bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of the isotope‐labeled derivatization reagent for carboxylic acids, 7‐(N,N‐dimethylaminosulfonyl)‐4‐(aminoethyl)piperazino‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole (d6) [DBD‐PZ‐NH2 (D)], and its application to the quantification and the determination of relative amount of fatty acids in rat plasma samples by high‐performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry
Authors: Tsukamoto Yuhki , Santa Tomofumi , Yoshida Hiroo , Miyano Hiroshi , Fukushima Takeshi , Hirayama Kazuo , Imai Kazuhiro , Funatsu Takashi
Published: September 2005

The isotope‐labeled benzofurazan derivatization reagent for carboxylic acids, 7‐(N,N‐dimethylaminosulfonyl)‐4‐(aminoethyl)piperazino‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole (d6) [DBD‐PZ‐NH2 (D)] was synthesized. DBD‐PZ‐NH2 (D) was used for the accurate quantification of fatty acids by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The standard fatty acids were derivatized with DBD‐PZ‐NH2 (D) to the stable isotope‐labeled compounds for the fatty acids derivatives of DBD‐PZ‐NH2 and used for the internal standards. The obtained calibration curves for fatty acids were linear over the range 0.1–200 µM (r2 > 0.999). Fatty acids in plasma samples were determined after derivatization with DBD‐PZ‐NH2 and analyzed by LC/MS using standard fatty acid DBD‐PZ‐NH2 (D) derivatives as internal standards. Furthermore, the relative amounts of fatty acids in two plasma samples were determined after derivatization with DBD‐PZ‐NH2 and DBD‐PZ‐NH2 (D). The isotope‐labeled derivatization reagent was useful for accurate quantification and the determination of relative amounts of the metabolites in biological samples having the target functional group. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Natural head motion synthesis driven by acoustic prosodic features
Authors: Busso Carlos , Deng Zhigang , Neumann Ulrich , Narayanan Shrikanth
Published: September 2005

Natural head motion is important to realistic facial animation and engaging human–computer interactions. In this paper, we present a novel data‐driven approach to synthesize appropriate head motion by sampling from trained hidden markov models (HMMs). First, while an actress recited a corpus specifically designed to elicit various emotions, her 3D head motion was captured and further processed to construct a head motion database that included synchronized speech information. Then, an HMM for each discrete head motion representation (derived directly from data using vector quantization) was created by using acoustic prosodic features derived from speech. Finally, first‐order Markov models and interpolation techniques were used to smooth the synthesized sequence. Our comparison experiments and novel synthesis results show that synthesized head motions follow the temporal dynamic behavior of real human subjects. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrocarbon Oxidation by β‐Halogenated Dioxoruthenium(VI) Porphyrin Complexes: Effect of Reduction Potential (RuVI/V) and CH Bond‐Dissociation Energy on Rate Constants
Authors: Che Chi‐Ming , Zhang Jun‐Long , Zhang Rui , Huang Jie‐Sheng , Lai Tat‐Shing , Tsui Wai‐Man , Zhou Xiang‐Ge , Zhou Zhong‐Yuan , Zhu Nianyong , Chang Chi Kwong
Published: September 2005

β‐Halogenated dioxoruthenium(VI) porphyrin complexes [RuVI(F28‐tpp)O2] [F28‐tpp=2,3,7,8,12,13, 17,18‐octafluoro‐5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrinato(2−)] and [RuVI(β‐Br8‐tmp)O2] [β‐Br8‐tmp=2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18‐octabromo‐5,10,15,20‐ tetrakis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)porphyrinato(2−)] were prepared from reactions of [RuII(por)(CO)] [por=porphyrinato(2−)] with m‐chloroperoxybenzoic acid in CH2Cl2. Reactions of [RuVI(por)O2] with excess PPh3 in CH2Cl2 gave [RuII(F20‐tpp)(PPh3)2] [F20‐tpp=5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrinato(2−)] and [RuII(F28‐tpp)(PPh3)2]. The structures of [RuII(por)(CO)(H2O)] and [RuII(por)(PPh3)2] (por=F20‐tpp, F28‐tpp) were determined by X‐ray crystallography, revealing the effect of β‐fluorination of the porphyrin ligand on the coordination of axial ligands to ruthenium atom. The X‐ray crystal structure of [RuVI(F20‐tpp)O2] shows a RuO bond length of 1.718(3) Å. Electrochemical reduction of [RuVI(por)O2] (RuVI to RuV) is irreversible or quasi‐reversible, with the Ep,c(RuVI/V) spanning −0.31 to −1.15 V versus Cp2Fe+/0. Kinetic studies were performed for the reactions of various [RuVI(por)O2], including [RuVI(F28‐tpp)O2] and [RuVI(β‐Br8‐tmp)O2], with para‐substituted styrenes p‐XC6H4CHCH2 (X=H, F, Cl, Me, MeO), cis‐ and trans‐β‐methylstyrene, cyclohexene, norbornene, ethylbenzene, cumene, 9,10‐dihydroanthracene, xanthene, and fluorene. The second‐order rate constants (k2) obtained for the hydrocarbon oxidations by [RuVI(F28‐tpp)O2] are up to 28‐fold larger than by [RuVI(F20‐tpp)O2]. Dual‐parameter Hammett correlation implies that the styrene oxidation by [RuVI(F28‐tpp)O2] should involve rate‐limiting generation of a benzylic radical intermediate, and the spin delocalization effect is more important than the polar effect. The k2 values for the oxidation of styrene and ethylbenzene by [RuVI(por)O2] increase with Ep,c(RuVI/V), and there is a linear correlation between log k2 and Ep,c(RuVI/V). The small slope (≈2 V−1) of the log k2 versus Ep,c(RuVI/V) plot suggests that the extent of charge transfer is small in the rate‐determining step of the hydrocarbon oxidations. The rate constants correlate well with the CH bond dissociation energies, in favor of a hydrogen‐atom abstraction mechanism.
A Microcapillary System for Simultaneous, Parallel Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis
Authors: Comer Eamon , Organ Michael G.
Published: September 2005

