bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distinct intracellular vesicle transport mechanisms are selectively modified by spastin and spastin mutations
Authors: Fuerst Julia C. , Henkel Andreas W. , Stroebel Armin , Welzel Oliver , Groemer Teja W. , Kornhuber Johannes , Bönsch Dominikus
Published: July 2010

Spastin is a microtubule severing ATPase that regulates intracellular and axonal transport of vesicles. Intracellular vesicle trafficking was analyzed in differentiated SH‐SY5Y‐neuroblastoma cells, transfected with spastin wild‐type and three spastin mutations (ΔN, K388R, S44L) to investigate spastin‐mediated effects on the velocity of vesicles, stained with LysoTracker Red®. The vesicle velocity varied considerably between mutations and detailed analysis revealed up to five distinct velocity classes. Microtubule severing by overexpressed wild‐type spastin caused reduced vesicle velocity. S44L and ΔN mutations, which were functionally impaired, showed similar velocities as control cells. K388R‐transfected cells exhibited an intermediate velocity profile. The results support the idea that spastin mutations not only alter axonal transport, but in addition regulate intracellular trafficking in the cell soma as well. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 362–368, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Highly Conducting Polypyrrole/Cellulose Nanocomposite Films with Enhanced Mechanical Properties
Authors: Sasso Claudia , Zeno Elisa , Petit‐Conil Michel , Chaussy Didier , Belgacem Mohamed Naceur , Tapin‐Lingua Sandra , Beneventi Davide
Published: July 2010

PPy was synthesised by oxidative chemical polymerisation using xylan, CMC and NFC as additives. Conducting nanocomposite films were cast from aqueous slurries using doped PPy particles, CMC and NFC as the conducting and reinforcing phase, respectively. NFC‐based composites had higher conductivity and lower mechanical properties than CMC‐based homologues. SEM analysis showed that in PPy/NFC composites, PPy and NFC were arranged in two entangled networks, whereas, in PPy/NFC composites, CMC formed a continuous matrix around PPy particles, thus limiting conductivity. Mechanical properties of nanocomposite films were interpreted as reflecting the presence of different structures when using NFC or CMC as reinforcing phase.

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Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization‐Based Synthesis of CaCO3 Nanoparticle‐Reinforced Polymeric Monoliths for Tissue Engineering
Authors: Weichelt Franziska , Frerich Bernhard , Lenz Solvig , Tiede Stefanie , Buchmeiser Michael R.
Published: July 2010

Porous monolithic materials have been prepared via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization from norborn‐2‐ene and a 7‐oxanorborn‐2‐ene‐based cross‐linker in the presence of porogenic solvents (i.e., 2‐propanol and toluene) and norborn‐2‐enephosphonate surface‐modified CaCO3 nanoparticles, using the 3rd‐generation Grubbs‐initiator RuCl2(Py)2(IMesH2)(CHPh). The experimental setup and the conditions chosen allowed for the manufacturing of polymeric monoliths characterized by a homogeneous distribution of the inorganic nanoparticles throughout the polymeric monolith. Depending on the nanoparticle content, the macropore diameters could be varied in the 30–120 µm regime. Noteworthy, the addition of nanoparticles did not affect the phase separation‐triggered formation of the monolithic matrix nor the meso‐ and microporosity as evidenced by N2‐adsorption experiments.

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Evaluation of the Canadian fire weather index system in an eastern Mediterranean environment
Authors: Dimitrakopoulos A. P. , Bemmerzouk A. M. , Mitsopoulos I. D.
Published: July 2010

The Fire Weather Index module of the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (CFFDRS) was evaluated during two consecutive fire seasons in the Mediterranean environment of Crete, Greece. The Duff Moisture Code (DMC), the Drought Code (DC), the Buildup Index (BUI) and the Fire Weather Index (FWI) were highly correlated to fire occurrence but only moderately to area burned. Logistic regression was applied in order to classify the FWI values into fire danger classes appropriate for the Mediterranean environments, as follows: 0–38 Low, 39–48 Moderate, 49–59 High, > 60 Extreme. The new classification was necessary because the existing Canadian fire danger classes were found inapt for the dry and extremely fire prone eastern Mediterranean climate of Crete. After the modification, the fluctuation of the FWI values predicted more successfully the days of high fire risk, as proved by the actual fire occurrence. High correlation was found between measured litter (L layer) moisture values and those predicted by the Fine Fuel Moisture Code (FFMC). The use of an equilibrium duff moisture content value lower than 20% in Mediterranean environments, would probably improve the Duff Moisture Code (DMC) predictions. The Drought Code (DC) was poorly correlated to the upper soil moisture content. Overall, the FWI demonstrated several aptitudes related to its potential use as a meteorological fire danger rating index in Mediterranean regions. However, long–term studies are necessary to determine the precise range of each fire danger class according to fire occurrence data. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Ligand‐induced changes in the conformational stability and flexibility of glutamate dehydrogenase and their role in catalysis and regulation
Authors: Wacker Sarah A. , Bradley Michael J. , Marion Jimmy , Bell Ellis
Published: July 2010

