bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Foaling rates in feral horses treated with the immunocontraceptive porcine zona pellucida
Authors: Ransom Jason I. , Roelle James E. , Cade Brian S. , Coates‐Markle Linda , Kane Albert J.
Published: October 2011

Locally abundant feral horses (Equus caballus) can rapidly deplete available resources. Fertility control agents present promising nonlethal tools for reducing their population growth rates. We tested the effect of 2 forms of the immunocontraceptive porcine zona pellucida (PZP) on foaling rates in 3 populations of feral horses in the western United States. A liquid form requiring annual boosters was administered at Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range, Mesa County (CO), and Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, Bighorn County (WY) and Carbon County (MT), and a time‐release pellet form designed to produce 2 yr of infertility was administered at McCullough Peaks Herd Management Area, Park County (WY). Average foaling rates (foals born/mare‐yr) from direct observation of untreated and treated female horses (mares), 2004–2008, were 60.1% (n = 153 mare‐yr) versus 6.6% (n = 91 mare‐yr) at Little Book Cliffs, and 62.8% (n = 129 mare‐yr) versus 17.7% (n = 79 mare‐yr) at Pryor Mountain, respectively. At McCullough Peaks, mean annual foaling rates from 2006 to 2008 were 75.0% (n = 48 mare‐yr) for untreated mares and 31.7% (n = 101 mare‐yr) for treated mares. Controlling for age of mares and pretreatment differences in fertility, PZP reduced foaling rates in all 3 herds. The pellets used at McCullough Peaks (produced by cold evaporation) were less effective than pellets used in a previous trial and produced by heat extrusion. Immunocontraception with PZP may be a useful tool in reducing fertility rates in some western United States feral horse herds, but population growth reduction will depend on timely access to mares for inoculation and the proportion of mares that can be successfully treated. Published 2011. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Rapid assessment of rice seed availability for wildlife in harvested fields
Authors: Halstead Brian J. , Miller Michael R. , Casazza Michael L. , Coates Peter S. , Farinha Melissa A. , Gustafson K. Benjamin , Yee Julie L. , Fleskes Joseph P.
Published: October 2011

Rice seed remaining in commercial fields after harvest (waste rice) is a critical food resource for wintering waterfowl in rice‐growing regions of North America. Accurate and precise estimates of the seed mass density of waste rice are essential for planning waterfowl wintering habitat extents and management. In the Sacramento Valley of California, USA, the existing method for obtaining estimates of availability of waste rice in harvested fields produces relatively precise estimates, but the labor‐, time‐, and machinery‐intensive process is not practical for routine assessments needed to examine long‐term trends in waste rice availability. We tested several experimental methods designed to rapidly derive estimates that would not be burdened with disadvantages of the existing method. We first conducted a simulation study of the efficiency of each method and then conducted field tests. For each approach, methods did not vary in root mean squared error, although some methods did exhibit bias for both simulations and field tests. Methods also varied substantially in the time to conduct each sample and in the number of samples required to detect a standard trend. Overall, modified line‐intercept methods performed well for estimating the density of rice seeds. Waste rice in the straw, although not measured directly, can be accounted for by a positive relationship with density of rice on the ground. Rapid assessment of food availability is a useful tool to help waterfowl managers establish and implement wetland restoration and agricultural habitat‐enhancement goals for wintering waterfowl. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Using thermosensitive radiotelemetry to document rest and activity in a semifossorial rodent
Authors: Lazerte Stefanie E. , Kramer Donald L.
Published: October 2011

We present a protocol for using temperature records from external thermosensitive radiotransmitters recorded by data‐logging receivers to identify bouts of rest and activity in mammals that sleep in a curled‐up posture. We illustrate the protocol using eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) sampled in the Ruiter Valley Land Trust near Mansonville, Quebec, Canada. Temperatures recorded at intervals of 12–45 min, when chipmunks were in their burrows as well as above ground, displayed sequences of warmer, stable temperatures (assumed to be produced by curled‐up, resting individuals) alternating with sequences of cooler, more variable temperatures (assumed to be produced by active individuals). By sampling points from typical sequences of rest and activity and using regression tree analyses to optimize the distinction between resting and active temperatures, we were able to define bouts of rest and activity. Torpor bouts were also identified by a distinct pattern of decreasing temperatures. Because curled‐up rest did not occur outside the burrow, we were able to validate the assignment of bouts by independent determination of chipmunk locations using handheld telemetry. The proportion of observations of chipmunks outside the burrow correctly classified as active and the proportion of chipmunks classified as resting that were correctly located in their burrows were both high (approx. 96%). For the numerous mammalian species that curl up to rest, continuously recorded thermosensitive telemetry has the potential to provide more precise and reliable data on rest and activity over longer periods, including the night and time in burrows or dens, and with less effort per individual than most alternative techniques. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Protein engineering towards natural product synthesis and diversification
Authors: Zabala Angelica O , Cacho Ralph A , Tang Yi
Published: October 2011

