bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Palladium‐catalyzed dehalogenation of 5‐halopyrazoles
Authors: Chen Chun‐Yen , Huang Yu‐Ying , Su Wei‐Nien , Kaneko Kimiyoshi , Kimura Masayuki , Takayama Hiroyuki , Wong Fung Fuh
Published: October 2011

A new and efficient method for the dehalogenation of 5‐halopyrazoles was developed by using the catalytic amount of palladium (II) chloride and triphenylphosphine as a ligand at reflux under constant flow of hydrogen gas. The reaction gave the corresponding pyrazole products in good to excellent yields (≥83%). J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2012).
Codigested dairy slurry as a phosphorus and nitrogen source for Zea mays L. and Amaranthus cruentus L.
Authors: Bachmann Silvia , Wentzel Stefanie , Eichler‐Löbermann Bettina
Published: October 2011

Residues from biogas production contain essential plant nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) but also organic matter, and should be recycled in crop production. For efficient re‐use as fertilizers, the availability of nutrients for crops and the effect of the residues on soil fertility need to be evaluated. Focusing on the element P, we compared effects of codigested slurry with dairy slurry, highly soluble mineral NPK fertilizer, and a control without any P supply (NK). Codigested slurry used in this experiment was based on anaerobic digestion of dairy slurry, maize silage, and wheat grain. The fertilizing effects were tested in an 8‐week pot experiment on a sandy and a loamy soil using two crop species (Zea mays L., Amaranthus cruentus L.). The plant P uptake was up to 64% greater in the slurry treatments than in the treatment without P. The effect of codigested slurry on P uptake was comparable to that of dairy slurry and mineral P. Plant N uptake from codigested slurry was lower than that from mineral N (NK, NPK), but tended to be higher than from dairy slurry. The water‐soluble and double lactate–soluble P content of the soil was lower in the slurry treatments than in the mineral‐P treatments and accompanied by higher contents of microbial‐bound P. Differences between both organic fertilizers were detected for dehydrogenase activity which was up to 32% lower in soils fertilized with codigested slurry than it was in soils fertilized with dairy slurry. Our results indicate that codigestion of slurries in biogas plants does not substantially alter their fertilizer value as P and N sources for crops.
Recommendations for using computer‐assisted career guidance systems (CACGS) in career counseling practice
Authors: Copeland Lindsey Y. , Dik Bryan J. , McLaren Molly R. , Onder Casey , Wolfson Natalie E. , Kraiger Kurt
Published: October 2011

Electronically mediated vocational assessment and guidance tools have become prominent in modern career counseling, leaving many career development professionals with questions about the nature of the computerized tools available and how to effectively apply these technologies in practice. In this article, the authors describe the general characteristics of computer‐assisted career guidance systems (CACGS), review evidence of their effectiveness as compared to other career intervention modalities, briefly introduce a number of empirically supported systems, and provide practitioners with guidelines for appraising CACGS and using them successfully with clients. Recommendations address evaluation and selection of CACGS, development of appropriate strategies for incorporation of CACGS into counseling services, and matters of client education and ethical practice.
Raman investigation of hydrostatic and nonhydrostatic compressions of OH‐ and F‐apophyllites up to 8 GPa
Authors: Goryainov Sergei V. , Krylov Alexander S. , Pan Yuanming , Madyukov Iliya A. , Smirnov Mikhail B. , Vtyurin Alexander N.
Published: October 2011

Layer silicates F‐ and OH‐apophyllites, KCa4Si8O20(F, OH)·8H2O, have been investigated by Raman spectroscopy at hydrostatic and nonhydrostatic pressures up to ~8 GPa in diamond anvil cells using a 4 : 1 methanol–ethanol mix as pressure‐transmitting medium. Our experiments show that at hydrostatic compression, apophyllites retain their crystalline states (i.e. no amorphization) up to 5 GPa. The wavenumbers of most bands exhibit linear dependences on pressure, except for a few ones, e.g. at 162 and 3565 cm–1 in OH‐form (160.5 and 3558 cm–1 in F‐form) that show nonlinear dependences. Nonhydrostatic compression with additional uniaxial loading induces amorphization of apophyllites. The majority of the bands in OH‐apophyllite decreases markedly in intensity and shows considerable broadening under nonhydrostatic compression up to 3–6 GPa. In addition, the wavenumbers of several bands at nonhydrostatic compression exhibit considerable nonlinear dependences on pressure with strong hysteresis. These bands are mainly associated with vibrations of the interlayer ions and molecules and also of stretching and bending silicate sheets, hence being highly sensitive to the interlayer distance. Finally, we have calculated the lattice dynamics of F‐apophyllite and interpreted the majority of bands, and these data are used to explain the complex baric behavior of the bands. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Laserschweißen mit höchster Qualität bei reduzierter Leistung
Authors: Bautze Thibault , Zösch Antje
Published: October 2011

Der Wandel von energiehungrigen Arbeitsmaschinen hin zu leistungsoptimierten Fertigungsverfahren kann in allen industriellen Produktionsprozessen beobachtet werden.

