Niedzielski, T., Collins, M. A., Bailey, D. M., Gordon, J. D. M., and Zuur, A. F. 2011. A review of the spatial extent of fishery effects and species vulnerability of the deep-sea demersal fish assemblage of the Porcupine Seabight, Northeast Atlantic Ocean (ICES Subarea VII). – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 281–289. We review information from scientific trawl surveys carried out between 1977 and 2002 in the Porcupine Seabight and Abyssal Plain area of the Northeast Atlantic (240–4865 m water depth). Since the late 1980s, commercial bottom-trawl fisheries targeting mainly roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris), black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo), and orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) have been operating at depths of 500–1500 m, intersecting the depth ranges of 77 demersal fish species that would therefore be vulnerable to fishery effects. Comparisons of trawls pre-1989 and post-1997 indicate a significant decrease in total abundance of demersal fish down to 2500 m. Detailed analyses of the 15 most-abundant species showed that nine species with depth ranges within the commercial fishing depth have decreased in abundance. Other species were either not affected (Bathypterois dubius) or only affected at the shallow end of their range (Coryphaenoides guentheri). Species with a minimum depth of occurrence >1500 m (Coryphaenoides armatus and Coryphaenoides leptolepis) increased in abundance over part of their depth range. Decreases in abundance are probably caused by commercial fishing activities, an effect that is transmitted downslope by removal of fish at the shallow end of their depth range, resulting in declines at the deeper end of the depth range. The estimated fishery area is ca. 52 000 km2, but the potential impact probably extends to ca. 142 000 km2 and to many non-target species.
Mining seafloor massive sulphides and biodiversity: what is at risk?
Authors: Van Dover Cindy Lee
Published: July 2010

Van Dover, C. L. 2011. Mining seafloor massive sulphides and biodiversity: what is at risk? – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 341–348. Scientific exploration of the deep sea in the late 1970s led to the discovery of seafloor massive sulphides at hydrothermal vents. More recently, sulphide deposits containing high grades of ore have been discovered in the southwest Pacific. In addition to metal-rich ores, hydrothermal vents host ecosystems based on microbial chemoautotrophic primary production, with endemic invertebrate species adapted in special ways to the vent environment. Although there has been considerable effort to study the biology and ecology of vent systems in the decades since these systems were first discovered, there has been limited attention paid to conservation issues. Three priority recommendations for conservation science at hydrothermal vent settings are identified here: (i) determine the natural conservation units for key species with differing life histories; (ii) identify a set of first principles for the design of preservation reference areas and conservation areas; (iii) develop and test methods for effective mitigation and restoration to enhance the recovery of biodiversity in sulphide systems that may be subject to open-cut mining.
Transient Hypertransaminasemia in Paediatric Patients With Crohn Disease Undergoing Initial Treatment With Enteral Nutrition
Authors: Schatorjé Ellen , Hoekstra Hans
Published: July 2010

Objectives:

Total enteral nutrition (TEN) is frequently used as monotherapy in children with Crohn disease to prevent steroid toxicity. Liver disease is a known complication in inflammatory bowel disease, and liver enzymes are regularly obtained in these patients.

Patients and Methods:

Prospective follow‐up of liver enzymes was performed in 11 new consecutive patients ages 7.6 to 17.1 years who were primarily treated with TEN for 6 weeks. Liver enzymes were measured before starting TEN and after 3, 6, and 12 weeks.

Results:

At the beginning of TEN, the mean aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) was 18.4 U/L and the mean alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) 17.1 U/L. The mean ASAT and ALAT were 202.0 U/L and 269.0 U/L after 3 weeks and 109.6 U/L and 180.9 U/L at 6 weeks. After 12 weeks values decreased to 22.8 U/L (ASAT) and 20.9 U/L (ALAT). Overall, 9 of 11 patients had transient elevated ASAT and 10 patients showed elevated ALAT. Gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase was slightly elevated in 3 patients during therapy, but alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin showed no changes. None of the patients developed liver disease during follow‐up, and prolonged clinical remission was achieved in 9 patients.