Bovine glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) is allosterically regulated and requires substrate‐induced subunit interactions for maximum catalytic activity. Steady‐state and presteady‐state kinetics indicate that the rate‐limiting step depends on the nature of the substrate and are likely associated with conformational fluctuations necessary for optimal hydride transfer. Deuterated glutamate shows a steady‐state isotope effect but no effect on the presteady‐state burst rate, demonstrating that conformational effects are rate limiting for hydride transfer while product release is overall rate limiting for glutamate. Guanidine hydrochloride unfolding, heat inactivation, and differential scanning calorimetry demonstrate the effects of alternative substrates, glutamate and norvaline, on conformational stability. Glutamate has little effect on overall stability, whereas norvaline markedly stabilizes the protein. Limited proteolysis demonstrates that glutamate had a variety of effects on local flexibility, whereas norvaline significantly decreased conformational fluctuations that allow protease cleavage. Dynamic light scattering suggests that norvaline stabilizes all interfaces in the hexamer, whereas glutamate had little effect on trimer–trimer interactions. The substrate glutamate exhibits negative cooperativity and complex allosteric regulation but has only minor effects on global GDH stability, while promoting certain local conformational fluctuations. In contrast, the substrate norvaline does not show negative cooperativity or allow allosteric regulation. Instead, norvaline significantly stabilizes the enzyme and markedly slows or prevents local conformational fluctuations that are likely to be important for cooperative effects and to determine the overall rate of hydride transfer. This suggests that homotropic allosteric regulation by the enzymatic substrate involves changes in both global stability and local flexibility of the protein.
The negative effect of distraction on performance of robot‐assisted surgical skills in medical students and residents
Authors: Suh Irene H. , Chien Jung‐Hung , Mukherjee Mukul , Park Shi‐Hyun , Oleynikov Dmitry , Siu Ka‐Chun
Published: July 2010

Background

Modern surgical practice often requires multitasking in operating rooms, generally full of distractions. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of distraction on robot‐assisted surgical skill performance in medical students and residents.

Methods

Fourteen subjects performed a suture‐tying task with the da Vinci™ surgical system with distractive secondary tasks simultaneously. The time to task completion, speed and the total distance travelled were analysed. Two‐way repeated‐measures ANOVA were applied. The scores of secondary tasks were analysed.

Results

A significant secondary task effect was found with an increase of the time to task completion (p = 0.003) and decreased average speed (p < 0.001). The performance of secondary task for residents was significantly better than students.

Conclusions

The performance of a robot‐assisted surgical task was negatively affected by secondary tasks. However, residents with more surgical experience demonstrated a larger attention capacity for multitasking. Therefore, understanding how medical trainees respond to the distractive secondary tasks while performing robot‐assisted surgical task is important in developing a surgical training programme based on the concept of attention. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simple yet stable bearing‐only navigation
Authors: Krajník Tomáš , Faigl Jan , Vonásek Vojtěch , Košnar Karel , Kulich Miroslav , Přeučil Libor
Published: July 2010

This article describes a simple monocular navigation system for a mobile robot based on the map‐and‐replay technique. The presented method is robust and easy to implement and does not require sensor calibration or structured environment, and its computational complexity is independent of the environment size. The method can navigate a robot while sensing only one landmark at a time, making it more robust than other monocular approaches. The aforementioned properties of the method allow even low‐cost robots to effectively act in large outdoor and indoor environments with natural landmarks only. The basic idea is to utilize a monocular vision to correct only the robot's heading, leaving distance measurements to the odometry. The heading correction itself can suppress the odometric error and prevent the overall position error from diverging. The influence of a map‐based heading estimation and odometric errors on the overall position uncertainty is examined. A claim is stated that for closed polygonal trajectories, the position error of this type of navigation does not diverge. The claim is defended mathematically and experimentally. The method has been experimentally tested in a set of indoor and outdoor experiments, during which the average position errors have been lower than 0.3 m for paths more than 1 km long. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of poly(vinyl)pyrrolidone on the zeta potential and water loss of raw and Na‐rich Saudi bentonite
Authors: Al Juhaiman Layla A. , Mekhamer Wafaa K. , Al‐Boajan Abeer M.
Published: July 2010

The influence of poly (vinyl) pyrrolidone (PVP) adsorption on the zeta potential and water loss of raw Saudi bentonite (B) and Na‐rich Saudi bentonite (Na‐B) suspensions was investigated. Phase analysis of raw Saudi bentonite was characterized by XRD, and chemical analysis was investigated by XRF. Adsorption study was performed by patch technique. The zeta potential and water loss of B and Na‐B suspensions were measured at different PVP concentrations. PVP adsorption on B was fitted by Freundlich model. For Na‐B, the adsorption isotherm closely fitted the Langmuir model and showed a higher affinity and greater adsorbed amount of PVP than B. Before addition of PVP the zeta potentials of B and Na‐B suspensions were − 30 and − 41 mV, respectively. In presence of PVP the zeta potential of raw bentonite suspension decreased, then increased with increasing PVP concentration; the reverse trend was observed in the case of Na‐B suspension. The presence of PVP greatly influenced the water loss of B dispersion but had a slight effect in the case of Na‐B. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electrochemical noise analysis of pitting corrosion of J55 steel in NaCl + NaHCO3 electrolytes
Authors: Zhang Jun , Zhao Wenzhen
Published: July 2010