A continuous flow, microwave‐assisted, parallel‐capillary microreactor has been developed. Libraries of drug candidates were prepared on the milligram scale with this reactor by injecting plugs of reagents from separate syringes into common reaction capillaries, thereby producing discrete compounds in excellent yield and purity. Microwave irradiation provides the necessary energy that existing room‐temperature microreactor technology lacks for higher activation barrier transformations, producing the required amounts of desired compounds in minutes or less.
Determination of Selenium with a Poly(1,8‐diamino‐naphthalene)‐Modified Electrode
Authors: Won Mi‐Sook , Yoon Jang‐Hee , Shim Yoon‐Bo
Published: September 2005

The performance of a poly(1,8‐diaminonaphthalene)‐modified electrode for the determination of the Se(IV) ion in an aqueous medium was investigated with anodic stripping voltammetry without the pretreating of the sample. The experimental parameters for the analysis of Se(IV) were optimized and the characteristics of this polymer‐modified electrode were investigated by using cyclic voltammetry. The Se(IV) ions were chemically deposited onto the surface of the pDAN‐Au electrode in an acidic medium. The detection limit employing the anodic stripping differential pulse voltammetry was 9.0×10−9 M for Se(IV) with 4.4 % of RSD. Satisfactory result for the determination of Se(IV) was acquired employing a certified standard urine reference material, SRM's 2670 (trace element in urine) with 4.1 ppb of SD.
Photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes in the presence of titanium dioxide under UV and solar light: Effect of operational parameters
Authors: Akbal Feryal
Published: September 2005

The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange have been studied in the presence of titanium dioxide powder illuminated with a 300‐W UV lamp. The effect of hydrogen peroxide on the degradation process was also determined. It was found that the color removal efficiency was affected by the concentration of dye, amount of TiO2 added, and the pH of the solution. The degradation of dyes obeys first‐order kinetics, with the apparent first‐order rate constant increasing with decreasing dye concentration. The rate constants were evaluated as a function of the concentration of dye, amount of TiO2, and pH. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2005
Revisiting physicians' financial incentives in Quebec: a panel system approach
Authors: Nassiri Abdelhak , Rochaix Lise
Published: September 2005

Do Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) react strategically to financial incentives and if so how? To address this question, we follow a quasi‐natural experiment in Quebec, using a panel system technique. In so doing, we both correct for underestimation biases in earlier time series findings and generate new results on the issue of complementarity/substitution between consultations with varying levels of technicality. Under both techniques, we show that PCPs are sensitive to the enforcement and subsequent temporary removals of expenditure caps and more generally, to changes in consultations' relative prices over time. These results support the existence of a discretionary power over the choice of consultation, PCPs increasing strategically the number of the more technical (and therefore more lucrative) consultations when pressed to defend their income. This finding for primary care parallels the now well‐established DRG creep in hospitals. The panel system approach offers a better account of the complexity surrounding PCPs' decision‐making process. In particular, it successfully addresses issues of physician heterogeneity, jointness between consultations and temporal breaks and generates robust estimates of PCPs volume and quality reactions to regulatory changes. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of cardamonin using a chemiluminescent flow‐injection method
Authors: Zhang Qunlin , Myint Aung , Cui Hua , Ge Xuewu , Liu Lijuan , Chou Guixin
Published: September 2005

A sensitive and selective flow injection chemiluminescence method for the determination of cardamonin over the range 1.0 × 10−8 to 8.0 × 10−6 g/mL is described. The method is based on the enhancement by cardamonin of the chemiluminescence of the reaction between cerium (IV) and rhodamine 6G in sulphuric acid medium. The optimised flow injection procedure yielded a detection limit for cardamonin of 8.8 × 10−9 g/mL, whilst the relative standard deviations of intraday and inter‐day precision were below 2.5%. The method has the advantages of high sensitivity and a wide linear range. It was successfully applied to the determination of cardamonin in Alpinia katsumadai Hayata. The mechanism of the chemiluminescence reaction is proposed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Novel siloxane‐carrying dithiol derived from 5‐membered cyclic dithiocarbonate and its curing reactions for coating application
Authors: Uenishi Kazuya , Sudo Atsushi , Endo Takeshi
Published: September 2005

