bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sorghum growth, root responses, and soil‐solution aluminum and manganese on pH‐stratified sandy soil§
Authors: Miller Gregory , Mamo Martha , Drijber Rhae , Wortmann Charles , Renken Roger
Published: December 2008

A stratified subsurface layer of acidic soil can develop in minimally disturbed soil such as no‐till receiving injection of N fertilizer (e.g., anhydrous ammonia). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of subsurface band treatments in alleviating soluble Al3+ and Mn2+ toxicities on sorghum growth. Soil columns 40 cm in length were packed with soil (Valentine fine sand mixed mesic Typic Ustipsamment and Thurman loamy sand mixed Mesic Udorhentic Haplustoll) with treatments applied at the 10–18 cm depth to mimic soil pH stratification. The treatments at this depth were: (1) entire layer at soil pH of 3.7; (2) band of soil 6 cm wide at pH of 5.8 with the rest of the soil at pH 3.7; (3) band of soil 6 cm wide at pH of 6.3 with the rest of the soil at pH 3.7; and (4) entire layer at soil pH of 5.8. The soil above and below the 10–18 cm depth was at pH 5.8. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) was grown in the soil columns under a controlled environment for 6 weeks. High concentration of Al in soil solution was found in soil at soil pH 3.7 which was overcome by either banding to pH 5.8, 6.3, or having the soil layer at pH 5.8. Treatment with pH of 5.8 throughout the soil 10–18 cm depth produced significantly greater top growth, although all other pH or liming strategies performed better than the soil pH 3.7 treatment. The banded treatments at pH 5.8 and 6.3 allowed roots to grow below the 10–18 cm layer of soil, but root growth was still significantly less than in the soil where the entire soil treatment layer was at pH 5.8. The increase in biomass yield with soil pH of 5.8 in the entire treatment layer was higher compared to band treatment at pH 5.8; however, the lime requirement would be 3.4 times more with liming the entire layer compared to banding a portion of the soil to pH 5.8 and would thus be translated into a higher liming cost.
Fuzzy Galois connections on fuzzy posets
Authors: Yao Wei , Lu Ling‐Xia
Published: December 2008

The concept of fuzzy Galois connections is defined on fuzzy posets with Bělohlávek's fuzzy Galois connections as a special case. The properties of fuzzy Galois connections are investigated. Then the relations between fuzzy Galois connections and fuzzy closure operators, fuzzy interior operators are studied. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
On the Lp–Lq maximal regularity for the linear thermoelastic plate equation in a bounded domain
Authors: Naito Yuka
Published: December 2008

This paper is concerned with the thermoelastic plate equations in a domain Ω:

subject to the boundary condition: u|=Dνu|=θ|=0 and initial condition: (u, ut, θ)|t=0=(u0, v0, θ0). Here, Ω is a bounded domain in ℝn(n≧2). We assume that the boundary ∂Ω of Ω is a C4 hypersurface. We obtain an Lp–Lq maximal regularity theorem. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The preparation and properties of wood flour/high density polyethylene composites by in‐situ reaction extrusion
Authors: Xiong Cheng , Qi Rongrong , Gong Wenjuan
Published: December 2008

The technique of grafting silane by in‐situ extrusion to improve the compatibility between wood flour and high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites was studied. It was found that the silane grafted composites showed enhanced mechanical properties compared to both the coupled and non‐coupled PE‐g‐MAH composites. The effects of silane contents and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) concentrations on the mechanical properties of the composites were investigated in detail. Moreover, the water absorption, morphology and thermal stability of the composites were also investigated. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improved microhardness and microtribological properties of bismaleimide nanocomposites obtained by enhancing interfacial interaction through carbon nanotube functionalization
Authors: Fang Zhengping , Liu Lina , Gu Aijuan , Wang Xinyu , Guo Zhenghong
Published: December 2008

Through the functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by 0,0′‐diallylbisphenol A (DBA), the interface situation between MWCNTs and bismaleimide (BMI) was improved, as detected by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The improved interface situation was considered to be the main reason for the huge increased microhardness value and greatly improved the microtribological property of MWCNTs/BMI composites. Besides, the wear mechanism for the composite was also believed to be related to the interfacial situation. The rough wavelike worn surface of pure BMI resin is attributed to its poor load capacity. The smoother waterfall‐shape worn surface of MWCNTs/BMI is related to the interface formed by the addition of MWCNTs while the ultrasmooth worn surface of DBA modified MWCNTs/BMI is due to the greatly improved interfacial interaction of the composite. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A suite of tools to analyse and publish 2‐DE data
Authors: Hoogland Christine , Walther Daniel , Palagi Patricia M. , Bouchet Gérard , Mostaguir Khaled , Robin Xavier , Appel Ron D. , Lisacek Frédérique
Published: December 2008

Bioinformatics tools may assist scientists in all steps of a typical 2‐DE gel analysis workflow, that is, from the description of the sample preparation protocols, going through the gel image analysis and protein identification, to the publication of Internet‐ready 2‐DE gel databases. This short communication highlights in a single and summarised view, this workflow and the current bioinformatics solutions developed by the Proteome Informatics Group at the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics.
Quantum interference in graphene nanoribbon interferometers
Authors: Zhang Yong , Han Mei , Liang Qifeng
Published: December 2008