Conclusions:

This study shows that TEN can be associated with transient hypertransaminasemia without evidence of liver disease. We hypothesise that insulin resistance in patients with Crohn disease in combination with standard TEN formulae can result in transient hepatic steatosis causing the hypertransaminasemia. For the clinician it is important to be aware of this benign TEN‐associated condition to prevent unnecessary investigations.
Effects of Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 and Prebiotic Oligosaccharide Added to Milk on Iron Status, Anemia, and Growth Among Children 1 to 4 Years Old
Authors: Sazawal Sunil , Dhingra Usha , Hiremath Girish , Sarkar Archana , Dhingra Pratibha , Dutta Arup , Menon Venugopal P , Black Robert E
Published: July 2010

Objective:

To evaluate the effect of Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 and prebiotic‐fortified milk on iron status, anemia, and growth among 1‐ to 4‐year‐old children.

Patients and Methods:

In a community‐based double‐masked, controlled trial in a periurban population, 624 children were enrolled and randomly allocated to receive either milk fortified with additional probiotic and prebiotic (n = 312) or control milk (n = 312) for 1 year. Probiotic and prebiotic milk contained an additional 1.9 × 107 colony‐forming units per day of probiotic B lactis HN019 and 2.4 g/day of prebiotic oligosaccharides milk. Hematological parameters were estimated at baseline and at the end of the study. Height and weight measurements were recorded at baseline, mid study, and the end of the study. Difference of means and multivariate regression models was used to examine the effect of intervention.

Results:

Both study groups were similar at baseline. Compliance was high (>85%) and did not vary by intervention groups. As compared with non‐fortified milk, consumption of probiotic‐ and prebiotic‐fortified milk for a period of 1 year reduced the risk of being anemic and iron deficient by 45% (95% CI 11%, 66%; P = 0.01) and increased weight gain by 0.13 kg/year (95% CI 0.03, 0.23; P = 0.02).

Conclusions:

Preschoolers are usually fed milk, which has good acceptance and can be easily fortified for delivery of probiotics. Consumption of B lactis HN019 and prebiotic‐fortified milk resulted in a smaller number of iron‐deficient preschoolers and increased weight gain.
Neonatal Anthropometric Charts: The Italian Neonatal Study Compared With Other European Studies
Authors: Bertino Enrico , Spada Elena , Occhi Luciana , Coscia Alessandra , Giuliani Francesca , Gagliardi Luigi , Gilli Giulio , Bona Gianni , Fabris Claudio , De Curtis Mario , Milani Silvano
Published: July 2010

Background and Objective:

This was a nationwide prospective study carried out in Italy between 2005 and 2007, involving 34 centers with a neonatal intensive care unit. The study reports the Italian Neonatal Study charts for weight, length, and head circumference of singletons born between 23 and 42 gestational weeks, comparing them with previous Italian data and with the most recent data from European countries.

Patients and Methods:

Single live born babies with ultrasound assessment of gestational age within the first trimester, and with both parents of Italian origin. Only fetal hydrops and major congenital anomalies diagnosed at birth were excluded. The reference set consists of 22,087 girls and 23,375 boys.

Results:

At each gestational age, boys are heavier than girls by about 4%. Later‐born neonates are heavier than firstborn neonates by about 3%. The effects of sex and birth order on length and head circumference are milder. No differences were observed between babies born in central‐north Italy and southern Italy. A large variability emerged among European neonatal charts, resulting in huge differences in the percentage of Italian Neonatal Study neonates below the 10th centile, which is traditionally used to define small‐for‐gestational‐age babies. In the last 2 decades prominent changes in the distribution of birth weight emerged in Italy and in the rest of Europe, in both term and preterm neonates.

