bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the ice nucleation spectrum
Authors: Barahona D.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. This work presents a novel formulation of the ice nucleation spectrum, i.e. the function relating the ice crystal concentration to cloud formation conditions and aerosol properties. The new formulation is physically-based and explicitly accounts for the dependency of the ice crystal concentration on temperature, supersaturation, cooling rate, and particle size, surface area and composition. This is achieved by introducing the concepts of ice nucleation coefficient (the number of ice germs present in a particle) and nucleation probability dispersion function (the distribution of ice nucleation coefficients within the aerosol population). The new formulation is used to generate ice nucleation parameterizations for the homogeneous freezing of cloud droplets and the heterogeneous deposition ice nucleation on dust and soot ice nuclei. For homogeneous freezing, it was found that by increasing the dispersion in the droplet volume distribution the fraction of supercooled droplets in the population increases. For heterogeneous ice nucleation the new formulation consistently describes singular and stochastic behavior within a single framework. Using a fundamentally stochastic approach, both cooling rate independence and constancy of the ice nucleation fraction over time, features typically associated with singular behavior, were reproduced. Analysis of the temporal dependency of the ice nucleation spectrum suggested that experimental methods that measure the ice nucleation fraction over few seconds would tend to underestimate the ice nuclei concentration. It is shown that inferring the aerosol heterogeneous ice nucleation properties from measurements of the onset supersaturation and temperature may carry significant error as the variability in ice nucleation properties within the aerosol population is not accounted for. This work provides a simple and rigorous ice nucleation framework where theoretical predictions, laboratory measurements and field campaign data can be reconciled, and that is suitable for application in atmospheric modeling studies.
The changing radiative forcing of fires: global model estimates for past, present and future
Authors: Ward D. S. , Kloster S. , Mahowald N. M. , Rogers B. M. , Randerson J. T. , Hess P. G.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. Fires are a global phenomenon that impact climate and biogeochemical cycles, and mediate numerous interactions between the biosphere, atmosphere and cryosphere. These impacts occur on a range of temporal and spatial scales and are difficult to quantify on a global scale based solely on observations. Here we assess the role of fires in the climate system using model estimates of radiative forcing (RF) from global fires in the preindustrial, present day, and future time periods. Fire emissions of trace gases and aerosols were derived from transient simulations with the Community Land Model and then used in a series of Community Atmosphere Model simulations with representative emissions from the years 1850, 2000, and 2100. Additional simulations were carried out with fire emissions from the Global Fire Emission Database for a present-day comparison. Reduced land carbon storage due to fires suggests a large preindustrial positive RF from atmospheric CO2. This effect of fires also limits the amount of carbon that can be released during the large-scale conversion of forests to agricultural land that took place during the 19th and 20th centuries, resulting in a negative change in RF from fire-emitted CO2 from the year 1850 to 2000. The remaining greenhouse gas forcings from fire emissions (methane, nitrous oxide and ozone) were smaller in magnitude. The indirect radiative effects of fire aerosols on clouds are dominant in the present and future time periods with a negative RF (cooling) of 1.0 W m−2 or greater for all time periods. We also consider the impacts of fire on the aerosol direct effect, land and snow surface albedo, and indirect aerosol effects on biogeochemistry, which lead to small RFs. Overall, we conclude that fires are responsible for an RF of about −1.2 W m−2 in the preindustrial climate (with respect to a preindustrial climate without fires), and human activities have increased the RF of fires by about 0.7 W m−2 from 1850 to 2000 and potentially 0.4 W m−2 from 1850 to 2100 in the model representation by a combination of effects on fire activity and on the background environment in which fires occur. Thus, fires play an important role in both the natural equilibrium climate and the climate perturbed by anthropogenic activity and need to be considered in future climate projections.
Filling-in of near-infrared solar lines by terrestrial fluorescence and other geophysical effects: simulations and space-based observations from SCIAMACHY and GOSAT
Authors: Joiner J. , Yoshida Y. , Vasilkov A. P. , Middleton E. M. , Campbell P. K. E. , Yoshida Y. , Kuze A. , Corp L. A.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. Global mapping of terrestrial vegetation fluorescence from space has recently been accomplished with high spectral resolution (ν/Δν > 35 000) measurements from the Japanese Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT). These data are of interest because they can potentially provide global information on the functional status of vegetation including light-use efficiency and global primary productivity that can be used for global carbon cycle modeling. Quantifying the impact of fluorescence on the O2-A band is important as this band is used for photon pathlength characterization in cloud- and aerosol-contaminated pixels for trace-gas retrievals including CO2. Here, we examine whether fluorescence information can be derived from space using potentially lower-cost hyperspectral instrumentation, i.e., more than an order of magnitude less spectral resolution (ν/Δν ~ 1600) than GOSAT, with a relatively simple algorithm. We discuss laboratory measurements of fluorescence near one of the few wide and deep solar Fraunhofer lines in the long-wave tail of the fluorescence emission region, the calcium (Ca) II line at 866 nm that is observable with a spectral resolution of ~0.5 nm. The filling-in of the Ca II line due to additive signals from various atmospheric and terrestrial effects, including fluorescence, is simulated. We then examine filling-in of this line using the SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) satellite instrument. In order to interpret the satellite measurements, we developed a general approach to correct for various instrumental artifacts that produce false filling-in of solar lines in satellite measurements. The approach is applied to SCIAMACHY at the 866 nm Ca II line and to GOSAT at 758 and 770 nm on the shoulders of the O2-A feature where there are several strong solar Fraunhofer lines that are filled in primarily by vegetation fluorescence. Finally, we compare temporal and spatial variations of SCIAMACHY additive signals with those of GOSAT and the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) from the MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Although the derived additive signals from SCIAMACHY are extremely weak at 866 nm, their spatial and temporal variations are consistent with chlorophyll a fluorescence or another vegetation-related source. We also show that filling-in occurs at 866 nm over some barren areas, possibly originating from luminescent minerals in rock and soil.