The quantum conductance oscillations of the electron interferometers composed of two types of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), i.e. zigzag and metallic armchair edge GNRs, have been calculated by using a tight‐binding‐based Green's function approach. It is shown that, unlike in single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) interferometers, the GNRs have only the fast conductance oscillation period, no slow conductance oscillation period was found for these two types of GNRs (there are two conductance oscillation periods, i.e. fast and slow ones, existing in SWNT interferometers). It is also found that the metallic armchair edge GNRs have invariable conductance oscillation periods near the Dirac point, while the conductance oscillation of the zigzag edge GNRs quickens with decreasing |EF| (Fermi energy) and especially becomes faster near the Dirac point. All these results agree well with those of experimental observations. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Magnetic properties of DyFe2Si2 studied with a two‐ion model for rare‐earth antiferromagnets
Authors: Liu Z.‐S. , Diviš M. , Sechovský V.
Published: December 2008

A two‐ion model for rare‐earth antiferromagnets is proposed and utilized to investigate the magnetic properties of DyFe2Si2 in this work. The theoretical magnetization curves obtained with the model show good agreements with experimental data. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
HPSP‐13: Perspectives and summary remarks
Authors: Weinstein B. A.
Published: December 2008

Highlights of the 13th International Conference on High Pressure Semiconductor Physics (Fortaleza, Brazil, July 2008) are reviewed, along with some historical perspectives about the HPSP conference series, and present plans for the HPSP‐14 meeting in 2010. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Ultrafast photoluminescence spectroscopy of InAs/GaAs quantum dots
Authors: Neudert K. , Trojánek F. , Kuldová K. , Oswald J. , Hospodková A. , Malý P.
Published: December 2008

We report the results of time‐resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy of a double layer quantum dot structure with large spacer distance emitting at 1.3 μm at room temperature. In ultrafast zero‐time photoluminescence spectrum, we identified the transitions in GaAs barrier, in wetting layer and in quantum dots. Identical initial rise times give evidence of simultaneous filling of the quantum dot states. The excitation power dependence of photoluminescence dynamics reveals that the carrier dynamics are controlled by radiative recombination and cascade relaxation in quantum dot states. The overall picture of photoluminescence dynamics is in accord with a low concentration of nonradiative recombination channels in the studied structure which demonstrates its application potential. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Evaluation of tramadol and its main metabolites in horse plasma by high‐performance liquid chromatography/fluorescence and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry techniques
Authors: De Leo Marinella , Giorgi Mario , Saccomanni Giuseppe , Manera Clementina , Braca Alessandra
Published: December 2008

Tramadol is a centrally acting analgesic drug that has been used clinically for the last two decades to treat pain in humans. The clinical response of tramadol is strictly correlated to its metabolism, because of the different analgesic activity of its metabolites.O‐Desmethyltramadol (M1), its major active metabolite, is 200 times more potent at theµ‐receptor than the parent drug. In recent years tramadol has been widely introduced in veterinary medicine but its use has been questioned in some species. The aim of the present study was to develop a new sensible method to detect the whole metabolic profile of the drug in horses, through plasma analyses by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with fluorimetric (FL) and photodiode array electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (PDA‐ESI‐MS) detection, after its sustained release by oral administration (5 mg/kg). In HPLC/FL experiments the comparison of the horse plasma chromatogram profile with that of a standard mixture suggested the identification of the major peaks as tramadol and its metabolites M1 andN,O‐desmethyltramadol (M5). LC/PDA‐ESI‐MS/MS analysis confirmed the results obtained by HPLC/FL and also provided the identification of two more metabolites,N‐desmethyltramadol (M2), andN,N‐didesmethyltramadol (M3). Another metabolite, M6, was also detected and identified. The present findings demonstrate the usefulness and the advantage of LC/ESI‐MS/MS techniques in a search for tramadol metabolites in horse plasma samples. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of 8‐oxo‐2′‐deoxyguanosine and creatinine in murine and human urine by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry: application to chemoprevention studies
Authors: Teichert Friederike , Verschoyle Richard D. , Greaves Peter , Thorpe James F. , Mellon J. Kilian , Steward William P. , Farmer Peter B. , Gescher Andreas J. , Singh Rajinder
Published: December 2008