Conclusions:

The existing European neonatal charts, based on more or less recent data, were found to be inappropriate for Italy. Until an international standard is developed, the use of national updated reference charts is recommended.
Simulating sauropod manus-only trackway formation using finite-element analysis
Authors: Falkingham P. L. , Bates K. T. , Margetts L. , Manning P. L.
Published: July 2010

The occurrence of sauropod manus-only trackways in the fossil record is poorly understood, limiting their potential for understanding locomotor mechanics and behaviour. To elucidate possible causative mechanisms for these traces, finite-element analyses were conducted to model the indentation of substrate by the feet of
Diplodocus
and
Brachiosaurus
. Loading was accomplished by applying mass, centre of mass and foot surface area predictions to a range of substrates to model track formation. Experimental results show that when pressure differs between manus and pes, as determined by the distribution of weight and size of respective autopodia, there is a range of substrate shear strengths for which only the manus (or pes) produce enough pressure to deform the substrate, generating a track. If existing reconstructions of sauropod feet and mass distributions are correct, then different taxa will produce either manus- or pes-only trackways in specific substrates. As a result of this work, it is predicted that the occurrence of manus- or pes-only trackways may show geo-temporal correlation with the occurrence of body fossils of specific taxa.
Insulin receptor substrate influences female caste development in honeybees
Authors: Wolschin Florian , Mutti Navdeep S. , Amdam Gro V.
Published: July 2010

The insulin/insulin-like signalling (IIS) network is conserved among animals and is central to growth and development. In eusocial honeybees (
Apis mellifera
), IIS is hypothesized to shape female caste fate. We tested this hypothesis via RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown of the insulin receptor substrate (IRS) homologue, a key adaptor protein in IIS. Female larvae naturally develop into queens (reproductives) or workers (helpers) after being fed rich versus limited diets, respectively. Feeding larvae a rich diet mixed with dsRNA (double stranded RNA) targeting
irs
gene transcript decreased
irs
mRNA abundance and caused development of worker morphology. Controls receiving rich larval diet and control dsRNA developed queen morphology. Whole-body mass spectrometry profiling of larvae collected 72, 96 and 120 h after dsRNA treatments revealed proteomic differences between
irs
gene knockdowns and controls, including levels of hexamerin 110, a storage protein connected to natural caste differences.
Trophallaxis and prophylaxis: social immunity in the carpenter ant
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Authors: Hamilton Casey , Lejeune Brian T. , Rosengaus Rebeca B.
Published: July 2010

In social insects, group behaviour can increase disease resistance among nest-mates and generate social prophylaxis. Stomodeal trophallaxis, or mutual feeding through regurgitation, may boost colony-level immunocompetence. We provide evidence for increased trophallactic behaviour among immunized workers of the carpenter ant
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
, which, together with increased antimicrobial activity of the regurgitate droplet, help explain the improved survival of droplet recipient ants relative to controls following an immune challenge. We have identified a protein related to cathepsin D, a lysosomal protease, as a potential contributor to the antimicrobial activity. The combined behavioural and immunological responses to infection in these ants probably represent an effective mechanism underlying the social facilitation of disease resistance, which could potentially produce socially mediated colony-wide prophylaxis. The externalization and sharing of an individual's immune responses via trophallaxis could be an important component of social immunity, allowing insect colonies to thrive under high pathogenic pressures.
Earlier pupping in harbour seals,
Phoca vitulina
Authors: Reijnders Peter J. H. , Brasseur Sophie M. J. M. , Meesters Erik H. W. G.
Published: July 2010

The annual reproductive cycle of most seal species is characterized by a tight synchrony of births. Typically, timing of birth shows little inter-annual variation. Here, however we show that harbour seals
Phoca vitulina
from the Wadden Sea (southeast North Sea) have shortened their yearly cycle, moving parturition to earlier dates since the early 1970s. Between 1974 and 2009, the birth date of harbour seals shifted on average by −0.71 d yr
−1
, three and a half weeks (25 days) earlier, in the Dutch part of the Wadden Sea. Pup counts available for other parts of the Wadden Sea were analysed, showing a similar shift. To elucidate potential mechanism(s) for this shift in pupping phenology, possible changes in population demography, changes in maternal life-history traits and variations in environmental conditions were examined. It was deduced that the most likely mechanism was a shortening of embryonic diapause. We hypothesize that this could have been facilitated by an improved forage base, e.g. increase of small fishes, attributable to overfishing of large predator fishes and size-selective fisheries.