bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystal Structure and Electronic Spectrum of the Distorted Tetrahedral CuCl42- Ion in Bis(2-aminopyridinium) Tetrachlorocuprate(II) and Comparison With the Tetragonally Elongated Octahedral Complex Bis(2-aminopyrimidinium)tetrachlorocopper(II)
Authors: Boutchard CL , Hitchman MA , Skelton BW , White AH
Published: November 2006

The crystal structure of bis(2-aminopyridinum) tetrachlorocuprate (II) has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The triclinic unit cell, space group Pī, contains a single formula unit in the asymmetric unit. The CuCl42- ions occur as isolated groups having a highly flattened tetrahedral geometry. The chloride ions are hydrogen-bonded to both nitrogen atoms of the cation, and the influence of this upon the geometry of the copper(II) complex is discussed. The low-temperature single-crystal electronic spectrum of the compound is reported, and the intensities and energies of the d-d transitions are related to the degree of distortion of the CuCl42- ion. The electronic spectrum of a crystal of bis (2-aminopyrimidinium) tetrachlorocopper (II), which contains a tetragonally elongated octahedral complex in which the cation forms long axial bonds to the copper(II) ion, was also measured for comparison. Angular overlap metal-ligand bonding parameters are derived for the two compounds, and discussed in terms of the different geometries of the complexes.
Inversion of Helical Molecules Based on 5,6,6a,7,8,12b-Hexahydrobenzo[c]phenanthrene-5,8-dione
Authors: Cheung J , Field LD , Hambley TW , Sternhell S
Published: November 2006

N.m.r. and equilibration studies gave the kinetic parameters for the inversion processes in seven helical molecules based on hexalindione (1). It appears that a simple relation exists in these systems between the free energy of inversion and non-bonded interactions as determined by the apparent overlap.
Attempted Enantioselective Synthesis of Terbutaline. Unexpected Partial Racemization During Lithium Aluminum Hydride Reduction of a Secondary Amide
Authors: Donohue AC , Jackson WR
Published: November 2006

Syntheses leading to compounds related to the bronchodilator (–)- terbutaline via optically active cyanohydrins suffered unexpected partial racemization during lithium aluminium hydride reduction of key amide intermediates.
A New Sesterterpene Tetronic Acid From an Australian Marine Sponge, Psammocinia sp.
Authors: Murray L , Hamit H , Hooper JNA , Hobbs L , Capon RJ
Published: November 2006

A new sesterterpene tetronic acid (5) exhibiting antimicrobial activity has been isolated from an Australian marine sponge, Psammocinia sp., and its structure secured by detailed spectroscopic analysis. The tetronic acid (5) possesses almost identical spectroscopic characteristics to, and is a structural isomer of, the known marine natural product (6) previously reported from an Australian sponge.
The Synthesis and Biological Activity of 'Crippled Biotin'
Authors: Henderson SA , Oconnor J , Rendina AR , Savage GP , Simpson GW
Published: November 2006

(3aα,6β,6aα)-6-Methyltetrahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-b]pyrrol-2(3H)-one (2) was prepared as a crippled analogue of biotin. The key synthetic step involved hydrogenation of 6-methyl-1H- thieno [3,4-b]pyrrol-2(3H)-one on palladium to introduce the necessary all-cis configuration. Both compounds were weak inhibitors of the biotin-dependent wheat acetyl-CoA carboxylase compared to substrates or the potent herbicidal inhibitors of this enzyme, but were more potent than biotin or imidazolidone. Neither compound inhibited the biotin-dependent transcarboxylase component of bacterial acetyl-CoA carboxylase, nor did they significantly inhibit the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana.
The Nitration of α- and β-Acylnaphthalenes
Authors: Barker SD , Wilson K , Norris RK
Published: November 2006

The nitration of α- and β- acylnaphthalenes with copper(II) nitrate in acetic anhydride or nitric acid/acetic acid mixtures gives high yields of the corresponding mononitro compounds. The assignment of constitution to these products is made on the basis of extensive 1H n.m.r. chemicl shift and coupling constant data. In the case of α- acylnaphthalenes, with the notable exception of α- pivalonaphthone, nitration occurs in the α-positions of the unsubstituted ring to give mixtures of 5- and 8-nitro compounds. α- Pivalonaphthone gives appreciable amounts of the 4-nitro compound and also of the 8-nitro compound. This result indicates that the pivaloyl group does not shield the 8-position sterically to any significant extent and is effectively electronically neutral, unlike the other acyl substituents , in allowing attack at the α-position (position 4) of the acylated ring. This result is ascribable to the lack of coplanarity of the pivaloyl group with the naphthalene system. All of the β- acylnaphthalenes gave mixtures of 4-, 5- and 8-nitro derivatives in proportions that did not vary significantly with the nature of the acyl group.
Comparison of foraging behaviour of small, urban-sensitive insectivores in continuous woodland and woodland remnants in a suburban landscape
Authors: Hodgson P. , French K. , Major R. E.
Published: November 2006

