bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An oxidation‐adsorption method for the analysis of methyl ester fractions
Authors: Schuette H. A. , Dal Nogare Stephen
Published: July 2007

Conversion of the unsaturated components of the fractions obtained in the analytical distillation of fatty oil methyl esters to short‐chain acidic fragments by permanganate oxidation, and their subsequent adsorption on alumina tinted with bromthymol blue is the basis for the method described. Recovery experiments show a) that the removal of these fragments is practically quantitative, provided acids lower than lauric are not present in the mixtures in appreciable amounts, b) that duplicate samples agree within 1% of the saturated ester content, and c) that reproducibility of results is of the order of 0.6%. In a series of determinations on mixtures of methyl esters the results obtained by the procedure described were found to be in good agreement with those obtained by calculation from iodine and thiocyanogen numbers or by alkali isomerization. Because only small samples are required the method is particularly applicable to the analysis of distillate fractions.
A possibilistic approach to soil moisture retrieval from ERS synthetic aperture radar backscattering under soil roughness uncertainty
Authors: Verhoest N. E. C. , De Baets B. , Mattia F. , Satalino G. , Lucau C. , Defourny P.
Published: July 2007

Radar remote sensing of bare soil surfaces has been shown to be very useful for retrieving soil moisture. However, the error on the retrieved value depends on the accuracy of the roughness parameters (RMS height and correlation length). Several studies have demonstrated that these parameters show a high variability within a field, and therefore a lot of soil roughness profiles need to be measured to obtain accurate estimates. However, in an operational mode, soil roughness measurements are not available and therefore, for different types of tillage, roughness parameters are ill known. Possibility theory offers a way of handling this type of uncertainty, by modeling roughness parameters by means of possibility distributions. Inverting the integral equation model then leads to a possibility distribution for soil moisture. After transforming these possibilities into probabilities, mean soil moisture values and the uncertainty thereupon (given by the standard deviation) are obtained. It is found that the uncertainty depends on the wetness state of the soil. An application of our possibilistic retrieval algorithm to field observations at two sites in Belgium and one site in Italy resulted in accurate soil moisture observations (RMS error less than 6 vol %).
Heterogeneity of the human transferrin receptor and use of anti‐transferrin receptor antibodies to detect tumours in vivo
Authors: Panaccio Michael , Zalcberg John R , Thompson Christopher H , Leyden Michael J , Sullivan John R , Lichtenstein Meir , McKenzie Ian FC
Published: July 2007

The human transferrin receptor (TFR) which is present on dividing cells, many tumours and erthyroid precursors is readily identified using specific monoclonal antibodies. A new anti‐human TFR monoclonal antibody, HuLy‐m9, is described and its distribution on cell lines, normal and tumour tissue was examined and compared with two other anti‐TFR monoclonal antibodies, namely, OKT9 and 5E9. The three antibodies were shown to recognise different epitopes on the surface of the TFR and have different reactivities with in vitro cell lines. Peptide map analyses of the TFR recognised by each monoclonal antibody from the same cell line were identical; however, differences were observed between cell lines. 131I‐radiolabelled HuLy‐m9 was used to successfully localise a nasopharyngeal carcinoma in vivo.
Further studies on the heterogeneity of antigens recognised by CD‐1 monoclonal antibodies: distribution of epitopes and analysis of serological binding patterns
Authors: Favaloro EJ , Bradstock KF , Grimsley P , Henniker A , Kamath S
Published: July 2007

The binding patterns of 28 monoclonal antibodies (MAB) recognizing antigens belonging to Cluster of Differentiation One (CD‐1) were analyzed in order to investigate heterogeneity within this cluster. Competitive binding assays using radiolabelled MAB provided detailed information on CD‐1 antigenic heterogeneity, and demonstrated that at least six epitopic regions are recognised as CD‐1 MAB. Further studies, based on single cell suspension immunofluorescence assays (using thymocytes and subclones on the cell line Molt‐4), suggested that the majority of MAB studied could be serologically separated into three groups. In view of the most recent information suggesting that CD‐1 MAB recognize at least three different early T‐cell differentiation molecules, our results indicate that there are three or more distinct epitopes on the‘gp49’(HTA‐1/CD‐1a) molecule, two on the‘gp45’(HTA‐3/CD‐1b) molecule and one on‘gp43’(HTA‐2/CD‐1c).
Analysis of early lymphocyte activation events by fluorescence polarization flow cytometry
Authors: Dimitropoulos K , Rolland JM , Nairn RC
Published: July 2007

After short‐term (up to 4 h) stimulation with mitogen or antigen, lymphocytes were incubated with fluorescein diacetate and the polarization of fluorescence from intracellular fluorescein was measured on a specially adapted FACS II. This flow cytofluorimetric method to assay early changes in activated lymphocytes gave a reproducible response to the mitogens phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin‐A and the monoclonal antibody OKT3, recognized at 1 h by decreased polarization. A response by immune spleen cells to the antigen dinitrophenyl‐ovalbumin was revealed at 4 h. The calcium ionophore A23187 induced an increase in polarization after only 10 min. The PHA polarization response was shown to be dependent on PHA binding, PHA dose, T cells, calcium ions and an intact cytoskeleton. The cellular events monitored by the polarization change are presumably altered fluidity of the probe's microenvironment due to conformational change in macromolecules to which the probe has bound or to dissociation of the probe into the aqueous phase. The fluorescein fluorescence polarization assay is a reliable and sensitive monitor of early lymphocyte activation events and. Coupled with the use of a flow cytometer, permits study of particular subpopulations of responding cells.
Phenotypic characterization of immature lymphoid cells in human umbilical cord blood
Authors: Bradstock KF , Kerr A , Grimsley P , Kirk J , Luxford C
Published: July 2007