Interactions between uptake of amino acids and inorganic nitrogen in wheat plants
Authors: Gioseffi E. , de Neergaard A. , Schjoerring J. K.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. Soil-borne amino acids may constitute a source of nitrogen (N) for plants in various terrestrial ecosystems but their importance for total N nutrition is unclear, particularly in nutrient-rich arable soils. One reason for this uncertainty is lack of information on how the absorption of amino acids by plant roots is affected by the simultaneous presence of inorganic N forms. The objective of the present study was to study absorption of glycine (Gly) and glutamine (Gln) by wheat roots and their interactions with nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) during uptake. The underlying hypothesis was that amino acids, when present in nutrient solution together with inorganic N, may lead to down-regulation of the inorganic N uptake, thereby resulting in similar total N uptake rates. Amino acids were enriched with double-labelled 15N and 13C, while NO3− and NH4+ acquisition was determined by their rate of removal from the nutrient solution surrounding the roots. The uptake rates of NO3− and NH4+ did not differ from each other and were generally about twice as high as the uptake rate of organic N when the different N forms were supplied separately in concentrations of 2 mM. Nevertheless, replacement of 50% of the inorganic N with organic N was able to restore the N uptake to the same level as that in the presence of only inorganic N. Co-provision of NO3− did not affect glycine uptake, while the presence of glycine down-regulated NO3− uptake. The ratio between 13C and 15N were lower in shoots than in roots and also lower than the theoretical values, reflecting higher C losses via respiratory processes compared to N losses. It is concluded that organic N can constitute a significant N-source for wheat plants and that there is an interaction between the uptake of inorganic and organic N.
Anaerobic oxidation of methane in grassland soils used for cattle husbandry
Authors: Bannert A. , Bogen C. , Esperschütz J. , Koubová A. , Buegger F. , Fischer D. , Radl V. , Fuß R. , Chroňáková A. , Elhottová D. , Šimek M. , Schloter M.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. While the importance of anaerobic methane oxidation has been reported for marine ecosystems, the role of this process in soils is still questionable. Grasslands used as pastures for cattle-overwintering show an increase in anaerobic soil micro-sites caused by animal treading and excrement deposition. Therefore anaerobic potential methane oxidation activity of severely impacted soil from a cattle winter pasture was investigated in an incubation experiment under anaerobic conditions using 13C-labeled methane. We were able to detect a high microbial activity utilizing CH4 as nutrient source shown by the respiration of 13CO2. Measurements of possible terminal electron acceptors for anaerobic oxidation of methane were carried out. Soil sulfate concentrations were too low to explain the oxidation of the amount of methane added, but enough nitrate and iron(III) were detected. However, only nitrate was consumed during the experiment. 13C-PLFA analyses clearly showed the utilization of CH4 as nutrient source mainly by organisms harbouring 16:1ω7 PLFAs. These lipids were found in Gram-negative microorganisms and anaerobes. The fact that these lipids are also typical for type I methanotrophs, known as aerobic methane oxidizers, might indicate a link between aerobic and anaerobic methane oxidation.
Trends of streamflow, sediment load and their dynamic relations for the catchments in the middle reaches of the Yellow River in the past five decades
Authors: Gao Z. L. , Fu Y. L. , Li Y. H. , Liu J. X. , Chen N. , Zhang X. P.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. To control severe soil erosion on the Loess Plateau, China, a great number of soil conservation measures have been adopted since 1950s and subsequently, the "Grain for Green" project has been implemented from 1999. The measures and the project result in a large scale land use/cover change (LUCC). Understanding the impacts of the measures and the project on streamflow, sediment load and their dynamic relation is essential as the three elements are closely related to the sustainable catchment management strategy on the Loess Plateau. The data for seven selected catchments in the middle reaches of the Yellow River were used and standardized with precipitation and the controlling area for analysis. Nonparametric Mann-Kendall test and Pettitt test were employed to detect trends and change points of the annual streamflow and annual sediment load. Simple linear regressions for the monthly streamflow and sediment load from May to October were made to express their dynamic relation. Based on the change point identification and the time when the project began to implement on the Loess Plateau, the whole time for the data records was divided into three periods to compare the change extents in streamflow, sediment load and their dynamic relation between catchments. Results show that there are three types of responses in streamflow, sediment load, and their dynamic relations for the seven catchments. The effects of the LUCC on streamflow, sediment load, and their dynamic relation are greatest in the three transition zone catchments with the two rocky mountain catchments followed. The effects are much weaker in the two loess hilly-gully catchments. In general, the change extents for sediment load are much greater than those for streamflow, which results in the increasingly weakening trends of statistical significance for the dynamic relation between the periods.
Understanding the major causes of Islamic finance under-development in Tunisia
Authors: Bougatef Khemaies , Teraoui Hedia Jaouadi , Kaddour Amira
Published: April 2012