Die Innovationsallianz „Green Carbody Technologies”︁ untersucht Möglichkeiten zur Energieeinsparung im Karosseriebau. Im Rahmen des Teilprojektes 4.3.3 werden die Potentiale zur Leistungseinsparung beim Laserschweißen untersucht.
The moderating effect of sexual pressure on young Urban women's condom use
Authors: Gakumo C. Ann , Moneyham Linda D. , Enah Comfort C. , Childs Gwendolyn D.
Published: October 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine whether women's experiences of sexual pressure moderated the relationship between sexual empowerment determinants and condom use in a sample of 100 high‐risk women, ages 19–25. Five sexual empowerment determinants of condom use were identified from the literature: HIV knowledge, self‐esteem, condom self‐efficacy, positive attitudes toward condom use, and condom negotiation skills. Linear and logistic regression analyses revealed that positive attitudes toward condom use and condom negotiation skills were significant predictors of condom use. These relationships, however, were moderated by sexual pressure. Findings indicate that women's experiences with sexual pressure have the potential to decrease the likelihood of condom use, even though other sexually protective behaviors may be exhibited. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 35:4–14, 2012
Improvement in carrier mobility of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) nanowires synthesized in porous alumina templates
Authors: Shirai Yasuhiro , Takami Seiichi , Lasmono Soesan , Iwai Hideo , Chikyow Toyohiro , Wakayama Yutaka
Published: October 2011

Polymeric nanowires of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) are electrochemically synthesized using porous anodic alumina oxide (AAO) membranes as templates. Four‐point resistivity measurements on more than 100 PEDOT nanowires with different diameters (50–250 nm) reveal a statistically significant size‐dependent phenomenon in which the nanowires with a smaller diameter exhibit higher conductivity. Structural characterization with Raman spectroscopy and doping level estimation with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate that the observed conductivity enhancement can be attributed to improved carrier mobility in PEDOT nanowires having an elongated conjugation structure because of the effect of the AAO template. From the estimated doping levels (∼5%) and conductivity data (∼100 S/cm), it is found that the carrier mobility reach 2.0 cm2/V s for the nanowire with the smallest diameter, as compared with 4.0 × 10−4 cm2/V s for a bulk PEDOT film. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011
Population density and feeding duration of cabbage looper larvae on tomato plants alter the levels of plant volatile emissions
Authors: Miresmailli Saber , Gries Regine , Gries Gerhard , Zamar Ruben H , Isman Murray B
Published: October 2011

BACKGROUND: As part of their indirect defense, plants under herbivore attack release volatile chemicals that attract natural enemies of the herbivore. This is a very well‐documented phenomenon. However, relatively few studies have investigated the response of plants to different population levels of herbivores and their feeding duration.

RESULTS: Working with larvae of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner), and tomato plants, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill cv. clarence, and using an ultrafast gas chromatograph (the zNose™) for volatile analyses, the authors studied the effect of larval density and feeding duration on levels of plant volatile emissions. Intense herbivory caused higher emission levels of the herbivore‐induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate, (E)‐β‐ocimene and β‐caryophyllene than those caused by moderate herbivory. When herbivory had ceased following 12–24 h of larval feeding, plants kept releasing HIPVs at a high level for a longer period of time than they did following only 6 h of larval feeding. The plants' slow adjustment in their volatile emissions following prolonged larval feeding might be strategic, as such feeding is more likely to have ceased just temporarily.

CONCLUSION: This information may help in the development of a pest monitoring system that is based on herbivore‐induced plant volatiles. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Substituent effect on the reaction mechanism of proton transfer in formamide
Authors: Raissi Heidar , Yoosefian Mehdi
Published: October 2011

MP2 and B3LYP methods at 6‐311++G** basis set have been used to explore proton transfer in keto‐enol forms of formamide and to investigate the effect of substituent, i.e., H, F, Cl, OH, SH, and NH2 on their transition states. Additionally, the vibrational frequencies of aforementioned compounds are calculated at the same levels of theory. It is proposed that the barrier heights values in kJ/mol for F, Cl, OH, and SH substituents are significantly greater than that of the bare tautomerization reaction, implying the importance of the substituents effect on the intramolecular proton transfer. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012
Regulation of type 1 inositol 1,4,5‐triphosphate receptor by dopamine receptors in cocaine‐induced place conditioning
Authors: Kurokawa Kazuhiro , Mizuno Koji , Shibasaki Masahiro , Ohkuma Seitaro
Published: October 2011

Recent study shows that type 1 inositol‐1,4,5‐triphosohate receptors (IP3Rs) may be involved in amphetamine‐induced conditioned preference, but little is known about its role in psychological dependence on cocaine. This study investigated the role and regulation of IP3R‐1 in mice with cocaine‐induced place preference. The cocaine‐induced place preference was dose‐dependently inhibited by intracerebroventricular pretreatment with IP3R antagonists, 2‐aminophenoxyethane‐borate (2‐APB), and xestospongin C. The levels of IP3R‐1 in the frontal cortex and nucleus accumbens of cocaine‐conditioned mice significantly increased, which was completely abolished by SCH23390 and sulpiride, selective dopamine D1 and D2 receptor antagonists, respectively. These findings suggest that IP3R‐1‐mediated intracellular signaling pathway may play an important role in the development of cocaine‐induced place preference and that the expression of IP3R‐1 is controlled by both dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in the frontal cortex and nucleus accumbens of mice with cocaine‐induced place preference. Synapse, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Increased affinity of dopamine for D2‐like versus D1‐like receptors. Relevance for volume transmission in interpreting PET findings
Authors: Marcellino Daniel , Kehr Jan , Agnati Luigi F. , Fuxe Kjell
Published: October 2011