Electrochemical noise (EN) was used to study the pitting corrosion of J55 steel in NaCl/NaHCO3 electrolytes. Below critical ratio for Cl− to HCO−, the corrosion rate increased with added NaCl, and conversely, decreased above that level. Also, the critical ratio was between 1 and 1.66. The PSD for potential and current noise were linear and rather gently sloped. J55 casing steel was quite sensitive to NaCl/NaHCO3 electrolytes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Epileptogenic insult alters endogenous adenosine control on long‐term changes in synaptic strength by theta pattern stimulation in hippocampus area CA1
Authors: Salmani Mahmoud Elahdadi , Fathollahi Yaghoub , Mirnajafizadeh Javad , Semnanian Saeed
Published: July 2010

The impact of theta patterning of the stimulation on the kindling effects of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) was studied in rat hippocampus area CA1 in vitro. A potential involvement of adenosine A1 receptors was also examined. Primed‐bursts stimulation (PBs) and theta pulse stimulation (TPS) were used as patterned activities. Stimulus patterns were applied to the Schaffer collateral afferents of hippocampal slices from both control and PTZ‐kindled rats, the field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSP) and population spikes (PS) were simultaneously recorded from stratum radiatum and stratum pyramidale, respectively. Experiments were carried out in the presence or absence of the adenosine A1 receptor antagonist CPX. The following changes in kindled vs. control slices were observed. PBs was unable to produce both fEPSP LTP and PS LTP in untreated slices. When A1 receptor antagonist CPX was applied before PBs, both fEPSP LTP and PS LTP were elicited. PS LTP was selectively depressed by TPS (applied at 60 min after LTP induction) exclusively when A1 receptors were blocked, while TPS failed to depress PS LTP in untreated PBs‐exposed slices. These findings suggest that seizing entails lasting changes in hippocampus area CA1 so that LTP induction by PBs is masked due to intensive adenosine release which in turn prevents TPS to induce PS LTD in epileptic CA1 network. Synapse, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Philosophy of mind
Authors: Rey Georges
Published: July 2010

Philosophy of mind concerns questions about mental phenomena that empirical research alone can't settle, such as the nature of mental states and which sorts of things can have them—only living things, or also machines? Settling them requires reflection on such phenomena as consciousness, rationality, and intentionality; the ‘explanatory gaps’ that seem to exist between these; and underlying physical phenomena and the different strategies—dualist, eliminativist, physicalist, and functionalist—that have been proposed for dealing with them. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This article is categorized under:

Philosophy > Foundations of Cognitive Science
Nanoimaging for protein misfolding diseases
Authors: Lyubchenko Yuri L. , Kim Bo‐Hyun , Krasnoslobodtsev Alexey V. , Yu Junping
Published: July 2010

Misfolding and aggregation of proteins are widespread phenomena leading to the development of numerous neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's diseases. Each of these diseases is linked to structural misfolding and aggregation of a particular protein. The aggregated forms of the protein induce the development of a particular disease at all levels, leading to neuronal dysfunction and loss. Because protein refolding is frequently accompanied by transient association of partially folded intermediates, the propensity to aggregate is considered a general characteristic of the majority of proteins. X‐ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy have provided important information on the structure of aggregates. However, fundamental questions, such as why the misfolded conformation of the protein is formed, and why this state is important for self‐assembly, remain unanswered. Although it is well known that the same protein under pathological conditions can lead to the formation of aggregates with diverse biological consequences, the conditions leading to misfolding and the formation of the disease prone complexes are unclear, complicating any development of efficient prevention of the diseases. Misfolded states exist transiently, so answering these questions requires the use of novel approaches and methods. Progress has been made during the past few years, when recently developed ensemble methods and single‐molecule biophysics techniques were applied to the problem of the protein misfolding. In this review, the impacts of these studies on the understanding of the mechanisms of the protein self‐assembly into aggregates and on the development of treatments of the diseases are discussed. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2010 2 526–543

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Neurological Disease

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
Did we miss some evidence of chaos in laboratory insect populations?
Authors: Ma Zhanshan (Sam)
Published: July 2010

The collection and documentation of the experimental evidence of chaos in biological populations have always been elusive. We were puzzled by the observation that the most frequently computed demographic parameter for laboratory insect populations, the population intrinsic rate of increase (rm), seems too small to induce chaotic dynamics. For example, when it is directly utilized as an approximation to the parameter (a) of the one‐parameter discrete logistic model, the parameter seems well out of the chaotic range. In a recent reanalysis of our early laboratory demographic data of 1800 Russian wheat aphids (RWA), we discovered that a proper measure unit conversion should be performed to make the link betweenrmand the discrete logistic model. We think that this conversion issue may have been ignored historically in biological literature since we are not aware of any uses of thermin the discussion of chaos. It should be noted thatrmis different from therin discrete logistic model (e.g., May in Nature 261:459–467,1976). Since extensive demographic data purported to estimatermhave been accumulated in literature on population growth, the finding revealed with our RWA experiment data can easily be verified with the published data in literature. We near‐arbitrarily surveyed 10 studies (containing 37 datasets ofrm) published in the literature and archived in JSTOR or BioOne databases to test the conversion, and the results confirmed our finding. The finding should significantly expand the evidence base of chaos in laboratory populations of insects and possibly microorganisms, too.
Reliable management of checkpointing and application data in opportunistic grids
Authors: de Camargo Raphael Y. , Castor Fernando , Kon Fabio
Published: July 2010