The main purpose of this paper is to determine the major causes of the underdevelopment of Islamic finance in Tunisia. Indeed, it’s surprising to note that Zitouna bank established in May 2010 is the first Islamic Tunisian bank although 99% of Tunisians are Muslim and Islam is the religion of the State according to the Constitution.So we rely in our paper on the opinions of number of professors of finance and economics as educated people to prove or reject our hypothesis that the underdevelopment of Islamic finance in Tunisia can be explained by the ignorance of its main principles and advantages. Ours findings reveal that this branch of finance is still largely unknown, not only from public but also from professionals. The results obtained surprisingly show that this insignificance of Islamic banking cannot be explained by the fact that Tunisia has been governed since her independence by a secular left-wing party. Indeed, only 3% of respondents believe that legislation and regulation in Tunisia represent an obstacle to the development of Islamic finance. Moreover, respondents are not very optimistic about the future role of Islamic financing.
Examining a PhD Thesis: Lessons Learned?
Authors: Md. Ali Azham , Yusof Hamidah
Published: April 2012

A recent experience in being an external examiner for a PhD thesis was a most distressful experience which went on for a period of several months covering four distinct phases: pre exam, written exam, oral exam and post viva. This paper focuses on the findings of the written exam phase. It is also concerned with the various benchmarks that examiners may use in judging the quality of a PhD thesis. These standards are extracted from 17 web sources chosen from among several hundred websites of reputable overseas institutions. All this and more were earlier covered in the fifty plus pages of a single space thesis examining report completed prior to the oral exam. Interested parties may learn several valuable lessons from this experience. This could perhaps help to ensure the Malaysian hope to be a center of excellence in higher education shall come true sooner rather than later.
The relevance of the information about intangibles: Some determinants
Authors: Brahim Houneida Ben , Arab Mounira Ben
Published: April 2012

This study treats the issue of the relevance of the accounting information about intangibles (assets and expenditures). Our findings show that the relevance is found and determined by the introduction of other information. This information represents the financial constraints as motivation of manipulation and the implication degree of managers due to granted stocks options. Under low level of financial constraints, the investor judges that the value of intangibles assets recognized in the balance sheet is reliable but this information remains widely insufficient to modify its valuation. However, this low level transmit to the market a signal of the failure of the R&D projects because it is predicted that these projects will be unable to realize sufficient future cash flows to honor the financial commitments of the company. Besides, we found that the information about recognized intangible assets and R&D expenditures is well appreciated by the market for the firms which grant more stocks options. So, the granting of stocks options represents a signal to the market on the efficiency of the managers and their implication in the risk of the committed investments.
Behavioral Loyalty and Attitudinal Loyalty: Malaysian’s Intention on Counterfeit Clothing and Footwear
Authors: Cheng San Annie Ng , Yee Choy Johnn
Published: April 2012

Purpose: The research aim to clarify the relationship of brand loyalty: attitudinal and behavioral loyalty with the Malaysian purchase intention on pirated clothing and footwear in order to gain better understanding in developing advance countermeasure.Design/ Methodology/ Approach: A quantitative research is used to obtain the first hand information. 380 sets of personally- administrated questionnaires were distributed in Malaysia -Penang’s Batu Ferringhi Night Market. A variety of statistical analysis techniques were used.Findings: The findings suggested brand loyalty: attitudinal and behavioral have a significant relationship with the purchase intention of counterfeit products. Under the two brand loyalty concepts, the behavioral loyalty had a greater negative association with the consumer intention on counterfeit.  Practical implications: The paper provided in dept knowledge about the consumers motivation on counterfeit products and the information of marketing intelligence strategy-branding which available for the marketers and genuine manufacturers in better eradicate the counterfeit activities.Research Limitations: The paper was primarily focus on the counterfeit clothing and footwear. Although the focus and sample size is adequate and accepted but the generalizability of study may be limited and cannot consider as representative collectively for the whole of Malaysia and other pirated products. Secondly, the quantitative research used had limited the further insight of other unknown variables or factors that do not included.
Corporate Social Responsibility of Private Banks in Bangladesh: Expectations, Achievements and Challenges
Authors: Hossain Sarker Fouad
Published: April 2012