The antigenic phenotype of neonatal lymphoid cells isolated from umbilical cord blood was investigated using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. Although the majority of cells expressed mature T or B cell differentiation antigens, small subpopulations of phenotypically immature lymphocytes were detected. A small proportion (mean 2·8%) of cells expressed the common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia antigen (CD‐10), a significantly higher figure than that detected on adult peripheral blood lymphocytes. The cortical thymocyte antigen (CD‐1) was detected on a very small subset of cord lymphoid cells, but was also present on adult lymphocytes at approximately the same frequency. The nuclear enzyme terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), a marker of early lymphoid differentiation, was detected by immunofluorescence on 0·031% of mononuclear cells in cytocentrifuge preparations, representing an approximate 10‐fold increase in frequency over expression in childhood or adult blood. These circulating TdT+ cells were shown in double labelling experiments to predominantly express markers of B cell differentiation (CD‐24, CD‐10, MHC Class 2), although occasional cells co‐expressing the T lineage marker CD‐2 were also seen. These findings are consistent with the circulation of B cell precursors in neonatal blood. The nature of the CD‐1+ cells is unclear, although the absence of CD‐1+ TdT+ double labelled cells mitigates against the possible presence of immature thymus‐processed lymphocytes in these samples.
Functional characteristics of 197+ CD4− CD8− sheep T lymphocytes: Expansion and differentiation of peripheral T cells
Authors: McClure SJ , Hein WR
Published: July 2007

This report describes the results of functional studies on the CD3+ 197+ CD4− CD8− TCR γ/δ+ peripheral T lymphocyte of sheep. Cell types were identified by immunofluorescent and immunoenzymic staining and separated by fluorescence activated flow cytometry. Newly synthesized DNA was labelled in vivo by incorporation of 5‐bronio‐2‐deoxyuridine (BrdU), and total DNA by in vitro incubation with propidium iodide. Cells were challenged in vivo with alloantigens, in vitro with alloantigens or a range of mitogens, and activation/differentiation was assessed by determination of cell number, phenotype, and thymidine incorporation. In normal lambs the 197+ cells showed no in vivo DNA synthesis except at a low level in the ileocaecal lymph node. A similarly low level of synthesis in the prescapular node was induced by local allogeneic challenge. A higher proportion of 197+ cells than of other T cells isolated from blood and lymph had G2/M phase DNA content, while very few had S phase DNA content. The response of 197+ cells in terms of change in relative numbers following in vivo allogeneic challenge was quite different to that of CD4+ or CD8+ cells. Instead of rising to a peak at 5‐8 days after challenge and then declining, the percentage of 197+ cells rose steadily with no evidence of decline by 14 days. Purified 197+ cells were activated in vitro by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin‐A (Con‐A) but not by B cell mitogens; such activation was dependent on the inclusion of feeder cells or interleukin‐2 (IL‐2). PHA‐induced proliferation was accompanied by altered expression of surface molecules by a proportion of the cells. Changes observed included loss of 197 antigen and gain of CD4, CD8 or MHC II antigens. In some cases coexpression of two or more of these surface antigens occurred. Thus the 197+ T‐cell is as distinctive in the pattern of its functional behaviour as it is in its previously reported phenotype, distribution and ontogeny.
Activation of macrophages to express cytocidal activity correlates with inhibition of their responsiveness to macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (CSF‐1): Involvement of a pertussis toxin‐sensitive reaction
Authors: Hume DA , Denkins YM
Published: July 2007

Bone marrow‐derived murine macrophages were used to study the relationship between the proliferative response of macrophages to macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (CSF‐1) and their activation for cytocidal activity against tumour cells. Macrophage activation required two sequential signals. Lymphokines (gamma interferon, interleukin‐4) provided the first (priming) signal; bacterial products (lipopolysaccharide, lipophilic muramyl tripeptide, lipopeptide 31362, pertussis toxin) provided the second (triggering) signal. Both priming and triggering agents inhibited [3H]‐thymidine uptake by macrophages stimulated with CSF‐1. The antiproliferative activity of priming and triggering stimuli was synergistic, Pretreatment with triggering stimuli at 37°C caused a rapid reduction of the subsequent binding of [125I]‐CSE‐1 to the cell surface at 4°C, whereas priming agents had relatively little effect. Growth inhibition by both priming and triggering agents was largely reversible by washing the cells, and occurred even when they were added as long as 24 h after the growth factor. The ability of pertussis toxin to both inhibit CSF‐1‐induced proliferation and trigger cytotoxicity in macrophages suggests the involvement of a regulatory GTP‐binding protein (G protein) in both processes.
The human non‐lineage antigen CD46 (HuLy‐m5) and primate retroviral gp70 molecules share protein‐defined antigenic determinants
Authors: Purcell DFJ , Deacon NJ , McKenzie IFC
Published: July 2007