Urinary 8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydro‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐oxodG) represents a non‐invasive biomarker for oxidative stress and may be useful for monitoring chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive interventions associated with cancer‐related alterations in oxidative stress. We describe the development and validation of two separate liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) selected reaction monitoring (SRM) methods for the determination of 8‐oxodG and creatinine in both murine and human urine using stable isotope labelled internal standards. Levels of 8‐oxodG were normalised to creatinine. The LC/MS/MS methods were applied to two chemoprevention studies utilising tea polyphenols in humans and TRAMP (TRansgenic Adenocarcinoma of the Mouse Prostate) mice. Patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia received 1 g/day of green tea polyphenols (GTP), 1 g/day of black tea theaflavins (BTT) or no treatment for 4 weeks. TRAMP mice received GTP (0.05% in drinking water) for 4 or 25 weeks. Prostate pathology in TRAMP mice was not affected by GTP. Levels of 8‐oxodG were not altered by tea polyphenols in either mice or humans. In TRAMP mice, urinary 8‐oxodG levels were elevated with increasing age (p < 0.0001) but not changed by the presence of prostate tumours. In conclusion, the LC/MS/MS SRM methods described here are ideally suited for the accurate determination of 8‐oxodG and creatinine in urine samples from both clinical and pre‐clinical studies. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Women’s preference for laparoscopic or abdominal hysterectomy
Authors: Kluivers Kirsten B. , Opmeer Brent C. , Geomini Peggy M. , Bongers Marlies Y. , Vierhout Mark E. , Bremer Gérard L. , Mol Ben W.J.
Published: December 2008

In the present study, women’s preferences on advantages and disadvantages of laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) and abdominal hysterectomy (AH) have been studied. Patients’ preferences were evaluated in individual, structured interviews in women scheduled for hysterectomy and questionnaires in nurses. Forty-three patients and 39 nurses were included. After general information, 84% of patients and 74% of nurses preferred LH over AH. This preference did not change after supplying more detailed information or after hysterectomy. The avoidance of complications was indicated as the most important factor in the decision. More than half of the women evaluated a difference of 1% as the maximum acceptable risk of major complications. When confronted with scenarios based on current evidence, both patients and nurses prefer LH over AH. This study supports further implementation of LH in clinical practice. The actual major complication rate in hysterectomy, however, is perceived as high.
Wettability of Aqueous Rhamnolipids Solutions Produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI
Authors: Costa Siddhartha G. V. A. O. , de Souza Sandro R. , Nitschke Marcia , Franchetti Sandra Mara M. , Jafelicci Miguel , Lovaglio Roberta B. , Contiero Jonas
Published: December 2008

The wetting behavior of rhamnolipids produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI strain grown on waste oil substrate and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on glass, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) and polymer blend (PVC–PCL) was investigated by the measuring contact angle of sessile drops, to determine the wetting characteristics of rhamnolipids. The comparison of the wetting profiles showed that at low SDS and rhamnolipid concentrations, the contact angle increased and when the concentration of the surfactant increased further, the contact angle decreased. The blend surface (PVC–PCL) showed better wettability than the homopolymers themselves and the blend changed the surface hydrophobicity of the polymer, making it more hydrophilic. The rhamnolipids produced by the LBI strain exhibited superior wetting abilities than the chemical surfactant SDS one. This is the first work that evaluates the wetting properties of rhamnolipids on polymer blends.
Preparative Separation of cis‐ and trans‐Isomers of Unsaturated Fatty Acid Methyl Esters Contained in Edible Oils by Reversed‐Phase High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Tsuzuki Wakako , Ushida Kaori
Published: December 2008

In order to measure exactly the trans‐fatty acids content in food materials, a preparative group separation of cis‐ and trans‐isomers of unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) was achieved by an isocratic reversed‐phase HPLC (RP‐HPLC) method. The trans‐isomers of 16:1, 18:1, 18:2, 18:3, 20:1 and 22:1 FAMEs were readily separated from the corresponding cis‐isomers by a COSMOSIL Cholester C18 column (4.6 mm I.D. × 250 mm, Nacalai Tesque) or a TSKgel ODS‐100Z column (4.6 mm I.D. × 250 mm, TOSOH), using acetonitrile as the mobile phase. This method was applied for determining the trans‐18:1 fatty acid content in partially hydrogenated rapeseed oil. The methyl esters of cis‐ and trans‐18:1 isomers of the oil were collected as two separate fractions by the developed RP‐HPLC method. Each fraction was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) for both qualitative and quantitative information on its positional isomers. By a combination of RP‐HPLC and GC methods, a nearly complete separation of cis‐ and trans‐18:1 positional isomers was achieved and the trans‐18:1 fatty acid content was able to be evaluated more precisely than is possible by the direct GC method. The reproducibility of cis‐ and trans‐18:1 isomers fractionated by the RP‐HPLC method was better than 98%. These results suggested that the preparative RP‐HPLC method developed in this study could be a powerful tool for trans‐fatty acid analysis in edible oils and food products as an alternative to silver‐ion chromatography.
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with better mental and physical health
Authors: Muñoz Miguel-Angel , Fíto Montserrat , Marrugat Jaume , Covas Maria-Isabel , Schröder Helmut
Published: December 2008

