bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resistance to persuasion in an anti‐consumption context: Biased assimilation of positive product information
Authors: Dursun İnci , Tümer Kabadayi Ebru
Published: March 2013

This study investigates the role of biased assimilation processes as cognitive defense mechanisms facilitating resistance to counter‐attitudinal persuasive messages. Research is conducted in an anti‐consumption context, focusing on consumers with negative attitudes toward frozen food products. It is proposed that effective use of biased assimilation in the case of exposure to counter‐attitudinal persuasive messages depends upon the strengths of both initial attitude and counter‐attitudinal message. The results of experimental processes confirm the critical roles of initial attitude strength and persuasive message strength in terms of triggering and/or hindering biased assimilation processes. The results further indicate that, when exposed to a positive message, anti‐loyal consumers exert higher levels of biased assimilation than consumers with moderate negative attitudes. In addition, with stronger message arguments, effective use of biased assimilation decreases substantially. The results also indicate a robust negative effect of biased assimilation on attitude change. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preventing Symptom Progression in Women at Risk for AN: Results of a Pilot Study
Authors: Ohlmer Ricarda , Jacobi Corinna , Taylor Craig Barr
Published: March 2013

Objective

Despite the need, no targeted (indicated) prevention programs for women at risk for anorexia nervosa (AN) or with restrictive eating and normal body weight are available. Therefore, our aim was to develop a prevention program specific for these risk groups and to assess its feasibility and effectiveness in a pilot study.

Methods

Thirty‐six women selected by high weight and shape concerns, low BMI and/or high restrained eating participated in a 10‐week Internet‐based cognitive‐behavioural prevention program for AN.

Results

Feasibility, adherence and acceptance were assessed at post‐intervention; symptoms of disordered eating and associated psychopathology were assessed at pre‐intervention, post‐intervention, and at 6‐month follow‐up. The 32 women who finished the study completed 88% of the sessions. Satisfaction with the program was also high. AN‐specific eating and associated psychopathology improved significantly and differentially in the three weight‐related subgroups.

Conclusions

Overall, the results of this pilot study are promising. The efficacy of this indicated preventive intervention should be tested in a larger randomized controlled trial. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Biotechnological applications of supersonic cluster beam‐deposited nanostructured thin films: Bottom‐up engineering to optimize cell–protein–surface interactions
Authors: Singh Ajay Vikram
Published: March 2013

Technological innovations in biomaterial sciences harness nanoparticle (NP) production, manipulation, and deposition with supreme precision, enabling the development of industrial processes. This review first discusses the basic components of this approach, introducing cluster sources, experimental apparatus, and growth mechanisms for NP formation. The second part of this review provides an overview of how the nanoscale bottom‐up engineering can control protein adsorption, which in turn determines the fate of nanostructured coating for prokaryotic and mammalian (primary and stem) cell interactions. In addition, we briefly address the implications of the cluster beam deposition technique for nanostructuration of biocompatible microdevices and its potential as a facile coating method to promote protein–surface interactions for microarray applications in biotechnology. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 101A:2994–3008, 2013.
Chitosan–plasmid DNA nanoparticles encoding small hairpin RNA targeting MMP‐3 and ‐13 to inhibit the expression of dedifferentiation related genes in expanded chondrocytes
Authors: Zhao Jingxin , Fan Xiangli , Zhang Qiang , Sun Fangfei , Li Xiaojian , Xiong Chuan , Zhang Chunli , Fan Hongbin
Published: March 2013

Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐3 and ‐13 can lead to the dedifferentiation of expanded chondrocytes. After implanting dedifferentiated cells for cartilage defect repair, graft failure may occur. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) is a powerful genetic tool to reduce the expression of target genes. This study investigated the effects of chitosan–plasmid DNA (pDNA) nanoparticles encoding shRNA targeting MMP‐3 and ‐13 on the dedifferentiation of expanded chondrocytes. The objective was to optimize the parameters of chitosan–pDNA formulation for achieving higher efficiency of pDNA delivery and gene silencing. The chitosan–pDNA nanoparticles were prepared using a complex coacervation process. Then the characteristics including size, shape, stability, and transfection efficiency were compared in different groups. The results indicated that chitosan of 800 kDa at N/P ratio of 4 and pH 7.0 was optimal to prepare chitosan–pDNA nanoparticles. These nanoparticles showed high DNA loading efficiency (95.8 ± 1.5%) and high gene transfection efficiency (24.5 ± 1.6%). After the expanded chondrocytes were transfected by chitosan–pDNA nanoparticles, MMP‐3‐610 and MMP‐13‐2024 groups showed greater suppression in mRNA and protein levels. The results indicated that chitosan–pDNA nanoparticles encoding shRNA targeting MMP‐3 and ‐13 had great potential in silencing the dedifferentiation‐related genes for regenerating prolonged and endurable cartilage. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 102A: 373–380, 2014.
Carbonation reaction of (Ca, Mg)O protective layer on plasma display panel
Authors: Motoyama Yasushi , Kato Daisuke , Saito Nobuo , Seki Masahiko
Published: March 2013