This paper examines people’s understanding, expectations and assessment of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of private banks, especially Dutch-Bangla Bank Ltd. (DBBL), one of the largest private banks in Bangladesh. This study has been conducted among the stakeholders and beneficiaries of the Dutch Bangla Bank Limited. Surveys have been conducted using structured questionnaires to critically examine the subjective perceptions of the meaning, reasons and various aspects of CSR tasks of DBBL in Bangladesh. It has been found out that common people either do not have clear understanding about CSR activities or are not really concerned about the social responsibilities of the corporate organizations. The expected outcome of CSR activities, as has been stated in the memorandum and commitments of the corporate houses, has yet to be achieved. This study suggests that a more comprehensive and humane involvement of the common people in the CSR activities is required, which would not only fulfill the intended goals and objectives of the corporate organizations but also ensure a successful and sustainable development of the society.
Atlantic historical migrations, 1500–1965
Authors: Keeling Drew
Published: April 2012

Over three‐quarters of the present‐day population of the Western Hemisphere are descended from people who crossed the Atlantic to settle there during the last five centuries. World historian Patrick Manning draws the larger global exent of the enslavement of Africans and forced migration to the New World following initial capture and transportation. He emphasizes the importance of tobacco and sugar production in the slave trade within the Americas from 1700 to 1850. This broad, diverse, and long‐lived human relocation helped to reshape the global economy, and studies of it have furthered the theoretical and practical understanding of modern mass migration generally.
Borderlands
Authors: Chen Xiangming
Published: April 2012

Borderlands and migration are invariably interlinked and mutually reinforcing. Borderlands are connected geographic spaces around politically drawn boundaries or historically and ethnically linked frontiers that facilitate and sustain human migration. Migration refers to human mobility across spaces and borders of different kinds, both within and across national countries, while it varies with and between opportunities and obstacles presented by different borders and borderlands. This essay provides an overview of borderlands as both the crucial spaces where migration occurs and as an important shaper of migration, past and present. To understand the formation of borderlands, we recognize fully the importance of world history, and processes that have occurred independent of the influence of Europe. Historian Patrick Manning recognizes the compelling necessity of drawing from geographic regions throughout the world in understanding migration and the construction of borderlands (Manning 2012).
Social Aggression and Resource Conflict Across the Female Life‐Course in the Bolivian Amazon
Authors: Rucas Stacey L. , Gurven Michael , Winking Jeffrey , Kaplan Hillard
Published: April 2012

This work explores sources of conflict among forager‐horticulturalist women in Amazonian Bolivia, and applies life history theory as a tool for understanding competitive and cooperative social networking behaviors among women. In this study, 121 Tsimane women and girls were interviewed regarding current and past disagreements with others in their community to identify categories of contested resources that instigate interpersonal conflicts, often resulting in incidences of social aggression. Analysis of frequency data on quarrels (N = 334) reveals that women target several diverse categories of resources, with social types appearing as frequently as food and mates. It was also found that the focus of women's competition changes throughout the life‐course, consistent with the notion that current vs. future reproduction and quantity‐quality trade‐offs might have different influences on competition and social conflict over resources within women's social networks across different age groups. Aggr. Behav. 38:194–207, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Belief in a Just World, Teacher Justice, and Bullying Behavior
Authors: Donat Matthias , Umlauft Sören , Dalbert Claudia , Kamble Shanmukh V.
Published: April 2012

The relation between school students’ belief in a just world (BJW) and their bullying behavior was investigated in a questionnaire study. The mediating role of teacher justice was also examined. Data were obtained from a total of N = 458 German and Indian high school students. Regression analyses revealed that the more strongly students believed in a personal just world and the more they evaluated their teachers’ behavior toward them personally to be just, the less bullying behavior they reported. Moreover, students with a strong BJW tended to evaluate their teachers’ behavior toward them personally to be more just, and the experience of teacher justice mediated the relation between BJW and less bullying perpetration. This pattern of results was as expected and consistent across different cultural contexts. It persisted when neuroticism, sex, and country were controlled. The adaptive functions of BJW and implications for future school research are discussed. Aggr. Behav. 38:185–193, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mesocylindrical Aluminosilica Monolith Biocaptors for Size‐Selective Macromolecule Cargos
Authors: El‐Safty S. A. , Shenashen M. A. , Ismael M. , Khairy M.
Published: April 2012

Immobilization of biological macromolecules, such as protein, onto solid supports is an important method for diagnostic assays andgenetechnology. This present study reports the size‐selective adsorption/removal of virtual proteins that have different shapes, sizes, functions, and properties, such as insulin, cytochrome c, lysozyme, myoglobin, β‐lactoglobin, α‐amylase, hemoglobin, and myosin in aqueous water using mesobiocaptor monoliths. To prevent large proteins from adsorbing and remaining attached to adsorbent surfaces, large, open, cylindrical‐pored, three‐dimensional cubic aluminosilica mesostructures with large aluminum contents and micrometer‐sized monolith particles were fabricated. The unique physical properties and the surface functionality of the mesobiocaptors enhance protein adsorption characteristics in terms of loading capacity and quantity of the sample, ensuring a higher concentration of adsorbed proteins, interior pore diffusivity, and encapsulation in a short period. Thermodynamic studies indicate that protein adsorption into the mesobiocaptor pores is favorable and spontaneous. Theoretical models were used to investigate the major driving forces for the most optimal performance of the protein adsorption. The geometrical findings point to key factors, such as surface energy, intermolecular forces, charge distribution, hydrophobicity, and electrostatic interaction, which might control the adsorption into the interior large, open cylindrical mesobiocaptor cavities (sized 3–16 nm) without aggregation of these proteins on the exterior surfaces of monoliths. Indeed, the availability of adsorption of single proteins from mixtures based on size‐ and shape‐selective separation opens new avenues of research in encapsulation of proteins and bioanalysis.
Efficacy of the pedicled nasoseptal flap without cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion for repair of skull base defects: incidence of postoperative CSF leaks
Authors: Eloy Jean Anderson , Kuperan Arjuna B. , Choudhry Osamah J. , Harirchian Sanaz , Liu James K.
Published: April 2012