Small patches of remnant vegetation are often considered to have low conservation value. In urban landscapes their value may potentially be higher than in other landscapes because they can be the only representatives of original native vegetation. Despite this potential, many small insectivorous birds that rely on native vegetation demonstrate sensitivities within urban landscapes through reduced numbers or total absence. One reason for this sensitivity may be that remnants are of suboptimal quality, which may be reflected in behavioural changes. Using five insectivorous species that were present (in low numbers) in remnants surrounded by high-density housing, foraging behaviour was examined in relation to vegetation. The proportion of time birds spent on different foraging substrates and plant species was compared with that of conspecifics in continuous vegetation. Canopy and shrub foragers showed minimal behavioural changes. Ground foragers in remnants tended to forage at lower heights than those in continuous vegetation; however, these changes did not appear to reflect a negative effect. These changes were partially explained by structural differences between vegetation in remnants and continuous sites. The number of times a bird attacked prey items was significantly higher in continuous habitat for only two species. Overall, the foraging behaviour of small insectivorous birds in remnants surrounded by high-density housing was not adversely affected by urbanisation and it appears that remnants have potential value as habitat and foraging sources in an urban landscape. Despite this, small insectivores are still sensitive to urbanisation, suggesting that other factors, probably in the matrix, are important.
Benefits and feasibility of local elimination of possum populations
Authors: Morgan D. R. , Nugent G. , Warburton B.
Published: November 2006

Introduction of the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) to New Zealand has resulted in serious ecological and economic impacts and considerable control efforts. Recovery of possum populations after control occurs through immigration from adjacent areas and breeding of survivors and immigrants. If complete local elimination can be achieved, the recovery of populations will depend solely on immigration and therefore should be substantially slowed (particularly in very large areas). To compare the cost-effectiveness of four control strategies over the long term (60 years), we constructed a deterministic bioeconomic model based on 23 variables describing population characteristics, sizes of the sink (i.e. area controlled) and source (of reinfestation) areas, and costs. Sensitivity analysis showed that the most influential variables related primarily to cost and effectiveness of control, whereas factors describing immigration after control had relatively little influence. When the most influential variables were varied, the model predicted that local elimination of possums followed by ‘perimeter’ control is likely to be a more cost-effective control strategy under most scenarios than the current ‘knockdown-then-maintenance-control’ approach. Possum-control technology and its application have improved greatly in the last three decades such that it now appears that local elimination is, technically, a realistic goal, and is possibly already being achieved occasionally. Constraining factors include unreliable monitoring/detection at ultralow densities, inappropriate selection and use of control options, lack of incentive under the present contracting system, initial cost, contracting capacity, and the future regulatory status of poisons. However, these difficulties can be overcome, facilitating the adoption of long-term local elimination strategies that are better suited to managing possum populations in perpetuity.
Conservation units and phylogeographic structure of an arboreal marsupial, the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis)
Authors: Brown Meredeth , Cooksley Huw , Carthew Susan M. , Cooper Steven J. B.
Published: November 2006

Subspecific status has often been used as a surrogate for conservation unit, but does not always reflect intraspecific lineages with different evolutionary histories. One contentious case of subspecific classification occurs in the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis), a marsupial species showing considerable decline in population size and requiring conservation management. Our aim was to assess the current subspecific status of populations and define units of conservation using a combination of phylogeographical analyses of mitochondrial DNA and morphological analyses. Analyses of the mitochondrial ND4 gene provided evidence for significant phylogeographic structure within P. australis. Isolated populations in north Queensland (NQ) and Victoria/South Australia were genetically distinct from populations in New South Wales and southern Queensland. Morphological analyses provided little evidence for discrimination of populations, although NQ specimens were generally smaller in size than southern forms. Our analyses do not support the classification of subspecies P. a. reginae for the original type specimen from southern Queensland. Taking into account other behavioural and ecological data, and the disjunct distribution of NQ populations from southern populations, we propose that the NQ population represents a distinct Evolutionarily Significant Unit, a lineage showing highly restricted gene flow from the rest of the species.
The voltage-dependent anion channel, a major component of the tRNA import machinery in plant mitochondria
Authors: Salinas Thalia , Duchêne Anne-Marie , Delage Ludovic , Nilsson Stefan , Glaser Elzbieta , Zaepfel Marlyse , Maréchal-Drouard Laurence
Published: November 2006

In plants, as in most eukaryotic cells, import of nuclear-encoded cytosolic tRNAs is an essential process for mitochondrial biogenesis. Despite its broad occurrence, the mechanisms governing RNA transport into mitochondria are far less understood than protein import. This article demonstrates by Northwestern and gel-shift experiments that the plant mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) protein interacts with tRNA
in vitro
. It shows also that this porin, known to play a key role in metabolite transport, is a major component of the channel involved in the tRNA translocation step through the plant mitochondrial outer membrane, as supported by inhibition of tRNA import into isolated mitochondria by VDAC antibodies and Ruthenium red. However VDAC is not a tRNA receptor on the outer membrane. Rather, two major components from the TOM (translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane) complex, namely TOM20 and TOM40, are important for tRNA binding at the surface of mitochondria, suggesting that they are also involved in tRNA import. Finally, we show that proteins and tRNAs are translocated into plant mitochondria by different pathways. Together, these findings identify unexpected components of the tRNA import machinery and suggest that the plant tRNA import pathway has evolved by recruiting multifunctional proteins.
Nocturnal acid breakthrough: Clinical significance and management
Authors: Ang Tiing Leong , Fock Kwong Ming
Published: November 2006