We have been applying a low discharge voltage (Ca, Mg)O protective layer to plasma display panels to reduce their power consumption. However, (Ca, Mg)O is highly reactive with CO2, and the resulting carbonate formation during high‐temperature panel sealing in air impairs the low discharge voltage characteristic. We investigated the mechanism of the carbonation reaction that occurs on a (Ca, Mg)O surface during annealing in air at 450°C and found that the CO2 diffuses through the formed CaCO3 layer and that a (Ca, Mg)O + CO2 → CaCO3 + MgO reaction then occurs. This carbonation reaction evidently stops when the growing MgO finally forms a layer at all boundaries between the CaCO3 and (Ca, Mg)O regions.
Modulation of Double‐Stranded RNA‐Activated Protein Kinase in Insulin Sensitive Tissues of Obese Humans
Authors: Carvalho Bruno M. , Oliveira Alexandre G. , Ueno Mirian , Araújo Tiago G. , Guadagnini Dioze , Carvalho‐Filho Marco A. , Geloneze Bruno , Lima Marcelo M.O. , Pareja Jose C. , Carvalheira Jose B.C. , Saad Mario J.A.
Published: March 2013

Objective: The double‐stranded RNA‐dependent protein kinase (PKR) was recently implicated in regulating molecular integration of nutrient‐ and pathogen‐sensing pathways in obese mice. However, its modulation in human tissues in situations of insulin resistance has not been investigated. The present study was performed to first determine the tissue expression and phosphorylation levels of PKR in the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue in obese humans, and also the modulation of this protein in the adipose tissue of obese patients after bariatric surgery.

Design and Methods: Eleven obese subjects who were scheduled to undergo Roux‐en‐Y Gastric Bypass Procedure participated in this study. Nine apparently healthy lean subjects as a control group were also included.

Results: Our data show that PKR is activated in liver, muscle, and adipose tissue of obese humans and, after bariatric surgery, there is a clear reduction in PKR activation accompanied by a decrease in protein kinase‐like endoplasmic reticulum kinase, c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase, inhibitor of kappa β kinase, and insulin receptor substrate‐1 serine 312 phosphorylation in subcutaneous adipose tissue from these patients.

Conclusion: Thus, it is proposed that PKR is an important mediator of obesity‐induced insulin resistance and a potential target for the therapy.
Both sides now
Authors: Kirby Roger
Published: March 2013

Roger Kirby considers how being on the receiving end of treatment has made him a better doctor. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons
Robotic surgical technology is here to stay and evolve
Authors: Ahmed Kamran , Abboudi Hamid , Guru Khurshid A. , Khan Mohammed Shamim , Dasgupta Prokar
Published: March 2013

The authors outline the evidence that robotic‐assisted laparoscopic surgery has equivalent or better outcomes compared with laparoscopic or open surgery. With reduced hospital stay, faster recovery, reduction in blood product use and equivalent quality‐of‐life measures to laparoscopic techniques, this modern age of surgical technology is here to stay. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons
Next-to-leading-order QCD corrections to the yields and polarisations of J/ψ and $ Y $ directly produced in association with a Z boson at the LHC
Authors: Gong Bin , Lansberg Jean-Philippe , Lorcé Cédric , Wang Jian-Xiong
Published: March 2013

Abstract

We update the study of the production of direct J/ψ in association with a Z boson at the Next-to-Leading Order (NLO) in α

s
by evaluating both the yield differential in P

T
and the J/ψ polarisation in the QCD-based Colour-Singlet Model (CSM). Contrary to an earlier claim, QCD corrections at small and mid P

T
are small if one assumes that the factorisation and the renormalisation scales are commensurate with the Z boson mass. As it can be anticipated, the t-channel gluon-exchange (t−CGE) topologies start to be dominant only for P

T
≳ m
Z
/2. The polarisation pattern is not altered by the QCD corrections. This is thus far the first quarkonium-production process where this is observed in the CSM. Along the same lines, our predictions for direct
$ Y+Z $
are also given.
Extremal horizons with reduced symmetry: hyperscaling violation, stripes, and a classification for the homogeneous case
Authors: Iizuka Norihiro , Kachru Shamit , Kundu Nilay , Narayan Prithvi , Sircar Nilanjan , Trivedi Sandip P. , Wang Huajia
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Classifying the zero-temperature ground states of quantum field theories with finite charge density is a very interesting problem. Via holography, this problem is mapped to the classification of extremal charged black brane geometries with anti-de Sitter asymptotics. In a recent paper [1], we proposed a Bianchi classification of the extremal near-horizon geometries in five dimensions, in the case where they are homogeneous but, in general, anisotropic. Here, we extend our study in two directions: we show that Bianchi attractors can lead to new phases, and generalize the classification of homogeneous phases in a way suggested by holography. In the first direction, we show that hyperscaling violation can naturally be incorporated into the Bianchi horizons. We also find analytical examples of “striped” horizons. In the second direction, we propose a more complete classification of homogeneous horizon geometries where the natural mathematics involves real four-algebras with three dimensional sub-algebras. This gives rise to a richer set of possible near-horizon geometries, where the holographic radial direction is non-trivially intertwined with field theory spatial coordinates. We find examples of several of the new types in systems consisting of reasonably simple matter sectors coupled to gravity, while arguing that others are forbidden by the Null Energy Condition. Extremal horizons in four dimensions governed by three-algebras or four-algebras are also discussed.
Free Health Care for Under 5 Year Olds Increases Access to Surgical Care in Sierra Leone: An Analysis of Case Load and Patient Characteristics
Authors: Groen Reinou S. , Kamara Thaim B. , Nwomeh Benedict C. , Daoh Kisito S. , Kushner Adam L.
Published: March 2013

Background

In April 2010 Sierra Leone launched a nationwide program that provides free health care to all pregnant and lactating women and children under 5 years old. This study evaluates the effect that the free health‐care program had on pediatric surgical activities of Connaught Hospital.