A dazzling array of enzymes is used by nature in making structurally complex natural products. These enzymes constitute a molecular toolbox that may be used in the construction and fine-tuning of pharmaceutically active molecules. Aided by technological advancements in protein engineering, it is now possible to tailor the activities and specificities of these enzymes as biocatalysts in the production of both natural products and their unnatural derivatives. These efforts are crucial in drug discovery and development, where there is a continuous quest for more potent agents. Both rational and random evolution techniques have been utilized in engineering these enzymes. This review will highlight some examples from several large families of natural products.
An improved LC‐MS/MS method for the detection of classic and low excretor glutaric acidemia type 1
Authors: Moore Tereza , Le Anthony , Cowan Tina M.
Published: October 2011

Glutaric acidemia type I (GA1) is associated with elevated glutarylcarnitine (C5DC), typically measured as its butylester by acylcarnitine profile analysis using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and the precursor‐product ion pair of m/z 388‐85. This method neither distinguishes between C5DC and its isomer 3‐hydroxydecanoylcarnitine (C10‐OH) nor reliably detects the low‐excretor variant of GA1, leading to both false‐positive and false‐negative results when testing for GA1. To overcome these limitations, we developed an LC‐MS/MS method that discriminates C5DC from C10‐OH by the use of precursor‐product ion pairs specific for butylated C5DC (m/z 388‐115) and underivatized C10‐OH (m/z 332‐85). The C5DC method was validated over the linearity range of 0.025–20 μM with a lower limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.025 μM. Excellent precision and accuracy were also observed. We tested plasma samples from 10 patients with confirmed GA1 (including 3 with the low‐excretor variant), 21 patients with mild elevations of C5DC or C10‐OH by routine acylcarnitine analysis for which GA1 ultimately was excluded, and 29 normal controls. By using the m/z 388‐115 ion pair, all cases of GA1, including the low‐excretor variant, were reliably distinguished from normal controls. By using the m/z 388‐85 pair, patients with ambiguous elevations of C5DC or C10‐OH demonstrated clearly elevated levels of C10‐OH (m/z 332‐85) but normal C5DC (m/z 388‐115), confirming that the apparent elevation of C5DC is due to interference by C10‐OH. Our method results in excellent detection of GA1, including the low‐excretor variant, and also provides a means to discriminate C5DC and C10‐OH in follow‐up testing and routine acylcarnitine studies.
Black Female Earnings and Income Volatility
Authors: Hardy Bradley L.
Published: October 2011

I provide new evidence on earnings and income volatility among Black women in the United States over the past four decades by using matched data from the March Current Population Survey. I use a measure of total volatility that encompasses both permanent and transitory instability, and that admits labor-force transitions. My results show that, for Black women, earnings volatility fell over the entire period and income volatility rose after the mid 1980s. I also find that changes over time in labor force transitions into and out of work along with an increasing share of Black women continuously employed coincide with shifts in volatility levels and trends. Among Black women, differences in volatility levels emerge across education groups and marital status, though the trends typically remain consistent both across and within racial groups.
How the World Survived the Population Bomb: Lessons From 50 Years of Extraordinary Demographic History
Authors: Lam David
Published: October 2011

The world population will reach 7 billion in late 2011, a demographic milestone that is causing renewed attention to the challenges caused by population growth. This article looks at the last 50 years of demographic change, one of the most extraordinary periods in demographic history. During this period, world population grew at rates that have never been seen before and will almost surely never be seen again. There were many concerns about the potential impact of rapid population growth in the 1960s, including mass starvation in countries such as India, depletion of nonrenewable resources, and increased poverty in low-income countries. The actual experience was very different. World food production increased faster than world population in every decade since the 1960s, resource prices fell during most of the period, and poverty declined significantly in much of the developing world. The article considers the economic and demographic explanations for the surprising successes of this important period in demographic history. It also looks at regions that have been less successful, especially Africa, and at the lessons for dealing with the important challenges that still remain.
Berufliche Teilhabe durch multimodale medizinisch-beruflich orientierte Rehabilitation
Authors: Bethge Matthias , Herbold Désirée , Trowitzsch Lutz , Jacobi Claus
Published: October 2011

Einleitung

Seit den 90er Jahren haben in der orthopädischen Rehabilitation Angebote mit einem stärkeren Arbeits- und Berufsbezug an Bedeutung gewonnen. Der Beitrag stellt eines dieser Programme vor, fasst die vorliegende Evidenz zusammen und skizziert die Erfolgsfaktoren für eine wirksame Umsetzung medizinisch-beruflich orientierter Rehabilitation.
Thirty years' progress in age determination of squid using statoliths
Authors: Arkhipkin Alexander I. , Shcherbich Zhanna N.
Published: October 2011