Nocturnal acid breakthrough is seen in more than 70% of Helicobacter pylori‐negative patients taking long‐term proton pump inhibitors (PPI). It is defined as an intragastric pH of less than 4 for at least 60 consecutive minutes during the overnight period in patients on PPI therapy. It occurs as a result of the recovery of intragastric acidity. Nocturnal acid breakthrough can be clinically significant in patients with complicated gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal motility disorders because of the potential for continued esophageal mucosal injury. To decrease nocturnal acid breakthrough, for patients on once daily PPI, treatment should be stepped up to twice daily. For patients already on twice daily PPI, nocturnal histamine‐2 receptor antagonists may be added, but the long‐term effectiveness remains debatable as patients may develop tolerance over the course of time. New PPI with a longer half‐life may decrease nocturnal acid breakthrough.
Prosodic levelling during language shift: Okinawan approximations of Japanese pitch‐accent1
Authors: Heffernan Kevin
Published: November 2006

This article demonstrates how the language death process potentially contributes to the emergence of a new dialect. A sociolinguistic survey of the prosodic phonology of Japanese spoken in Yaeyama, Okinawa shows that the obsolescence process of Okinawan has resulted in a new dialect of Japanese. First, Okinawan is undergoing processes typical of language death, including increased variability and the elimination of phonological contrasts at the prosodic level. These processes are also occurring in the incoming language, Japanese. Second, these processes have influenced the acquisition of the prosody of Standard Japanese, resulting in a new prosodic system. Third, a positive attitude towards the local variant of  Japanese is prevalent among the younger members of the community, particularly the working‐class males. These results suggest that a local prosodic system is emerging, resulting in a new dialect of Japanese.
Hypericum caprifoliatum(Guttiferae) Cham. & Schltdl.: a species native to South Brazil with antidepressant‐like activity
Authors: Viana Alice F. , Rego Jean‐Claude do , Munari Leonardo , Dourmap Nathalie , Heckler Ana Paula , Costa Teresa Dalla , Von Poser Gilsane L. , Costentin Jean , Rates Stela M.K.
Published: November 2006

In this work, previously published and unpublished results on biological activity ofHypericum caprifoliatum, a native specie to South Brazil, are presented. Lipophilic extracts obtained from this species showed an antidepressant‐like activity in mice and rat forced swimming test. Results from in vivo experiments suggest an effect on the dopaminergic transmission. Besides that, in vitro experiments demonstrated that the extract and its main component (a phloroglucinol derivative) inhibit monoamine uptake in a concentration‐dependent manner, more potently to dopamine, but this effect is not related to direct binding at the uptake sites. It was also observed that a 3‐day treatment with lipophilic extract prevents stress‐induced corticosterone rise in mice frontal cortex but not in plasma. The lipophilic and methanolicH. caprifoliatumextracts also demonstrated antinociceptive effect, which seems to be indirectly mediated by the opioid system. These results indicate thatH. caprifoliatumpresents a promising antidepressant‐like effect in rodents which seems to be related to a mechanism different from that of other classes of antidepressants.
Clinical and biological consequences of transmetallation induced by contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging: a review
Authors: Idée Jean‐Marc , Port Marc , Raynal Isabelle , Schaefer Michel , Le Greneur Soizic , Corot Claire
Published: November 2006

Gadolinium‐based contrast agents (CAs) are widely used to enhance the contrast of images in magnetic resonance imaging procedures. Two categories of gadolinium chelates exist: the macrocyclic molecules where Gd3+ is caged in the pre‐organized cavity of the ligand and the linear molecules. Gadolinium chelates differ in their thermodynamic stability constants and in their kinetic stability. In general, macrocyclic chelates such as Gd‐DOTA or Gd‐HP‐DO3A are more stable than linear molecules. Even among linear agents, differences can be found. There is increasing evidence that transmetallation can be found in vivo, in the case of certain CAs (especially linear chelates), with body cations such as zinc, calcium or iron. Furthermore, analytical interference with colorimetric determination of calcium has been clinically evidenced with two linear chelates, Gd‐DTPA‐BMA and Gd‐DTPA‐BMEA. Clinical cases of spurious hypocalcaemia have been reported with these molecules. Such interference with some colorimetric assays for calcium is clinically relevant in that it can lead to unnecessary and potentially harmful treatment for hypocalcaemia.
‘Contrary to the truth and also to the semblance of reality’? Entering a Venetian ‘lying‐in’ chamber (1605)
Authors: Allerston Patricia
Published: November 2006