Methods

The study period was defined as the 20 months before and after April 27, 2010, the start date of the free health‐care program. Data on age, gender, diagnosis, and procedure for patients under 5 years of age and the total number of operations were collected from the Connaught Hospital operating room logbook.

Results

The number of operations on children under 5 increased by 500 %, from 42 to 210 cases. This increase was significantly larger than the 17 % increase of 1,393–1,630 seen with operations for patients 5 years and older (p < 0·01).

Conclusion

The decision by the Sierra Leone President to institute a program of free health care for children under 5 has resulted in an increased number of pediatric surgical cases at Connaught Hospital. Efforts should be undertaken to provide additional supplies and equipment and to develop training programs for surgeons and support staff to care for the children in need of surgical care.
Bystander behavior in bullying situations: Basic moral sensitivity, moral disengagement and defender self‐efficacy
Authors: Thornberg Robert , Jungert Tomas
Published: March 2013

The aim of the present study was to investigate how basic moral sensitivity in bullying, moral disengagement in bullying and defender self‐efficacy were related to different bystander behaviors in bullying. Therefore, we examined pathways that linked students' basic moral sensitivity, moral disengagement, and defender self‐efficacy to different bystander behaviors in bullying situations. Three hundred and forty‐seven teenagers completed a bullying survey. Findings indicated that compared with boys, girls expressed higher basic moral sensitivity in bullying, lower defender self‐efficacy and moral disengagement in bullying. Results from the SEM showed that basic moral sensitivity in bullying was negatively related to pro‐bully behavior and positively related to outsider and defender behavior, mediated by moral disengagement in bullying, which in turn was positively related to pro‐bully behavior and negatively related to outsider and defender behavior. What differed in the relations between outsider and defender behaviors was the degree of defender self‐efficacy.
Differential transport of Influenza A neuraminidase signal anchor peptides to the plasma membrane
Authors: Ernst Andreas Max , Zacherl Sonja , Herrmann Alexia , Hacke Moritz , Nickel Walter , Wieland Felix T. , Brügger Britta
Published: March 2013

Influenza A Neuraminidase is essential for virus release from the cell surface of host cells. Given differential structures of the N‐terminal sequences including the transmembrane domains of neuraminidase subtypes, we investigated their contribution to transport and localization of subtypes N1, N2 and N8 to the plasma membrane. We generated consensus sequences from all protein entries available for these subtypes. We found that 40N‐terminal the forty N‐terminal amino acids are sufficient to confer plasma membrane localization of fusion proteins, albeit with different efficiencies. Strikingly, subtle differences in the primary structure of the part of the transmembrane domain that resides in the exoplasmic leaflet of the membrane have a major impact on transport efficiency, providing a potential target for the inhibition of virus release.
True umbilical cord knot and obstetric outcome
Authors: Räisänen Sari , Georgiadis Leena , Harju Maija , Keski‐Nisula Leea , Heinonen Seppo
Published: March 2013

Objective

To identify risk factors for true umbilical cord knot and to evaluate its association with fetal death, premature birth, low birth weight, small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) infants, low Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes, fetal venous pH of 7.15 or lower, and need for neonatal intensive care in singleton pregnancies.

Methods

The total population of women who delivered at Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland, between January 2000 and August 2012 was reviewed. Risk factors for umbilical cord knot and its association with adverse pregnancy outcome were evaluated separately among women with and without true cord knot via logistic regression analysis.

Results

Overall, 340 (1.2%) of 27 537 singleton pregnancies were affected by umbilical cord knot, with increased incidence associated with advanced maternal age, multiparity, previous spontaneous abortion, polyhydramnios, and diabetes mellitus. Umbilical cord knot was associated with a 1.58‐, 8.08‐, 3.90‐, 3.17‐, 1.67‐, and 2.00‐fold increased risk of neonatal intensive care, fetal death, premature birth, SGA infants, and low Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes, respectively.

Conclusion

True umbilical cord knot is relatively common and is associated with increased incidence of SGA infants, premature birth, need for neonatal intensive care, and fetal death.
Flecainide reduces ventricular arrhythmias via a mechanism that differs from that of β‐blockers in catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
Authors: Dochi Kenichi , Watanabe Hiroshi , Kawamura Mihoko , Miyamoto Akashi , Ozawa Tomoya , Nakazawa Yuko , Ashihara Takashi , Ohno Seiko , Hayashi Hideki , Ito Makoto , Sakazaki Hisanori , Kawata Hiro , Ushinohama Hiroya , Kaszynski Richard H. , Minamino Tohru , Sumitomo Naokata , Shimizu Wataru , Horie Minoru
Published: March 2013

Background

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is an inherited arrhythmia syndrome characterized by episodic ventricular tachycardia induced by adrenergic stress. Although β‐blockers are used as first‐line therapy, their therapeutic effects are largely incomplete. Flecainide has recently been shown to modify the molecular defects in CPVT. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of flecainide as an add‐on to conventional therapy on exercise‐induced ventricular arrhythmia and compare them with those of conventional therapy alone.