The discovery thirty years ago of daily growth increments in squid statoliths and the development of statolith ageing techniques gave new insight into squid age, growth and metabolism. The techniques have shown that the majority of recent coleoid cephalopods live in the ‘fast lane’, growing rapidly and completing their life cycles in a year or less. Surprisingly, these useful approaches to the study of age and growth in squid have not gained much momentum. Only approximately an eighth of more than 300 squid species have had their basic age assessed and described. Two dozen species are subject to continuing arguments about which increments to consider as daily growth increments. This paper outlines major problems encountered during age determination of squid and suggests ways to improve the techniques and make them applicable to a wider spectrum of species.
Eating ‘Modernity’: Changing dietary practices in colonial Bengal
Authors: RAY UTSA
Published: October 2011

Colonial transformation of the relations of production contextualized the cultural articulation of a new set of values, prejudices, and tastes for the Bengali Hindu middle class. These cultural values, together with the political and economic conditions of colonialism, formed the habitus of this class. This paper tries to understand this self-fashioning by the middle class through their construction of a ‘Bengali’ cuisine. A distinct enthusiasm for new gastronomic possibilities defined this cuisine, and yet, at the same time, it possessed important elements of continuity from pre-colonial times, evidenced especially in the reinstitution of caste-based norms of gastronomy. The resultant cuisine was cosmopolitan yet still Bengali.
The temptation of suicide: striatal gray matter, discounting of delayed rewards, and suicide attempts in late-life depression
Authors: Dombrovski A. Y. , Siegle G. J. , Szanto K. , Clark L. , Reynolds C. F. , Aizenstein H.
Published: October 2011

Background

Converging evidence implicates basal ganglia alterations in impulsivity and suicidal behavior. For example, D2/D3agonists and subthalamic nucleus stimulation in Parkinson's disease (PD) trigger impulse control disorders and possibly suicidal behavior. Furthermore, suicidal behavior has been associated with structural basal ganglia abnormalities. Finally, low-lethality, unplanned suicide attempts are associated with increased discounting of delayed rewards, a behavior dependent upon the striatum. Thus, we tested whether, in late-life depression, changes in the basal ganglia were associated with suicide attempts and with increased delay discounting.

Method

Fifty-two persons aged ⩾60 years underwent extensive clinical and cognitive characterization: 33 with major depression [13 suicide attempters (SA), 20 non-suicidal depressed elderly] and 19 non-depressed controls. Participants had high-resolution T1-weighted magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient–echo (MPRAGE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Basal ganglia gray matter voxel counts were estimated using atlas-based segmentation, with a highly deformable automated algorithm. Discounting of delayed rewards was assessed using the Monetary Choice Questionnaire (MCQ) and delay aversion with the Cambridge Gamble Task (CGT).

Results

SA had lower putamen but not caudate or pallidum gray matter voxel counts, compared to the control groups. This difference persisted after accounting for substance use disorders and possible brain injury from suicide attempts. SA with lower putamen gray matter voxel counts displayed higher delay discounting but not delay aversion. Secondary analyses revealed that SA had lower voxel counts in associative and ventral but not sensorimotor striatum.

Conclusions

Our findings, although limited by small sample size and the case–control design, suggest that striatal lesions could contribute to suicidal behavior by increasing impulsivity.
Filial responsibility: does it matter for care-giving behaviours?
Authors: CHAPPELL NEENA L. , FUNK LAURA
Published: October 2011

This paper examines the relationship between attitudes of filial responsibility and five different types of care-giving behaviours to parents among three cultural groups. It does so within an assessment of the relative importance of cultural versus structural factors for care-giving behaviours. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 100 Caucasian-Canadians, 90 Chinese-Canadians and 125 Hong Kong-Chinese. Multiple regression analyses assessed the association of cultural and structural factors with behaviours among the total sample and each of the three cultural groups. Limited support was found for an association between care-giving attitudes and care-giving behaviours. Attitudes are related to emotional support only among the two Chinese groups as well as to financial support among Chinese-Canadian respondents and to companionship among Hong Kong-Chinese respondents. Attitudes are not the strongest predictors and are unrelated to assistance with basic and instrumental activities of daily living. However, cultural groupper seis a strong predictor of care-giving behaviours as are: parental ill health, living arrangements, and relationship quality. This study suggests gerontological assumptions about the role of societal norms and personal attitudes in parental care-giving should be questioned. It also suggests the need for further inquiry into unpacking those aspects of ‘cultural group’ that are related to behavioural differences, and the importance of examining multiple types of care-giving behaviours and of distinguishing task-oriented helping behaviour from other types of assistance.
Deciding to move into extra care housing: residents’ views
Authors: BÄUMKER THERESIA , CALLAGHAN LISA , DARTON ROBIN , HOLDER JACQUETTA , NETTEN ANN , TOWERS ANN-MARIE
Published: October 2011