Significant methodological difficulties are posed by studying the domestic interior. This article advocates the importance of understanding the circumstances in which the evidence on domestic arrangements was generated, as well as its original functions. It suggests that while such knowledge may help us to draw convincing conclusions about domestic interiors, it can also encourage us to exercise caution when forming definitive opinions. The discussion centres on two rare documents of 1605: a denunciation to the Venetian sumptuary officials about excessive display by a merchant's household on an important domestic occasion (a child's birth), and a personal rejoinder, by the merchant in question, refuting that allegation. Both documents appear to offer a valuable insight into a Venetian domestic interior. However, knowledge of the context in which the two documents were produced encourages us to question whether either source takes us into a real domestic interior at all.
To have and have not: the disposal of household furnishings in Florence
Authors: Matchette Ann
Published: November 2006

Scholars of the early modern period have increasingly stressed the importance of domestic interiors as a material manifestation of family memory. Rather than simply spaces that were furnished anew, interiors have been seen as the result of an accretive process in which successive generations retained heirlooms and carefully incorporated new furnishings. However, this model does not take into sufficient account that domestic spaces were also disassembled and their objects dispersed. This essay readdresses the assumption that people were overwhelmingly acquisitive. It begins by suggesting that evidence for the disposal of goods has been overlooked in texts already well known, such as prescriptive writings, because previous scholars have thought primarily in terms of accumulation and display. It then turns to a series of examples that reveal disposal in practice, considering the furnishings themselves and the motivations behind their resale and recirculation. A thriving market for used goods offered the owners of domestic objects a certain amount of flexibility and security, and ultimately facilitated the flow of furnishings from one interior to another.
Divorce and Adult Psychological Well‐Being: Clarifying the Role of Gender and Child Age
Authors: Williams Kristi , Dunne‐Bryant Alexandra
Published: November 2006

Substantial evidence indicates that marital dissolution has negative consequences for adult well‐being. Because most research focuses on the average consequences of divorce, we know very little about factors that moderate this association. The present study tests the hypothesis that the effects of marital dissolution on adult well‐being are greatest for those with young children in the home at the time of marital dissolution. Analysis of data from the National Survey of Families and Households (N= 4,811 men and women married at the baseline interview) supports this hypothesis, especially among women. For women without young children, marital dissolution appears to have few negative consequences for psychological well‐being. Differential exposure to secondary stressors that accompany marital dissolution partly explains these patterns.
Are the Negative Effects of Divorce on Well‐Being Dependent on Marital Quality?
Authors: Kalmijn Matthijs , Monden Christiaan W. S.
Published: November 2006

We test the so‐called escape hypothesis, which argues that for people from a poor marriage, a divorce has a less negative or even a positive effect on well‐being. In an analysis of two waves of the National Survey of Families and Households (N =4,526), we find only limited evidence. When people divorce from a dissatisfactory or unfair marriage, they experience smaller increases in depression than when they divorce from a less dissatisfactory and less unfair marriage. For marital conflict, we find no interaction. Marital aggression seems to increase the negative effect of divorce, especially among women, suggesting that notions about the accumulation of problems after divorce need to be considered in combination with notions of escape.
Identity Transformation and Family Caregiving: Narratives of African American Teen Mothers
Authors: Brubaker Sarah Jane , Wright Christie
Published: November 2006

This article explores connections between informal caregiving and identity transformation as experienced by pregnant teens. Based on in‐depth interviews with 51 African American teen mothers, the article examines teens’ pregnancy narratives as an example of narrative repair, illuminating how attending to processes that connect one’s identity to the care of others can work to empower individuals to resist threats to a positive sense of self or a damaged identity. The authors suggest that family caregiving can provide an important context that supports identity transformation not only among pregnant teens as they strive to become good mothers but among those experiencing other types of disruptions to their lives.
Parent‐to‐Child Aggression Among Asian American Parents: Culture, Context, and Vulnerability
Authors: Lau Anna S. , Takeuchi David T. , Alegría Margarita
Published: November 2006

We examined correlates of lifetime parent‐to‐child aggression in a representative sample of 1,293 Asian American parents. Correlates examined included nativity, indicators of acculturation, socioeconomic status, family climate, and stressors associated with minority status. Results revealed that Asian Americans of Chinese descent and those who immigrated as youth were more likely to report minor parental aggression; ethnicity and nativity were not associated with severe aggression. Indices of acculturation did not predict risk, but minority status stressors (perceived discrimination, low social standing) predicted risk of both minor and severe aggression. Affective climate differed markedly in families with minor versus severe aggression. Parental aggression in Asian American families may not be cultural per se, but stress associated with immigrant family context may heighten vulnerability.
The Relationship Context: Its Effects on Low‐Income Women’s Desire for a Baby
Authors: Wilson Ellen K. , Koo Helen P.
Published: November 2006

Little is known about the influence of relationship characteristics on a woman’s desire for a baby with her partner. This study addresses that gap, using data from a study of 1,114 low‐income women in the southeast who were in a relationship. Controlling for sociodemographic factors, women who were in more established relationships, who had not had a previous child with their partner, or who had higher expectations of their partner were generally more likely to want a baby with him. In investigating women’s childbearing desires, it is important to consider not only individual characteristics but also women’s relationship characteristics.
Rejoinder: Evaluating Standard Setting Methods Using Error Models Proposed by Schulz
Authors: Reckase Mark D.
Published: November 2006