Evidence indicates that dopamine (DA) mainly acts as a volume transmission (VT) transmitter through its release into the extracellular fluid where the D1‐like and D2‐like receptors are predominantly extrasynaptic. It was therefore of interest to compare the affinities of the two major families of DA receptors. [3H] raclopride /DA and [3H] SCH23390/DA competition assays compared the affinity of DA at D2‐like and D1‐like receptors in rat dorsal striatal membrane preparations as well as in membrane preparations from CHO cell lines stably transfected with human D2L and D1 receptors. The IC50 values of DA at D2‐like receptors in dorsal striatal membranes and CHO cell membranes were markedly and significantly reduced compared with the IC50 values of DA at D1‐like receptors. These IC50 values reflect differences in both the high and low affinity states. The KiH value for DA at [3H] raclopride‐labeled D2‐like receptors in dorsal striatum was 12 nM, and this can help explain PET findings that amphetamine‐induced increases in DA release can produce an up to 50% decrease of [11C] raclopride binding in the dorsal striatum in vivo. These combined results give indications for the existence of striatal D2‐like receptor‐mediated DA VT at the local circuit level in vivo. The demonstration of a KiH value of 183 nM for DA at D1 antagonist‐labeled D1‐like receptors instead gives a likely explanation for the failure of a reduction of D1‐like receptor binding after amphetamine‐induced DA release in PET studies using the D1‐like antagonist radioligands [11C] SCH23390 and [11C] NNC. It seems difficult to evaluate the role of the extrasynaptic D1 receptors in VT in vivo with the PET radioligands available for this receptor. Synapse, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Low peak‐to‐average power ratio and efficient multicarrier spread spectrum transceivers using hybrid and quadrature cyclic shift orthogonal keying
Authors: Chiu Yu‐Lun , Hwang Jeng‐Kuang , Deng Juinn‐Horng
Published: October 2011

This paper proposes two bandwidth and power efficient multicode multicarrier spread spectrum (MCSS) system modes based on a new cyclic shift orthogonal keying (CSOK) scheme that leads to low peak‐to‐average power ratio (PAPR) signals. Both system modes can improve the bandwidth efficiency by loading more data bits per symbol block. The first system mode is the hybrid CSOK (HCSOK) mode, which combines phase shift keying (PSK) or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulation symbol with the CSOK symbol, for example, the important hybrid quadrature PSK (QPSK)–CSOK case. The second is the quadrature CSOK (QCSOK) mode that transmits two parallel binary phase shift keying (BPSK)–CSOK branches at the same time. For both modes, maximum likelihood receivers are derived and simplified, leading to efficient fast Fourier transform‐based structures for maximum ratio combining and cyclic‐code correlation. Theoretical bit error rate (BER) analysis is conducted for the hybrid QPSK–CSOK case. Simulation results demonstrate that both the two system modes considerably outperforms the traditional Walsh‐coded MCSS system in terms of bandwidth efficiency, PAPR, BER, and antijamming capability. Furthermore, in indoor channel, QCSOK performs slightly worse than QPSK–CSOK, but it has almost twice the data rate when the code length is large. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coordination Networks of Mercury(II) Halides and Polyether Ligand
Authors: Crochet Aurelien , Fromm Katharina M.
Published: October 2011

New crystalline mercury halide adducts with polyetheras ligands were isolated, characterized, and identified as trans‐[HgIICl2(diox)2]n (1) and trans‐[HgIII2(diox)]n (2). The compounds were obtained from the metal halide salts in solution of 1,4‐dioxane and can be considered as “cutting‐out” products from the metal halide as they show similarity in the arrangement with starting compounds.
Synthesis, Structure and Chemical Bonding of Ba2Ni5Ge4 – An Intermetallic Compound with a New Two‐dimensional $\rm^2_\infty$[Ni5Ge4] Structural Motif
Authors: Siggelkow Lisa , Hlukhyy Viktor , Fässler Thomas F.
Published: October 2011

The intermetallic compound Ba2Ni5Ge4 was prepared by arc melting mixtures of the elements and subsequent annealing under argon. The compound crystallizes in a new structure type with the space group C2/m, Z = 2, a = 12.523(5) Å, b = 4.056(1) Å, c = 9.503(6) Å, β = 118.65(4)°, wR2 = 0.086 (all data). Ba2Ni5Ge4 consists of two‐dimensional $\rm^2_\infty$[Ni5Ge4] slabs that are separated by barium atoms. The slabs consist of a new combination of two structure motifs that are also present in other known intermetallic compounds in the system Ae/Ni/Ge (Ae: Ca, Sr, Ba); namely $\rm^1_\infty$[Ni2Ge2] ribbons, which also occur in the low‐temperature modification of BaNi2Ge2, and distorted hexagonal prisms of the compositionNi@Ni6Ge6, that are present in the SrNi3Ge2 structure type. The electronic structure and chemical bonding of Ba2Ni5Ge4 is discussed in terms of LMTO band structure calculations and a topological analysis using the Electron Localization Function (ELF).
Assembly of a New 3D Octamolybdate‐based Compound: Using the Flexible Bis(triazole) ligand with a –(CH2)6– Spacer
Authors: Tian Aixiang , Liu Xiaojing , Liu Guiying , Ying Jun , Wang Xiuli
Published: October 2011