Extra care housing aims to meet the housing, care and support needs of older people, while helping them to maintain their independence in their own private accommodation. In 2003, the Department of Health announced capital funding to support the development of extra care housing, and made the receipt of funding conditional on participating in an evaluative study. Drawing on information collected directly from residents in 19 schemes, this paper presents findings on the factors motivating older people to move to extra care housing, their expectations of living in this new environment, and whether these differ for residents moving to the smaller schemes or larger retirement villages. In total, 949 people responded, 456 who had moved into the smaller schemes and 493 into the villages. Of the residents who moved into the villages most (75%) had not received a care assessment prior to moving in, and had no identified care need. There was evidence that residents with care needs were influenced as much by some of the attractions of their new living environment as those without care needs who moved to the retirement villages. The most important attractions of extra care housing for the vast majority of residents were: tenancy rights, flexible onsite care and support, security offered by the scheme and accessible living arrangements. The results suggest that, overall, residents with care needs seem to move proactively when independent living was proving difficult rather than when staying put is no longer an option. A resident's level of dependency did not necessarily influence the importance attached to various push and/or pull factors. This is a more positive portrayal of residents’ reasons for moving to smaller schemes than in previous UK literature, although moves did also relate to residents’ increasing health and mobility problems. In comparison, type of tenure and availability of social/leisure facilities were more often identified as important by those without care needs in the villages. Therefore, as in other literature, the moves of village residents without care needs seemed to be planned ones mostly towards facilities and in anticipation of the need for care services in the future.
The GRIPP checklist: Strengthening the quality of patient and public involvement reporting in research
Authors: Staniszewska Sophie , Brett Jo , Mockford Carole , Barber Rosemary
Published: October 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop the GRIPP (Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and Public) checklist to enhance the quality of PPI reporting.

Methods: Thematic analysis was used to synthesize key issues relating to patient and public involvement (PPI) identified in the PIRICOM and PAPIRIS systematic reviews. These issues informed the development of the GRIPP checklist.

Results: The key issues identified included limited conceptualization of PPI, poor quality of methods reporting, unclear content validity of studies, poor reporting of context and process, enormous variability in the way impact is reported, little formal evaluation of the quality of involvement, limited focus on negative impacts, and little robust measurement of impact. The GRIPP checklist addresses these key issues.

Conclusion: The reporting of patient and public involvement in health research needs significant enhancement. The GRIPP checklist represents the first international attempt to enhance the quality of PPI reporting. Better reporting will strengthen the PPI evidence-base and so enable more effective evaluation of what PPI works, for whom, in what circumstances and why.
First data on age and sexual maturity of the Tristan klipfish, Bovichtus diacanthus (Bovichtidae) from Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic
Authors: La Mesa Mario , Eastman Joseph T.
Published: October 2011

The Tristan klipfish, Bovichtus diacanthus, an endemic species at Tristan da Cunha Island was successfully aged using whole sagittal otoliths. The annulation pattern was clear, resulting in an alternating combination of opaque and translucent zones that form an annulus. Although sampling limitations did not allow direct validation of annual ring deposition, most otoliths showed a translucent edge, perhaps suggesting that the deposition of translucent zones is a synchronous process which takes place in winter coincident with the spawning season. The reliability of ageing methodology was supported by the good agreement between readings. The maximum age was estimated to be five years in females and four years in males. In order to increase the small number of direct readings, the length at age was back-calculated for each fish by fitting growth curves. The resulting growth of B.diacanthus was described by the von Bertalanffy growth model, as summarized by the following parameters: L∞ = 207.1 mm TL, k = 0.49 per year, and t0 = 0.04 years. The size at which 50% of the population spawns for the first time was c. 147 mm, corresponding to 2.5 years of age.
Computing the Partition Function for Perfect Matchings in a Hypergraph
Authors: BARVINOK ALEXANDER , SAMORODNITSKY ALEX
Published: October 2011

Given non-negative weightswSon thek-subsetsSof akm-element setV, we consider the sum of the productswS1⋅⋅⋅wSmover all partitionsV=S1∪ ⋅⋅⋅ ∪Sminto pairwise disjointk-subsetsSi. When the weightswSare positive and within a constant factor of each other, fixed in advance, we present a simple polynomial-time algorithm to approximate the sum within a polynomial inmfactor. In the process, we obtain higher-dimensional versions of the van der Waerden and Bregman–Minc bounds for permanents. We also discuss applications to counting of perfect and nearly perfect matchings in hypergraphs.
Polly wants a Doha deal: what does the trade community think?
Authors: MESSERLIN PATRICK , VAN DER MAREL ERIK
Published: October 2011

After ten years of negotiations, the Doha ‘Round is on the verge of collapse. At this difficult juncture, it is interesting to get a sense of the mood and thinking of the trade community on three key questions1:

1.

How serious is the situation?

2.

What are the causes of the current stalemate?

3.