Schulz (2006)

provides a different perspective on standard setting than that provided in Reckase (2006). He also suggests a modification to the bookmark procedure and some alternative models for errors in panelists' judgments than those provided by Reckase. This article provides a response to some of the points made by Schulz and reports some additional analyses of the bookmark and modified Angoff method using the suggestions made by Schulz. The results support considering a range of items when placing a bookmark using that method and they show that the regression of panelists' probability of correct response estimates toward .5 can have serious effects on the recovery of intended cut scores. The complexity of the standard setting processes, and the need for detailed descriptions of standard setting processes are also discussed.
Using the Standards to Evaluate the Redesign of the U.S. Naturalization Tests: Lessons for the Measurement Community
Authors: Elliott Stuart , Chudowsky Naomi , Plake Barbara S. , McDonnell Lorraine
Published: November 2006

In 2001, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began the process of redesigning the U.S. naturalization tests due to concerns that the current testing procedure may not be sufficiently uniform, and that the test content may not be appropriate. A National Research Council committee issued recommendations, based largely on the Standards, to ensure that the redesigned tests would be scientifically and politically defensible; however, USCIS chose not to follow much of the committee's advice. This article summarizes some lessons for the measurement community and possible strategies for getting policymakers to pay more attention to the Standards.
Validity on Trial: Psychometric and Legal Conceptualizations of Validity
Authors: Sireci Stephen G. , Parker Polly
Published: November 2006

The psychometric literature is replete with comprehensive discussions of test validity, test validation, and the characteristics of quality assessment programs. The most authoritative source for guidance regarding sound test development and evaluation practices is the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing. However, the Standards are not legally binding. In this article, we review the way in which validity is conceptualized in the Standards and compare this conceptualization with validity evidence presented in specific court cases involving legal challenges to tests. Our review indicates that, in general, there is strong congruence between the Standards and how validity is viewed in the courts, and that testing agencies that conform to these guidelines are likely to withstand legal scrutiny. However, the courts have taken a more practical, less theoretical view on validity and tend to emphasize evidence based on test content and testing consequences.
Encouraging and Supporting Compliance with Standards for Educational Tests
Authors: Wise Lauress L.
Published: November 2006

Uses and consequences of educational testing have increased dramatically in recent years. Professional standards to ensure fair treatment of all affected by test results are more important than ever, but standards for developing and using educational tests are only helpful if they are followed. Test developers and users each have a role to play in meeting testing standards, but these roles have become less distinct as developers work more collaboratively with users, particularly states, to develop tests customized to user specifications. This paper explores various mechanisms for increasing compliance with testing standards through collaborative efforts, including (1) specifying adherence to test standards in contracts with test developers; (2) use of Technical Advisory Committee (TACS) to guide test development processes; (3) requiring compliance with test standards as part of the peer review process for state accountability programs; and (4) oversight by independent organizations.
Counterfactuals and the Proportionality Criterion
Authors: Mellow David
Published: November 2006

It is widely held that, in order for a resort to war or military force to be morally justified, it must, in addition to having a cause that is just, be proportionate. In this essay I argue for the need to use a counterfactual baseline when making the proportionality evaluation. Specifically, I argue that the relevant counterfactual baseline must contain a moral qualifier. In defending my proposal, I also contend that the relevant goods and harms that are weighed in the proportionality evaluation are not as open-ended as is sometimes presumed.
Killing Soldiers
Authors: Øverland Gerhard
Published: November 2006

A riddle in the ethics of war concerns whether lethal defensive force may be justifiably used against aggressing soldiers who are morally innocent. In this essay I argue that although there might be reasons for excusing soldiers as individuals, one may be justified in using defensive force against them provided that they have initiated threatening behavior and that our interpretation of that behavior as threatening is reasonable. I go on to investigate various implications of being in conflict with aggressing soldiers who are morally innocent, arguing that different restrictions apply to the use of defensive force when the aggressors cannot be held morally responsible for being aggressors.

My argument has important practical implications both for deciding whether to go to war and for deciding how to fight a just defensive war. Concerning the ongoing Iraq war, for example, it suggests that if it were only a matter of killing culpable members of the Republican Guard, invasion could perhaps have been justified. Since any attack would involve killing innocent conscripted soldiers as well as innocent civilians, however, there were good reasons to wait to see whether options other than intervening militarily would become available. If we are engaged in a just defensive war, my argument implies that we must accept a higher level of risk and more harm if we can assume that the aggressors are innocent rather than morally responsible for their harmful or threatening behavior.
An Analytical Approach to the Heat and Mass Transfer Processes in Counterflow Cooling Towers
Authors: Ren Chengqin
Published: November 2006

Quick and accurate analysis of cooling tower performance, outlet conditions of moist air, and parameter profiles along the tower height is very important in rating and design calculations. This paper developed an analytical model for the coupled heat and mass transfer processes in counterflow cooling towers based on operating conditions more realistic than most conventionally adopted Merkel approximations. In modeling, values of the Lewis factor were not necessarily specified as unity. Effects of water loss by evaporation and water film heat transfer resistance were also considered in the model equations. Within a relatively narrow range of operating conditions, the humidity ratio of air in equilibrium with the water surface was assumed to be a linear function of the surface temperature. The differential equations were rearranged and an analytical solution was developed for newly defined parameters. The analytical model predicts the tower performances, outlet conditions, and parameter profiles quickly and accurately when comparing with the numerical integration of the original differential equations.
SELF-SIMILAR INVERSE SEMIGROUPS AND SMALE SPACES
Authors: NEKRASHEVYCH VOLODYMYR
Published: November 2006