Opportunistic computational grids use idle processor cycles from shared machines to enable the execution of long-running parallel applications. Besides computational power, these applications may also consume and generate large amounts of data, requiring an efficient data storage and management infrastructure. In this article, we present an integrated middleware infrastructure that enables the use of not only idle processor cycles, but also unused disk space of shared machines. Our middleware enables the reliable distributed storage of application data in the shared machines in a redundant and fault-tolerant way. A checkpointing-based mechanism monitors the execution of parallel applications, saves periodical checkpoints in the shared machines, and in case of node failures, supports the application migration across heterogeneous grid nodes. We evaluate the feasibility of our middleware using experiments and simulations. Our evaluation shows that the proposed middleware promotes important improvements in grid data management reliability while imposing a low performance overhead.
Venous Thromboembolic Events in the Rehabilitation Setting
Authors: Kelly Brian M. , Yoder Brian M. , Tang Chi‐Tsai , Wakefield Thomas W.
Published: July 2010

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a disease entity that encompasses both deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. During the past decade there have been significant advances in the understanding of prophylaxis and treatment of VTE. There is an extensive research base from which conclusions can be drawn, but the heterogeneity within the rehabilitation patient population makes the development of rigid VTE protocols challenging and overwhelming for the busy clinician. Given the prevalence of this condition and its associated morbidity and mortality, we review the evidence for the prevention, identification, and optimal treatment of VTE in the rehabilitation population. Our goal is to highlight studies that have the most clinical applicability for the care of VTE patients from a physiatrist's perspective. At times, information about acute care protocols is included in our discussion because these situations are encountered during the consultation process that identifies patients for rehabilitation needs.
A participatory approach to the evaluation of the efficiency of animal recording practices based on institutional analysis and development framework
Authors: WASIKE C. B. , KAHI A. K. , PETERS K. J.
Published: July 2010

Animal recording is an interactive process that involves several practices. The efficiency of the process is essential to ensure the utility of outcomes necessary for sustainable participation. Most evaluation approaches define efficiency in economic terms. Animal recording systems lack outputs of direct economic benefits; hence, efficiency evaluation based on utility derived from the records would be more laudable. In that case, a system is considered efficient when outcome-utility-dependent participation is sustained. Approaches for evaluating efficiency based on the utility of outputs are, however, unavailable. The current study presents an approach for evaluating the efficiency of animal recording based on output utility using the institutional analysis and development framework. The approach evaluates efficiency by incorporating institutional issues influencing the operations of the system and its outcomes. It considers animal recording as an action arena with various actors in three action situations, namely: animal identification and registration, pedigree and performance recording and animal evaluation and information utilization. The variables include the positions occupied by actors, their actions, the outcomes associated with the actions, the level of control over choice, available information and the cost and benefits of engagement. As an interactive process, animal recording has rules that order relationships between actors. It also exists within a biophysical system and community whose attributes, combined with the rules, influence the actions and outcomes of recording. These are evaluated by looking at rule formation structures, enforcement and compliance and the level of interaction between the recording system and other biophysical characteristics and the community for their effects on outcomes, their utility and sustainability of recording. Participatory tools, Stakeholder matrix and Venn diagrams are used to identify the variables, quantify their interactions and link them to outputs. The applicability of the approach is tested using a case where information systems are imperfect. The approach successfully identifies missing actors within the action arena, poor rule conformance due to weak enforcement agencies and the absence of rules that govern outcomes and ensure the utility of outcomes as hindrances to the utility of recording and hence the efficiency of the system. It may therefore be used to evaluate the efficiency of systems whose outputs do not have a direct market value and in situations where quantitative market information is scarce.
Inauthentic Sovereignty: Law and Legal Institutions in Manchukuo
Authors: DuBois Thomas David
Published: July 2010

Although Manchukuo is easily dismissed as a puppet of Japan, at the time of its founding, it was one of many examples of a partially sovereign state. Specific compromises of Manchukuo's sovereignty shaped the formation of its domestic institutions, such as the legal sphere, in tangible ways. Manchukuo handed over to Japan the power to staff and ideologically mold its judiciary, while the tutelary attitude that Japan took toward the state was concretely manifested in aspects of Manchukuo penal and civil law, and a surprisingly contentious path to the abrogation of Japanese extraterritoriality. With the outbreak of war, Manchukuo effectively surrendered its national sovereignty to the needs of the Japanese empire, sacrificing its jurisdictional integrity as well. While not denying the deliberate attempt made by Japan to misrepresent the independence of Manchukuo, this article also seeks to understand more precisely how Manchukuo's architects assumed certain limits to state sovereignty, and how this understanding systematically crippled the new state's legal institutions.
Particle impaction on a cylinder in a crossflow as function of Stokes and Reynolds numbers
Authors: HAUGEN NILS ERLAND L. , KRAGSET STEINAR
Published: July 2010