The CD46 lymphocyte surface antigen of man (until recently called HuLy‐m5), and defined by the E4‐3 monoclonal antibody (MoAb), shares cross‐reactive antigenic epitopes with the envelope gp70 glycoproteins of gibbon ape leukaemia virus (GaLV) and Mason Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) primate retroviruses. It is now shown that the cross‐reactive antigenic epitope shared by these three molecules is determined solely by the protein portion of these glycoproteins, and that the N‐linked and O‐linked carbohydrate moieties of these glycoproteins do not directly or sterically contribute to the antigenic cross‐reactivity. When CD46 molecules (mol.wt = 66 and 56 kDa) from human thymocytes were stripped of sialic acid with neuraminidase, or stripped of N‐linked carbohydrate with endoglycosidase F, the E4·3 MoAb was still able to bind and immunoprecipitate the protein core of CD46 (mol.wt = 56 and 44 kDa). Similarly, polyclonal antisera to GaLV and MPMV precipitated deglycosylated CD46, although at a reduced efficiency. The cross‐reacting E4·3 MoAb, anti‐GaLV and anti‐MPMV antisera also immunoprecipitated HuLy‐m5 primary translation protein lacking N‐ or O‐linked carbohydrate from the in vitro translation products of human thymocyte mRNA. Thus, the antigenic cross‐reactivity of CD46 molecules with GaLV gp70 and MPMV gp70 is both specific and due to protein structure rather than to carbohydrate; the findings suggest that retrovinises may have acquired a functional epitope from human CD46 or that an endogenous retroviral sequence of human may partially or completely encode the CD46 antigen.
Inhibition of lymphocyte circulation in mice by pertussis toxin
Authors: Sewell WA , Andrews P
Published: July 2007

Pertussis toxin (PT), a protein toxin of Bordetella pertussis, also called pertussigen, has a wide range of biological activities, including the induction of lymphocytosis. This phenomenon was investigated by studying lymphocyte circulation in mice. Lymph node cell suspensions were exposed to PT in vitro and then injected intravenously. A double radiolabel technique was employed, in which PT‐treated and control cells were injected into the same animals. The protocol used in these experiments was chosen to demonstrate a direct effect of PT on the injected cells. After exposure to PT in vitro, cells were profoundly excluded from lymph nodes over the succeeding six days. Entry into both mesenteric and peripheral lymph nodes, but not into the spleen was inhibited by PT, and there was an accumulation of the PT‐treated cells in the blood. Cells were excluded from the lymph nodes after treatment with as little as 2 ng/mL of PT. This dose was over two orders of magnitude lower than the threshold dose of the same PT preparation required to induce lymphocyte mitogenesis in vitro. The findings in the present communication are consistent with studies using genetically modified PT in which the ADP‐ribosylating capacity of the A‐subunit was necessary for the effect of PT on lymphocytosis.
Comment on “Adaptive Q-S (lag, anticipated, and complete) time-varying synchronization and parameters identification of uncertain delayed neural networks” [Chaos 16, 023119 (2006)]
Authors: Li Lixiang , Yang Yixian , Peng Haipeng
Published: July 2007

This paper comments on a recent paper by Yu and Cao [Chaos, 16, 023119 (2006)]. We find that the theorem in this paper is incorrect by numerical simulations. The consequence of the incorrectness is analyzed as well.
Characteristics of integrated high-Tc superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer and gradiometer with serial array
Authors: Yang Hong-Chang , Wu C. H. , Chen J. C. , Chen K. L. , Horng Herng-Er , Tsai Yi-Shou , Yang S. Y.
Published: July 2007

We characterized the current-voltage, voltage-flux, and the field sensitivity of integrated high-Tc series superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometers and gradiometers. The series two-SQUID magnetometers shows field sensitivities of ∼30–40fT∕Hz1∕2 at 1kHz and ∼80–100fT∕Hz1∕2 at 1Hz over that of a one-SQUID magnetometer in shielded environment. The field sensitivity of a series two-SQUID gradiometers is ∼60fT∕Hz1∕2cm, while the one-SQUID gradiometer shows a gradient sensitivity of ∼80–150fT∕Hz1∕2cm at 1kHz in an unshielded laboratory environment. The series two-SQUID magnetometers or gradiometers show a significant improvement in flux noises over that of one-SQUID magnetometers or gradiometers.
Impact of O3 feeding time on TiO2 films grown by atomic layer deposition for memory capacitor applications
Authors: Kim Seong Keun , Lee Sang Young , Seo Minha , Choi Gyu-Jin , Hwang Cheol Seong
Published: July 2007

The effect of the O3 feeding time on the physical and electrical properties of TiO2 thin films on Ru electrodes was investigated. The density, composition, chemical state, and crystalline structure of the TiO2 films were almost identical, irrespective of the O3 feeding time, even when the TiO2 films were grown under subsaturated conditions with respect to the O3 feeding. However, increasing the O3 feeding time to more than 3s brought about surface roughening and severe local protrusion of the films, which significantly increased their leakage current density. The conduction band offset of the film surface was generally small and was not increased by increasing the O3 feeding time nor was the leakage current improved. Consequently, a minimum tox of 0.8nm with a leakage current density <∼1×10−7A∕cm2 at an applied voltage of 0.8V was achieved at an O3 feeding time of 2–3s.
The Impact of the Barnett Formula on the Scottish Economy: Endogenous Population and Variable Formula Proportions
Authors: Ferguson Linda , Learmonth David , McGregor Peter G , Swales J Kim , Turner Karen
Published: July 2007