A new efficient and straightforward method to convert amines into siloxane‐thiol hybrid molecules was developed. The method relies on the nucleophilic addition of amines to a cyclic dithiocarbonate having siloxane moiety (DTC‐Si), and the successive ring‐opening reaction of the dithiocarbonate moiety to give the corresponding acyclic thiourethane having a thiol moiety. Based on this method, amine‐terminated poly(propylene glycol) was successfully transformed into the corresponding polyether having thiol‐terminals and siloxane groups. In the presence of moisture, the alkoxysilyl moiety underwent condensation reaction to make the polyether cured into a transparent resin having solvent‐resistance. Addition of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (Bis A‐DGE) to the curing process resulted in two simultaneous reactions, i.e., (1) condensation of siloxane part and (2) addition reaction of the thiol terminal and the epoxide group. When this curing process was carried out on a glass surface, the siloxane part reacted with silanol group on the surface, forming a coating layer having excellent mechanical toughness graded as maximum 7H by pencil toughness test (JIS‐K5400). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5119–5126, 2005
Microstructure and mechanical properties of nanocrystalline titanium and Ti–Ta–Nb alloy manufactured using various deformation methods
Authors: Dutkiewicz J. , Kuśnierz J. , Maziarz W. , Lejkowska M. , Garbacz H. , Lewandowska M. , Dobromyslov A. V. , Kurzydłowski K. J.
Published: September 2005

Mechanical properties and TEM microstructure studies have been carried out of nanocrystalline titanium, Ti10Nb10Ta and Ti10Nb obtained by various technological routes, including: powder metallurgy (ball milling and hot pressing), Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP), hydroextrusion (HE) and high pressure torsion (HPT). The HE processed material in the form of 20 mm rods was extruded at a strain rate of 2.5 × 102 s–1 to a diameter of 3 mm, which corresponds to the true strain of 3.8. Resulting Yield Strength (YS) at the crystal size below 80 nm exceeded 1000 MPa, i.e. attained a value of 3 times more than the initial material. Equal‐Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) at 723 K was applied to produce nanostructured titanium. Grain refinement was observed already after one pass (considerable number of grains with d < 100 nm was noted). It was accompanied by a growth of strength and slight decrease in the elongation. ECAP processing up to 4 passes resulted in further slight growth of strength and further slight loss of elongation. The titanium powder prepared by ball milling in a high energy mill decreased its crystal size down to 10 nm and reached microhardness HV20 = 1000. The additions of Nb and Ta resulted in a similar grain refinement but lower hardness. Uniaxial hot pressing at 650 °C, followed by vacuum annealing resulted in similar microhardness as for powders. TEM studies performed using quantitative metallography allowed to estimate mean grain size at 150 nm. HPT technique at the pressure of 5 GPa resulted in finest grain size as compared to other preparation techniques leading to nanoscale grain refinement in Ti samples. The mean crystal size was estimated at about 30 nm.
STLlint: lifting static checking from languages to libraries
Authors: Gregor Douglas , Schupp Sibylle
Published: September 2005

Traditional static checking centers around finding bugs in programs by isolating cases where the language has been used incorrectly. These language‐based checkers do not understand the semantics of software libraries, and therefore cannot be used to detect errors in the use of libraries. In this paper, we introduce STLlint, a program analysis we have implemented for the C++ Standard Template Library and similar, generic software libraries, and we present the general approach that underlies STLlint. We show that static checking of library semantics differs greatly from checking of language semantics, requiring new representations of program behavior and new algorithms. Major challenges include checking the use of generic algorithms, loop analysis for interfaces, and organizing behavioral specifications for extensibility. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
WEIGHTED LIPSCHITZ CONTINUITY AND HARMONIC BLOCH AND BESOV SPACES IN THE REAL UNIT BALL
Authors: Ren Guangbin , Kähler Uwe
Published: September 2005

The characterization by weighted Lipschitz continuity is given for the Bloch space on the unit ball of $\mathbb{R}^n$. Similar results are obtained for little Bloch and Besov spaces.
TRACIAL EQUIVALENCE FOR $C^*$-ALGEBRAS AND ORBIT EQUIVALENCE FOR MINIMAL DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS
Authors: Lin Huaxin
Published: September 2005

We introduce the notion of tracial equivalence for $C^*$-algebras. Let $A$ and $B$ be two unital separable $C^*$-algebras. If they are tracially equivalent, then there are two sequences of asymptotically multiplicative contractive completely positive linear maps $\phi_n:A\to B$ and $\psi_n:B\to A$ with a tracial condition such that $\{\phi_n\circ\psi_n\}$ and $\{\psi_n\circ\phi_n\}$ are tracially approximately inner. Let $A$ and $B$ be two unital separable simple $C^*$-algebras with tracial topological rank zero. It is proved that $A$ and $B$ are tracially equivalent if and only if $A$ and $B$ have order isomorphic ranges of tracial states. For the Cantor minimal systems $(X_1,\sigma_1)$ and $(X_2,\sigma_2)$, using a result of Giordano, Putnam and Skau, we show that two such dynamical systems are (topological) orbit equivalent if and only if the associated crossed products $C(X_1)\times_{\sigma_1}\mathbb{Z}$ and $C(X_2)\times_{\sigma_2}\mathbb{Z}$ are tracially equivalent.
ALMOST TRANSITIVITY IN $\mathcal{C}_0$ SPACES OF VECTOR-VALUED FUNCTIONS
Authors: Aizpuru Antonio , Rambla Fernando
Published: September 2005