What are the best solution(s)

Two recent fora give an opportunity to analyze the answers of 71 observers to these questions at a crucial time, namely the month preceding the collapse of expectations that Doha might be completed by the end of 2011 (from April 1 to May 2, 2011). The CUTS Trade Forum (2011) triggered by Jagdish Bhagwati's op.ed. ‘Polly Wants a Doha Deal’ offered an open discussion forum where the 57 self-selected respondents could make their remarks with no pre-established format. The VoxEU (2011) e-book ‘Why World Leaders Must Resist the False Promise of a Doha Delay’ gathered short chapters written by 14 authors chosen by the e-book editors and willing to contribute. The respondents (all of them with a long experience in trade matters) include academics (25), former and current negotiators (9), lawyers (4), journalists (3), business (3), national civil servants (2) and trade policy experts (25 in total, of whom six are working in international institutions and nine in think tanks). Participants came from all continents: Africa (1), Asia (6), Europe (23), North America (15), Latin America (6), with a few countries particularly well represented (11 from the USA, 4 from Canada, 3 from Australia). The 17 respondents based in Geneva represent a wide range of nationalities.
The village as Cold War site: experts, development, and the history of rural reconstruction
Authors: Sackley Nicole
Published: October 2011

This article examines ‘the village’ as a category of development knowledge used by policymakers and experts to remake the ‘Third World’ during the Cold War. The idea of the village as a universal category of underdevelopment, capable of being remade by expert-led social reform, structured efforts to win the ‘hearts and minds’ of people from Asia to Latin America and Africa. Rooted in a transnational interwar movement for rural reconstruction, village projects were transformed in the 1950s and 1960s by a scientization of development that narrowed the range of experts in the field and by Cold War politics that increasingly tied development to anti-communism and counterinsurgency. From India to Central America, strategic efforts to control rural populations won out over concerns for rural welfare.
Scientific network to decipher crustal evolution of the Arctic
Authors: Pease Victoria , Lane Larry , Faliede Jan Inge , Stephenson Randell , Coakley Bernard
Published: October 2011

The tectonic evolution of the regions in and around the Arctic remains highly debated due to a lack of geologic knowledge, the region's geologic complexities, and the logistical difficulties of working at extreme latitudes. For example, the northward continuation of Paleozoic (∼545‐to 250‐million‐year‐old) mountain belts is predicted yet unrecognized, and the tectonic development of the Canada Basin—which defines the nature of the crust in and around the Arctic—is still debated, partly because few research projects are regional in scope or link the submarine and subaerial environments. This has led some to speculate, for example, that oceanic crust underlies the entire Amerasian Basin, whereas others indicate a much more limited extent within the Canada Basin. A contributing factor in the development of such conflicting hypotheses is the traditional segregation of land‐and marine‐based researchers: Over the past several decades, Arctic campaigns have conducted marine, aerogeophysical, and geological investigations [e.g., Lawver et al., 2010], but few of these have integrated onshore and offshore environments. To address this shortcoming, a new multinational, multidisciplinary science network called the Circum‐Arctic Lithosphere Evolution (CALE) project seeks to integrate onshore geology with offshore geophysics in the Earth's northernmost regions.
Satellite triangulation of thunderstorms, from fading radio fields synchronously recorded on two orthogonal antennas
Authors: Jacobson Abram R. , Shao Xuan‐Min , Holzworth Robert H.
Published: October 2011

Single‐satellite observations of lightning radio emissions normally do not independently provide useful thunderstorm location. The scientific value of these radio waveform recordings is greatly enhanced by knowing at least the approximate location of the source thunderstorm. Since the Very High Frequency radio emissions from lightning are always broadband and usually incoherent, radio interferometry is an obvious approach to direction‐finding the source. However, radio‐interferometry requires separated, deployed antennas, and for decametric radio waves, success with interferometric direction‐finding on a satellite has not yet been reported. We describe a method for approximate location of source thunderstorms, using the statistical fading of the received electric field on two orthogonal, but co‐located, antennas. The method is based on previous work geolocating polarized sources, and we show that it can be adapted efficiently to unpolarized radio fields, which constitute the majority of lightning emissions. We implement the method with dual‐antenna radio recordings from the FORTE satellite, and demonstrate its capabilities using a wide variety of radio data.
The Suckling Hills Fault, Kayak Island Zone, and accretion of the Yakutat microplate, Alaska
Authors: Chapman James B. , Worthington Lindsay L. , Pavlis Terry L. , Bruhn Ronald L. , Gulick Sean P.
Published: October 2011