The aim of the present study was to analyse the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and self-perceived mental and physical health function, controlled for confounding effects of age, smoking, BMI, alcohol consumption, educational level, leisure-time physical activity and the presence of chronic conditions. A random sample of the 35–74-year-old population (3910 men and 4285 women) of Gerona, Spain, was examined in 2000 and 2005 in two independent population-based cross-sectional surveys. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated FFQ. The Mediterranean diet score (MDS) was calculated according to tertile distribution of energy-adjusted food consumption considered characteristic for the Mediterranean region. Health-related quality of life was measured using the SF-12 questionnaire. Alcohol consumption, leisure-time physical activity and smoking habits were recorded. Weight and height were measured. Age-adjusted linear regression analysis revealed a significant (P < 0·01) direct association of the MDS with self-reported mental and physical health in both sexes. An increase of 5 units of the MDS was directly associated with changes of 0·74 and 1·15 units in men and women, respectively, in the mental component score after controlling for potential confounders. The age-adjusted direct association of the MDS with self-reported scoring of physical health remained stable after adjusting for several confounders in men but was attenuated in women. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with higher scoring for self-perceived health.
Low dietary intake of β-carotene, α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid is associated with increased inflammatory and oxidative stress status in a Swedish cohort
Authors: Helmersson Johanna , Ärnlöv Johan , Larsson Anders , Basu Samar
Published: December 2008

Fruit and vegetable consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of several diseases including CVD. A part of these effects seen could be linked to anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, although this has not been thoroughly investigated. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of the dietary intake of β-carotene, α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid on in vivo biomarkers of inflammation (PGF2α, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and IL-6 formation) and oxidative stress (F2-isoprostane formation), the two important factors associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. The dietary intake of 704 participants in the Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men (ULSAM) at age 70 years was registered and inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers were quantified 7 years later. The registered dietary intakes of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol were negatively associated linearly and in quartiles with both PGF2α, hsCRP, IL-6 and F2-isoprostanes, where ascorbic acid intake generally was more strongly associated. Dietary intake of β-carotene was only significantly negatively associated with F2-isoprostanes. In conclusion, the present study is the first to suggest that the intake of food rich in antioxidants is associated with reduced cyclo-oxygenase- and cytokine-mediated inflammation and oxidative stress at 7 years of follow-up. These associations could be linked to the beneficial effects of fruit and vegetables observed on CVD.
Clinical severity scores do not predict tolerance to enteral nutrition in critically ill children
Authors: Sánchez César , López-Herce Jesús , Mencía Santiago , Urbano Javier , Carrillo Angel , María Bellón José
Published: December 2008

The objective of the present study was to analyse whether there is a relationship between the clinical severity at the time of starting transpyloric enteral nutrition (TEN) and the onset of digestive tract complications in critically ill children. Between May 2005 and December 2007, we performed a prospective, observational study with the participation of 209 critically ill children aged between 3 d and 17 years and who received TEN. The characteristics of the nutrition and its tolerance were compared with the paediatric risk of mortality (PRISM), the paediatric index of mortality (PIM) and the paediatric logistic organ dysfunction index (PELOD) at the time of starting the nutrition. Higher PRISM and PELOD scores correlated with a later time of starting enteral nutrition, a longer time to reach the maximum daily energy delivery and a longer duration of the TEN. However, the severity scores did not correlate with the maximum energy delivery achieved. Abdominal distension or excessive gastric residues were observed in 4·7 % of the patients and diarrhoea in 4·3 %. The ability of the severity scores to predict diarrhoea was of 0·67 for PRISM, 0·63 for PELOD and 0·60 for PIM-2.The severity scores were not able to predict other digestive tract complications. Higher scores of clinical severity at the time of starting enteral nutrition correlate with a later initiation of the nutrition, a longer time to reach the maximum energy delivery and a longer duration of TEN. However, their ability to predict digestive tract complications is low.
Effects of creatine supplementation on homocysteine levels and lipid peroxidation in rats
Authors: Deminice Rafael , Portari Guilherme Vannucchi , Vannucchi Helio , Jordao Alceu Afonso
Published: December 2008

Hyperhomocysteinaemia is an independent risk factor for CVD. Recent data show a relationship between homocysteine (Hcy) and free radical formation. Since creatine synthesis is responsible for most of the methyl group transfers that result in Hcy formation, creatine supplementation might inhibit Hcy production and reduce free radical formation. The present study investigated the effects of creatine supplementation on Hcy levels and lipid peroxidation biomarkers. Thirty rats were divided into three groups: control group; diet with creatine group (DCr; 2 % creatine in the diet for 28 d); creatine overload plus diet with creatine group (CrO+D; 5 g creatine/kg by oral administration for 5 d+2 % in the diet for 23 d). Plasma Hcy was significantly lower (P < 0·05) in DCr (7·5 (sd1·2) μmol/l) and CrO+D (7·2 (sd1·7) μmol/l) groups compared with the control group (12·4 (sd2·2) μmol/l). Both plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS) (control, 10 (sd3·4); DCr, 4·9 (sd0·7); CrO+D, 2·4 (sd1) μmol/l) and plasma total glutathione (control, 4·3 (sd1·9); DCr, 2·5 (sd0·8); CrO+D, 1·8 (sd0·5) μmol/l) were lower in the groups that received creatine (P < 0·05). In addition, Hcy showed significant negative correlation (P < 0·05) with plasma creatine (r− 0·61) and positive correlation with plasma TBARS (r0·74). Plasma creatine was negatively correlated with plasma TBARS (r− 0·75) and total peroxide (r− 0·40). We conclude that creatine supplementation reduces plasma Hcy levels and lipid peroxidation biomarkers, suggesting a protective role against oxidative damage. Modulating Hcy formation may, however, influence glutathione synthesis and thereby affect the redox state of the cells.
In vivoresponse ofMesocestoides vogaeto human insulin
Authors: CANCLINI L. , ESTEVES A.
Published: December 2008

