bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of pymetrozine, an antifeedant of Hemiptera, on Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, feeding behavior, survival and transmission of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus
Authors: Raj Boina Dhana , Youn Youngnam , Folimonova Svetlana , Stelinski Lukasz L
Published: October 2010

BACKGROUND: Vector‐borne plant disease management can be enhanced by deployment of antifeedants in addition to the use of broad‐spectrum neurotoxic insecticides. The effects of pymetrozine on Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, feeding behaviour, survival and transmission of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las), the presumed causal pathogen of huanglongbing, were investigated.

RESULTS: Pymetrozine applied at 52 and 104 µg mL−1 to citrus plants [Swingle citrumelo (X Citroncirus webberi Ingram and Moore)] modified the feeding behavior of ACP and increased the amount of time spent performing non‐penetration behaviors while decreasing the time spent performing ingestion behaviors compared with the controls 1 day after treatment. However, the antifeedant effect of pymetrozine subsided 5 days after application. Pymetrozine reduced the survival of both adults and nymphs on treated plants compared with the control. However, it had a greater impact on survival of nymphs than on survival of adults. Pymetrozine applied at 52 and 104 µg mL−1 on Las‐infected ‘Valencia’ sweet orange plants [Citrus sinensis L. (Osbeck)] reduced acquisition (12 and 21% respectively) and transmission (11 and 18% respectively) of Las by feeding ACP adults compared with the controls; however, these reductions were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: Pymetrozine exhibited moderate antifeedant effects by modifying the feeding behavior of ACP adults with short residual activity. The impact of pymetrozine on survival of nymphs was greater than on adults at the higher concentrations tested. Pymetrozine also reduced the acquisition and transmission of Las by feeding ACP adults up to 21 and 18%, respectively, compared with untreated controls. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Bound polarons in wurtzite GaN/AlxGa1‐xN quantum well
Authors: Zhao F. Q. , Zhang M.
Published: October 2010

The influences of the electron‐phonon interaction as well as impurity‐phonon interaction including the confined optical phonon mode, interface‐optical phonon modes, half‐space phonon modes and the anisotropy of the electron effective band mass as well as phonons frequency have been considered to investigate the bound polaron binding energy in wurtzite GaN/AlxGa1‐xN quantum well. And the results have been compared with zinc‐blende structure. It is found from the numerical result that phonons give the larger negative contribution to the binding energy and the ground state energy of the bound polaron in wurtzite quantum wells. There are obvious contributions of the interaction between the electron and interface‐optical phonons as well as half‐space phonons for the narrow well, but the total contribution of phonons mainly comes from the confined optical phonon modes for the wide well. The electron‐phonon interaction is bigger in wurtzite quantum well than that in zinc‐blende quantum well. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Scintillation properties of (Na0.425Lu0.575‐xNdx)F2.15 and its comparison with (Ca1‐xNdx)F2+x and NdF3
Authors: Furuya Yuki , Tanaka Hidehiko , Fukuda Kentaro , Kawaguchi Noriaki , Yokota Yuui , Yanagida Takayuki , Pejchal Jan , Chani Valery , Nikl Martin , Yoshikawa Akira
Published: October 2010

The optical and scintillation properties of (Ca1‐xNdx)F2+x, NdF3 and (Na0.425Lu0.575‐xNdx)F2.15 single crystals grown from the melt by the Micro‐Pulling‐Down (μ‐PD) method were compared. The grown crystals except NdF3 were single‐phase materials with fluorite‐type structure (Fm‐3m, Z = 4). Lattice constants of both grown crystals increased proportionally with Nd concentration. The Nd3+ 5d‐4f absorption wavelength of (Na0.425Lu0.575‐xNdx)F2.15shifted to longer wavelength region when content of Nd in the crystals increased, while that of (Ca1‐xNdx)F2+x shifted to shorter wavelength region. Nd3+ 5d‐4f luminescence was observed for all the samples under X‐ray excitation. The maximum of the luminescence peak of (Na0.425Lu0.575‐xNdx)F2.15 was also shifted to longer wavelength region, while that of (Ca1‐xNdx)F2+x shifted to shorter wavelength region with increasing of Nd content. From these results, the effect of interstitial F‐ on optical properties of rare‐earth doped CaF2 was considered (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Vibration analyses and rapid energy transfer in π‐conjugated dendrimers having oligo phenylenevinylene antennas
Authors: Shimamoto Tomoshige , Miyanari Kuniaki , Fujii Atsuhiro , Akai Ichiro , Kimura Mutsumi
Published: October 2010

From analyses of molecular vibrations, we have studied rapid energy transfer (ET) process in a series of star‐shaped stilbenoid phthalocyanines (SSSnPc;n=1,2) having π‐conjugated light harvesting antennas. In SSSnPc, the highly efficient ET occurs through a π‐conjugation network between the core and the antenna. However, a different temperature dependency of the ET efficiencies were found between SSS1Pc and SSS2Pc.