Self-similar inverse semigroups are defined using automata theory. Adjacency semigroups of s-resolved Markov partitions of Smale spaces are introduced. It is proved that a Smale space can be reconstructed from the adjacency semigroup of its Markov partition, using the notion of the limit solenoid of a contracting self-similar semigroup. The notions of the limit solenoid and a contracting semigroup is described.
Thiazolidinediones improve β-cell function in type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Gastaldelli Amalia , Ferrannini Ele , Miyazaki Yoshinori , Matsuda Masafumi , Mari Andrea , DeFronzo Ralph A.
Published: November 2006

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) improve glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). There is growing evidence from in vivo and in vitro studies that TZDs improve pancreatic β-cell function. The aim of this study was to determine whether TZD-induced improvement in glycemic control is associated with improved β-cell function. We studied 11 normal glucose-tolerant and 53 T2DM subjects [age 53 ± 2 yr; BMI 29.4 ± 0.8 kg/m2; fasting plasma glucose (FPG) 10.3 ± 0.4 mM; Hb A1c8.2 ± 0.3%]. Diabetic patients were randomized to receive placebo or TZD for 4 mo. Subjects received 1) 2-h OGTT with determination of plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide concentrations and 2) two-step euglycemic insulin (40 and 160 mUm−2min−1) clamp with [3-3H]glucose. T2DM patients were then randomized to receive 4 mo of treatment with pioglitazone (45 mg/day), rosiglitazone (8 mg/day), or placebo. Pioglitazone and rosiglitazone similarly improved FPG, mean plasma glucose during OGTT, Hb A1c, and insulin-mediated total body glucose disposal (Rd) and decreased mean plasma FFA during OGTT (all P < 0.01, ANOVA). The insulin secretion/insulin resistance (disposition) index [ΔISR(AUC)/Δglucose(AUC) ÷ IR] was significantly improved in all TZD-treated groups: +1.8 ± 0.7 (PIO + drug-naïve diabetics), +0.7 ± 0.3 (PIO + sulfonylurea-treated diabetics), and 0.7 ± 0.2 (ROSI + sulfonylurea-withdrawn diabetics) vs. −0.2 ± 0.3 in the two placebo groups ( P < 0.01, all TZDs vs. placebo, ANOVA). Improved insulin secretion correlated positively with increased body weight, fat mass, and Rdand inversely with decreased plasma glucose and FFA during the OGTT. In T2DM patients, TZD treatment leads to improved β-cell function, which correlates strongly with improved glycemic control.
Enhancement of Object Representations in Primate Perirhinal Cortex During a Visual Working-Memory Task
Authors: Lehky Sidney R. , Tanaka Keiji
Published: November 2006

We compared single-cell activities in perirhinal cortex (PRh) as well as adjacent visual cortex (area TE) across two tasks. One task required the monkey to identify any stimulus repetition within a sequence of object stimuli. In the other task, the same stimuli were presented, but the monkey didn’t have to remember them. PRh responses during the object-memory task were elevated relative to those during the second task. In TE, on the other hand, there were no significant task-related differences in responses. We did not observe task-related differences related to repetition effects in either brain area. The onset of the enhanced signal in PRh during the object-memory task occurred with a latency of 80 ms after the onset of the stimulus response, suggesting that it was the result of top-down feedback.
Expression profiling of antisense transcripts on DNA arrays
Authors: Werner Andreas , Schmutzler Gabriele , Carlile Mark , Miles Colin G. , Peters Heiko
Published: November 2006

The majority of mouse genes are estimated to undergo bidirectional transcription; however, their tissue-specific distribution patterns and physiological significance are largely unknown. This is in part due to the lack of methodology to routinely assess the expression of natural antisense transcripts (NATs) on a large scale. Here we tested whether commercial DNA arrays can be used to monitor antisense transcription in mouse kidney and brain. We took advantage of the reversely annotated oligonucleotides on the U74 mouse genome array from Affymetrix that hybridize to NATs overlapping with the sense transcript in the area of the probe set. In RNA samples from mouse kidney and brain, 11.9% and 10.1%, respectively, of 5,652 potential NATs returned positive and about half of the antisense RNAs were detected in both tissues, which was similar to the fraction of sense transcripts expressed in both tissues. Notably, we found that the majority of NATs are related to the sense transcriptome since corresponding sense transcripts were detected for 92.5% (kidney) and 74.5% (brain) of the detected antisense RNAs. Antisense RNA transcription was confirmed by real-time PCR and included additional RNA samples from heart, thymus, and liver. The randomly selected transcripts showed tissue specific expression patterns and varying sense/antisense ratios. The results indicate that antisense transcriptomes are tissue specific, and although pairing of sense/antisense transcripts are known to result in rapid degradation, our data provide proof of principle that the sensitivity of commercial DNA arrays is sufficient to assess NATs in total RNA of whole organs.
Effectiveness of high interest rate policy on exchange rates: A reexamination of the Asian financial crisis
Authors: Brailsford Tim , Penm Jack H. W. , Lai Chin Diew
Published: November 2006