Successful host invasion by parasitic helminths involves detection and appropriate response to a range of host-derived signals. Insulin signal response pathways are ancient and highly-conserved throughout the metazoans. However, very little is known about helminth insulin signalling and the potential role it may play in host-parasite interactions. The response ofMesocestoides vogae(Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) larvae to human insulin was investigated, focusing on tyrosine-phosphorylation status, glucose content, survival and asexual reproduction rate. Parasite larvae were challenged with different levels of insulin for variable periods. The parameters tested were influenced by human insulin, and suggested a host-parasite molecular dialogue.†
Going native in the north: reconsidering British attitudes during the Franklin search, 1848–1859
Authors: Cavell Janice
Published: December 2008

This article critically examines the assumption that the men of Sir John Franklin's last Arctic expedition died because, influenced by the characteristic British cultural prejudices of their time, they refused to employ Inuit survival skills. Since no detailed records from this expedition have ever been found, there is no direct evidence about the attitudes held or actions taken by its members. The article therefore draws on another source: the very extensive British periodical and newspaper coverage of the Franklin search. The writers who contributed to this literature knew even less than is now known about the events of the last Franklin expedition, but their speculations about the probable fate of the lost explorers reflect the beliefs about the Arctic and its people that prevailed at the time. Especially during the early 1850s, the great majority of periodical writers believed that Franklin and his men had gone native in order to survive. It is therefore evident that there was no cultural stigma attached to adopting the Inuit way of life in times of need.
Arctic indigenous peoples' internationalism: in search of a legal justification
Authors: Loukacheva Natalia
Published: December 2008

This paper focuses on the evolution and development of the legal scope of governance and the right to autonomy in the Arctic context by considering contemporary indigenous internationalism through a legal lens and by employing examples from the Arctic indigenous peoples of Greenland and Nunavut. It argues that depending on national policy, partnerships, and relations, there are possibilities for considering direct international representation, and the participation of autonomous sub-national units or indigenous peoples, as a part of the right to autonomy/self-government or internal self-determination. Since indigenous peoples have a limited legal personality and capacity in international law, the states of which they are a part can take special measures to accommodate their needs.
The European Arctic in US foreign energy policy: the case of the Norwegian high north
Authors: Offerdal Kristine
Published: December 2008

This article examines how US policy makers relate to the European Arctic as an oil and gas region, and more specifically to Norway's efforts to promote the region through its high north policy. The ‘high north’ is defined as the Norwegian and Russian sectors of the Barents Sea. The Norwegian assumption that northern oil and gas is of interest to the international community is tested by analysing and explaining the character of the US approach, with an assessment of whether Norway has succeeded in influencing how the USA views the high north as an energy region. Norway has managed to raise the awareness of the high north as an energy region in Washington, but the interest in the topic has been moderate. Moreover, Norwegian policy makers in the first phase of the high north initiative have misinterpreted US officials' definition of the situation in which Washington's foreign energy policy is developed. Ironically, Norway's ‘exemplary’ energy policy has led to less response than was initially expected, whereas Russia seems to be of significantly greater interest for the USA. With its relatively small resource potential, straightforward investment climate and unclear high north strategy, Norway and its high north do not stand out as very interesting to the USA, which tends to direct more attention to cases in which its oil and gas companies work under more uncertain investment framework conditions in regions with huge energy resources.
The pollination ecology of durian (Durio zibethinus, Bombacaceae) in southern Thailand
Authors: Bumrungsri Sara , Sripaoraya Ekapong , Chongsiri Thanongsak , Sridith Kitichate , Racey Paul A.
Published: December 2008

The floral biology and pollination ecology of durian, Durio zibethinus, were determined in eight semi-wild trees in mixed-fruit orchards in southern Thailand during April-May 2003 and 2005. Flowers open fully at 16h00–16h30 and most androecia drop around 01h00. Anthers dehisce at 19h30–20h00 when the stigmata are already receptive. In a series of pollination experiments, fruit was set in all treatments within 10 d. The greatest pollination success occurred after hand-crossed (76.6%), open (54.4%) and emasculation pollination (53.3%). Consistently, hand-crossed (12.2%), emasculation (8.7%) and open pollination (5.1%) yielded a substantial fruit set 2 mo after the pollination experiments. Very low pollination success in facilitated autogamy suggests that most durian trees are highly self incompatible. No mature fruit was found after insect pollination and automatic autogamy. Fruit bats, especially Eonycteris spelaea, are the major pollinators of this durian although the giant honey bee (Apis dorsata) was the most frequent visitor to the flowers. Bats visited durian flowers at the rate of 26.1 (SD = 20.7) visits per inflorescence per night. Since this semi-wild durian depends on fruit bats as its pollinator, protecting fruit bat populations and their roosts is vital for the production of the durian fruit crop.
Tree growth inference and prediction when the point of measurement changes: modelling around buttresses in tropical forests
Authors: Metcalf C. Jessica E. , Clark James S. , Clark Deborah A.
Published: December 2008