By means of $M$-structure and dimension theory, we generalize some known results and obtain some new ones on almost transitivity in $\mathcal{C}_0(L,X)$. For instance, if $X$ has the strong Banach–Stone property, then almost transitivity of $\mathcal{C}_0(L,X)$ is divided into two weaker properties, one of them depending only on topological properties of $L$ and the other being closely related to the covering dimensions of $L$ and $X$. This leads to some non-trivial examples of almost transitive $\mathcal{C}_0(L,X)$ spaces.
SMYTH SURFACES AND THE DREHRISS
Authors: Burns John M. , Clancy Michael J.
Published: September 2005

Isometric deformations of immersed surfaces in Euclidean 3-space are studied by means of the drehriss. When the immersion is of constant mean curvature and the deformation preserves the mean curvature, we determine the drehriss explicitly in terms of the immersion and its Gauss map. These methods are applied to obtain an alternative classification of the Smyth surfaces, i.e. constant mean curvature immersions of the plane into Euclidean 3-space which admit the action of $S^1$ as a non-trivial group of internal isometries.
THE LINEAR SPAN OF PEAK FUNCTIONS
Authors: Izzo Alexander J.
Published: September 2005

It is shown that given a uniform algebra $A$ and a peak point $x_0$ for $A$, every function in $A$ can be expressed as a linear combination of two functions in $A$ that peak at $x_0$.
Characterization of an atypical antigen fromSarcoptes scabieicontaining an MADF domain
Authors: LJUNGGREN E. L. , BERGSTRÖM K. , MORRISON D. A. , MATTSSON J. G.
Published: September 2005

We have cloned a cDNA encoding a novel antigen from aSarcoptes scabiei(Acari) cDNA library by immunoscreening with sera fromS. scabiei-infected dogs. The antigen is encoded by a 2157 bp mRNA with a predicted open reading frame of 719 amino acids (molecular weight 79 kDa). Our sequence analysis identified the presence of a MADF domain in the N-terminus, and downstream of this domain there was a region of low sequence complexity. This latter region contained several blocks of triplets and quadruplets of polar amino acids (Asn, Gln and Ser), and these 3 amino acids represented 39·7% of all amino acids. The antigen was named Atypical Sarcoptes Antigen 1 (ASA1) since the MADF domain normally is found in proteins involved in transcriptional regulation. In addition, 15 out of 62S. scabiei-infected dogs reacted with a purified recombinant version of ASA1 in Western blot analysis. With immunohistochemistry we could show that ASA1 is expressed throughout the parasite, and that IgG specific for ASA1 binds to the inside wall of the mite's burrow. To our knowledge, this is the first description of an antigen containing an MADF domain.
A framework for understanding community resident perceptions of Masoala National Park, Madagascar
Authors: ORMSBY ALISON , KAPLIN BETH A.
Published: September 2005

Protected areas (PAs) represent a central strategy in biodiversity conservation worldwide. Yet many PAs are weakened by people-PA conflicts resulting from the separation of natural resource protection from human considerations. Research at Masoala National Park in Madagascar focused on the following questions: (1) What are the factors that influence residents' perceptions of the Park and restrictions on use of natural resources in the Park area? (2) How do residents of communities on the periphery of the Park perceive and interact with Park staff, and what factors influence interactions and perceptions? A multi-method qualitative research approach was taken, including individual and focus group interviews, participant observation, archival research, and an environmental education and communication workshop. From July to December 2001, 119 semi-structured individual and group interviews were conducted with a total of 181 Masoala National Park staff, employees of non-governmental conservation organizations and community residents, focusing on two villages on the periphery of Masoala National Park. Factors found to influence the perceptions of the Park held by residents living in the Park periphery included the history of Park management, the degree of awareness of Park existence, types of interactions with Park staff and actual or potential benefits received from the Park. Inconsistency in past and present Park management goals has led to community confusion regarding the Park programme. Residents were largely aware of the Park's existence but were unfamiliar with its goals. Pressures on Park natural resources came from a variety of sources and occurred across a range of spatial and temporal scales, some of which were outside the control of Park managers. A conceptual framework represented relations between Park staff and community residents. Understanding people-PA interactions and perceptions can help guide future PA management strategies to increase conservation effectiveness, through efforts such as environmental education and communication programmes.
Comparison of prevalence and risk factors for faecal carriage of the intestinal spirochaetes Brachyspira aalborgi and Brachyspira pilosicoli in four Australian populations
Authors: BROOKE C. J. , RILEY T. V. , HAMPSON D. J.
Published: September 2005