Methods

The study included 5 CPVT patients with a mutation in RYR2. They experienced episodic arrhythmic events despite conventional β‐blocker therapy and were therefore given flecainide in addition. The effects of the addition of flecainide therapy on ventricular arrhythmia during exercise testing were compared with those of conventional therapy alone.

Results

Both β‐blockers alone and with additional flecainide increased the maximal workload attained at the onset of ventricular arrhythmia; however, only flecainide increased the sinus rate at the onset of ventricular arrhythmias. Furthermore, flecainide increased the exercise capacity by preventing exercise‐induced arrhythmias. During a follow‐up period of 17±2 months, 1 patient experienced recurrent arrhythmic episodes that were associated with noncompliance. All patients reported improvements in their ability to perform the activities of daily living.

Conclusion

Flecainide effectively reduced ventricular arrhythmias via a mechanism that differs from that of β‐blockers in genotype‐positive patients with CPVT. The specific effects of flecainide may be critical in the improvement noted in the patients' ability to perform daily activities.
‘Just a Quack Who Can Cure Cancer’: John Braund, and Regulating Cancer Treatment in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: DAWES LAURA L.
Published: March 2013

In 1948 the New South Wales government instituted an inquiry into the claims of John Braund – a 78-year-old self-described ‘quack’ – that his secret treatment had cured 317 cancer sufferers. The ‘Braund controversy’, as it became known, was one of Australia’s most prominent cases of medical fraud. This paper examines that controversy and its effects on cancer philanthropy, medical research, and especially on legislation regulating treatment providers up to the present. With the Braund controversy in mind, the New South Wales (NSW) parliament struggled to develop legislation that would protect patients and punish quacks but also allow for serendipitous, unorthodox discoveries. Recent decades saw new elements added to this calculus – allowing a wide-ranging health marketplace, and allowing patients to choose their therapies. This paper argues that the particular body of law legislatures used in regulating cancer treatment and how regulations were framed reflected the changing context of healthcare and illustrates the calculus legislatures have undertaken in regulating the health marketplace, variously factoring in public safety, serendipitous discovery, the authority of orthodox medicine, patient choice, and economic opportunity.
Representation and Rights: The Impact of LGBT Legislators in Comparative Perspective
Authors: REYNOLDS ANDREW
Published: March 2013

This article focuses on the link between the representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in national legislatures and the existence of equality laws focused on sexual orientation. It addresses three interrelated questions: how many “out” LGBT legislators have served in national parliaments, what explains the cross-national variation in their legislative presence, and what is the relationship between the presence of gay legislators and the enactment of laws that treat gay and straight citizens equally? There is an established literature arguing that the representation of women and ethnic minorities “descriptively” in national legislatures improves the realization of their policy preferences and the position of the group within the society as a whole. This article draws on that literature and extends the analysis to LGBT communities. It finds that the presence of even a small number of openly gay legislators is associated significantly with the future passage of enhanced gay rights, even after including controls for social values, democracy, government ideology, and electoral system design. Once openly gay legislators are in office they have a transformative effect on the views and voting behavior of their straight colleagues. This “familiarity through presence” effect is echoed in studies of U.S. state legislatures and levels of social tolerance of homosexuality in the population at large.
A defect relation for meromorphic maps on generalized p-parabolic manifolds intersecting hypersurfaces in complex projective algebraic varieties
Authors: Han Qi
Published: March 2013

We establish a defect relation for algebraically non-degenerate meromorphic maps over generalized p-parabolic manifolds that intersect hypersurfaces in smooth projective algebraic varieties, extending certain results of H. Cartan, L. Ahlfors, W. Stoll, M. Ru, P. M. Wong and Philip P. W. Wong and others.
Inversion of Colombeau generalized functions
Authors: Erlacher Evelina
Published: March 2013

We introduce different notions of invertibility for generalized functions in the sense of Colombeau. Several necessary conditions for (left, right) invertibility are derived, giving rise to the concepts of compactly asymptotic injectivity and surjectivity. We analyse the extent to which these properties are also sufficient to guarantee the existence of a (left, right) inverse of a generalized function. Finally, we establish several Inverse Function Theorems in this setting and study the relation to their classical counterparts.
Geology, petrology and tectonomagmatic evolution of the plutonic crustal rocks of the Sabzevar ophiolite, NE Iran
Authors: JAFARI MORTEZA KHALATBARI , BABAIE HASSAN A. , MIRZAIE MOJTABA
Published: March 2013