Background:

The advances in endoscopic skull base surgery have led to the resection of increasingly larger cranial base lesions and the creation of larger skull base defects with the potential for increased postoperative high‐flow cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. These concerns led to the development of the vascularized pedicled nasoseptal flap (PNSF), which is now used as the mainstay for repair of large skull base defects in many academic centers. In this report, we review the incidence of postoperative CSF leaks in our institution in patients undergoing endoscopic skull base repair of high‐flow CSF leaks with a vascularized PNSF without concurrent CSF diversion.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective analysis at our tertiary care medical center on patients who underwent endoscopic repair of high‐flow CSF leaks using a PNSF without CSF diversion between July 2008 and August 2011. Repair materials, incidence of postoperative CSF leaks, and demographic data were collected.

Results:

Fifty‐nine high‐flow CSF leaks were repaired with a PNSF and other repair materials, without the use of lumbar catheter drainage. No postoperative CSF leak occurred in this cohort of patients. The overall postoperative CSF leak rate was 0%.

Conclusion:

Meticulous multilayer‐closure of skull base defects is critical to prevent postoperative CSF leaks. Although lumbar drainage may be useful in select scenarios, it carries inherent risks of intracranial hypotension and pneumocephalus, and may not be necessary for routine management of high‐flow CSF leaks in conjunction with a robust PNSF. Further prospective randomized controlled studies may be warranted to evaluate the efficacy of postoperative lumbar drainage. © 2012 ARS‐AAOA, LLC.
High‐resolution computed tomography analysis of the medial infratemporal fossa: a pilot study
Authors: Eloy Jean Anderson , Reyes Samuel A. , Germani Ross , Liu James K. , Casiano Roy R.
Published: April 2012

Background:

The medial aspect of the infratemporal fossa (ITF) can be accessed endoscopically. Two important landmarks to help guide dissection in this area have previously been identified: the anterior border of the foramen ovale (AFO) and the “bony bridge” (BB), a consistent bridge of bone between the foramen ovale and spinosum. We conducted a pilot study using high‐resolution computed tomography (HRCT) to measure the distances to these structures.

Methods:

Thirty measurements were acquired from 15 adult patients undergoing HRCT scans of the sinuses. The position of the anterior nasal spine (ANS), AFO, and BB on the 3 orthogonal planes were identified by 3 observers. Euclidian distances between each of these structures were calculated. A cadaveric dissection was performed and images were acquired to provide an endoscopic view.

Results:

Fifteen HRCT scans of the sinuses (8 females) were analyzed. The mean distances from the ANS to the AFO and BB were 78.5 ± 5.9 mm and 83.2 ± 6.0 mm, respectively. For males alone, these distances were 80.3 ± 4.3 mm and 85.3 ± 4.8 mm, respectively, and in females 77.0 ± 6.5 mm and 81.4 ± 6.7 mm, respectively.

Conclusion:

Average distance from the ANS to the AFO and BB was 78.5 mm and 83.2 mm, respectively. These measurements can be used by endoscopic skull base surgeons to guide dissection in the ITF. © 2012 ARS‐AAOA, LLC.
DPM2‐CDG: A muscular dystrophy–dystroglycanopathy syndrome with severe epilepsy
Authors: Barone Rita , Aiello Chiara , Race Valérie , Morava Eva , Foulquier Francois , Riemersma Moniek , Passarelli Chiara , Concolino Daniela , Carella Massimo , Santorelli Filippo , Vleugels Wendy , Mercuri Eugenio , Garozzo Domenico , Sturiale Luisa , Messina Sonia , Jaeken Jaak , Fiumara Agata , Wevers Ron A. , Bertini Enrico , Matthijs Gert , Lefeber Dirk J.
Published: April 2012

Objective:

Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are a group of metabolic diseases due to defects in protein and lipid glycosylation. We searched for the primary defect in 3 children from 2 families with a severe neurological phenotype, including profound developmental delay, intractable epilepsy, progressive microcephaly, severe hypotonia with elevated blood creatine kinase levels, and early fatal outcome. There was clinical evidence of a muscular dystrophy–dystroglycanopathy syndrome, supported by deficient O‐mannosylation by muscle immunohistochemistry.