This study examined the prevalence of the intestinal spirochaetes Brachyspira aalborgi and Brachyspira pilosicoli in different Western Australian (WA) populations. Faecal samples included 287 from rural patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, comprising 142 from non-Aboriginal and 145 from Aboriginal people; 227 from recent healthy migrants to WA from developing countries; and 90 from healthy non-Aboriginal individuals living in Perth, WA. DNA was extracted from faeces, and subjected to PCR assays for both species. B. pilosicoli-positive individuals were confined to the rural Aboriginal (14·5%) and migrant (15·0%) groups. B. aalborgi was detected at a lower but similar prevalence in all four groups: rural non-Aboriginals, 5·6%; rural Aboriginals, 6·9%; migrants, 7·9%; controls, 5·6%. In migrants and Aborigines, the presence of B. pilosicoli and B. aalborgi was associated (P<0·001), suggesting that colonization by B. pilosicoli may be facilitated by colonization with B. aalborgi. Amongst the Aboriginal patients, logistic regression identified both spirochaete species as being associated with chronic diarrhoea, failure to thrive and being underweight. Both species may have pathogenic potential, but B. aalborgi appears more host-adapted than the opportunistic B. pilosicoli.
‘from a musical point of view, the world is musical at any given moment’: an interview with bill fontana
Authors: rudi jøran
Published: September 2005

bill fontana is an american composer and artist who has been working with large-scale sound installations since the 1970s. in his installations he recontextualises sounds by transmitting them from one location to another, and uses the transported sounds as acoustical ‘overlay’, masking the sounds naturally occurring in the installation spaces. his installations often occur in central urban environments, and he has, for example, been commissioned in conjunction with the fifty-year anniversary of d-day (1994, paris), and the 100-year anniversary of brooklyn bridge (1983, new york city).
Enhanced vertical propagation of storm‐induced near‐inertial energy in an eddying ocean channel model
Authors: Zhai Xiaoming , Greatbatch Richard J. , Zhao Jun
Published: September 2005

The interaction between inertial oscillations generated by a storm and a mesoscale eddy field is studied using a Southern Ocean channel model. It is shown that the leakage of near‐inertial energy out of the surface layer is strongly enhanced by the presence of the eddies, with the anticyclonic eddies acting as a conduit to the deep ocean. Given the ubiquity of the atmospheric storm tracks (a source of near‐inertial energy for the ocean) and regions of strong ocean mesoscale variability, we argue that this effect could be important for understanding pathways by which near‐inertial energy enters the ocean and is ultimately available for mixing.
Decaying grid-generated turbulence in a rotating tank
Authors: Morize C. , Moisy F. , Rabaud M.
Published: September 2005

The decay of initially three-dimensional homogeneous turbulence in a rotating frame is experimentally investigated. Turbulence is generated by rapidly towing a grid in a rotating water tank, and the velocity field in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis is measured by means of particle image velocimetry. During the decay, strong cyclonic coherent vortices emerge, as the result of enhanced stretching of the cyclonic vorticity by the background rotation, and the selective instability of the anticyclonic vorticity by the Coriolis force. This asymmetry towards cyclonic vorticity grows on a time scale Ω−1 (Ω is the rotation rate), until the friction from the Ekman layers becomes dominant. The energy spectrum perpendicular to the rotation axis becomes steeper as the instantaneous Rossby number Roω=ω′∕2Ω decreases below the value 2±0.5 (ω′ is the root-mean square of the vertical vorticity). The spectral exponent increases in time from its classical Kolmogorov value 5∕3 up to values larger than 2. Below the threshold Roω<2, the velocity derivative skewness decreases as ∣S∣∝Roω, reflecting the inhibition of the energy transfers by the background rotation, with a net inverse energy cascade that develops at large scales.
Channel electron multiplier and channelplate efficiencies for detecting positive ions
Authors: Krems M. , Zirbel J. , Thomason M. , DuBois R. D.
Published: September 2005

Absolute detection efficiencies for singly and multiply charged positive ions have been measured for a channelplate and for two different channel electron multipliers (CEM). The efficiencies were measured for impact energies between approximately 0.25 and 25 keV and for ion masses ranging from 14 to 132. The maximum efficiencies were found to be the same for all ions investigated and were approximately 58% for a channelplate and 89% for the CEMs. For a channelplate it is shown that the detection efficiencies for heavier ions scale to a single curve if plotted versus the impact energy divided by the square root of the ion mass. Data taken from the literature imply that lighter ions scale differently. Polynomial fitting parameters to the present efficiency curves are provided.
Surface stability and evolution of biaxially strained epitaxial thin films
Authors: Zhang Y. W.
Published: September 2005

First-order perturbation analysis has been performed to investigate the stability and the fastest growth mode of a biaxially strained epitaxial thin film surface by stress-induced surface diffusion. It is found that the normalized critical wavelength along one principal direction depends on the Poisson’s ratio of the film, and also the perturbed wavelength and stress level along the other principal direction. The fastest growth analysis shows that when the absolute value of the ratio of the two principal stresses deviates from unity, a gradual transition from nanoisland formation to nanowire formation occurs. The larger the deviation, the stronger the tendency for the formation of a nanowire; finite element simulations confirm the tendency.
Deficits in speech perception predict language learning impairment
Authors: Ziegler Johannes C. , Pech-Georgel Catherine , George Florence , Alario F.-Xavier , Lorenzi Christian
Published: September 2005