The plutonic crustal sequence exposed northeast of Sabzevar is part of the ophiolitic belt of Sabzevar that occurs along the northern margin of the Central Iran micro-continent. The sequence includes olivine and pyroxene gabbro with cumulate characteristics, isotropic gabbro, foliated gabbro and a diabase sheeted dyke complex cut by wehrlite and olivine websterite intrusions, and pegmatite gabbro and plagiogranite as small intrusions and dykes. The sequence is comparable to gabbros in known ophiolite complexes. Microscopic studies show an abundance of the mesocumulate and heteradcumulate textures that represent open system magma chambers, which are common in supra-subduction zones. The olivine → plagioclase → clinopyroxene → ± orthopyroxene → amphibole trend of mineralization in the gabbros, similar to mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB), and olivine → clinopyroxene → ± orthopyroxene → plagioclase → amphibole, similar to arc rocks, indicate the diversity in the formation of these rocks, and represent petrographic evidence of their formation in a supra-subduction zone. The rocks have calc-alkaline to tholeiitic affinities, and niobium depletion in the spider diagrams of diabase that matches the patterns of island arc magma. These patterns, and the light rare earth element enrichment of the diabase and plagiogranite, suggest the effect and introduction of the fluids, originating from the subducting slab, beneath the mantle wedge. The low titanium compositions, matching those of arc diabase and plagiogranite, plot in the island arc to MORB tectonomagmatic fields, and suggest formation of the Sabzevar ophiolitic plutonic crustal sequence in a supra-subduction zone during Late Cretaceous time.
Beyond Flattery: Legitimating Political Participation in a Ming Living Shrine
Authors: Schneewind Sarah
Published: March 2013

Ming (1368–1644) subjects of all classes, theoretically without a voice in the selection of bureaucratic personnel and setting of government policy in their hometowns, exploited the dynamic tensions within the orthodox Mandate of Heaven ideology to claim a legitimate political voice through one ubiquitous yet understudied local institution, the pre-mortem shrine. Meant to express gratitude to good magistrates and prefects moving on to other positions, the shrines were suspect as flattering an official in hopes of return favors. To forestall accusations of such corrupt gentry networking, steles for living shrines included or invented the voices of local commoners. Whether this meant that commoners living under the reality of autocracy and class oppression could actually affect personnel and policy or not, erecting such steles as permanent features in the landscape did legitimate commoners’ political participation within the same discourse that justified imperial rule and the dominance of educated men.
A Novel Sample Preparation Method That Enables Nucleic Acid Analysis from Ultrathin Sections
Authors: Klink Vincent P. , Thibaudeau Giselle , Altig Ronald
Published: March 2013

The ability to isolate and perform nucleic acid analyses of individual cells is critical to studying the development of various cell types and structures. We present a novel biological sample preparation method developed for laser capture microdissection-assisted nucleic acid analysis of ultrathin cell/tissue sections. We used cells of the mitotic bed of the tadpole teeth of Lithobates sphenocephalus (Southern Leopard Frog). Cells from the mitotic beds at the base of the developing teeth series were isolated and embedded in the methacrylate resin, Technovit® 9100®. Intact cells of the mitotic beds were thin sectioned and examined by bright-field and transmission electron microscopy. The cytological and ultrastructural anatomy of the immature and progressively more mature tooth primordia appeared well preserved and intact. A developmental series of tooth primordia were isolated by laser capture microdissection (LCM). Processing of these cells for RNA showed that intact RNA could be isolated. The study demonstrates that Technovit® 9100® can be used as an embedding medium for extremely small tissues and from individual cells, a prerequisite step to LCM and nucleic acid analyses. A relatively small amount of sample material was needed for the analysis, which makes this technique ideal for cell-specific analyses when the desired cells are limited in quantity.
Solar desalination for sustainable brackish water management in arid land agriculture
Authors: Ghermandi Andrea , Messalem Rami , Offenbach Rivka , Cohen Shabtai
Published: March 2013

An agricultural facility aimed at sustainable production of crops in arid environments was built and tested in Hatzeva, Israel. The facility relies on solar-powered desalination with nanofiltration membranes to treat the local brackish water (EC=2.32 dS m−1) and produce high-quality irrigation water (EC=0.71 dS m−1). Red beet, a salt-tolerant crop, was grown with the concentrate stream (EC=4.73 dS m−1), eliminating the need for concentrate disposal and with potential net economic benefits. Agricultural experiments with variable irrigation water quality, application rate, and four staple crops (potato, maize, millet and sorghum) were conducted over two growing seasons between September 2010 and June 2011. The desalination plant operated at low pressure (4.3 bar) and energy consumption (1.37 kWh m−3) and with little maintenance over the entire study period. The results of the agricultural experiments consistently showed that irrigation with desalinated water promoted more efficient use of resources such as water and inorganic fertilizers. A reduction of 25% in the irrigation rate and use of fertilizers compared with best-practice guidelines was achieved with desalinated water, with no detectable detrimental effect on the marketable yield. On the contrary, a statistically significant yield increase was observed for sorghum (+10%). An increase in water productivity with desalinated water was observed for all four staple crops.
Molecular Clouds: Internal Properties, Turbulence, Star Formation and Feedback
Authors: Tan Jonathan C. , Shaske Suzanne N. , Van Loo Sven
Published: March 2013

All stars are born in molecular clouds, and most in giant molecular clouds (GMCs), which thus set the star formation activity of galaxies. We first review their observed properties, including measures of mass surface density, Σ, and thus mass,M. We discuss cloud dynamics, concluding most GMCs are gravitationally bound. Star formation is highly clustered within GMCs, but overall is very inefficient. We compare properties of star-forming clumps with those of young stellar clusters (YSCs). The high central densities of YSCs may result via dynamical evolution of already-formed stars during and after star cluster formation. We discuss theoretical models of GMC evolution, especially addressing how turbulence is maintained, and emphasizing the importance of GMC collisions. We describe how feedback limits total star formation efficiency, ε, in clumps. A turbulent and clumpy medium allows higher ε, permitting formation of bound clusters even when escape speeds are less than the ionized gas sound speed.
An evolutionary sequence for high-mass star formation
Authors: Breen S. L. , Ellingsen S. P.
Published: March 2013

Determining an evolutionary clock for high-mass star formation is an important step towards realizing a unified theory of star formation, as it will enable qualitative studies of the associated high-mass stars to be executed. Our recent studies have shown that masers have great potential to accurately trace the evolution of these regions. We have investigated the relative evolutionary phases associated with the presence of combinations of water, methanol and hydroxyl masers. Comparison between the characteristics of coincident sources has revealed strong evidence for an evolutionary sequence for the different maser species, a result that we now aim to corroborate through comparisons with chemical clocks.