The Barnett formula is the official basis upon which increments to public funds are allocated to the devolved regions of the UK for those parts of the budget that are administered locally. There is considerable controversy surrounding the implications of its strict application for the relevant regions. The existing literature focuses primarily on the equity of the spatial changes to government per capita expenditure that would accompany such a change. In contrast, in this paper we attempt to quantify the system-wide economic consequences—the real, relative resource squeeze that accompanies the financial relative squeeze—on one devolved region, Scotland. The analysis uses a multisectoral regional computable general equilibrium modelling approach. We highlight the importance of population endogeneity, particularly since the population proportions used in the formula are now regularly updated.
Evaluation of variable numbers of tandem repeat as molecular epidemiological markers of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Japan
Authors: Wada Takayuki , Maeda Shinji , Hase Atsushi , Kobayashi Kazuo
Published: July 2007

Using 243 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates obtained in 2001 in Osaka City, Japan, the discriminatory power of variable numbers of tandem repeats (VNTRs) of 12 standard mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units (MIRUs) was assessed. The biggest cluster defined by MIRU-VNTRs consisted of 57 (23.5 %) isolates and they belonged to the Beijing family based on spoligotyping. When additional VNTR loci were included in the MIRU-VNTR analysis, the 57 originally clustered strains were further differentiated by the addition of Queen's University Belfast (QUB)-VNTRs, but not exact tandem repeat-VNTR. The allelic diversity of additional VNTR loci such as VNTR 3232 (QUB-3232), VNTR 2163a (QUB-11a), VNTR 2163b (QUB-11b) and VNTR 1982 (QUB-18) was high in the 57 strains. When the 243 M. tuberculosis isolates were analysed using 16-locus VNTR (the 12 standard MIRUs and the 4 QUB loci) and IS6110 RFLP, the respective Hunter–Gaston discriminatory indexes were 0.9966 and 0.9971. The discrimination power of 16-locus VNTR was equal to that of IS6110 RFLP analysis. If appropriate loci are added to the standard MIRU analysis, VNTR genotyping could be a valuable tool for strain typing and epidemiological research of M. tuberculosis in Japan.
Tinea pedis and tinea unguium in a 7-year-old child
Authors: Tullio V. , Banche G. , Panzone M. , Cervetti O. , Roana J. , Allizond V. , Carlone N. , Cuffini A. M.
Published: July 2007

This report documents tinea pedis and tinea unguium in a 7-year-old child. In all cultures Trichophyton rubrum was present. As tinea pedis and tinea unguium affect adults more often than children, they might be overlooked and misdiagnosed in the latter.
Polysaccharides and virulence of Burkholderia pseudomallei
Authors: Sarkar-Tyson M. , Thwaite J. E. , Harding S. V. , Smither S. J. , Oyston P. C. F. , Atkins T. P. , Titball R. W.
Published: July 2007

Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, an infectious disease of humans and animals. Gene clusters which encode capsular polysaccharide (type I O-PS) and LPS (type II O-PS), both of which play roles in virulence, have previously been identified. Here, the identification of two further putative clusters, type III O-PS and type IV O-PS, is reported. Mice challenged with type III O-PS or type IV O-PS mutants showed increased mean times to death (7.8 and 11.6 days) compared to those challenged with wild-type B. pseudomallei (3 days). To investigate the possible roles of polysaccharides in protection, mice were immunized with killed cells of wild-type B. pseudomallei or killed cells of B. pseudomallei with mutations in the O antigen, capsular polysaccharide, type III O-PS or type IV O-PS gene clusters. Immunization with all polysaccharide mutant strains resulted in delayed time to death compared to the naïve controls, following challenge with wild-type B. pseudomallei strain K96243. However, immunization with killed polysaccharide mutant strains conferred different degrees of protection, demonstrating the immunological importance of the polysaccharide clusters on the surface of B. pseudomallei.
Microsatellite markers reveal geographic population differentiation in Trichophyton rubrum
Authors: Gräser Yvonne , Fröhlich Janine , Presber Wolfgang , de Hoog Sybren
Published: July 2007

A worldwide selection of more than 200 isolates of the anthropophilic dermatophyteTrichophyton rubrumwere analysed using seven microsatellite markers. Fifty-five multilocus genotypes were recognized, allowing a subdivision of the species into two populations. Both populations reproduced strictly clonally, showed a different predilection on the human host (scalp vs foot) and displayed geographic differentiation. Genotypes of one population originated predominantly from Africa, whilst the second population showed a worldwide distribution excluding the African continent. Genotypic diversity was highest in the African population, despite the lower number of strains analysed, suggesting thatT. rubrumis likely to have evolved in Africa. No diagnostic correlation was observed between multilocus genotypes and any of the phenotypical characteristics of the strains. The involvement of multiple strains in a single patient detected by workers using other typing methods was not supported by these microsatellite markers. Four of the developed microsatellite markers may be applied for diagnostic purposes.
SIPK conditions transcriptional responses unique to either bacterial or oomycete elicitation in tobacco
Authors: HALL HARDY C. , SAMUEL MARCUS A. , ELLIS BRIAN E.
Published: July 2007