Specific language impairment (SLI) is one of the most common childhood disorders, affecting 7% of children. These children experience difficulties in understanding and producing spoken language despite normal intelligence, normal hearing, and normal opportunities to learn language. The causes of SLI are still hotly debated, ranging from nonlinguistic deficits in auditory perception to high-level deficits in grammar. Here, we show that children with SLI have poorer-than-normal consonant identification when measured in ecologically valid conditions of stationary or fluctuating masking noise. The deficits persisted even in comparison with a younger group of normally developing children who were matched for language skills. This finding points to a fundamental deficit. Information transmission of all phonetic features (voicing, place, and manner) was impaired, although the deficits were strongest for voicing (e.g., difference between/b/and/p/). Children with SLI experienced perfectly normal “release from masking” (better identification in fluctuating than in stationary noise), which indicates a central deficit in feature extraction rather than deficits in low-level, temporal, and spectral auditory capacities. We further showed that speech identification in noise predicted language impairment to a great extent within the group of children with SLI and across all participants. Previous research might have underestimated this important link, possibly because speech perception has typically been investigated in optimal listening conditions using non-speech material. The present study suggests that children with SLI learn language deviantly because they inefficiently extract and manipulate speech features, in particular, voicing. This result offers new directions for the fast diagnosis and remediation of SLI.
The mysteries of nitrogen balance
Authors: Waterlow J. C
Published: September 2005

The first part of this review is concerned with the balance between N input and output as urinary urea. I start with some observations on classical biochemical studies of the operation of the urea cycle. According to Krebs, the cycle is instantaneous and automatic, as a result of the irreversibility of the first enzyme, carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 (EC6.3.5.5; CPS-I), and it should be able to handle many times the normal input to the cycle. It is now generally agreed that acetyl glutamate is a necessary co-factor for CPS-1, but not a regulator. There is abundant evidence that changes in dietary protein supply induce coordinated changes in the amounts of all five urea-cycle enzymes. How this coordination is achieved, and why it should be necessary in view of the properties of the cycle mentioned above, is unknown. At the physiological level it is not clear how a change in protein intake is translated into a change of urea cycle activity. It is very unlikely that the signal is an alteration in the plasma concentration either of total amino-N or of any single amino acid. The immediate substrates of the urea cycle are NH3and aspartate, but there have been no measurements of their concentration in the liver in relation to urea production. Measurements of urea kinetics have shown that in many cases urea production exceeds N intake, and it is only through transfer of some of the urea produced to the colon, where it is hydrolysed to NH3, that it is possible to achieve N balance. It is beginning to look as if this process is regulated, possibly through the operation of recently discovered urea transporters in the kidney and colon. The second part of the review deals with the synthesis and breakdown of protein. The evidence on whole-body protein turnover under a variety of conditions strongly suggests that the components of turnover, including amino acid oxidation, are influenced and perhaps regulated by amino acid supply or amino acid concentration, with insulin playing an important but secondary role. Molecular biology has provided a great deal of information about the complex processes of protein synthesis and breakdown, but so far has nothing to say about how they are coordinated so that in the steady state they are equal. A simple hypothesis is proposed to fill this gap, based on the self-evident fact that for two processes to be coordinated they must have some factor in common. This common factor is the amino acid pool, which provides the substrates for synthesis and represents the products of breakdown. The review concludes that although the achievement and maintenance of N balance is a fact of life that we tend to take for granted, there are many features of it that are not understood, principally the control of urea production and excretion to match the intake, and the coordination of protein synthesis and breakdown to maintain a relatively constant lean body mass.
Organic acids for performance enhancement in pig diets
Authors: Partanen Krisi H , Mroz Zdzislaw
Published: September 2005

Organic acids and their salts appear to be potential alternatives to prophylactic in-feed antibiotics and growth promoters in order to improve the performance of weaned piglets, fattening pigs and reproductive sows, although their growth-promoting effects are generally less than that of antibiotics. Based on an analysis of published data, the growth-promoting effect of formates, fumarates and citrates did not differ in weaned piglets. In fattening pigs, formates were the most effective followed by fumarates, whereas propionates did not improve growth performance. These acids improved the feedgain ratio of both weaned piglets and fattening pigs. In weaned piglets, the growth-promoting effects of dietary organic acids appear to depend greatly on their influence on feed intake. In sows, organic acids may have anti-agalactia properties. Successful application of organic acids in the diets for pigs requires an understanding of their modes of action. It is generally considered that dietary organic acids or their salts lower gastric pH, resulting in increased activity of proteolytic enzymes and gastric retention time, and thus improved protein digestion. Reduced gastric pH and increased retention time have been difficult to demonstrate, whereas improved apparent ileal digestibilities of protein and amino acids have been observed with growing pigs, but not in weaned piglets. Organic acids may influence mucosal morphology, as well as stimulate pancreatic secretions, and they also serve as substrates in intermediary metabolism. These may further contribute to improved digestion, absorption and retention of many dietary nutrients. Organic acid supplementation reduces dietary buffering capacity, which is expected to slow down the proliferation and|or colonization of undesirable microbes, e.g.Escherichia coli, in the gastro-ileal region. However, reduced scouring has been observed in only a few studies. As performance responses to dietary organic acids in pigs often varies, more specific studies are necessary to elucidate an explanation.
Altering nutrient utilization in animals through transgenesis
Authors: Ward Kevin A
Published: September 2005