One of the most controversial issues in the aftermath of
the Asian financial crisis has been the appropriate response of
monetary policy to a sharp decline in the value of some currencies.
In this paper, we empirically examine the effects on Asian
exchange rates of sharply higher interest rates during the Asian
financial crisis. Taking account of the currency contagion effect,
our results indicate that sharply higher interest
rates helped to support the exchange rates of South Korea,
the Philippines, and Thailand. For Malaysia, no significant causal
relation is found from the rate of interest to exchange rates,
as the authorities in Malaysia did not actively adopt a high interest
rate policy to defend the currency.
Emergent behaviour: Theory and experimentation using the MANA model
Authors: Moffat James , Smith Josephine , Witty Susan
Published: November 2006

In a previous paper, we introduced the idea of a scale-free system, and applied this to extend the Lanchester equations of industrial age warfare into the information age, corresponding to the shift towards more self-organising force elements in future conflicts. Here, we present evidence from an agent-based model of conflict (MANA) which supports our theoretical analysis.
Approximating fixed points of non‐self asymptotically nonexpansivemappings in Banach spaces
Authors: Su Yongfu , Qin Xiaolong
Published: November 2006

Suppose K is a nonempty closed convex nonexpansive retract of a
real uniformly convex Banach space E with P as a nonexpansive
retraction. Let T : K → E be an asymptotically
nonexpansive mapping with {kn}⊂[1, ∞) such that
and F(T) is nonempty, where F(T)
denotes the fixed points set of T. Let {αn}, {αn′}, and {αn′′}
be real sequences in (0,1) and
ε ≤ αn, αn′, αn′′≤1 − ε
for all n ∈ ℕ
and some ε > 0. Starting from arbitrary x1 ∈ K, define the sequence {xn} by x1 ∈ K, zn = P(αn′′T(PT) n−1xn + (1 − αn′′)xn), yn = P(αn′T(PT) n−1zn + (1 − αn′)xn), xn+1 = P(αnT(PT) n−1yn + (1 − αn)xn). (i) If the dual E* of E has the Kadec-Klee property, then { xn} converges
weakly to a fixed point p ∈ F(T); (ii) if T satisfies condition (A), then {xn} converges strongly to a fixed point p ∈ F(T).
Mean convergence theorem for multidimensional arrays of random elements in Banach spaces
Authors: Van Thanh Le
Published: November 2006

For a d‐dimensional array of random elements in a real separable stable type p (1 ≤ p < 2) Banach space, a mean convergence theorem is established. Moreover, the conditions
for the convergence in mean of order p are shown to completely characterize stable‐type p Banach spaces.
Quasi‐stationary distributions for birth‐death processes with killing
Authors: Coolen-Schrijner Pauline , van Doorn Erik A.
Published: November 2006

The Karlin‐McGregor representation for the transition probabilities of a
birth‐death process with an absorbing bottom state involves a sequence of
orthogonal polynomials and the corresponding measure. This representation can be
generalized to a setting in which a transition to the absorbing state (killing)
is possible from any state rather than just one state. The purpose of
this paper is to investigate to what extent properties of birth‐death processes,
in particular with regard to the existence of quasi‐stationary distributions,
remain valid in the generalized setting. It turns out that the elegant structure
of the theory of quasi‐stationarity for birth‐death processes remains largely
intact as long as killing is possible from only finitely many states. In
particular, the existence of a quasi‐stationary distribution is ensured in this
case if absorption is certain and the state probabilities tend to zero
exponentially fast.
A mathematical model and numerical solution of interface problems for steady state heat conduction
Authors: Seyidmamedov Z. Muradoglu , Ozbilge Ebru
Published: November 2006

We study interface (or transmission) problems arising in
the steady state heat conduction for layered medium. These problems are related to the
elliptic equation of the form Au : = −∇(k(x)∇u(x)) = F(x), x ∈ Ω ⊂ ℝ2, with discontinuous coefficient k = k(x). We analyse two types of jump (or contact)
conditions across the interfaces and of the layered medium
Ω : = Ω1 ∪ Ωδ ∪ Ω2. An asymptotic analysis of the
interface problem is derived for the case when the thickness (2δ > 0) of the layer
(isolation) Ωδ tends to zero. For each case, the local truncation errors of
the used conservative finite difference scheme are estimated on the nonuniform grid.
A fast direct solver has been applied for the interface problems with piecewise constant but
discontinuous coefficient k = k(x). The presented numerical results illustrate high
accuracy and show applicability of the given approach.
Hydromagnetic boundary layer micropolar fluid flow over a stretching surface embedded in a non‐darcian porous medium with radiation
Authors: Mahmoud Mostafa A. A. , Mahmoud Mahmoud Abd-elaty , Waheed Shimaa E.
Published: November 2006