Estimation of tree growth is generally based on repeated diameter measurements. A buttress at the height of measurement will lead to overestimates of tree diameter. Because buttresses grow up the trunk through time, it has become common practice to increase the height of measurement, to ensure that measurements remain above the buttress. However, tapering of the trunk means that increasing measurement height will bias estimates of diameter downward by up to 10% per m of height. This bias could affect inference concerning species differences and climate effects on tree demography and on biomass accumulation. Here we introduce a hierarchical state space method that allows formal integration of data on diameter taken at different heights and can include individual variation, temporal effects or other covariates. We illustrate our approach using species from Barro Colorado Island, Panama, and La Selva, Costa Rica. Results include trends that are consistent with some of those previously reported for climate responses and changes over time, but differ in relative magnitude. By including the full data-set and accounting for bias and variation among individuals and over time, our approach allows for quantification of climate responses and the uncertainty associated with measurements and the underlying growth process.
Contrasting foraging patterns for Africanized honeybees, native bees and native wasps in a tropical agroforestry landscape
Authors: Jha Shalene , Vandermeer John H.
Published: December 2008

Ecological and temporal factors can influence animal foraging patterns and may obscure our understanding of how native and exotic species interact. To understand how such factors affect foraging, the visitation of native and exotic bees and wasps was observed at nectar feeders within Mexican agroforestry systems, while documenting (1) vegetation management (low-shade vs. high-shade coffee), (2) light and floral resource levels and (3) recruiting ability, as measured by the change in visitation between two consecutive experimental days. On day one, Africanized honeybee visitation was significantly greater in low-shade habitats, and native solitary bee abundance was significantly greater in high-shade habitats, while native social bee and solitary wasp visitation were not significantly different between habitat types. After 24 h, Africanized honeybee visitation increased significantly in both habitat types, while native social bee visitation increased significantly only in high-shade coffee. In contrast, native solitary bee and native solitary wasp visitation decreased in both habitat types. Overall, this study reveals that Africanized honeybees exhibit only initial foraging preference for low-shade habitats, while native bees exhibit both initial and delayed recruitment-based foraging preferences for high-shade habitats.
Motion in first language acquisition: Manner and Path in French and English child language*
Authors: HICKMANN MAYA , TARANNE PIERRE , BONNET PHILIPPE
Published: December 2008

Two experiments compared how French vs. English adults and children (three to seven years) described motion events. Given typological properties (Talmy, 2000) and previous results (Choi & Bowerman, 1991; Hickmann, 2003; Slobin, 2003), the main prediction was that Manner should be more salient and therefore more frequently combined with Path (MP) in English than in French, particularly with four types of ‘target’ events, as compared to manner-oriented ‘controls’: motionup/down(Experiment I,N=200) andacross(Experiment II,N=120),arrivalsanddepartures(both experiments). Results showed that MP-responses (a) varied with events and increased with age in both languages, but (b) were more frequent in English at all ages with all events, and (c) were age- and event-specific among French speakers, who also frequently expressed Path or Manner alone. The discussion highlights several factors accounting for responses, with particular attention to the interplay between cognitive factors that drive language acquisition and typological properties that constrain this process from early on.
Self-repair of speech by four-year-old Finnish children
Authors: SALONEN TUULI , LAAKSO MINNA
Published: December 2008

The aim of this study was to examine what four-year-old children repair in their speech. For this purpose, conversational self-repairs (N=316) made by two typically developing Finnish-speaking children (aged 4 ; 8 and 4 ; 11) were examined. The data comprised eight hours of natural interactions videotaped at the children's homes. The tapes were analyzed using conversation analysis. The children made phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical and non-linguistic self-repairs, and also inserted additional material into their utterances. Finnish-speaking children made more syntactic and fewer morphological self-repairs than the previous research on English-speaking children suggests. Furthermore, most self-repairs were found in talk during pretend play. In designing and engaging in such play, the children skilfully used self-repair to match their talk to meet the requirements of different interactive activities and co-participants. Finally, contextual analysis of children's self-repairs showed that these were also socially motivated, and not just related to slips or errors in speech.
What is ‘word understanding’ for the parent of a one-year-old? Matching the difficulty of a lexical comprehension task to parental CDI report
Authors: STYLES SUZY , PLUNKETT KIM
Published: December 2008

Is parental report of comprehension valid for individual words? If so, how well must an infant know a word before their parents will report it as ‘understood’? We report an experiment in which parental report predicts infant performance in a referent identification task at 1 ; 6. Unlike in previous research of this kind (i.e. Houston-Price, Mather & Sakkalou, 2007), infants saw items only once, and image pairs were taxonomic sisters. The match between parental report and infant behaviour provides evidence of the item-level accuracy of both measures of lexical comprehension, and informs our understanding of how British parents interpret standardized Communicative Development Inventories (CDIs).
Viable rabbits derived from oocytes by intracytoplasmic injection of spermatozoa from an infertile male
Authors: Li Qiuyan , Hou Jian , Wang Sheng , Guan Hong , Zhang Nan , Chen Yongfu , An Xiaorong
Published: December 2008