Using our new, large samples of methanol masers at 6.7 GHz (MMB survey; Green et al. (2009)) and 12.2 GHz (Breen et al. 2012), 22 GHz water masers (Breen & Ellingsen 2012), OH masers together with complementary data, we find strong evidence that it is not only the presence or absence of the different maser species that indicates the evolutionary stage of the associated high-mass star formation region (see e.g. Breen et al. (2010)), but that the properties of those masers can give even finer evolutionary details. Most notably, the intensity and velocity range of detected maser emission increases as the star forming region evolves (Breen et al. 2011).

Subsequent work we have undertaken (Ellingsen et al. 2011) has shown that the presence of rare 37.7 GHz methanol masers may signal the end of the methanol maser phase. They show that 37.7 GHz methanol masers are associated only with the most luminous 6.7 and 12.2 GHz methanol masers, which combined with the rarity of these objects is consistent with them being a short lived phase towards the end of the 6.7 GHz methanol maser lifetime.

An independent confirmation of our maser evolutionary timeline can be gained through comparisons with chemical clocks. MALT90 is a legacy survey of 1000s of dense star forming cores at 90GHz, simultaneously observing 16 molecular lines with the Mopra radio telescope (see e.g. Foster et al. 2011). It provides the perfect dataset to test the maser evolutionary timeline due to the targeted lines and the fact that at least one-quarter of the MALT90 sources correspond to maser sites, providing a large enough sample for meaningful analysis. From our preliminary analysis, we find that star formation regions showing similar maser properties also show similar thermal line properties; as would be expected if our evolutionary scenario were accurate.
NIR integral field spectroscopy of high mass young stellar objects
Authors: Murakawa K. , Lumsden S. L. , Oudmaijer R. D. , Davies B. , Hoare M. G.
Published: March 2013

We present K-band Integral Field Spectroscopy of six high mass young stellar objects (IRAS~18151–1208, AFGL~2136, S106~IRS4, V645 Cyg, IRAS~19065+0526, and G082.5682+ 00.4040) obtained using the adaptive optics assisted NIFS instrument mounted on the Gemini North telescope. The targets are chosen from the Red MSX Source survey led by University of Leeds. The data show the spectral features of Brγ, H2, and gas phase CO emissions and absorptions with a spectral resolution of R ≈ 5500, which allow a three-dimensional spectro-astrometric analysis of the line emissions. We discuss the results of the ionized jets and winds, and rotating CO torus.
The Roles of Protostellar Outflow Feedback in Clustered Star Formation
Authors: Nakamura Fumitaka , Li Zhi-Yun
Published: March 2013

We discuss the roles of protostellar outflow feedback in cluster formation using observational data of nearby cluster-forming regions like rho Oph, NGC1333, and Serpens. The observations suggest that observed protostellar outflow feedback appears to be sufficient both to maintain supersonic turbulence and to dynamically support the parent cluster-forming clumps. However, it is not enough to destroy the parent clumps by the current outflow activity. This implies that star formation process may not be too short and probably last at least for several local dynamical times.
Atomic and Molecular Gas in M17 SW
Authors: Pérez-Beaupuits J. P. , Stutzki J. , Güsten R. , Ossenkopf V. , Wiesemeyer H.
Published: March 2013

We probe the spatial distribution of the [C ii] μm fine-structure emission and its association with neutral and molecular gas in a 5′.7 × 3′.7 (∼3.3 × 2.1 pc2) region of the M17 SW nebula. Comparison of velocity-resolved [C ii] emission maps with other atomic and molecular tracers is possible for the first time with the dual band receiver GREAT on board the SOFIA airborne telescope. We detected [C ii] emission in a much broader velocity range than the CO-lines (Pérez-Beaupuits et al. 2012). Only [C ii] narrow channel maps at intermediate velocities (between 10 and 24 kms) show correlations with other molecular gas components, supporting a clumpy cloud scenario. At lower (< 10 kms) and higher (>24 kms) velocities instead, we see more than 60% of the region mapped in [C ii] that is not associated with other tracers of star-forming material, the so called “CO-dark” gas. Interaction with winds and outflows lead to substantial excitation of [C ii] emitting gas, so that ablation and shock-interaction have to be taken into account to model the observed [C ii] emission.
High-resolution Ammonia Mapping of the Protostellar Core Cha-MMS1
Authors: Väisälä Miikka , Harju Jorma , Mantere Maarit , Miettinen Oskari , Walmsley Malcolm
Published: March 2013