A high-order direct numerical simulation code (The Pencil Code) has been used together with the immersed boundary method on a Cartesian grid to simulate particle impaction on a cylinder in a crossflow. The direct numerical scheme concerns only the fluid flow, into which the particles are subsequently coupled through a one-way drag-coefficient law. The immersed boundary method is extended to work with high-order discretization, and the particle impaction efficiency has been measured for Stokes numbers ranging from 0.001 to 40 for a range of different Reynolds numbers. Three modes of impaction on the front side of the cylinder are identified, where, for the large-Stokes-number mode (St > 0.3), an alternative to the traditional Stokes number is presented that provides better scaling. The intermediate impaction mode has a very steep decrease in impaction efficiency as the Stokes number is decreased, and this is identified as the range of Stokes numbers where the viscous boundary layer starts to take effect. The third mode of front-side impaction is for the very small particles with St < 0.1 exactly following the flow but impacting on the cylinder due to their finite radii. There will not be any capture on the front side of the cylinder for impact angles larger than ~56° for this mode. Finally, it is found that the particle impaction on the back side of the cylinder is strongly dependent on the flow Reynolds number, where large Reynolds numbers lead to larger impaction efficiencies. The upper limiting Stokes number of back-side impaction is around 0.13, apparently irrespective of the Reynolds number.
Defining ‘gratuitous evil’: a response to Alan R. Rhoda
Authors: HASKER WILLIAM
Published: July 2010

In his article, ‘Gratuitous evil and divine providence’, Alan Rhoda claims to have produced an uncontroversial theological premise for the evidential argument from evil. I argue that his premise is by no means uncontroversial among theists, and I doubt that any premise can be found that is both uncontroversial and useful for the argument from evil.
Uses of Eye-Tracking Data in Second Language Sentence Processing Research
Authors: Dussias Paola E.
Published: July 2010

When hearing or reading words and sentences in a second language (L2), we face many uncertainties about how the people and objects referred to are connected to one another. So what do we do under these conditions of uncertainty? Because relatively proficient L2 speakers have access to the grammar and lexicon of each language when comprehending words and sentences or when planning spoken utterances, and because the recent research suggests that these linguistic systems are not entirely independent, there is a critical question about how the knowledge of two languages affects basic aspects of language processing. In this article, I review how eye-tracking methodology has been used as a tool to address this question. I begin by discussing why eye movements are a useful methodology in language processing research, and I provide a description of one experimental paradigm developed to explore eye movements during reading. Second, I present recent developments in the use of eye tracking to study L2 spoken-language comprehension. I also highlight the importance of using multiple measures of online sentence processing by discussing results obtained using a moving window task and eye-tracking records while L2 speakers read syntactically ambiguous relative clauses. Next, I discuss research investigating syntactic processing when L2 speakers process mixed language. I end with suggestions for future research directions.
Second Language Acquisition and Syntactic Theory in the 21st Century
Authors: Liceras Juana M.
Published: July 2010

Syntactic theory has played a role in second language acquisition (SLA) research since the early 1980s, when the principles and parameters model of generative grammar was implemented. However, it was the so-called functional parameterization hypothesis together with the debate on whether second language learners activated new features or switched their value that led to detailed and in-depth analyses of the syntactic properties of many different nonnative grammars. In the last 10 years, with the minimalist program as background, these analyses have diverted more and more from looking at those syntactic properties that argued for or against the various versions of the UG-access versus non-UG-access debate (UG for Universal Grammar) and have more recently delved into the status of nonnative grammars in the cognitive science field. Thus, using features (i.e., gender, case, verb, and determiner) as the basic units and paying special attention to the quality of input as well as to processing principles and constraints, nonnative grammars have been compared to the language contact paradigms that underlie subsequent bilingualism, child SLA, creole formation, and diachronic change. Taking Chomsky's I-language/E-language construct as the framework, this article provides a review of these recent developments in SLA research.
Editor's Introduction
Authors: Polio Charlene
Published: July 2010

This issue is my first edited volume of the Annual Review of Applied Linguistics (ARAL). Each year ARAL focuses on a specific theme, but about every five years it covers a range of mostly unrelated topics in a survey issue. Volume 30 was scheduled to be a survey issue, and after some discussion with the editorial directors, I decided to keep this tradition. Thus, I had the daunting task of choosing four broad topics, and then within each broad topic, a few narrow topics on which to invite scholars to write review articles. I chose a wide range of areas as a statement that I see the field of applied linguistics as not only being broad but as also representing a range of perspectives on theory and research methods. For example, I have included sections both on language socialization and on linguistic theory (mostly formal) in second language acquisition. I felt that these two areas were quite far apart with regard to the view that researchers in those areas held, but in my mind, both social and cognitive approaches to language learning and use are valid and simply seek to answer different questions. In the section on research methods, the articles focus on using both cognitive and social approaches, as well as quantitative and qualitative methods. The articles on heritage language learning focus on acquisition, policy, pedagogy, and sociocultural issues.
A review of stroke outcome measures valid and reliable for administration by postal survey
Authors: Teale Elizabeth A , Young John B
Published: July 2010