Through utilizing the flexible bis(triazole) ligand 1, 6‐bis(1, 2, 4‐triazol‐1‐yl)hexane (btx), a new octamolybdate‐based compound, [Cu2(btx)4(β‐Mo8O26)]·H2O (1), was synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. It was characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and cyclic voltammetry. In compound 1, the [β‐Mo8O26]4– anion acts as a bi‐connected inorganic linkage to connect the Cu‐btx moieties. The Cu1‐btx moiety linked by the [β‐Mo8O26]4– anions exhibits a 2D layer, while the Cu2‐btx moiety also shows a similar 2D layer. Furthermore, these two 2D moieties construct a 3D framework through sharing the same N7‐containing btx ligands.
Constructing and visualizing chemical reaction networks from pi-calculus models
Authors: John Mathias , Schulz Hans-Jörg , Schumann Heidrun , Uhrmacher Adelinde M. , Unger Andrea
Published: October 2011

The
π
-calculus, in particular its stochastic version the stochastic
π
-calculus, is a common modeling formalism to concisely describe the chemical reactions occurring in biochemical systems. However, it remains largely unexplored how to transform a biochemical model expressed in the stochastic
π
-calculus back into a set of meaningful reactions. To this end, we present a two step approach of first translating model states to reaction sets and then visualizing sequences of reaction sets, which are obtained from state trajectories, in terms of reaction networks. Our translation from model states to reaction sets is formally defined and shown to be correct, in the sense that it reflects the states and transitions as they are derived from the continuous time Markov chain-semantics of the stochastic
π
-calculus. Our visualization concept combines high level measures of network complexity with interactive, table-based network visualizations. It directly reflects the structures introduced in the first step and allows modelers to explore the resulting simulation traces by providing both: an overview of a network’s evolution and a detail inspection on demand.
Religious Influences on Human Capital Variations in Imperial Russia
Authors: Lankina Tomila
Published: October 2011

Historical legacies, particularly imperial tutelage and religion, have featured prominently in recent scholarship on political regime variations in post-communist settings, challenging earlier temporally proximate explanations. The overlap between tutelage, geography, and religion has complicated the uncovering of the spatially uneven effects of the various legacies. The author addresses this challenge by conducting sub-national analysis of religious influences within one imperial domain, Russia. In particular, the paper traces how European settlement in imperial Russia has had a bearing on human development in the imperial periphery. The causal mechanism that the paper proposes to account for this influence is the Western communities’ impact on literacy, which is in turn linked in the analysis to the Western Christian, particularly Protestant, roots, of settler populations. The author makes this case by constructing an original dataset based on sub-national data from the hitherto underutilised first imperial census of 1897.
Russian Foreign Policy in the Realm of European Security through the Lens of Neoclassical Realism
Authors: Kropatcheva Elena
Published: October 2011

There are different views on (in-)predictability and on (non-)cooperation in Russian foreign policy towards the West, but also on the question about how - that is, through which theoretical framework - to interpret it. This essay aims at contributing to the debate around these three issues. Its goal is to demonstrate the expediency of using a neoclassical realist theoretical perspective, enhanced by the inclusion of such subjective factors as status/prestige and perceptions. While there are factors in Russian domestic and foreign policy which give it a certain degree of unpredictability, nevertheless, if it is studied in a comprehensive way, it turns out to be more consistent and predictable than it at first seems. Even though Russia is often accused of being anti-Western and non-cooperative, this argument does not hold true: Russian foreign policy is selective and includes both cooperative and non-cooperative tactics.
State-Building, Migration and Economic Development on the Frontiers of Northern Afghanistan and Southern Tajikistan
Authors: Bleuer Christian
Published: October 2011

The Kunduz River Valley of northern Afghanistan and the Vakhsh River Valley of southern Tajikistan followed what initially appear to be vastly different trajectories. Despite these two adjacent areas having had much in common throughout many periods of history, the present-day region of northern Afghanistan was eventually taken under the control of the Afghan state while the areas north of the Amu Darya and Panj River were to become part of the Soviet Union. However, instead of a divergent course of development and state-building, these two regions were subjected to very similar patterns of agricultural development and migration policies. “Empty” areas were to be populated, by force if necessary, wetlands were to be drained for agriculture, and cotton farming was to become pre-eminent. The end result in both areas was the creation of a socially diverse and economically significant region that was fully integrated into the modern state's economy and politics. This article analyzes and compares the motives and implementation of the state-building projects in both of these now domestically important regions and finds remarkable similarities despite the obvious differences in the structure of the Afghan and Soviet states.
A Comparison of Trunk Muscle Activation Amplitudes During Gait in Older Adults With and Without Chronic Low Back Pain
Authors: Hanada Edwin Y. , Johnson Mark , Hubley‐Kozey Cheryl
Published: October 2011

Objective

To investigate abdominal and low back muscle activation amplitudes of older adults (at least 50 years of age) experiencing nonspecific chronic low back pain (LBP) and of adults without LBP while they walked on a level surface at a self‐selected speed.