The mitogen‐activated protein kinase, SIPK (salicylic acid‐induced protein kinase), is known to be rapidly activated in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) by various elicitors. However, SIPK activation induced by the oomycete elicitor, β‐megaspermin, is reported to require external calcium influx, whereas that induced by the bacterial elicitor, hrpZPsph, does not. This suggests that SIPK activation is involved in different elicitor‐initiated signalling pathways, and raises the question of whether the role(s) of SIPK in mediating stress outcomes, including transcriptional re‐programming, differs in an elicitor‐specific manner. To examine this, we compared the impact of silencing SIPK on the transcript profile of tobacco suspension culture cells challenged with either hrpZPsph or β‐megaspermin. SIPK‐silencing was found to have a substantial impact on both hrpZPsph‐ and β‐megaspermin‐induced transcriptional responses, and these impacts included both common and elicitor‐differentiated features. As well as revealing a role for SIPK in modulating expression of known redox‐ and defence‐related genes in response to both elicitors, our analysis detected a substantial impact of SIPK silencing on transcription of 80S ribosomal subunit mRNAs. This novel observation suggests that SIPK may play a role in affecting translation efficiency as one mechanism for enacting rapid genome‐wide, elicitor‐specific physiological reprogramming during defence responses.
Effect of ageing on pulmonary inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness and T and B cell responses in antigen‐sensitized and ‐challenged mice
Authors: Busse Paula J. , Zhang Teng Fei , Srivastava Kamal , Schofield Brian , Li Xiu‐Min
Published: July 2007

Background
The effect of ageing on several pathologic features of allergic asthma (pulmonary inflammation, eosinophilia, mucus hypersecretion), and their relationship with airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is not well characterized.

Objective
To evaluate lung inflammation, mucus metaplasia and AHR in relationship with age in murine models of allergic asthma comparing young and older mice.

Methods
Young (6 weeks) and older (6, 12, 18 months) BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA). AHR and bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF), total inflammatory cell count and differential were measured. To evaluate mucus metaplasia, quantitative PCR for the major airway mucin‐associated gene, MUC‐5AC, from lung tissue was measured, and lung tissue sections stained with periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS) for goblet‐cell enumeration. Lung tissue cytokine gene expression was determined by quantitative PCR, and systemic cytokine protein levels by ELISA from spleen‐cell cultures. Antigen‐specific serum IgE was determined by ELISA.

Results
AHR developed in both aged and young OVA‐sensitized/challenged mice (OVA mice), and was more significantly increased in young OVA mice than in aged OVA mice. However, BALF eosinophil numbers were significantly higher, and lung histology showed greater inflammation in aged OVA mice than in young OVA mice. MUC‐5AC expression and numbers of PAS+ staining bronchial epithelial cells were significantly increased in the aged OVA mice. All aged OVA mice had increased IL‐5 and IFN‐γ mRNA expression in the lung and IL‐5 and IFN‐γ protein levels from spleen cell cultures compared with young OVA mice. OVA‐IgE was elevated to a greater extent in aged OVA mice.

Conclusions
Although pulmonary inflammation and mucus metaplasia after antigen sensitization/challenge occurred to a greater degree in older mice, the increase in AHR was significantly less compared with younger OVA mice. Antigen treatment produced a unique cytokine profile in older mice (elevated IFN‐γ and IL‐5) compared with young mice (elevated IL‐4 and IL‐13). Thus, the airway response to inflammation is lessened in ageing animals, and may represent age‐associated events leading to different phenotypes in response to antigen provocation.
Somatostatinoma: Clinico‐pathological features of three cases and literature reviewed
Authors: Nesi Gabriella , Marcucci Tommaso , Rubio Carlos A , Brandi Maria Luisa , Tonelli Francesco
Published: July 2007

Somatostatinoma is a rare endocrine tumor that comprises around 1% of all gastroenteropancreatic endocrine neoplasms. This paper gives an updated review on somatostatinoma and describes three sporadic cases of somatostatinoma located in the pancreas, duodenum, and jejunum. Approximately 200 case histories of somatostatinoma have been published, with the duodenum being the most frequent site, followed by the pancreas. Somatostatinomas may be sporadic or associated with neurofibromatosis type 1, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1, and Von Hippel–Lindau syndromes. Functional somatostatinomas release excessive amounts of somatostatin suppressing gallbladder motility and inhibiting the secretory activity of various endocrine and exocrine cell types. A triad of mild diabetes mellitus, cholelithiasis, and diarrhea/steatorrhoea characterizes the somatostatinoma or ‘inhibitory’ syndrome. Non‐functional somatostatinomas tend either to be asymptomatic or to present with obstructive symptoms. These tumors are often malignant and by the time they are detected, nearly two‐thirds have already metastasized to the regional lymph nodes or the liver. A comparison between our three cases and those in the literature provides useful insights into the clinical management of these patients. Interestingly, the jejunal somatostatinoma described here is the second case ever reported.
Using Patterns to Explain Inferences in
Authors: Deng Xi , Haarslev Volker , Shiri Nematollaah
Published: July 2007