Collecting outcome measures by patient or proxy-completed postal survey in stroke research offers a pragmatic and cost-effective alternative to interview-based assessments. The psychometric properties of outcome measures cannot be assumed to be equivalent across methods of questionnaire administration. Many stroke outcome measures have variable or unproven psychometric properties when administered by post. The validity of stroke research that uses postal surveys may be improved through the adoption of questionnaires with acceptable postal psychometric properties. This review identifies 60 reports of quantitative stroke studies using one or more of 36 instruments to collect stroke outcome data by postal survey. Three of these instruments have acceptable psychometric properties for postal administration in stroke populations (the Frenchay Activities Index (FAI), Subjective Index of Physical and Social Outcome (SIPSO) and the EuroQoL (EQ5D)). Two further instruments lack evidence to support proxy reliability (Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living and London Handicap Score), but have otherwise acceptable properties.
A pore way to die: the role of mitochondria in reperfusion injury and cardioprotection
Authors: Halestrap Andrew P.
Published: July 2010

In addition to their normal physiological role in ATP production and metabolism, mitochondria exhibit a dark side mediated by the opening of a non-specific pore in the inner mitochondrial membrane. This mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) causes the mitochondria to breakdown rather than synthesize ATP and, if unrestrained, leads to necrotic cell death. The MPTP is opened in response to Ca2+ overload, especially when accompanied by oxidative stress, elevated phosphate concentration and adenine nucleotide depletion. These conditions are experienced by the heart and brain subjected to reperfusion after a period of ischaemia as may occur during treatment of a myocardial infarction or stroke and during heart surgery. In the present article, I review the properties, regulation and molecular composition of the MPTP. The evidence for the roles of CyP-D (cyclophilin D), the adenine nucleotide translocase and the phosphate carrier are summarized and other potential interactions with outer mitochondrial membrane proteins are discussed. I then review the evidence that MPTP opening mediates cardiac reperfusion injury and that MPTP inhibition is cardioprotective. Inhibition may involve direct pharmacological targeting of the MPTP, such as with cyclosporin A that binds to CyP-D, or indirect inhibition of MPTP opening such as with preconditioning protocols. These invoke complex signalling pathways to reduce oxidative stress and Ca2+ load. MPTP inhibition also protects against congestive heart failure in hypertensive animal models. Thus the MPTP is a very promising pharmacological target for clinical practice, especially once more specific drugs are developed.
CD4+ T cell-mediated fatal hyperinflammatory reactions in mice infected with Penicillium marneffei
Authors: KUDEKEN N , KAWAKAMI K , SAITO A
Published: July 2010

In the present study, we demonstrate that all mice survived when a low dose of Penicillium marneffei was instilled intratracheally, while severe infection induced by instillation of 1 ×108 and 1 ×107 colony-forming units (CFU) killed all and 50% of mice, respectively, within 14 days, although the number of live microorganisms in the lungs of these animals was found to decrease with time. The cellular inflammatory responses in the lungs were much more striking in mice with severe infection than in animals infected with a low dose of microorganisms. The number of leucocytes, macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes in the lungs increased progressively during infection, and were more than 50 times higher on day 11 than in the control count. CD4+ T cells were the predominant cells in the lungs, and played an important role in hyperinflammatory host reactions, because neutralizing anti-CD4 MoAb increased the survival rate in infected mice despite the presence of a high number of live microorganisms in the lungs. Our results indicate that severe infection with P. marneffei induces fatal hyperinflammatory host reactions, mediated to a large extent by CD4+ T cells, although the infection is well controlled. However, the contribution of endogenous tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) remains unsubstantiated, since administration of neutralizing anti-TNF-α MoAb in the present study failed to prolong survival in infected mice.
CaMKII control of spine size and synaptic strength: Role of phosphorylation states and nonenzymatic action
Authors: Pi Hyun Jae , Otmakhov Nikolai , El Gaamouch Farida , Lemelin David , De Koninck Paul , Lisman John
Published: July 2010

CaMKII is an abundant synaptic protein strongly implicated in plasticity. Overexpression of autonomous (T286D) CaMKII in CA1 hippocampal cells enhances synaptic strength if T305/T306 sites are not phosphorylated, but decreases synaptic strength if they are phosphorylated. It has generally been thought that spine size and synaptic strength covary; however, the ability of CaMKII and its various phosphorylation states to control spine size has not been previously examined. Using a unique method that allows the effects of overexpressed protein to be monitored over time, we found that all autonomous forms of CaMKII increase spine size. Thus, for instance, the T286D/T305D/T306D form increases spine size but decreases synaptic strength. Further evidence for such dissociation is provided by experiments with the T286D form that has been made catalytically dead. This form fails to enhance synaptic strength but increases spine size, presumably by a structural process. Thus very different mechanisms govern how CaMKII affects spine structure and synaptic function.
Exploitation of conserved eukaryotic host cell farnesylation machinery by an F-box effector ofLegionella pneumophila
Authors: Price Christopher T.D. , Al-Quadan Tasneem , Santic Marina , Jones Snake C. , Abu Kwaik Yousef
Published: July 2010