The nearby protostellar core Cha-MMS1 has been mapped in the NH3 (1, 1) line and the 1.2 cm continuum using the Australia Telescope Compact Array, ATCA. In addition, observations from Spitzer Space Telescope and Herschel Space Observatory are used to help the interpretation. An elongated condensation with a maximum length of 9000 AU is seen in ammonia. The condensation has a clear velocity gradient directed perpendicularly to the axis of elongation. The gradient can be interpreted as rotation around this axis. We suggest that the observed ammonia structure delineates a rotating envelope and dense gas entrained by a very young protostellar outflow.
Possible triggered star formation associated with SNR G59.5+0.1
Authors: Xu Jin-Long , Wang Jun-Jie
Published: March 2013

We perform the submillimeter/millimeter observations in CO lines toward the southeast of SNR G59.5+0.1 with the KOSMA 3m-Telescope, which fully covers the open cluster NGC 6823. Three molecular clumps are identified in the CO molecular arc, each clump show outflow in motion. The age of the SNR is 8.6×104 yr. The number of selected YSOs are significantly enhanced in the interacting regions, indicating the presence of some recently formed stars.
YSOs in Taurus-Auriga-Perseus and Orion
Authors: Zahorecz Sarolta , Tóth L. Viktor , Marton Gábor , Onishi Toshikazu , Balázs Lajos G. , Fehér Orsolya , Kawamura Akiko , Kitamura Yoshimi , Lisztes Mónika , Nishimura Atsushi , Pásztor László , Pintér Sándor , Rácz István , Tamura Motohide , Sese Rogel M.D. , Ueno Munetaka
Published: March 2013

Physical parameters were derived for 100 young stellar objects in the TAPO region.
Triggered Star Formation from Bubbles S51, N68, and N131
Authors: Zhang C. P. , Wang J. J.
Published: March 2013

We investigated the environment of the infrared dust bubbles S51 (Zhang & Wang 2012a), N68 (Zhang & Wang 2012b), and N131 (Zhang et al. 2012) from catalogue of Churchwell et al. (2006), and searched for evidence of triggered star formation.
Clumps in Lynds 935
Authors: Zhang Shaobo , Xu Ye , Yang Ji
Published: March 2013

We present a map of CO clumps of Lynds 935 and investigate their physical properties.
Massive Star Formation: Radiation Transfer Modeling and Multiwavelength Observation
Authors: Zhang Yichen , Tan Jonathan , McKee Chris , De Buizer James
Published: March 2013

We present a radiation transfer model consistently developed for a core in high pressure environment forming a massive star through core accretion. We compare this model to the massive protostar G35.2-0.74N, including SOFIA observations at 30 and 40μm. Good agreement is achieved, showing that a ~30M⊙ protostar is forming from a high surface density core via relatively ordered collapse and accretion, driving powerful outflows. This result supports the Core Accretion theory which predicts that massive stars form similarly to low-mass stars.
A Molecular Line Survey of CRL 2688 at 1 mm and 3 mm Wavelengths
Authors: Zhang Yong , Kwok Sun , Nakashima Jun-ichi , Trung Dinh-V
Published: March 2013

It is well established that circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) around evolved stars are active sites of molecular synthesis, and CSEs are one of the major sources of chemical enrichment in the interstellar space. The investigation of molecular compositions in CSEs is essential to understand the chemical evolution of the Galaxy. In order to study circumstellar chemistry in different environments, we have been systematically performing molecular line surveys of a sample of evolved stars from asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, proto-planetary nebulae (PPNs), to planetary nebulae (PNs). The dynamical time scales in different evolutionary stages can impose a time limit on the reaction time scales. Here we report our results for CRL 2688.
Modes of star formation from Herschel
Authors: Testi L. , Bressert E. , Longmore S.
Published: March 2013

We summarize some of the results obtained from Herschel surveys of nearby star forming regions and the Galactic plane. We show that in the nearby star forming regions the starless core spatial surface density distribution is very similar to that of the young stellar objects. This, taken together with the similarity between the core mass function and the initial mass function for stars and the relationship between the amount of dense gas and star formation rate, suggest that the cloud fragmentation process defines the global outcome of star formation. This “simple” view of star formation may not hold on all scales. In particular dynamical interactions are expected to become important at the conditions required to form young massive clusters. We describe the successes of a simple criterion to identify young massive cluster precursors in our Galaxy based on (sub-)millimeter wide area surveys. We further show that in the location of our Galaxy where the best candidate for a precursor of a young massive cluster is found, the “simple” scaling relationship between dense gas and star formation rate appear to break down. We suggest that in regions where the conditions approach those of the central molecular zone of our Galaxy it may be necessary to revise the scaling laws for star formation.
The origin and evolution of dense regions in the ISM, and their role in spectral features
Authors: Falceta-Gonçalves Diego
Published: March 2013

In this work we discuss the turbulent evolution of molecular clouds and the formation of dense structures within. Typically, the clumps evolution occurs apart from the secular evolution of the turbulent mother cloud due to its high density and large inertia. Despite of current theoretical assumptions we show, by means of numerical simulations, that the clump lifetimes are greater than previously thought by more than an order of magnitude. The presence of dense and long-lived clumps modifies the spectral line profiles of clouds, which are strongly related to the determination of Larson's relations. We address the main modifications of these if a realistic distribution of dense structures is taken into account.
Similarity and randomness in the molecular clouds associated with Spitzer GLIMPSE Extended Green Objects (EGOs)
Authors: He J. H. , Takahashi S. , Chen X.
Published: March 2013

EGOs are candidates of massive star forming regions that show signatures of outflows. A 1.1mm line survey has been performed to 89 EGOs using the AROSMT. Our high detection rates of H13CO+ 3-2 and SiO 6-5 lines support EGOs to be dense clouds harboring outflows.