Methods:

Biochemical and molecular methods were combined to pinpoint the defect in the glycosylation pathway in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Results:

Metabolic investigations revealed CDG‐I, pointing to a defect in protein N‐glycosylation in the endoplasmic reticulum. Analysis of lipid‐linked oligosaccharides in fibroblasts showed accumulation of Dol‐PP‐GlcNAc2‐Man5. DNA analysis revealed mutations in DPM2, 1 of the subunits of the dolichol‐phosphate‐mannose (DPM) synthase; the patient in the first family is compound heterozygous for 2 mutations (c.68A>G, predicting a missense mutation p.Y23C and c.4‐1G>C, a splice mutation), whereas the patients in the second family are homozygous for the same missense mutation (c.68A>G, p.Y23C).

Interpretation:

We describe a new CDG, due to a deficiency of DPM2. Hence, mutations have now been described in the genes for the 3 subunits of DPM: DPM1, DPM2, and DPM3, whereby DPM2‐CDG links the congenital disorders of glycosylation to the congenital muscular dystrophies. ANN NEUROL 2012;72:550–558
An asymptotic approach for a semi‐Markovian inventory model of type (s, S)
Authors: Khaniyev Tahir , Kokangul Ali , Aliyev Rovshan
Published: April 2012

In this study, we constructed a stochastic process (X(t)) that expresses a semi‐Markovian inventory model of type (s, S) and it is shown that this process is ergodic under some weak conditions. Moreover, we obtained exact and asymptotic expressions for the nth order moments (n = 1,2,3, … ) of ergodic distribution of the process X(t), as S − s → ∞ . Finally, we tested how close the obtained approximation formulas are to the exact expressions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correlation of magnetic AC field on cardiac myocyte Ca2+ transients at different magnetic DC levels
Authors: Fixler Dror , Yitzhaki Smadar , Axelrod Alexander , Zinman Tova , Shainberg Asher
Published: April 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of extremely low frequency and weak magnetic fields (WMF) on cardiac myocyte Ca2+ transients, and to explore the involvement of potassium channels under the WMF effect. In addition, we aimed to find a physical explanation for the effect of WMF on cardiac myocyte Ca2+ transients. Indo‐1 loaded cells, which were exposed to a WMF at 16 Hz and 40 nT, demonstrated a 75 ± 4% reduction in cytosolic Ca2+ transients versus control. Treatment with the KATP channel blocker, glibenclamide, followed by WMF at 16 Hz exposure, blocked the reduction in cytosolic calcium transients while treatment with pinacidil, a KATP channel opener, or chromanol 293B, a selective potassium channel blocker of the delayed rectifier K+ channels, did not inhibit the effect. Based on these finding and the ion cyclotron resonance frequency theory, we further investigated the effect of WMF by changing the direct current (DC) magnetic field (B0). When operating different DC magnetic fields we showed that the WMF value changed correspondingly: for B0 = 44.5 µT, the effect was observed at 17.05 Hz; for B0 = 46.5 µT, the effect was observed at 18.15 Hz; and for B0 = 49 µT the effect was observed at 19.1 Hz. We can conclude that the effect of WMF on Ca2+ transients depends on the DC magnetic field level. Bioelectromagnetics 33:634–640, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Overview of two‐norm (L2) and one‐norm (L1) Tikhonov regularization variants for full wavelength or sparse spectral multivariate calibration models or maintenance
Authors: Kalivas John H.
Published: April 2012

Building a multivariate calibration model is typically accomplished using partial least squares, principal component regression, or ridge regression, also derived as the standard form of Tikhonov regularization (TR). These approaches can be used in a full variable mode (full wavelengths for spectroscopic data) or with wavelength selection (bands and/or individual for sparse models). Calibration maintenance is an important aspect of multivariate calibration and describes the situation of maintaining acceptable predictions from a model over time. In terms of TR, this amounts to updating an existing model (determined under primary conditions) to handle new secondary conditions such as a new instrument, sample matrix, or environmental conditions. This paper overviews TR in its ability to form a primary calibration model or update a primary model to new secondary conditions while using full wavelengths or simultaneously selecting wavelengths to form respective sparse models. These objectives can be accomplished in two‐norm (L2) or one‐norm (L1) or combined formats. Also included is a TR design that minimizes the effect of the standardization set composition, i.e., reduces the effect of an outlier. Ongoing work that removes all reference samples from the TR framework is also described. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interaction among Alliance, Psychodynamic–Interpersonal and Cognitive–Behavioural Techniques in the Prediction of Post‐session Change
Authors: Owen Jesse , Hilsenroth Mark J. , Rodolfa Emil
Published: April 2012

The current study examined the interaction of clients' perceptions of the psychodynamic–interpersonal (PI) and cognitive–behavioural (CB) techniques that their therapist utilized in their most recent therapy session and working alliance in the prediction of post‐session changes. Seventy‐five clients were treated by 25 therapists at a counselling centre in the USA. We posited that alliance would interact with clients' perceptions of their therapists' use of PI and CB techniques in the prediction of post‐session changes. The results revealed a three‐way interaction between clients' perceptions of the alliance, PI techniques and CB techniques in the prediction of post‐session changes. More PI and more CB techniques and more PI but fewer CB techniques were associated with better post‐sessions changes in the context of higher alliances. More CB techniques but fewer PI techniques and fewer PI and fewer CB techniques were not significantly associated with post‐session changes in the context of higher (or lower) alliances. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Key Practitioner Message

Clients' perceptions of PI techniques in the context of stronger alliances were most beneficial for post‐session outcomes. Thus, a high alliance will likely maximize the impact of PI techniques.