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an assisted fertilization technique and has been widely applied in human medicine to overcome some obstacles of infertility. However, this technology has not yet been used as a mainstream technique for animal production, including the rabbit, due to its limited success. The aim of this study was to improve ICSI techniques and establish an efficient ICSI method for rabbits. Spermatozoa used for ICSI were collected from mature New Zealand white male rabbits. They were washed two to three times with HEPES-buffered TCM199 containing 10% FBS and then mixed with 10% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) prior to microinjection. Oocytes were harvested from superovulated donor rabbits after 14–15 h hCG treatment and were fertilized by microinjection of a single living spermatozoon into the ooplasm of each oocyte without additional activation treatment. A total of 317 injected oocytes resulted in the high survival rate of 86.1%. Among the surviving oocytes, 273 were placed into culture dishes for in vitro development. The fertilization, cleavage and blastocyst rates were 59.0%, 88.2% and 45.3% respectively. Furthermore, ICSI embryos were produced with spermatozoa from an infertile male rabbit, and 21 early-stage embryos (2-cell and 4-cell) were surgically transferred into the oviducts of two adult female rabbits. On day 31 after transfer, one out of the two recipients gave birth to two normal and healthy young rabbits. These results demonstrate that rabbit oocytes can be successfully activated and fertilized by the new ICSI protocol. Spermatozoa derived from infertile rabbits can successful fertilize oocytes and produce offspring by the simple ICSI technique.
OPS vitrification of mouse immature oocytes before or after meiosis: the effect on cumulus cells maintenance and subsequent development
Authors: Suo Lun , Zhou Guang-Bin , Meng Qing-Gang , Yan Chang-Liang , Fan Zhi-Qiang , Zhao Xue-Ming , Fu Xiang-Wei , Wang Yan-Ping , Zhang Qing-Jing , Zhu Shi-En
Published: December 2008

Cryopreservation can cause cumulus cell damage around the immature oocytes, which may result in poor subsequent development. To evaluate the effect of the meiosis stage on the cumulus cell cryoinjury and determine the suitable stage for cryopreservation in immature oocytes, mouse oocytes at germinal vesicle (GV) and germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) stages were vitrified using open pulled straw (OPS) method. Cumulus cells damage was scored immediately after thawing by double-fluorescent staining. The survival rate of the oocytes was evaluated and the subsequent development of oocytes was assessed through in vitro culture (IVC) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) separately. After vitrification, a higher proportion of cumulus cells of GV oocytes were damaged than those of GVBD and untreated control groups. The survival rate of vitrified GVBD oocytes (94.1%) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of GV oocytes (85.4%). Oocytes vitrified at GVBD stage (55.7%) showed similar cleavage rate compared to those at GV stage (49.2%), but significantly higher (p < 0.05) blastocyst rate (40.9% vs. 27.4%). These results demonstrate that oocytes at GVBD stage remain better cumulus membrane integrity and developmental ability during vitrification than those at GV stage, indicating they are more suitable for immature oocytes cryopreservation in mice.
DECOMPOSING GENERALIZED QUANTIFIERS
Authors: WESTERSTÅHL DAG
Published: December 2008

This note explains the circumstances under which a type 〈1〉 quantifier can be decomposed into a type 〈1, 1〉 quantifier and a set, by fixing the first argument of the former to the latter. The motivation comes from the semantics of Noun Phrases (also called Determiner Phrases) in natural languages, but in this article, I focus on the logical facts. However, my examples are taken among quantifiers appearing in natural languages, and at the end, I sketch two more principled linguistic applications.
BELIEF REVISION IN NON-CLASSICAL LOGICS
Authors: GABBAY DOV , RODRIGUES ODINALDO , RUSSO ALESSANDRA
Published: December 2008

In this article, we propose a belief revision approach for families of (non-classical) logics whose semantics are first-order axiomatisable. Given any such (non-classical) logic $L$, the approach enables the definition of belief revision operators for $L$, in terms of a belief revision operation satisfying the postulates for revision theory proposed by Alchourrón, Gärdenfors and Makinson (AGM revision, Alchourrón et al. (1985)). The approach is illustrated by considering the modal logic K, Belnap's four-valued logic, and Łukasiewicz's many-valued logic. In addition, we present a general methodology to translate algebraic logics into classical logic. For the examples provided, we analyse in what circumstances the properties of the AGM revision are preserved and discuss the advantages of the approach from both theoretical and practical viewpoints.
Magenfrühkarzinom oder doch nicht?
Authors: Burri E. , Nüesch R. , Lugli A. , Noll P. , Vavricka S.R.
Published: December 2008

Eine 46-jährige Patientin stellte sich wegen seit einem halben Jahr bestehenden, diffusen Oberbauchbeschwerden vor. In den Abklärungen konnte ein 2 cm grosses Adenokarzinom der Magenhinterwand ohne Hinweise auf eine Metastasierung gefunden werden. Endosonographisch wurde eine Penetration in die Lamina muscularis ausgeschlossen und der Tumor als Magenfrühkarzinom klassifiziert. Die endoskopische Therapie mit submuköser Dissektion musste wegen Blutungskomplikationen abgebrochen und die Patientin mit einer subtotalen Gastrektomie chirurgisch behandelt werden. In der histologischen Aufarbeitung des Resektats fand sich dann allerdings ein hochdifferenzierter neuroendokriner Tumor und die initiale Beurteilung wurde revidiert.
Nicht kontrollierbare Blutdruckspitzen – Phäochromozytom?
Authors: Brendebach St. , Burri E. , Imfeld St. , Jacob A.L. , Zimmerli L.
Published: December 2008