The Suckling Hills and Kayak Island are isolated mountain blocks located along strike from each other within the foreland of the St. Elias orogen in southern Alaska. These blocks preserve an erosional surface that was deformed by slip on northwest‐dipping reverse faults in the Pleistocene. We suggest that the Suckling Hills Fault and Kayak Island Zone form a segmented fault network that links with the Bering Glacier structure to the north. This fault network separates the central Yakataga fold and thrust belt from complex, multiply deformed structures in the western syntaxis. Ongoing accretion of the Yakutat microplate to North America results in translation of structures of the fold and thrust belt into the western syntaxis. The composite Suckling Hills Fault, Kayak Island Zone, and Bering Glacier structure may have formed because the older structures of the fold and thrust belt were unfavorably oriented within the western syntaxis region. This pattern of deformation provides a template for understanding the complex deformation within the core of the western syntaxis and predicts refolding and straightening of the western syntaxis margin with continued accretion. This study provides an analog for structural overprinting and changing deformation patterns through time in orogenic corners.
Modeling Urban Landscape Dynamics Using Subpixel Fractions and Fuzzy Cellular Automata
Authors: Tang Junmei
Published: October 2011

This study proposes a fuzzy cellular automata model based on the subpixel fractions extracted from multitemporal satellite images and discusses the relationship between sophisticated remote sensing techniques and an urban process model within the socioeconomic dimension. Accordingly, the major objectives of the present research are: (1) to incorporate the subpixel membership derived from remote sensing images into a fuzzy cellular automata model to simulate urban landscape change; (2) to standardize the quantitative method to incorporate subpixel information into a subcell cellular automata model and to find a better way to determine the parameters in the model's development, calibration, and validation. The comparison between the traditional cell-based model and subcell model suggests that the subpixel technique improves the accuracy of both urban mapping and modeling using medium resolution satellite images.
Analysing Evolution of Urban Spatial Structure: A Case Study of Ahmedabad, India
Authors: Adhvaryu Bhargav
Published: October 2011

This paper analyses trends in evolution of the urban spatial structure (or urban form) of the city of Ahmedabad, with two key objectives in mind: to generate a quantitative understanding of the evolution of the spatial structure and use such a quantitative understanding to inform the formulation of alternative planning policies for the future. Time-series population data from the Census of India over three decades have been used, which are usually available in most developing countries. In the case of Ahmedabad, the city exhibits a gradual tendency of dispersal, although compared with some other mid-sized metropolitan areas of the world, it is relatively compact. A discussion on the application of the spatial structure analysis to the formulation of alternative planning policies is included. Such analyses for similar cities in India and the developing world in general could be carried out to produce a useful catalogue of cities. However, this is not the objective of the paper, but in due course such literature could be built up.
Condom social marketing in sub-Saharan Africa and the Total Market Approach
Authors: Chapman Steven , Jafa Krishna , Longfield Kim , Vielot Nadja , Buszin Justin , Ngamkitpaiboon Lek , Kays Megan
Published: October 2011

Background
Social marketing interventions are important in developing nations. Both increasing use and shifting users from receiving subsidised condoms need to be pursued using a Total Market Approach (TMA). This paper reviews the performance of social marketing through a cross-country comparison of condom use, equity and market share, plus a case study illustrating how TMA can be applied. Methods: Demographic and Health Survey data (1998–2007) provide condom use trends, concentration indices and sources of supply by gender for 11 African countries. Service delivery information and market research provide market share data for the same period. For the case study, two-yearly surveys (2001–09) are the source of condom trends, and retail audit data (2007–09) provide sustainability data. Results: Among women, condom use with a non-marital, non-cohabiting partner increased significantly in 7 of 11 countries. For men, 5 of 11 countries showed an increase in condom use. Equity improved for men in five countries and was achieved in two; for women, equity improved in three. Most obtained condoms from shops and pharmacies; social marketing was the dominant source of supply. Data from Kenya were informative for TMA, showing improvements in condom use over time, but sustainability results were mixed and equity was not measured. Overall market value and number of brands increased; however, subsidies increased over time. Conclusions: Condom social marketing interventions have advanced and achieved the goals of improving use and making condoms available in the private sector. It is time to manage interventions and influence markets to improve equity and sustainability.
Anna Akhmanova: Great tips on microtubules
Authors: Sedwick Caitlin
Published: October 2011

Akhmanova studies microtubule plus end–binding proteins and proteins that interact with microtubule motors.
Rheology, Microstructure, and Baking Characteristics of Frozen Dough Containing Rhizopus chinensis Lipase and Transglutaminase
Authors: Li Zhenni , Tang Xiaojuan , Huang Weining , Liu Jerry Gang , Tilley Michael , Yao Yuan
Published: October 2011