With the increasing number of applications of Description Logics (DLs), unsatisfiable concepts and inconsistent knowledge bases become quite common, especially when the knowledge bases are large and complex. This makes it challenging, even for experienced knowledge engineers, to identify and resolve these unsatisfiabilities and inconsistencies manually. It is thus crucial to provide services to explain how and why a result is derived. Motivated by the possibility of applying resolution technique in first‐order logic to construct explanations for DLs, we present an algorithm that uses patterns to generate explanations for unsatisfiability and inconsistency reasoning in, obtained by extending our previous work on. The use of resolution proofs to provide explanations for DL reasoners is due to their focus which, through literals involved in the process, contributes directly to the contradiction, hence acting as filters to discard irrelevant information. We also establish the soundness and completeness of the algorithm. The proposed solution approach is independent of the underlying DL reasoners, which suggests its potential application for any DL framework.
THE DATALOGDL COMBINATION OF DEDUCTION RULES AND DESCRIPTION LOGICS
Authors: Mei Jing , Lin Zuoquan , Boley Harold , Li Jie , Bhavsar Virendrakumar C.
Published: July 2007

Uniting ontologies and rules has become a central topic in the Semantic Web. Bridging the discrepancy between these two knowledge representations, this paper introduces DatalogDL as a family of hybrid languages, where Datalog rules are parameterized by various DL (description logic) languages ranging from to . Making DatalogDL a decidable system with complexity of EXPTIME, we propose independent properties in the DL body as the restriction to hybrid rules, and weaken the safeness condition to balance the trade‐off between expressivity and reasoning power. Building on existing well‐developed techniques, we present a principled approach to enrich (RuleML) rules with information from (OWL) ontologies, and develop a prototype system combining a rule engine (OO jDREW) with a DL reasoner (RACER).
Numerical Study of a Single Bubble Sliding on a Downward Facing Heated Surface
Authors: Li Ding , Dhir Vijay K.
Published: July 2007

In this study, a complete three-dimensional numerical simulation of single bubble sliding on a downward facing heater surface is carried out. The continuity, momentum, and energy equations are solved using a finite-difference method. Level-set method is used to capture the liquid-vapor interface. The shape of the sliding bubble changes from a sphere, to an ellipsoid and finally to a bubble-cap. The wall heat flux downstream of the sliding bubble is much larger than that upstream of the bubble. This indicates that wall heat transfer is significantly enhanced by sliding motion of the bubble. The bubble shape and sliding distance predicted from numerical simulations is compared with data from experiments.
Chlorinated disinfection by-products in drinking water according to source, treatment, season, and distribution location
Authors: Rodriguez Manuel J , Sérodes Jean-B. , Levallois Patrick , Proulx François
Published: July 2007

The occurrence of the most prevalent chlorinated disinfection by-products (DBPs) was investigated in three Quebec City distribution systems that deliver drinking water subjected to different treatment strategies. Trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), and other complementary parameters were monitored in several locations representing variable water residence times over 16 months. The occurrence of chlorinated DBPs levels was considerably lower in the system where raw water is subjected to pre-ozonation instead of pre-chlorination (as pre-treatment) or direct chlorination. Seasonal analysis of the data showed that according to the system and to the group of chlorinated DBPs, the average DBP concentrations in winter were two to four times lower than the average DBP levels of the entire period under study. Considerable variations of both DBP groups were observed according to the water residence time in the distribution system, but the behavior was not the same for THMs as for HAAs. In fact, correlations between THM and HAA levels were good only for cold water and low residence time conditions. Seasonal and spatial variations of DBPs documented in this study have important implications on regulatory issues and from an epidemiological point of view. Key words: trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, drinking water, distribution system, water treatment, source, season, location.
Effect of Temperature and Light Intensity Early in Ontogeny on Growth of Pinusresinosa Seedlings
Authors: Kozlowski T. T. , Borger G. A.
Published: July 2007

Low temperature or low light intensity following germination of Pinusresinosa seeds greatly suppressed subsequent seedling development, with cotyledon expansion inhibited more than root expansion. A strong influence of shoot environment early in ontogeny was demonstrated on initiation of all but a few early-formed primary needle primordia and on expansion of all primary needles, including those formed early. Low temperatures or low light intensities during the cotyledon stage of development prevented initiation of most of the normal complement of primary needles. However, when seedlings were placed in a favorable environment following prolonged exposure to low temperature or low light intensity, primordia of primary needles formed readily and subsequently expanded. Following seed germination, the young seedling is a system of competing carbohydrate sinks. Early development of the seedling is an integrated continuum with the source of growth requirements shifting during ontogeny, from megagametophytes to cotyledons, to primary needles, to secondary needles. The importance of cotyledons and primary needles to early seedling development is emphasized.
A Portable Electronic Multichannel Dendrograph and Environmental Factor Recording System
Authors: LaPoint Grant , Cleve Keith Van
Published: July 2007

A sensitive low-cost device for measuring and recording tree diameter growth, temperature, or other environmental parameters is described. An example of temperature–diameter traces for a 5-day period in early winter is presented and the nature of the diurnal cycle of diameter change during the growing season is discussed.
Observations on the Distribution of the Spruce Bud Midge (Rhabdophagaswainei Felt) in Black and White Spruce Crowns and Its Effect on Height Growth
Authors: Cerezke H. F.
Published: July 2007