Improved domestic animal productivity is necessary in order to provide for an increasing world population over the next two to three decades and such improvement would be aided by an increase in the efficiency of nutrient utilization. This can be achieved by conventional genetic selection protocols but progress by this approach is slow. A more rapid but as yet largely unproven technique is the direct modification of the genome which can be achieved by the transfer of recombinant DNA to the nuclei of early embryos. This new technology is potentially powerful because it allows the direct transfer of genes without regard to inter-species barriers to breeding. However, it raises a new set of problems associated with the integration and expression of the foreign genetic information in the new genome. In this review the application of the technology to increasing nutrient utilization and increased productivity are discussed. Two areas have received substantial attention in the 15 years since the technique was first applied to domestic animals. First, the current status of the modification of growth hormone levels to improve productivity and feed utilization efficiency is reviewed, with current results suggesting that several of the projects may soon be approaching field trial status. Second, the introduction of novel biochemical pathways to domestic animals to provide them with different sources of the substrates required for growth and production is discussed. Recent results obtained in the introduction of a cysteine biosynthetic pathway to animals is reviewed. While this line of research remains some distance from commercial application, it provides a useful example of the powerful possibilities inherent in the new technology. However, it also serves to highlight some of the difficulties that might be expected as new genes are expressed to produce enzymes that must fit compatibly with existing animal biochemistry.
Effect of dietary fatty acid composition on inositol-, choline- and ethanolamine-phospholipids of mammary tissue and erythrocytes in the rat
Authors: Williams Christine M. , Maunder K.
Published: September 2005

The present study investigated the effect of feeding maize-oil, olive-oil and fish-oil diets, from weaning to adulthood, on rat mammary tissue and erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acid compositions. Effects of diet on the relative proportions of membrane phospholipids in the two tissues were also investigated. Mammary tissue phosphatidylinositol (PI) fatty acids were unaltered by diet, but differences in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and, to a lesser extent, phosphatidylcholine (PC) fractions were found between animals fed on different diets from weaning. Differences observed were those expected from the dietary fatty acids fed;n-6 fatty acids were found in greatest amounts in maize-oil-fed rats,n-9 in olive-oil-fed rats, andn-3 in fish-oil-fed rats. In erythrocytes the relative susceptibilities of the individual phospholipids to dietary modification were: PE > PC > PI, but enrichment withn-9 andn-3 fatty acids was not observed in olive-oil- and fish-oil-fed animals and in PC and PE significantly greater amounts of saturated fatty acids were found when animals fed on olive oil or fish oil were compared with maize-oil-fed animals. The polyunsaturated: saturated fatty acid ratios of PE and PC fractions were significantly lower in olive-oil- and fish-oil-fed animals. No differences in the relative proportions of phospholipid classes were found between the three dietary groups. It is suggested that differences in erythrocyte fatty acid composition may reflect dietary-induced changes in membrane cholesterol content and may form part of a homoeostatic response the aim of which is to maintain normal erythrocyte membrane fluidity. The resistance of mammary tissue PI fatty acids to dietary modification suggests that alteration of PI fatty acids is unlikely to underlie effects of dietary fat on mammary tumour incidence rates.
Nutritional implications ofl-arabinose in pigs
Authors: Schutte J. B. , de Jong J. , van Weerden E. J. , Tamminga S.
Published: September 2005

The pentose sugarl-arabinose is one of the most abundant components released by complete hydrolysis of non-starch polysaccharides of feed ingredients of vegetable origin. Two studies were conducted to investigate the apparent ileal digestibility and urinary excretion ofl-arabinose at dietary inclusion levels of 50 and 100 g/kg, and 25, 50, 75 and 100 g/kg respectively, in pigs. As a reference, d-glucose was included in the studies. Water intake, ileal flow of volatile fatty acids and ileal and faecal digestibilities of dietary nutrients in pigs fed on the different diets were also examined. Castrated pigs were prepared with a post-valvularT-caecum cannula to measure ileal digestibility. Faecal digestibility was measured in non-cannulated pigs. Apparent ileal digestibility ofl-arabinose was found to be approximately 70%. The presence ofl-arabinose in the diet increased ileal flow of volatile fatty acids and lactic acid, suggesting the occurrence of microbial degradation ofl-arabinose in the pig small intestine.l-arabinose was partly excreted in the urine. The extent of this urinary excretion as a percentage of intake increased linearly (P < 0.01) as the dietary level increased. In pigs fed on the 25 gl-arabinose/kg diet, 10.9% of thel-arabinose consumed appeared in the urine. This level was increased to 14.7% when pigs were fed on a diet containing 100 gl-arabinose/kg diet. Faecal digestibility and retention of nitrogen decreased significantly in pigs fed on thel-arabinose diets.
Selenium content of wheat for bread making in Scotland and the relationship between glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) levels in whole blood and bread consumption
Authors: Barclay M. N. I. , MacPherson A.
Published: September 2005

The selenium content of the 1989 harvest of wheat used for bread making in Scotland ranged from 0.028 μg/g dry weight for home-grown wheat to 0.518 μg/g for Canadian wheat. The tonnage values indicate that 13.8% of the wheat used in bread making came from Canada. This reflects in a calculated dietary intake of 31 μg/d which is well below the recommended levels of 70 and 55 μg for adult males and females respectively (National Research Council, 1989). The average glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) level in 478 samples of human whole blood was 6.08 (se 0.065) units/ml. This increased to 6.65 (se 0.321) in sixty-two subjects consuming brown or wholemeal bread but was unaffected by oily fish consumption. Analysis of a small number of samples of whole milk, eggs and meat indicated slightly higher concentrations than previously published values but this trend was insufficient to compensate for the lower cereal provision of Se.
Acetylation of peptides inhibits their degradation by rumen micro-organisms
Authors: Wallace R. J.
Published: September 2005