Ubiquitous line luminosity linear correlations are found among different kinds of tracer lines: dense gas tracer H13CO+ 3-2, outflow tracer SiO 6-5, mixed dense gas and outflow tracers SO3Σ 65 − 54 and CH3OH lines, and relatively lower density gas tracers 12CO, 13CO, C18O 1-0 (see an example in Fig. 1). This can be explained if a universal similarity of density and thermal structures and probably of shock properties among all these EGO clouds are assumed. Furthermore, the outflow shocks are also required to be produced mainly inside of the natal clouds of the YSOs.

The data scatter of the luminosity (and line width) correlations show a clear trend of worsening across larger cloud substructure size scales or toward larger cloud sizes, which demonstrates the growth of randomness in cloud structures and velocity fields. See more details in our paper (He et al. 2012).
First Census of Galactic Molecular Clouds
Authors: Hojaev Alisher S. , Kovaleva Anna A. , Alimova Nigina R.
Published: March 2013

The first attempt at a census of all molecular clouds (MoC) in the Milky Way observed to date is presented. The catalog of MoC includes all observed and estimated physical parameters. The data will be used to compute a model of the MoC system in the Galaxy.
Herschel Galactic Cold Cloud Core Analysis
Authors: Verebelyi Erika , Pagani Laurent
Published: March 2013

We have compiled a sample of 106 lesser-known cores from the Herschel Galactic Cold Cloud Cores Key Program (Juvela, M. et al. 2007). Based on the assumption, that these represent the crowd of the cold cores in the galaxy well, we have started a deep individual investigation, beginning with a ground-based follow-up and molecular line measurement at IRAM 30m telescope. We present the methods and calculated values of the most important parameters on a selected source: the G130.38+11.25 molecular cloud, which is part of the L1340.
Molecular gas and dust in spiral galaxies
Authors: Wilson Christine D.
Published: March 2013

Several recent surveys (HERACLES, NGLS, KINGFISH, VNGS) have provided us with sensitive high-resolution observations of the molecular gas and dust content in spiral galaxies within 25 Mpc. I review recent results on the molecular gas content and its relation to star formation, as well as on the gas to dust ratio and the dust heating in spiral galaxies. I also present new results on the effect of environment on the molecular gas content of spiral galaxies.
Results of the IRAM M33 Large Program
Authors: Braine Jonathan , Schuster Karl , Gratier Pierre , Druard Clément
Published: March 2013

A very sensitive survey of the CO(2−1) emission of the entire disk of the Local Group galaxy M 33 is virtually complete. Hundreds of clouds down to a mass of 10000M⊙ are detected and we show that the cloud mass function (assuming a constant ratio between CO emission and H2 mass) steepens away from the center of M 33. Through comparison with dust emission and cloud Virial masses, we estimate a N(H2)/ICO factor roughly twice Galactic.
Clues from star-formation histories - does the formation scenario of S0 galaxies depend on their luminosities?
Authors: Barway Sudhanshu , Wadadekar Yogesh , Vaghmare Kaustubh , Kembhavi Ajit
Published: March 2013

Lenticular (S0) galaxies are a morphological transition class between ellipticals and early-type spirals. Recent studies indicate that the formation scenario for lenticular galaxies depends on their near-IR luminosity (Barway et al. 2007;2009;2011). Low-luminosity lenticular galaxies likely formed by the stripping of gas from the disc of late-type spiral galaxies, which in turn formed their pseudo bulges through secular evolution processes, possibly involving multiple episodes of star formation. On the other hand, more luminous lenticulars likely formed at early epochs through a rapid collapse followed by rapid star formation, similar to the formation process of elliptical galaxies, and are characterized by a old coeval stellar population in the bulge. To investigate the imprint of these distinct formation scenarios on stellar populations, we combine GALEX/SDSS/2MASS photometry to construct color-color diagrams for a carefully defined sample of ~400 lenticular galaxies. We divide the sample into bright and faint groups as suggested by Barway et al. (2007). We find the (FUV-NUV) versus (NUV-K) color-color diagram shows larger scatter for faint lenticular galaxies while bright lenticular galaxies show a much tighter relation similar to that of ellipticals. Simple Stellar Population (SSP) analysis shows that ellipticals and bright lenticulars are dominated by a stellar population of age >109 years while faint lenticular galaxies are as young as 108 years, providing evidence for relatively recent star formation activity. Further, if we use the (NUV-r) < 5.4 color criterion to identify galaxies with recent (within 500 Myr) star formation, most faint lenticular galaxies fall into this category; bright lenticulars are mostly quiescent. Most faint lenticular galaxies generally have lower velocity dispersions. If we consider velocity as a virial mass indicator, majority of faint, recently star forming, lenticular galaxies have low virial masses compared to brighter lenticular galaxies. Such systematic differences in star formation history between bright and faint lenticular galaxies are consistent with the expectations from the luminosity dependent formation scenario described above.