Populations of the spruce bud midge (Rhabdophagaswainei Felt) were sampled on 1 to 6 ft tall black and white spruces (Piceamariana (Mill.) BSP. and P. glauca (Moench) Voss) in central Alberta. The incidence of attacked buds is described in relation to tree height and crown aspect, and in relation to terminal buds of the leader and top whorl branches. Some characteristics of the infested bud are given to assist in its recognition in the field.After leader terminal buds of young white spruce were removed to simulate midge damage, height loss during the same year averaged 25.3%. Normal height growth was resumed in the following year from an apical-dominant lateral branch. The study suggested that, for general surveys, a count of the number of attacked terminal leader buds in young spruce could provide a useful index of midge abundance and provide the basis for estimating its impact on tree height growth.
Mycorrhizae of Jack Pine Seedlings in Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Authors: Whitney R. D. , Bohaychuk W. P. , Briant M. A.
Published: July 2007

An average of 10% of the rootlets of nonmycorrhizal jack pine seedlings transplanted to four locations in the Canadian prairies became mycorrhizal after one growing season. When inoculated with a mixture of mycorrhizal root tips and forest humus, an average of 35% of the rootlets of seedlings transplanted to the same areas became mycorrhizal. In the greenhouse, mycorrhizae developed only on seedlings grown in soil from forested areas or in prairie soil inoculated with mycorrhizal root tips and forest humus. The addition of forest inoculum is required for satisfactory development of mycorrhizae during the early seedling stage in prairie soils, if regeneration is by direct seeding or if mycorrhization with forest fungi is not assured in the nursery.
Breeding Methods to Produce Progeny for Advanced-generation Selection and to Evaluate Parent Trees
Authors: Zobel B. J. , Weir R. J. , Jett J. B.
Published: July 2007

The North Carolina State University – Industry Cooperative Tree Improvement Program has followed two major lines of development: (1) Production seed orchards to supply large quantities of genetically improved stock, (2) research clone banks to be used as a gene pool for advanced-generation seed orchards.Results from current progeny tests reveal the occurrence of parent trees with strong general combining ability and occasional outstanding specific combinations. Thus, many of the best trees selected from open-pollinated or pollen-mix progenies would be half-sibs or full sibs. It is, therefore, essential that the parentage of trees used in advanced-generation orchards be known if the presumed detrimental effects of inbreeding are to be avoided. A conscious effort must be continuously made to maintain a broad genetic base for advanced-generation breeding populations.Where the cost of testing in terms of time and money is critical it is important to use a progeny-testing scheme that: (1) gives an assessment of parental breeding value, and (2) provides unrelated families of known parentage from which selections for advanced-generation orchards can be effectively made. The tester design satisfies these criteria for organizations having several orchards, each with different testers, so that material can be freely exchanged for future generations. A suggested alternative for organizations with limited resources or specialty orchards is a partial diallel design.
Performance After Planting of Four Types of Container-grown Lodgepole Pine Seedlings
Authors: Endean F. , Hocking D.
Published: July 2007

Four types of container-grown lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.) seedlings differing in age and rearing regime were transplanted into a controlled laboratory environment and into the field. After 12 weeks, seedlings were excavated and stem length and dry weight of shoot and roots were measured, these and derived parameters were compared with values obtained at the time of planting. Survival was uniformly high, the largest seedlings prior to planting performed best under all conditions. In the controlled environment experiment, initial shoot weight, total weight, and ratio of shoot weight/shoot length were significantly correlated with final root weight, an important factor in initial establishment; in addition shoot and total weight increment were significantly and positively correlated with initial shoot/root ratio. In the field no overall significant correlations were obtained. Shoot/root ratio decreased slightly in the controlled environment and significantly in the field after outplanting. Results suggest that the largest plant which can be grown and planted economically shows largest increment and achieves largest final total dry weight and root dry weight in the first growing season after outplanting. The need for a physiological rather than morphological grading of seedlings is stressed.
Application to Woody Plants of a Rapid Method for Determining Leaf CO2 Compensation Concentrations
Authors: Dickmann D. I. , Gjerstad D. H.
Published: July 2007

A rapid method of determining CO2 compensation concentrations was developed and applied to woody plants. Whole leaves, needle fascicles, and twigs were excised, the cut ends inserted in a vial of deionized water, and the assembly placed in a Mylar bag. The bag was filled with air containing ca. 400 p.p.m. CO2. After 1 h in a growth chamber (24 °C, 3800 ft-c (40 660 lux)), the air was expelled from the bag through an infrared gas analyzer. Compensation concentrations determined by this method agreed with values obtained by using conventional closed-circuit gas analysis. The method was successfully applied to 14 gymnosperm and 55 angiosperm woody species and clones, including field-grown plants and rooted cuttings grown under controlled environment. Variation among species was small, compensation concentrations usually falling between 55 and 65 p.p.m. CO2, the range associated with C3 plants. The influence of temperature, moisture stress, and leaf ontogeny on leaf CO2 compensation also was studied.
Analyses of a Forest Drainage Experiment in Northern Ontario. II: An Economic Analysis
Authors: Payandeh Bijan
Published: July 2007