Ein 59-jähriger Patient wurde wegen therapierefraktärer arterieller Hypertonie unter Therapie mit ACE-Hemmer, Diuretika, Calcium-Antagonist und Betablocker zugewiesen. Die Aufzeichnungen seiner Heim-Blutdruckmessungen zeigten wiederholte Blutdruckspitzen bis 180⁄100 mmHg sowie symptomatische Hypotonien von 90 mmHg systolisch nach Medikamenteneinnahme. In der Duplexsonographie konnte eine Stenosierung der rechten Nierenarterie gefunden und mittels perkutaner transluminaler Angioplastie (PTA) mit Stenteinlage behoben werden. Der Blutdruck normalisierte sich im Verlauf und die Blutdruckmedikamente konnten gestoppt werden.
Apatite single‐grain (U‐Th)/He data from Heimefrontfjella, East Antarctica: Indications for differential exhumation related to glacial loading?
Authors: Emmel B. , Jacobs J. , Crowhurst P. , Austegard A. , Schwarz‐Schampera U.
Published: December 2008

Single‐grain (U‐Th)/He ages from two profiles were used to reconstruct the post‐Permian tectonic‐thermal history of basement rocks in Heimefrontfjella, East Antarctica. The (U‐Th)/He ages from one sample collected below the late Carboniferous/Early Permian sedimentary cover rocks indicate Jurassic–Early Cretaceous basement paleotemperatures of ∼40°–60°C due to post‐Permian burial. Combined apatite fission track and (U‐Th)/He analyses from samples of a profile in Sivorgfjella suggest a period of flexural‐related tilting after ∼87 Ma. The timing was further constrained using forward and inverse models of the (U‐Th)/He data. Model results indicate a Cenozoic phase of relatively rapid cooling from ∼40°C to surface temperatures. As the driving mechanism, we propose flexural isostatic rebound due to glacial load during the development of the intracontinental ice sheet in the hinterland of the Heimefrontfjella region.
Role of price and enforcement in water allocation: Insights from Game Theory
Authors: Souza Filho Francisco Assis , Lall Upmanu , Porto Rubem La Laina
Published: December 2008

As many countries are moving toward water sector reforms, practical issues of how water management institutions can better effect allocation, regulation, and enforcement of water rights have emerged. The problem of nonavailability of water to tailenders on an irrigation system in developing countries, due to unlicensed upstream diversions is well documented. The reliability of access or equivalently the uncertainty associated with water availability at their diversion point becomes a parameter that is likely to influence the application by users for water licenses, as well as their willingness to pay for licensed use. The ability of a water agency to reduce this uncertainty through effective water rights enforcement is related to the fiscal ability of the agency to monitor and enforce licensed use. In this paper, this interplay across the users and the agency is explored, considering the hydraulic structure or sequence of water use and parameters that define the users and the agency's economics. The potential for free rider behavior by the users, as well as their proposals for licensed use are derived conditional on this setting. The analyses presented are developed in the framework of the theory of “Law and Economics,” with user interactions modeled as a game theoretic enterprise. The state of Ceara, Brazil, is used loosely as an example setting, with parameter values for the experiments indexed to be approximately those relevant for current decisions. The potential for using the ideas in participatory decision making is discussed. This paper is an initial attempt to develop a conceptual framework for analyzing such situations but with a focus on the reservoir‐canal system water rights enforcement.
Scaling of slope, upslope area, and soil water deficit: Implications for transferability and regionalization in topographic index modeling
Authors: Pradhan Nawa Raj , Ogden Fred L. , Tachikawa Yasuto , Takara Kaoru
Published: December 2008

Development of a generally applicable rainfall‐runoff model and identification of associated model parameters require understanding of connections between physical processes at disparate scales and hydrological similarities between catchments. In this study, we test the hypothesis that understanding of geomorphometric scaling relations can reduce uncertainty when transferring model parameters between catchments when applying the TOPMODEL concept. Scaling relations on contributing area, slope, and contour length were successfully used to scale the topographic index distribution in watersheds located in vastly different regions of the world: Japan, Nepal, Panama, and the United States. Model parameters were identified through calibration of TOPMODEL in the 210‐km2 Kamishiiba catchment in Japan. These parameters were transferred to two Sun Koshi River subcatchments in Nepal, namely, the 850‐km2 Likhu and 620‐km2 Balephi catchments, the 414‐km2 Upper Rio Chagres catchment in Panama, and the 37‐km2 Town Brook catchment in the United States. Results show how a priori estimates of the most sensitive model parameters can be used to make predictions in poorly gauged or ungauged basins with some degree of confidence provided that scale effects are considered. This result hints at the potential universality of the topographic index distribution scaling relations in catchments where runoff is dominated by subsurface flow.