Design

Cross‐sectional.

Setting

Dynamics of human motion laboratory.

Participants

Nine asymptomatic control participants (mean ± standard deviation: 64.9 ± 8.8 years) and 9 participants experiencing LBP (61.4 ± 9.8 years) were selected for this study.

Methods

Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded over the bilateral lower rectus abdomini, internal obliques, lateral erector spinae longissimus, and lumbar multifidus muscle sites while participants walked across a pressure‐sensor mat at a self‐selected speed. To normalize EMG amplitudes during gait, the participants performed a series of maximal voluntary isometric contractions. EMG signals were full‐wave rectified and low‐pass filtered to yield a linear envelop waveform. For the gait trials, a window was identified from right heel strike to the second left heel strike and 4 subphases, including right and left loading response and mid stance, were identified. EMG amplitudes were calculated for each subphase.

Main Outcome Measurements

Two sample t‐tests compared demographic information and spatiotemporal gait parameters between groups. EMG activation amplitude differences between groups and among subphases of gait were analyzed for each muscle with use of general linear models, followed by Tukey honestly significant difference post hoc comparisons.

Results

No differences were found between the groups for demographic or gait parameters. The control group participants activated their lower rectus abdomini muscles (P < .05) and right internal oblique muscles significantly more than did the LBP group (P < .05), whereas the LBP group activated their left lateral erector spinae and both lumbar multifidi sites significantly more than did the control group (P < .05).

Conclusions

The activation amplitudes of the anterior muscle sites were lower for participants with LBP, whereas the posterior sites were activated to higher amplitudes than in the control group. Although most muscles responded to the subphases indicating muscle synergies, the group by muscle interactions for the right internal oblique and lateral erector spinae show that the differences between groups were not systematic. These results describe neuromuscular alterations in persons between 50‐80 years with LBP that can be used for developing subject‐specific management related to maintaining spinal stability.
Architecture and Power in the Ancient Andes
Authors: Moore Jerry D.
Published: October 2011

In this 1996 volume, Jerry D. Moore discusses public architecture in the context of the cultural, political and religious life of the pre-hispanic Andes. Archaeologists have invested enormous effort in excavating and documenting prehistoric buildings, but analytical approaches to architecture remain as yet undeveloped. Architecture and Power in the Ancient Andes uses analytical methods to approach architecture and its relationship to Andean society, exploring three themes in particular: the architecture of monuments, the architecture of ritual, and the architecture of social control. It provides both a methodology for the study of public architecture and an example of how that methodology can be applied. Jerry D. Moore's clear and richly illustrated discussion represents an original perspective on architecture and its role in ritual, ideology, and power in the ancient world.
Dynamic roughness perturbation of a turbulent boundary layer
Authors: Jacobi I. , McKeon B. J.
Published: October 2011

The zero-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layer over a flat plate was perturbed by a temporally oscillating, spatial impulse of roughness, and the downstream response of the flow field was interrogated by hot-wire anemometry and particle-image velocimetry. The key features common to impulsively perturbed boundary layers, as identified in Jacobi & McKeon (J. Fluid Mech., 2011), were investigated, and the unique contributions of the dynamic perturbation were isolated by contrast with an appropriately matched static impulse of roughness. In addition, the dynamic perturbation was decomposed into separable large-scale and small-scale structural effects, which in turn were associated with the organized wave and roughness impulse aspects of the perturbation. A phase-locked velocity decomposition of the entire downstream flow field revealed strongly coherent modes of fluctuating velocity, with distinct mode shapes for the streamwise and wall-normal velocity components. Following the analysis of McKeon & Sharma (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 658, 2010, pp. 336–382), the roughness perturbation was treated as a forcing of the Navier–Stokes equation and a linearized analysis employing a modified Orr–Sommerfeld operator was performed. The experimentally ascertained wavespeed of the input disturbance was used to solve for the most amplified singular mode of the Orr–Sommerfeld resolvent. These calculated modes were then compared with the streamwise and wall-normal velocity fluctuations. The discrepancies between the calculated Orr–Sommerfeld resolvent modes and those experimentally observed by phase-locked averaging of the velocity field were postulated to result from the violation of the parallel flow assumption of Orr–Sommerfeld analysis, as well as certain non-equilibrium effects of the roughness. Additionally, some difficulties previously observed using a quasi-laminar eigenmode analysis were also observed under the resolvent approach; however, the resolvent analysis was shown to provide reasonably accurate predictions of velocity fluctuations for the forced Orr–Sommerfeld problem over a portion of the boundary layer, with potential applications to designing efficient flow control strategies. The combined experimental and analytical effort provides a new opportunity to examine the non-equilibrium and forcing effects in a dynamically perturbed flow.
In vitro chemotactic responses of Brugia pahangi infective larvae to sodium ions
Authors: Mitsui Y. , Miura M. , Bome D.A. , Aoki Y.
Published: October 2011