The beneficial effects of a new recombinant lipase (Rhizopus chinensis lipase [RCL]) and transglutaminase (TG) were investigated on frozen dough systems and their breadmaking quality. Rheological properties and microstructure of doughs were measured using a dynamic rheometer, rheofermentometer F3, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Measurements of viscoelastic properties showed that both G′ and G″ of dough containing RCL and TG were greater than those of the control after 35 days of frozen storage. The SEM micrographs showed that dough containing RCL and TG had the most starch granules embedded in or attached to the gluten network, and the gluten seemed more powerful and resilient than for the control dough after 35 days of frozen storage. Results of the gas production and dough development tests indicated that RCL and TG improved the rheofermentative characteristics of frozen dough. RCL and TG could improve water‐holding capacity and significantly increase the glycerol content of the control dough. Image analyses showed that bread crumbs containing RCL and TG had a more open network and uniform crumb structure, which resulted in higher specific volume. This combination also yielded a product with higher sensory scores for test breads.
Performance benchmarks of an array-based hand-held photoacoustic probe adapted from a clinical ultrasound system for non-invasive sentinel lymph node imaging
Authors: Kim Chulhong , Erpelding Todd N. , Jankovic Ladislav , Wang Lihong V.
Published: October 2011

Clinical translation of photoacoustic (PA) imaging can be facilitated by integration with commercial ultrasound (US) scanners to enable dual-modality imaging. An array-based US scanner was modified for hand-held PA imaging. The performance was benchmarked in terms of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), axial spatial resolution and sensitivity. PA images of a tube, filled with methylene blue (MB; approx. 30 mM) and placed at various depths in chicken tissue, were acquired. A 5 cm penetration depth was achieved with an 18.6 dB SNR using a laser fluence of 3 mJ cm
−2
, only one-seventh of the safety limit (20 mJ cm
−2
). An axial resolution of approximately 400 μm was maintained at all imaging depths. The PA sensitivity to MB placed 2.3 cm deep in chicken tissue was less than 100 μM. Further, after intradermal injection of MB (approx. 30 mM), a rat sentinel lymph node was clearly identified
in vivo
, beneath a 3.8 cm thick layer of chicken breast. The accumulated concentration of MB in the node was estimated to be approximately 7 mM. The noise-equivalent sensitivities (approx. 2 cm depth) were 17 and 85 μM,
ex vivo
and
in vivo
, respectively. These results support the use of this PA system for non-invasive mapping and image-guided needle biopsy of sentinel nodes in breast cancer patients.
The use of near-infrared spectroscopy in understanding skeletal muscle physiology: recent developments
Authors: Ferrari Marco , Muthalib Makii , Quaresima Valentina
Published: October 2011

This article provides a snapshot of muscle near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) at the end of 2010 summarizing the recent literature, offering the present status and perspectives of the NIRS instrumentation and methods, describing the main NIRS studies on skeletal muscle physiology, posing open questions and outlining future directions. So far, different NIRS techniques (e.g. continuous-wave (CW) and spatially, time- and frequency-resolved spectroscopy) have been used for measuring muscle oxygenation during exercise. In the last four years, approximately 160 muscle NIRS articles have been published on different physiological aspects (primarily muscle oxygenation and haemodynamics) of several upper- and lower-limb muscle groups investigated by using mainly two-channel CW and spatially resolved spectroscopy commercial instruments. Unfortunately, in only 15 of these studies were the advantages of using multi-channel instruments exploited. There are still several open questions in the application of NIRS in muscle studies: (i) whether NIRS can be used in subjects with a large fat layer; (ii) the contribution of myoglobin desaturation to the NIRS signal during exercise; (iii) the effect of scattering changes during exercise; and (iv) the effect of changes in skin perfusion, particularly during prolonged exercise. Recommendations for instrumentation advancements and future muscle NIRS studies are provided.
Spatiotemporal properties of cortical haemodynamic response to auditory stimuli in sleeping infants revealed by multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Taga Gentaro , Watanabe Hama , Homae Fumitaka
Published: October 2011

Multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used as a neuroimaging tool to study functional activation of the developing brain in infants. In this paper, we focus on spatiotemporal dynamics of cortical oxygenation changes during sensory processing in young infants. We use a 94-channel NIRS system to assess the activity of wide regions of the cortex in quietly sleeping three-month-old infants. Auditory stimuli composed of a random sequence of pure tones induced haemodynamic changes not only in the temporal auditory regions, but also in the occipital and frontal regions. Analyses of phase synchronization showed that mutual synchronizations of signal changes among the cortical regions were much stronger than the stimulus-induced synchronizations of signal changes. Furthermore, analyses of phase differences among cortical regions revealed phase advancement of the bilateral temporal auditory regions, and phase gradient in a posterior direction from the temporal auditory regions to the occipital regions and in an anterior direction within the frontal regions. We argue that multi-channel NIRS is capable of detecting the precise timing of cortical activation and its flow in the global network of the developing brain.
Shedding light on the adult brain: a review of the clinical applications of near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Smith Martin
Published: October 2011