Farnesylation involves covalent linkage of eukaryotic proteins to a lipid moiety to anchor them into membranes, which is essential for the biological function of Ras and other proteins. A large cadre of bacterial effectors is injected into host cells by intravacuolar pathogens through elaborate type III–VII translocation machineries, and many of these effectors are incorporated into the pathogen-containing vacuolar membrane by unknown mechanisms. The Dot/Icm type IV secretion system of Legionella pneumophila injects into host cells the F-box effector Ankyrin B (AnkB), which functions as platforms for the docking of polyubiquitinated proteins to the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV) to enable intravacuolar proliferation in macrophages and amoeba. We show that farnesylation of AnkB is indispensable for its anchoring to the cytosolic face of the LCV membrane, for its biological function within macrophages and Dictyostelium discoideum, and for intrapulmonary proliferation in mice. Remarkably, the protein farnesyltransferase, RCE-1 (Ras-converting enzyme-1), and isoprenyl cysteine carboxyl methyltransferase host farnesylation enzymes are recruited to the LCV in a Dot/Icm-dependent manner and are essential for the biological function of AnkB. In conclusion, this study shows novel localized recruitment of the host farnesylation machinery and its anchoring of an F-box effector to the LCV membrane, and this is essential for biological function in vitro and in vivo.
Neutral Dissociation of Superexcited Nitric Oxide Induced by Intense Laser Fields
Authors: Liu Kai , Song Di , Azarm Ali , Chin See-Leang , Kong Fan-ao
Published: July 2010

Superexcited states of NO molecule and their neutral dissociation processes have been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Neutral excited N* and O* atoms are detected by fluorescence spectroscopy for the NO molecule upon interaction with 800 nm intense laser radiation of duration 60 fs and intensity 0.2 PW/cm2. Intense laser pulse causes neutral dissociation of superexcited NO molecule by way of multiphoton excitation, which is equivalent to single photon excitation in the extreme-ultraviolet region by synchrotron radiation. Potential energy curves (PECs) are also built using the calculated superexcited state of NO+. In light of the PECs, direct dissociation and pre-dissociation mechanisms are proposed respectively for the neutral dissociation leading to excited fragments N* and O*.
Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium Data of Carbon Dioxide+Methyl Propionate and Carbon Dioxide+Propyl Propionate Systems
Authors: Xu Wei , Xie Chuan-xin , Li Hong-ling , Tian Yi-ling
Published: July 2010

High-pressure vapor-liquid equilibrium data for the binary systems of methyl propionate+carbon dioxide and propyl propionate+carbon dioxide were measured at pressure from 1.00 MPa to 12.00 MPa and temperature in the range from 313 K to 373 K. Experimental results were correlated with the Peng–Robinson equation of state with the two-parameter van der Waals mixing rule. At the same time, the Henry's coefficient, partial molar enthalpy change and partial molar entropy change of CO2 during dissolution at different temperature were also calculated.
Preparation and Characterization of Nanostructured Ni-TiN Composite Films
Authors: Wang Jie , Cai Chao , Ma Shi-liang , Cao Fa-he , Zhang Zhao , Zhang Jian-qing
Published: July 2010

Ni-TiN nanocomposite films were produced from a Ni plating bath containing TiN nanoparticles by using dc electroplating method. The structure and surface morphology of Ni-TiN composite coatings were analyzed by atom force microscope, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Meanwhile, the anti-corrosion properties, hardness and thermostability of Ni-TiN nanocomposite films were also investigated and compared with the traditional polycrystalline Ni coatings. The results show that, compared with the traditional polycrystalline Ni film, Ni-TiN nanocomposite coatings display much better corrosion resistance, higher film hardness, and thermal stability. In addition, the hardness of Ni-TiN nanocomposite coatings decreases slightly with the increase of electroplating current density, which may be due to the synergism of hydrogen evolution and faster nucleation/growth rate of nickel crystallites.
USE OF MANGANESE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FACE BRICK1
Authors: Seil Gilbert E. , Heiligman H. A.
Published: July 2010

The effects on color of variation in size of manganese particles, composition of the manganese, and of the character of gaseous conditions of firing are discussed.
SOME EXPERIMENTS WITH ZIRCON AND ZIRCONIA REFRACTORIES*
Authors: Comstock George F.
Published: July 2010

This is a record of the results of five years' research on refractory uses for a chemically purified grade of zircon and electrically fused zirconia of high purity. The products investigated included semi‐permanent foundry molds, refractory brick and cements, ladle nozzles, and crucibles. Electric firing and a small oil‐fired tunnel kiln are described. Sintered zircon grog was found superior to electrically fused grog. Zircon brick made with 50% grog, using 20% milled zircon for the permanent bond and fired at 1600OC for an hour, showed no firing shrinkage, very slight volume change, and high compressive strength at 1600°C. They were extremely resistant to spalling but did not resist basic slags or metallic oxides very well at high temperature. Zircon‐bonded magnesite brick were more refractory than ordinary magnesite, more resistant to spalling, and had about the same slag resistance as magnesite. Zirconia was more refractory than zircon and had better slag resistance. Lime‐bonded zirconia crucibles of good spalling resistance were made, but the cost was higher than that of zircon.
HIGH‐TEMPERATURE PREPARATION AND THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF SODIUM ALUMINATE*
Authors: Kammermeyer K. , Peck Albert B.
Published: July 2010

Crystalline sodium aluminate was prepared by heating monomolecular and other mixtures of Na2CO3 and Al2O3 3H2O for varying periods to temperatures up to 1700°C.