In vitro chemotactic responses of infective third-stage larvae (L3) of Brugia pahangi to NaCl, Na2HPO4, KCl, K2HPO4, MgCl2 and CaCl2 were assessed. Compared to deionized water as a control, 200 mm NaCl and 100 mm Na2HPO4 significantly attracted L3 (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01), whereas L3 were likely to avoid 200 mm KCl and 100 mm K2HPO4 (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05). L3 showed no significant tendency to avoid or to be attracted to 200 mm CaCl2 and 200 mm MgCl2. Furthermore, NaCl exhibited a significant chemoattractant activity for L3 at a low concentration of 100 mm.
A Textbook on Automata Theory
Authors: Srimani P. K. , Nasir S. F. B.
Published: October 2011

A Textbook on Automata Theory has been designed for students of computer science. Adopting a comprehensive approach to the subject, the book presents various concepts with adequate explanations. The logical and structured treatment of the subject promotes better understanding and assimilation. Lucid and well-structured presentation makes the book user-friendly. The book cover the curricula for M.C.A., B.E.(Computer Science) and M.Sc. (Computer Science) at various universities and gives students a strong foundation for advanced studies in the field.Key features:- A wide array of solved examples and applications Numerous illustrations supporting theoretical inputs Exercises at the end of each chapter for practice Notation for describing machine models A brief history of mathematicians and computer scientists
Individual genome assembly from complex community short-read metagenomic datasets
Authors: Luo Chengwei , Tsementzi Despina , Kyrpides Nikos C , Konstantinidis Konstantinos T
Published: October 2011

Assembling individual genomes from complex community metagenomic data remains a challenging issue for environmental studies. We evaluated the quality of genome assemblies from community short read data (Illumina 100 bp pair-ended sequences) using datasets recovered from freshwater and soil microbial communities as well as in silico simulations. Our analyses revealed that the genome of a single genotype (or species) can be accurately assembled from a complex metagenome when it shows at least about 20 × coverage. At lower coverage, however, the derived assemblies contained a substantial fraction of non-target sequences (chimeras), which explains, at least in part, the higher number of hypothetical genes recovered in metagenomic relative to genomic projects. We also provide examples of how to detect intrapopulation structure in metagenomic datasets and estimate the type and frequency of errors in assembled genes and contigs from datasets of varied species complexity.
Persistent Organic Pollutant Levels in Commercial Baby Foods and Estimation of Infants Dietary Exposure
Authors: Schramm Karl-Werner , Pandelova Marchela
Published: October 2011

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bioaccumulate in animal fat, which may lead to a high daily intake of these contaminants. In adults the common routes of exposure to POPs involve consumption of diary and meat products, whereas during infancy, breast and formula milk are the major routes of exposure. Numerous studies have focused on the high levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in breast milk, but only a few have examined the levels of persistent pollutants in commercial baby foods. According, the aim of the CASCADE research project funded by the EU was to evaluate the present exposure to POPs of non-breast-fed European infants. For this purpose, the baby foods consumed in largest amounts in 22 EU countries, including milk, soy and hypoallergenic infant formulae, as well as solid foods and beverages, were analyzed. In general, our findings indicate that the daily exposure of 0–9-month-old infants through the products investigated here does not exceed the maximum recommended total daily intake (TDI) of 4 pg WHO-TEQ kg−1 bw d−1. However, the estimated daily exposure of one group, namely those 0–4 months of age consuming “starting” hypoallergenic formula, may exceed 2 pg WHO-TEQ kg−1 bw d−1. Moreover, analysis of OCPs also indicates that the daily exposure of infants who are not breast-fed is not harmful. Considering of the importance of early human development and the vulnerability of infants and children, it is essential to determine their daily exposure to POPs in order to decide which efforts at risk reduction should receive the highest priority.
Phytoestrogens: Naturally Occurring, Hormonally Active Compounds in Our Diet
Authors: Power Krista A. , Zierau Oliver , O’Dwyer Shannon
Published: October 2011

Phytoestrogens are plant-derived compounds that can induce estrogenic effects in mammals. This chapter reviews the role of phytoestrogens, in particular the isoflavones from red clover and soy, as well as the prenylated flavonoids from hops, on human health. Red clover isoflavones are used as natural “safe” alternatives to hormone replacement therapy to help reduce menopausal symptoms and associated disease, such as osteoporosis. We review the current knowledge on the biological effects of various red clover isoflavones in vitro and in vivo, as well as the results from clinical trials. Soy is also a rich source of isoflavones, which is used in many food products, of particular focus in this chapter in infant formulas. We review the current knowledge on the biological effects induced by soy isoflavones in various rodent studies, and discuss the significance of such findings for human infant consumption. This chapter also highlights a more unique class of phytoestrogen, the prenylflavonoids, reviewing the in vitro and in vivo evidence for their estrogenic effects.
Role of Metabolism in the Bioactivation/Detoxification of Food Contaminants
Authors: Cravedi Jean-Pierre , Zalko Daniel
Published: October 2011