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has potential as a non-invasive brain monitor in a wide range of clinical scenarios. In the last decade, there has been a rapid expansion of clinical experience using NIRS to monitor cerebral oxygenation, particularly in cardiac surgery, where there is some evidence that NIRS-guided brain protection protocols might lead to a reduction in peri-operative neurological complications. There are no data to support the wider application of NIRS to monitor cerebral oxygenation during routine anaesthesia and surgery, and its application in brain injury, where it might be expected to have a key monitoring role, is as yet undefined. Technological developments, including the introduction of broadband and time-resolved spectrometers that are capable of reliably measuring changes in oxidized cytochrome
c
oxidase, offer real potential for a single NIRS-based device to provide multi-site, regional monitoring of cerebral metabolic status as well as oxygenation and haemodynamics.
The use of muscle near-infrared spectroscopy in sport, health and medical sciences: recent developments
Authors: Hamaoka Takafumi , McCully Kevin K. , Niwayama Masatsugu , Chance Britton
Published: October 2011

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been shown to be one of the tools that can measure oxygenation in muscle and other tissues
in vivo
. This review paper highlights the progress, specifically in this decade, that has been made for evaluating skeletal muscle oxygenation and oxidative energy metabolism in sport, health and clinical sciences. Development of NIRS technologies has focused on improving quantification of the signal using multiple wavelengths to solve for absorption and scattering coefficients, multiple pathlengths to correct for the influence of superficial skin and fat, and time-resolved and phase-modulated light sources to determine optical pathlengths. In addition, advances in optical imaging with multiple source and detector pairs as well as portability using small wireless detectors have expanded the usefulness of the devices. NIRS measurements have provided information on oxidative metabolism in various athletes during localized exercise and whole-body exercise, as well as training-induced adaptations. Furthermore, NIRS technology has been used in the study of a number of chronic health conditions. Future developments of NIRS technology will include enhancing signal quantification. In addition, advances in NIRS imaging and portability promise to transform how measurements of oxygen utilization are obtained in the future.
Making light work: illuminating the future of biomedical optics
Authors: Elwell Clare E. , Cooper Chris E.
Published: October 2011

In 1996, the Royal Society held a Discussion Meeting entitled ‘Near-infrared spectroscopy and imaging of living systems’. In 2010, this topic was revisited in a Theo Murphy Royal Society Scientific Discussion Meeting entitled ‘Making light work: illuminating the future of biomedical optics’. The second meeting provided the opportunity for leading researchers to reflect on how the technology, methods and applications have evolved over the past 14 years and assess where they have made a major impact. Particular emphasis was placed on discussions of future prospects and associated challenges. This Introduction provides an overview of the state of the art of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and biomedical optics, with specific reference to the contributed papers from the invited speakers included in this issue. Importantly, we also reflect on the contributions from all of the attendees by highlighting the issues raised during oral presentations, facilitated panel sessions and discussions, and use these to summarize the current opinion on the development and application of optical systems for use in the clinical and life sciences. A notable outcome from the meeting was a plan to establish a biennial international conference for developers and users of NIRS technologies.
Methods in diffuse optical imaging
Authors: Arridge Simon R.
Published: October 2011

We describe some modelling and reconstruction methods for optical imaging in the macroscopic and mesoscopic regimes. Beginning with the basic model of radiative transport, we describe the diffusion approximation and its extensions. Some linear and nonlinear problems in diffuse optical imaging are outlined, together with some indications of current trends and future directions.
Recent trends in the intrinsic water-use efficiency of ringless rainforest trees in Borneo
Authors: Loader N. J. , Walsh R. P. D. , Robertson I. , Bidin K. , Ong R. C. , Reynolds G. , McCarroll D. , Gagen M. , Young G. H. F.
Published: October 2011

Stable carbon isotope (
δ
13
C) series were developed from analysis of sequential radial wood increments from AD 1850 to AD 2009 for four mature primary rainforest trees from the Danum and Imbak areas of Sabah, Malaysia. The aseasonal equatorial climate meant that conventional dendrochronology was not possible as the tree species investigated do not exhibit clear annual rings or dateable growth bands. Chronology was established using radiocarbon dating to model age–growth relationships and date the carbon isotopic series from which the intrinsic water-use efficiency (IWUE) was calculated. The two
Eusideroxylon zwageri
trees from Imbak yielded ages of their pith/central wood (±1 sigma) of 670 ± 40 and 759 ± 40 years old; the less dense
Shorea johorensis
and
Shorea superba
trees at Danum yielded ages of 240 ± 40 and 330 ± 40 years, respectively. All trees studied exhibit an increase in the IWUE since AD 1960. This reflects, in part, a response of the forest to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration. Unlike studies of some northern European trees, no clear plateau in this response was observed. A change in the IWUE implies an associated modification of the local carbon and/or hydrological cycles. To resolve these uncertainties, a shift in emphasis away from high-resolution studies towards long, well-replicated time series is proposed to develop the environmental data essential for model evaluation. Identification of old (greater than 700 years) ringless trees demonstrates their potential in assessing the impacts of climatic and atmospheric change. It also shows the scientific and applied value of a conservation policy that ensures the survival of primary forest containing particularly old trees (as in Imbak Canyon and Danum).