The constituents produced were identified by petrographic‐microscopic methods, and new optical data on sodium aluminate was obtained.

Sodium aluminate was found to exist from temperatures below 1100 to above 1700°C, its melting point being above 1700°C.

Small amounts of iron oxide aid the formation of sodium aluminate, especially at the lower temperatures.
Room‐Temperature Preparation of Crystallized Ba1‐χSrχWO4 Solid‐Solution Films by an Electrochemical Method
Authors: Cho Woo‐Seok , Yoshimura Masahiro
Published: July 2010

Films of a complete series of solid‐solution oxides, Ba1‐χSrχWO4 (O ≥X≥ 1), have been prepared on tungsten substrates in an electrolytic solution containing Ba2+ and Sr2+ ions by an electrochemical method at room temperature (25°C). The composition X could easily be controlled by the concentrations of Ba and Sr species in the starting solutions. X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses showed that a complete series of well‐crystallized solid‐solution oxides was formed even at room temperature.
Phase Equilibria and Superconducting Properties of BiSr2YCu2O7 (1212 Phase)
Authors: Kaesche Stefanie , Majewski Peter , Aldinger Fritz
Published: July 2010

Phase equilibria of the quasi‐quaternary system BiO1.5–SrO‐YO1.5–CuO have been studied at a temperature of 950°C in air, with special regard to the 1212 phase. The 1212 phase reveals only very small changes in the cation ratio. Single‐phase samples exist for (Bi0.24–0.36Cu0.42‐0.55)–Sr2Y1.27Cu2Oy compositions. The bismuth‐rich composition of the 1212 phase is in thermodynamic equilibrium with a liquid and the 2212 phase, whereas the copper‐rich composition is in equilibrium with five other phases. The influence of combined calcium and lead doping also has been studied. Exceeding the calcium saturation of the 1212 phase increases the amount of 2212 as a secondary phase. Single‐phase 1212 samples do not show any superconductivity in either the as‐prepared or the post‐annealed state. The only compositions with bulk superconductivity are those with calcium and lead doping after annealing at a temperature of 980°C. The superconductivity is attributed to the 2212 phase crystallizing from the melt during slow cooling.
Oxygen‐Ion Diffusion in a 110 K Phase BiPbSrCaCuO Superconductor
Authors: Zhu Wen , Kuo Chu Kun , Nicholson Patrick S.
Published: July 2010

The oxygen‐ion conductivity of a hot‐pressed 110 K phase (2223) superconductor was determined by using an O2,Pt/ZrO2/110 K phase/ZrO2/Pt,O2 cell and impedance spectroscopy at temperature of 600°‐800°C and oxygen partial pressures (PO2) of 0.21‐0.001 atm (∼21‐0.1 kPa). The oxygen‐ion diffusivities were calculated via the Nerst‐Einstein equation and were greater in air than at PO2= 0.001 atm. Decomposition of the 110 K phase at 800°C and PO2= 0.001 atm increased the bulk diffusivity but had a lesser effect on the grain‐boundary diffusivities. The activation energies for oxygen diffusion, at different PO2 values, have been determined.
Atomistic Simulation Study of Spinel Oxides: Zinc Aluminate and Zinc Gallate
Authors: Pandey Ravindra , Gale Julian D. , Sampath Suresh K. , Recio Jose M.
Published: July 2010

Stoichiometric zinc aluminate (ZnAl2O4) and zinc gallate (ZnGa2O4) are simulated in the framework of the shell model, for which a new set of two‐body interatomic potential parameters has been developed. Using these parameters, a reasonable prediction is made for elastic and dielectric constants of ZnAl2O4 and ZnGa2O4. Both oxides are stable against decomposition to the component oxides. The fitting of the potential energy surface of these oxides to the equation of state yields the bulk modulus and its pressure derivative. The bulk modulus is predicted to be higher in ZnAl2O4 as compared with that in ZnGa2O4, whereas the pressure derivative remains the same in both oxides. On the other hand, the octahedral and tetrahedral volumes of ZnGa2O4 are greater than those of ZnAl2O4. These differences in compressibility behavior can be attributed to the size difference between Al3+ and Ga3+ in the spinel oxides considered here. The calculated formation energies of the native defects suggest the preference of disorder in the cation sublattice over the Schottky and Frenkel defects. Although the degree of disorder is expected to be small, it is likely to influence the vacancy population in the lattice. Finally, deviations from stoichiometry are considered in which a preference for the dissolution of Al2O3/Ga2O3 via the formation of zinc vacancies is predicted relative to that of ZnO in ZnAl2O4/ZnGa2O4.