Various compounds of either natural or synthetic origin mimic or interfere with the biological activity of hormones. Whereas some of these compounds are deactivated by their metabolism, others, such as the isoflavone daidzein, the pesticides vinclozolin and methoxychlor, the polychlorinated biphenyls and the polybrominated diphenyl ethers require metabolic activation prior to exhibiting endocrine disrupting effects. This chapter describes the metabolic pathways of several endocrine disruptors and indicates the role of these pathways in the bioactivation/detoxification of these compounds, resulting in increases or decreases in hormonal activity. It focuses not only on the interactions of metabolites with various nuclear receptors, but also with the effects of biotransformation products on steroidogenesis and hormone metabolism.
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Targeted by Xenobiotic Compounds and Dietary Phytochemicals
Authors: Matthews Jason
Published: October 2011

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates the toxic effects of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and select polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Detectable levels of these contaminants are present in all humans. The most toxic compound in the class is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlordibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD or dioxin). Laboratory animals exposed to environment levels of TCDD exhibit a wide spectrum of toxic responses, including increases in a number of different cancers. It is estimated that 90% of human exposure to these compounds is through dietary intake of products from animal origin and fish. AhR also exhibits profound ligand binding promiscuity, binding a number of compounds including phytochemicals such as polyphenols and flavonoids, many of which act as AhR antagonists. The presence of AhR-binding phytochemicals in the diet may in some cases antagonize the toxic effects of AhR-activating food contaminants. In this chapter we discuss the signalling pathways, the molecular mechanisms and potential health effects of activation of AhR by the dioxin-like food contaminants as well as the potential beneficial effects of AhR-modulating phytochemicals.
Application of Reporter Animals as Novel Tools in Food Safety Research
Authors: Ramachandran Balaji , Maggi Adriana
Published: October 2011

The current methodologies employed in the field of toxicology have a limited predicting value of toxic effects; the investigational tools are usually static in nature and detect toxicity in a snapshot of time, thus providing only a partial view of the molecular mechanism underlying the toxic effects. Classical tests do not highlight small physiological changes (subtle effects) due to toxicity as they are developed mostly to monitor adverse effects (overt effects) and in addition require the use of a large number of animals.

At the present time, the major challenge for environmental and alimentary toxicologists is the detection of toxicants, generally present at very low concentrations, and the evaluation of their cumulative effects during long-term exposure. More effort should be devoted to the generation of appropriate model systems for the rapid, cost-effective and reproducible analysis of the overall effects of toxic compounds on living organisms.

Recently, the concept of receptor-mediated toxicity has driven the field of toxicology to carry out tests that are more predictable, leading to a through understanding of mechanism-based toxicity (MBT). Molecular imaging as a key to understanding MBT might provide a means of meeting this challenge by being cost effective, non-invasive and allow us to monitor the receptor dynamics in the length of time (temporal dimension) and provide a global view of the potential target organs of toxicity in all the spectrum of body action of the whole mouse (spatial dimension).
Occurrence of Endocrine Disrupters in Food Chains
Authors: Mantovani Alberto , Proietti Ilaria
Published: October 2011

The general population is constantly exposed to a mixture of endocrine disrupters (EDs), mainly through the food chain. This chapter reviews the multi-faceted relationship between ED risk assessment and food consumption.

The dietary exposure pathways are diverse, since EDs can (i) affect diet components most liable to environmental pollution [e.g. polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in lipid-rich foods]; (ii) be employed in food production (e.g. certain groups of agrochemicals); (iii) be released from food contact materials or during food production processes (such as bisphenol); (iv) last but not least, be naturally present in food (endocrine-active nutrients and bioactive substances, such as iodine and phytoestrogens, respectively). Main health concerns from dietary exposure to EDs include the building-up of a pollutants body burden and the potential for additive “cocktail” effects. The factors modulating exposure and susceptibility are considered, including different stages of life, specific dietary habits and food commodities. The multiple, often inadequately understood, interactions between EDs and food components, particularly nutrients, are given specific attention. Anti-nutritional factors present in many vegetable foods are proposed as “indirect” EDs as they impair the bioavailability of nutrients, such as trace elements, required for endocrine homeostasis.
Increase in the thermoelectric power produced by mechanically alloyed Pb1−x Snx Te due to the presence of 15 nm SnO2 inclusions
Authors: Krishna Lakshmi , LaLonde Aaron D. , Moran P. D.
Published: October 2011

Evidence is presented that 15 nm diameter SnO2 inclusions comprising approximately 2 vol. % of bulk mechanically alloyed n-type Pb1−x SnxTe (when x = 7% and 27%) significantly increase the electrical power produced by the material when it is doped above 1019 cm−3 range. The experimentally measured temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of Pb0.93 Sn0.07 Te doped to 1.2 × 1019 cm−3 and Pb0.73 Sn0.27 Te doped to 3.8 × 1018 cm−3 are shown to be consistent with those calculated in the framework of the Boltzmann transport equations using the relaxation time approximation and a three-band model for which the materials-specific constants are taken from published literature. The SnO2 inclusions are shown to impact the transport coefficients by changing the energy dependence and magnitude of the relaxation time due to the charge carrier scattering by a collection of inclusions in a geometry consistent with analysis of the x-ray diffraction data. Analysis of the experimental data shows that Pb0.93 Sn0.07 Te doped to 1.2 × 1019 cm−3 generates more power than would a material without the 2 vol. % of 15 nm SnO2 inclusions. Calculations using the experimentally validated model show that for carrier concentrations greater than 1 × 1019 cm−3, the presence of these inclusions increases the power factor of both alloys in the 300–700 K temperature range.
Analysis of indium zinc oxide thin films by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Authors: Popescu A. C. , Beldjilali S. , Socol G. , Craciun V. , Mihailescu I. N. , Hermann J.
Published: October 2011