Clients who rated their therapist as being relatively inactive reported fewer positive post‐session outcomes, suggesting that an idle therapeutic approach is not advantageous.

Therapist differences explained two to three times more variation in session outcomes than client ratings of alliance or techniques. Some therapists are better at facilitating positive session outcomes as compared with others, suggesting that a potential key barometer of therapists' effectiveness may be captured by session outcomes.
Evaluation of high‐sensitivity FeGa/PZT stacked‐layer magnetic sensor
Authors: Hamashima Mio , Saito Chihiro , Nakamura Motoichi , Muro Hideo
Published: April 2012

An FeGa/PZT stacked‐layer magnetic sensor was studied. The prototype sensor was 15 mm long and 6 mm wide with two 880‐μm‐thick FeGa layers and a 590‐μm‐thick PZT layer. The theoretical sensitivity using a simple model was calculated to be 69.6 mV/Oe. The resonant modes were analyzed using an FEM simulator, resulting in a fundamental resonant frequency of 5.38 kHz. A magnetic field was applied to the longitudinal direction of the fabricated sensor to cause longitudinal stress magnetostrictively, which produced a piezoelectric output voltage in the PZT layer. The dependence of the magnetic sensitivity on the DC bias magnetic field was evaluated, together with the frequency characteristics and the temperature dependence. The measured sensitivity roughly agreed with the calculated one. A prototype with a single magnetostrictive layer was also fabricated and evaluated to investigate the possibility of operation as a resonant sensor. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 95(5): 1–7, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.11392
Verification of effect of damper windings on the transient condition of synchronous generator
Authors: Matsuki Junya , Taoka Hisao , Hayashi Yasuhiro , Iwamoto Shigeru , Daikoku Akihiro
Published: April 2012

This paper describes the results of an experimental investigation on the effects of the damper winding of a four‐pole synchronous generator at a synchronous generator transient. It is known from simulations that the damper winding acts effectively under synchronous generator transient conditions. However, experimental proof has not been obtained yet. Thus, experiments on damper effects were conducted using a laboratory‐scale power system. The damper winding of the tested generator consisted of five damper bars for each pole; the number of working damper bars could be changed manually. The damper currents at each bar were measured by a Rogowski coil. FFT analysis was applied to both the damper currents and armature currents under different operating conditions. The relationships between damper currents in the rotor and armature currents in the stator were made clearer than before. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 180(2): 33–42, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.21278
Determination of the Navier slip coefficient of microchannels exploiting the streaming potential
Authors: Park Hung Mok
Published: April 2012

For most microchannels made of hydrophobic materials such as polymers, velocity slip occurs at the wall, affecting volumetric flow rate of electroosmotic flow and streaming potential . Since most techniques exploit or to determine the zeta potential, ζ, it is very difficult to measure ζ of hydrophobic walls, if the slip coefficient b is not found a priori. Until now, and are known to depend on ζ and b in a same functional form, which makes it impossible to estimate ζ or b separately using measurements of and . However, exploiting the analytic formula for and derived in the present work, it is found that the effect of ζ and that of b on and can be separated from each other by varying the bulk ionic concentration. Thus, the slip coefficient as well as the zeta potential of hydrophobic microchannels can be found with reasonable accuracy by means of a nonlinear curve fitting method using measured data of and at various bulk ionic concentrations. The present method allows an accurate estimation of slip coefficient of hydrophobic microchannels, which is quite simple and cheap compared with methods employing microparticle velocimetry.
Simulation of the effects of complex‐ formation equilibria in electrophoresis: II. Experimental verification
Authors: Svobodová Jana , Beneš Martin , Hruška Vlastimil , Ušelová Kateřina , Gaš Bohuslav
Published: April 2012

The complete mathematical model of electromigration in systems with complexation agents introduced in the Part I of this article (V. Hruška et al., Eletrophoresis, 2012, 33, this issue), which was implemented into our simulation program Simul 5, was verified experimentally. Three different chiral selector (CS) systems differing in the type of the CS, the magnitude of the complexation constants as well as in the experimental conditions were selected for verification. The experiments and simulations were performed at various concentrations of the CSs in order to discuss the influence of the concentration of the CS on the separation. The simulated and experimental electropherograms show very good agreement in the position, shape and amplitude of the analyte peaks.