Results of an economic analysis of a forest drainage experiment established near Iroquois Falls, Ontario, indicate that, from 1929 to 1969, the annual rate of return due to drainage of the better site increased from −2.7 to 3.4%. For the entire drainage area the annual rate of return increased from 2.0 to 2.2% and will increase for several years.Further analysis based on current drainage cost and projected future stumpage prices indicates that future rates of return from drainage of similar sites will be about 6%. Because of technological advances in forest drainage and savings realized in logging and transportation costs as a result of drainage, the expected future rate of return from the best drainable site could easily increase to about 10%.Whether such rates of return are sufficient to induce investment in drainage depends on other investment possibilities and on social, environmental, and political considerations regarding the various alternatives.
Diurnal Patterns of Water Potential in Abiesconcolor and Pinusponderosa
Authors: Barker John E.
Published: July 2007

Diurnal patterns of water potential for Abiesconcolor and Pinusponderosa were studied in relation to concurrent environmental conditions. Up to 86% of variation in water potential was accounted for using irradiance, square root of vapor pressure deficit, height, and stomatal aperture as independent variables in A. concolor while up to 76% was accounted for in P. ponderosa using the same variables. Under comparable environmental conditions, A. concolor experienced lower water potentials than P. ponderosa due to its relative lack of stomatal control and its greater sensitivity to changes in vapor pressure deficit. Height effects were very nearly identical to those predicted by the cohesion theory. A procedure for estimating available soil moisture is suggested.
Provenance Variation in Phenology of Needle Initiation in White Spruce
Authors: Pollard D. F. W.
Published: July 2007

Rates of needle initiation in lateral branch terminal buds averaged about six primordia per day between mid-May and mid-September in 10 provenances of white spruce. Variation among the provenances was not apparent until late September; a correlation then emerged between accumulated primordia and height growth. The correlation became increasingly strong in October. Slower growing provenances did not increase their primordia after early September.
Tree biomass equations for Abiesbalsamea and Piceaglauca in northwestern New Brunswick
Authors: Ker M. F. , Raalte G. D. Van
Published: July 2007

Equations are given, based on data from 298 balsam fir and 88 white spruce trees in northwestern New Brunswick, for predicting ovendry weight of biomass for balsam fir and white spruce trees. Separate equations are given for each of nine components: stem wood, stem bark, total stem, branches, foliage, total crown, total aboveground weight, roots, and total tree. Independent variables used in the equations include diameter at breast height (dbh), height, crown width, crown length, and indices of basal area, crown area, and crown volume.
Rétention de l'azote et évolution des propriétés d'un humus brut de station de pin gris (Pinusbanksiana Lamb.) après application d'engrais azotés
Authors: Camiré C. , Bernier B.
Published: July 2007

The addition of urea invitro to the coarse humus of a jack pine nursery has led to an increased pH following urea hydrolysis, with the result that the cationic exchange capacity was increased while the organic matter in the humus was partly dissolved. Furthermore, considerable losses of nitrogen due to ammonia volatilization are likely to occur following the application of urea. The use of nitrate mineral fertilizers ((NH4)2SO4, NH4NO3, or (NO3)2Ca), though these are not subject to losses through ammonia volatilization, produces a significant displacement of soil elements. Moreover, the nitrogen in such fertilizers is more prone to leaching than mineral nitrogen freed by urea hydrolysis.
Crown architecture of short-rotation, intensively cultured Populus.: I. Effects of clone and spacing on first-order branch characteristics
Authors: Nelson Neil D. , Burk Thomas , Isebrands J. G.
Published: July 2007

First-order branch characteristics that have a major influence on crown architecture were quantified for nine 4-year-old Populus clones grown at three spacings (0.3 m × 0.3 m,0.6 m × 0.6 m, 1.2 m × 1.2 m) under short-rotation, intensive culture (SRIC) in northern Wisconsin, U.S.A. The branch characteristics included the number, length, and diameter of branches and the angles of origin and termination. Clone and spacing had statistically significant effects on all branch characteristics, but the clone–spacing interaction was not significant for any branch characteristic. As spacing increased, the number, sum of lengths, and angle of origin of branches increased, but the angle of termination decreased. Branch length and branch diameter were highly correlated within all clones. The correlation between the angles of origin and termination within a clone was low when pooled over all spacings and height growth increments. The two clones with the lowest angle of origin also had the lowest angle of termination, and the clone with the highest angle of origin had the highest angle of termination. The clonal rankings for angles of origin and termination were not otherwise similar. The results indicate that development of a biologically meaningful variable for effective branch angle may be a complex task for SRIC Populus. However, individual clones are recommended for SRIC growth-spacing trials based upon branch angle and other crown architecture data presented.
Estimating waiting and idle times for special queuing situations of tree harvesting machines
Authors: Meng C. H.
Published: July 2007

The purpose of this study is to develop analytical formulae for special queuing situations which occur during the operations of the felling and processing devices of a tree harvester, and the pickup and processing devices of a tree processor. Analytical formulae are used to estimate mean waiting time and mean idle time; in case 1 both "input" times and processing times are normally distributed; in case 2 "input" times are normally distributed and processing times are Poisson distributed. "Input" time is a term used for convenience to denote time required to fell a tree by a harvester or time required to pick up a tree by a processor. Methods of choosing distributions for representing "input" times and processing times are provided. In addition, there are two examples, using historical data, which demonstrate the applications of the analytical formulae.