We have performed spectroscopic analysis of the plasma generated by Nd:YAG (λ = 266 nm) laser irradiation of thin indium zinc oxide films with variable In content deposited by combinatorial pulsed laser deposition on glass substrates. The samples were irradiated in 5 × 104 Pa argon using laser pulses of 5 ns duration and 10 mJ energy. The plasma emission spectra were recorded with an Echelle spectrometer coupled to a gated detector with different delays with respect to the laser pulse. The relative concentrations of indium and zinc were evaluated by comparing the measured spectra to the spectral radiance computed for a plasma in local thermal equilibrium. Plasma temperature and electron density were deduced from the relative intensities and Stark broadening of spectral lines of atomic zinc. Analyses at different locations on the deposited thin films revealed that the In/(In + Zn) concentration ratio significantly varies over the sample surface, from 0.4 at the borders to about 0.5 in the center of the film. The results demonstrate that laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy allows for precise and fast characterization of thin films with variable composition.
First-principles study of the spin-mixing conductance in Pt/Ni81Fe19 junctions
Authors: Zhang Qinfang , Hikino Shin-ichi , Yunoki Seiji
Published: October 2011

Based on the spin-pumping theory and first-principles calculations, the spin-mixing conductance (SMC) is theoretically studied for Pt/Permalloy (Ni81Fe19, Py) junctions. We evaluate the SMC for ideally clean Pt/Py junctions and examine the effects of interface randomness. We find that the SMC is generally enhanced in the presence of interface roughness as compared to the ideally clean junctions. Our estimated SMC is in good quantitative agreement with the recent experiment for Pt/Py junctions. We propose possible routes to increase the SMC in Pt/Py junctions by depositing a foreign magnetic metal layer in Pt, offering guidelines for designing the future spintronic devices.
Is the hyporheic zone a refuge for macroinvertebrates in drying perennial streams?
Authors: Young B. A. , Norris R. H. , Sheldon F.
Published: October 2011

Drought and drying of perennial streams plays a central role in determining the structure of in-stream communities, decreasing taxa richness and abundance and changing trophic organisation. Further, flow cessation can increase spatial β-diversity of macroinvertebrate communities across disconnected sites. It has been hypothesised that the hyporheic zone may act as a refugium for benthic macroinvertebrates during low flow and flow cessation, but evidence remains equivocal. We explored hyporheic and surface benthic macroinvertebrate community changes associated with low flow and flow cessation conditions during a supra-seasonal drought on two normally perennial rivers: the Cotter and Queanbeyan Rivers (Canberra, ACT). Surface benthic and hyporheic samples were collected from these two rivers and four associated tributary streams across a drying gradient during dry conditions and after flow recovery to test whether macroinvertebrates in perennial streams utilise the hyporheic zone as a refugium and whether there is greater variability in the macroinvertebrate community at sites experiencing flow cessation compared with wetter sites. Low flow had no impact on macroinvertebrate taxa richness or density in either surface benthic or hyporheic habitats, whereas density and taxa richness declined during streambed drying, suggesting that the hyporheic zone did not provide a refugium for some taxa during these dry conditions. Spatial β-diversity peaked at dry sites, likely in response to the broad range of environmental conditions that may differ between refuges and sites, but decreased after flow recovery. Refuges in perennial streams appear more vulnerable to human disturbances during dry periods because a loss of suitable refuges can affect the ability of some macroinvertebrate taxa to recolonise after flow recovery.
Obesity, Inflammation, and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer: Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Macciò Antonio , Madeddu Clelia
Published: October 2011

Breast cancer is the female malignant neoplasia with the highest incidence in the industrialized world. Although early diagnosis has contributed to therapeutic success, breast cancer remains a major health issue. In the last few year the hormone therapy for estrogen-dependent breast cancer has evolved achieving significant clinical results; at the same time, it has enabled us to better define the role of estrogens in the etiopathogenesis of this tumour. Weight increase and obesity have been identified as the most important risk and prognostic factors for breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the association of obesity with postmenopausal breast cancer. Specific obesity-associated factors, including leptin, insulin and inflammatory mediators, seem to influence breast cancer growth and prognosis independently of estrogens and at least in part by interacting with estrogen signalling at a cellular level. Therefore, a careful assessment of the nutritional status and body composition is paramount for a proper therapeutic approach for postmenopausal breast carcinoma. The use of antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory drugs associated with conventional hormone therapies and dietary/physical interventions could offer a new therapeutic approach for breast carcinoma that develops in the context of adiposity.