Proteins and peptides were acetylated using acetic anhydride in order to block their N-terminal amino groups and thereby to prevent their hydrolysis by rumen microbial aminopeptidases. The effects of acetylation on peptide breakdown and ammonia production were determined by incubating unmodified and acetylated substrates with sheep rumen micro-organisms in vitro. Ammonia production from casein and lactalbumin was affected little by acetylation, but acetylation of the corresponding enzymic hydrolysates caused ammonia production to be more than halved after 3.6 h incubation. Estimation of peptides remaining in rumen fluid showed that the decreased ammonia production was a consequence of peptides being hydrolysed more slowly. Acetylated Ala-Ala, Ala-Ala-Ala (Ala3), Leu-Gly-Gly, Phe-Gly-Gly and Val-Gly-Ser-Glu survived incubation with rumen fluid in vitro for 6 h, whereas almost none of the corresponding unmodified peptides was present at 6 h. The protection afforded to larger pure peptides was less reliable: for example, 72% of acetylated bradykinin was hydrolysed after 1 h.N-Acetyl Ala3had only a minor inhibitory effect on the breakdown of Ala3and Ala4, suggesting that although acetyl peptides were broken down more slowly than unmodified peptides they did not inhibit peptidase activity.
The effects of ispaghula on rat caecal fermentation and stool output
Authors: Edwards Christine A. , Bowen Jacqueline , Brydon W. Gordon , Eastwood Martin A.
Published: September 2005

The colonic fermentation of ispaghula, a mucilage fromPlantago ovatacomposed mainly of arabinoxylans, and its effects on stool output and caecal metabolism were investigated. Four groups of eight rats were fed on a basal diet (45 g non-starch polysaccharides/kg) for 28 d. The diet was then supplemented with ispaghula (g/kg; 0, 5, 15 or 50) for 28 d. Ispaghula increased stool dry weight and apparent wet weight but faecal water-holding capacity (amount of water held per g dry faecal material at 0.2 mPa) was unchanged. The extent of faecal drying in the metabolism cages was measured for rats fed on the basal diet and 50 g ispaghula/kg diet. At the faecal output levels encountered, only an 8% loss of wet weight would be predicted over 24 h and this was independent of diet. Faecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration did not change but SCFA output increased. The molar proportion of SCFA as propionic acid increased and faecal pH was reduced. Values from pooled faecal samples suggested that approximately 50% of the ingested ispaghula was excreted by the 50 g ispaghula/kg diet group. Diaminopimelic acid (a constituent of bacterial cells) concentrations fell but output was unchanged indicating no change in bacterial mass. Similar changes were seen in the caecal contents but caecal pH and SCFA were unaffected. Ispaghula increased both caecal and colonic tissue wet weight and colonic length. Our results suggest that ispaghula is partly fermented in the rat caecum and colon, and loses its water-holding capacity. However, it is still an effective stool bulker and acts mainly by increasing faecal water by some unknown mechanism
Modifying diets to satisfy nutritional requirements using linear programming
Authors: Soden P. M. , Fletcher L. R.
Published: September 2005

A computational method for constructing individually acceptable diets by modifying a chosen diet to meet nutritional requirements is described. The effects on food quantities of imposing different nutrient requirements on a sample diet are demonstrated and techniques which can ensure the acceptability to the individual of the modified diet are described. The starting point in the calculation is the person's current dietary intake. This is modified using linear programming methods which make the smallest changes to the food quantities to meet specific targets. Sequential modification can be used to identify changes that are acceptable to the individual. The computer program has been developed in collaboration with practising dietitians and is in use in some leading UK hospitals.
The effects of varying protein and energy intakes on the growth and body composition of pigs
Authors: Kyriazakis I. , Emmans G. C.
Published: September 2005

The objective of the present experiment was to define the form of the relationship between varying levels of energy intake at constant, high protein intake and the performance of young pigs. By doing so it was expected that we could distinguish between four models that predict the pig's responses to its diet as rates of protein and lipid retention. Forty young pigs were assigned at 12 kg live weight either to an initial slaughter group (n 8) or to one of four allowances of starch intake at a constant intake of a high-protein feed (with 345 g crude protein (nitrogen x 6.25)/kg food). Half the pigs were killed after 4 weeks and half after 8 weeks on the treatments; at each slaughter point on each treatment half the pigs were entire males and half were females. Increasing the intake of starch (energy) resulted in significant increases in the rates of live weight, empty-body, protein and lipid gains of pigs slaughtered at both stages. There was no minimum positive lipid: protein ratio in the gain of the pigs. Male pigs deposited more protein and less lipid than females but this effect of sex on protein and lipid retention was seen only on the two highest allowances of starch intake. The calculated efficiency of protein utilization increased with increasing starch intake up to a maximum of 0.81, when probably the energy: protein in the diet became non-limiting. The results led to the rejection of two of the models that predict the rates of protein and lipid retention as responses to protein and energy intake, but the two remaining models could not be rejected, at least qualitatively.