We have studied the effects of radiation on the boundary layer flow and heat transfer of an electrically conducting micropolar fluid over a continuously moving stretching surface embedded in a non‐Darcian porous medium with a uniform magnetic field. The transformed coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations are solved numerically. The velocity, the angular velocity, and the temperature are shown graphically. The numerical values of the skin friction coefficient, the wall couple stress, and the wall heat transfer rate are computed and discussed for various values of parameters.
Homotopy perturbation method for the solution of the electrostatic potential differential equation
Authors: Zhang Li-Na , He Ji-Huan
Published: November 2006

This paper obtains an explicit analytical solution for nonlinear Poisson‐Boltzmann equation
by the homotopy perturbation method, which does not require a small parameter in the equation
under study, so it can be applied to both the weakly and strongly nonlinear problems.
The obtained results show the evidence of the usefulness of the homotopy perturbation method
for obtaining approximate analytical solutions for nonlinear equations.
Epicureans and the Present Past
Authors: Warren James
Published: November 2006

This essay offers a reading of a difficult passage in the first book of Lucretius' De Rerum Natura in which the poet first explains the Epicurean account of time and then responds to a worry about the status of the past (1.459-82). It identifies two possible readings of the passage, one of which is compatible with the claim that the Epicureans were presentists about the past. Other evidence, particularly from Cicero De Fato, suggests that the Epicureans maintained that all true assertions must have a contemporaneous truth-maker and that no contingent future-tensed assertions are true. It appears, however, that they did not assert a symmetrical view of past-tensed assertions. There is no compelling reason, therefore, to think that the Epicureans were presentists about the past.
Thelastoma gueyei sp. n. (Nematoda: Thelastomatidae) from the Senegal diplopod Archispirostreptus tumuliporus (Diplopoda: Spirostreptidae)
Authors: Koubková Božena , Baruš Vlastimil , Matějusová Iveta , Hodová Iveta , Koubek Petr
Published: November 2006

Thelastoma gueyei sp. n., a nematode belonging to the long-tailed species
group of the genusThelastoma, is described from the
diplopodArchispirostreptus tumuliporus (Spirostreptidae) collected in
Niokolo Koba National Park (Senegal, West Africa).Thelastoma gueyei sp. n.
is morphologically most similar toT. gipetiti. Females are characterised by:
the vulva being situated in the posterior half of the body and near to the
anus (V′ = 75-86) with the anterior vulval lip developed into a prominent
flap; excretory pore located at the level of the anterior end of the
pharyngeal bulb; b′ = 28-38 and tail, expressed as a proportion of L′, =
1.7-2.7. Males have narrow cuticular alae extending from about the middle of
the pharynx to the level of the anteriormost pair of copulatory papillae;
four pairs of copulatory papillae, two large, subventral, pairs being
located adcloacally on the genital cone, a third, much smaller pair on the
posterior margin of the genital cone and the last pair being situated at the
mid-point of the tail spike; and a tail occupying 10.8-13.2% of the total
body length. The distal tip of the spicule is drop-shaped. Morphological
characteristics were studied using scanning electron microscopy and a
comparison of the long-tailed group of thelastomatids is provided. Nucleic
acid sequence of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene was obtained for
purposes of DNA barcoding.
Epidemiology and integrated control of Nacobbus aberrans on tomato in Mexico
Authors: Cristóbal-Alejo Jairo , Mora-Aguilera Gustavo , Manzanilla-López Rosa H. , Marbán-Méndoza Nahúm , Sánchez-Garcia Prometeo , Cid Del Prado-Vera Ignacio , Evans Ken
Published: November 2006

Population densities, population fluctuations, yield loss and disease
incidence caused by Nacobbus aberrans on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)
were studied, using an epidemiological approach, in a field experiment that
included three different control regimes: an integrated control (IC) scheme,
which included fertilisation, nematicide (ethoprop) and chicken manure; a
technical control (TC) scheme, based on the best local practices of
fertilisation and use of carbofuran for nematode control; and a check
treatment (AC), with no application of fertilisers or nematicide. At least
three generations of N. aberrans occurred through the cropping season and
the numbers of galls/plant and females/g of root through the crop season
were used to define the area under a disease progress curve (AUDPC). The
variables b−1 (Weibull's apparent infection rate), AUDPC and Yf (final
disease incidence) indicated less crop damage under the IC scheme than under
the other two schemes (TC and AC). The IC scheme resulted in increased plant
height (41-49%), foliage dry weight (37-53%) and stem diameter (31-41%)
compared with the TC and AC schemes. Tomato yields in IC surpassed those
from TC and AC by 34 and 83%, respectively, while TC exceeded AC by 73%. The
yield loss attributed to N. aberrans was 12, 29 and 83% in IC, TC and AC,
respectively. The IC scheme improved commercial production by 20 and 81% in
comparison to the TC and AC schemes. This was largely due to effective
control of the initial inoculum density, which affects the first generation
of the nematode population; control of this generation is essential for
avoidance of yield loss. The first generation is completed during the period
0-60 dat (days after transplanting), i.e., during the critical stages of
flowering, fruit initiation and fruit set (40, 50 and 60 dat). Data on plant
performance taken every 10 days were used to derive a multiple point model
for calculation of production loss.