The new Simul 5 Complex offers a deep insight into electrophoretical separations that take place in systems containing complexing agents, for example into enantiomer separations. Using Simul 5 Complex we were able to predict and explain the significant electromigration dispersion of analyte peaks. It was clarified that the electromigration dispersion in these systems results directly from complexation. The new Simul 5 Complex was also shown to be a useful and powerful tool for the prediction of the results of enantioseparations.
Electro‐osmotic flows in a microchannel with patterned hydrodynamic slip walls
Authors: Zhao Cunlu , Yang Chun
Published: April 2012

We present an analysis of the electro‐osmotic flow of electrolytic solutions in a microchannel with patterned hydrodynamic slippage on channel walls. A set of governing equations is formulated to account for the effects of small variations in hydrodynamic slippage over the microchannel walls on the electro‐osmotic flow. These equations are then solved analytically by using the perturbation method. Two frequently encountered surface patterns, (i) cosine wave variation and (ii) square wave variation in slip length, are considered in our analyses. The results show that patterned slippage over microchannel walls can induce complex flow patterns (such as vortical flows) in otherwise plug‐like electro‐osmotic flows, which suggests potential applications of such flows in microfluidic mixers.
Small cell lung cancer tumour cells induce regulatory T lymphocytes, and patient survival correlates negatively with FOXP3+ cells in tumour infiltrate
Authors: Wang Wei , Hodkinson Philip , McLaren Fiona , MacKinnon Alison , Wallace William , Howie Sarah , Sethi Tariq
Published: April 2012

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) kills at least one person every 2 hr in the United Kingdom. Some patients do relatively well but most have rapidly progressive disease. There is no effective treatment and overall 2‐year survival is less than 5%. Patients with SCLC have poorly understood local and systemic immune defects and can be immunocompromised. As CD4+ T lymphocytes coordinate and regulate immunity, a better understanding of interactions between SCLC tumour cells and CD4+ T cells may lead to effective molecular immunotherapy. We show that some, but not all, SCLC tumour cell lines secrete molecules that induce IL‐10 secretion by and de novo differentiation of functional CD4+CD25+FOXP3+CD127loHelios− regulatory T (Treg) cells in healthy blood lymphocytes. FOXP3+ T cells were found in SCLC tumour biopsies, and patients with higher ratios of FOXP3+ cells in tumour infiltrates have a worse survival rate. The inhibitory effect of SCLC tumour cells was not affected by blocking IL‐10 receptor or TGF‐β signalling but was partially reversed by blocking IL‐15, which is reported to be involved in human Treg cells induction. IL‐15 was secreted by SCLC cells that inhibited CD4+ T‐cell proliferation and was present in SCLC biopsy tumour cells. These novel findings demonstrate that SCLC tumour cells can induce CD4+ T‐cell‐mediated immunosuppression. This gives a potential mechanism by which SCLC tumour cells may downregulate local and systemic immune responses and contribute to poor patient survival. Our data suggest that IL‐15 and Treg cells are potential new therapeutic targets to improve immune response and patient survival in SCLC.
Gastric stump cancer after distal gastrectomy for benign gastric ulcer in a population‐based study
Authors: Lagergren Jesper , Lindam Anna , Mason Robert M.
Published: April 2012

The risk of cancer in the gastric remnant after distal gastrectomy for benign ulcer disease has been assessed mainly in studies of small sample size, selected series and limited follow‐up time. This was a population‐based cohort study of patients who had undergone distal gastrectomy for benign ulcer disease in 1964–2008 in Sweden. Data for follow‐up for cancer and censoring for death were obtained from nationwide registries of Cancer and Population, respectively. The number of observed cancer cases in the gastrectomy cohort was divided by the expected number, calculated from the cancer incidence of the Swedish population of corresponding age, sex and calendar year. Relative risks were presented as standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The distal gastrectomy cohort included 18,912 patients and 323,676 person‐years at risk. The observed total number of gastric stump cancers (n = 140) was not higher than expected (SIR 0.84, 95% CI 0.71–0.99). There was no increased SIR with latency periods shorter than 30 years; increase was seen only among patients who had undergone gastric resection over 30 years earlier (SIR 2.29, 95% CI 1.38–3.57). Sex, age, ulcer location and type of surgical reconstruction were not associated with any considerable differences in SIR. In conclusion, this large population‐based study revealed an increased risk of cancer in the gastric remnant only 30 years or longer after gastric resection for benign disease, whereas other factors did not influence this risk.
On the origin of the 1602 cm–1 Raman band of yeasts; contribution of ergosterol
Authors: Chiu Liang‐da , Hullin‐Matsuda Françoise , Kobayashi Toshihide , Torii Hajime , Hamaguchi Hiro‐o
Published: April 2012

The 1602 cm–1 Raman signature, which we call the “Raman spectroscopic signature of life” in yeasts, is a marker Raman band for cell metabolic activity. Despite the established fact that its intensity sensitively reflects the metabolic status of the cell, its molecular origin remained unclear. In this work, we propose ergosterol as the major contributor of the 1602 cm–1 Raman signature. The theoretical isotope shift calculation for ergosterol agreed with previous observations. Furthermore, experiments showed that the Raman spectrum of ergosterol corresponds very well with the depleting spectral component in yeast that behaves together with the 1602 cm–1 signature when the cells are under stress. This work implies that the 1602 cm–1 Raman signature could serve as an intrinsic ergosterol marker in yeasts for the study of sterol metabolism in vivo and in a label‐free manner, which could not be done by any other techniques at the current stage. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)