In this report, molecular structures and torsional vibrations of the antenna subunits were analyzed in model molecules for SSSnPc. Consequently, it was found that the co‐planarities between the core and the antenna sub‐unit are different between SSS1Pc and SSS2Pc, and the variance in the temperature dependence of the ET efficiency in these dendrimers is originated from such difference of the co‐planarity (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Luminescence and X‐ray phosphor properties of samarium and lanthanum‐doped cubic barium chloride
Authors: Dixie Laura , Edgar Andrew , Bartle Murray
Published: October 2010

Lanthanum and samarium‐doped barium chloride samples with composition of the form Ba1‐x‐yLaxSmyCl2+x+y with x = 0.125 and 0 < y < 0.01 have been prepared in transparent ceramic form. X‐ray diffraction confirms that the material adopts the high temperature cubic (fluorite) phase of barium chloride. The photoluminescence spectrum shows a combination of broad band 5d and narrow 4f transitions. The broad band can be decomposed into strong and weak components which we attribute to Sm2+ ions with and without an adjacent interstitial Cl‐ ion respectively. The temperature dependence of the strongest broad band indicates that the lowest 5d level is 800 cm‐1 above the 5D0 level. The X‐ray induced fluorescence spectrum shows an additional blue emission band for Sm concentrations y < 0.01 centred at around 420 nm which is ascribed to excitonic processes involving H centres. This emission band coincides with a photoluminescence excitation band for Sm2+ in this material, and so it is likely that the X‐ray induced luminescence from Sm2+ arises via an energy transfer process. Scintillation arising from the blue band can be observed, but is characterised by a long tail extending over hundreds of microseconds. The relative efficiency of the material as an X‐ray phosphor compared to commercial terbium‐doped gadolinium oxysulphide is around 11%. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The formation of a mentoring program as a mechanism to increase the knowledge of SQA members
Authors: Eitzen Melissa , Cunningham Janet
Published: October 2010

Starting a career in the Quality Assurance (QA) field is often an intimidating endeavor, and over time, building a career can present challenges and introduce obstacles. While education and training can provide a solid foundation, a mentor can help a less experienced QA professional to determine career direction, build confidence, and enhance performance by increasing knowledge. Volunteers from the Society of Quality Assurance (SQA) have established a Mentoring Program in order to provide members with opportunities to be mentored in areas of the field new to them and to enhance their leadership skills by serving as mentors. The program was developed over three years and resulted in the launch of a formal Mentoring Program in the summer of 2009. This article discusses the inception of the idea and describes the processes used to build the program currently offered to the members of SQA. Included in the article are survey results collected during a pilot mentoring program used to test the program framework. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ratiometric Optical Sensing of Chloride Ions with Organic Fluorophore–Gold Nanoparticle Hybrids: A Systematic Study of Design Parameters and Surface Charge Effects
Authors: Riedinger Andreas , Zhang Feng , Dommershausen Fabian , Röcker Carlheinz , Brandholt Stefan , Nienhaus G. Ulrich , Koert Ulrich , Parak Wolfgang J.
Published: October 2010

Colloidal nanoparticles are often stabilized by high surface charges. These create an electrical potential that may strongly affect the concentration of dissolved ions, which presents a formidable problem for the use of nanoparticles in ion‐sensing applications. This effect is investigated systematically with organic fluorophore–gold nanoparticle hybrids, which have a chloride‐sensitive fluorophore attached at varying distances from their surface. The distance‐dependent fluorescence response is quantitatively assessed using fluorescence spectroscopy.
Notch3 Null Mutation in Mice Causes Muscle Hyperplasia by Repetitive Muscle Regeneration
Authors: Kitamoto Takeo , Hanaoka Kazunori
Published: October 2010

Satellite cells are skeletal muscle stem cells responsible for growth, maintenance, and repair of postnatal skeletal muscle. Although several studies have demonstrated that Notch signaling plays a critical role in muscle regeneration through promoting proliferation and self-renewal of satellite cells, the function of Notch3 is yet to be elucidated. We analyzed muscle regeneration in Notch3-deficient mutant mice. We found a remarkable overgrowth of muscle mass in the Notch3-deficient mice but only when they suffered repetitive muscle injuries. Immunochemical analysis found that Notch3 was expressed in Pax7+/MyoD− quiescent satellite cells and also in Pax7+/MyoD+-activated satellite cells, but the expression was restricted to around half the population of each cell type. In Notch3-deficient mice, the number of sublaminar quiescent satellite cells was significantly increased compared with those in control mice. We also found that primary cultured myoblasts isolated from the Notch3-deficient mice proliferated faster than those from control mice. Analysis of cultured myofibers revealed that the number of self-renewing Pax7-positive satellite cells attached to the myofiber was increased in the Notch3-deficient mice when compared with control mice. The data obtained in this study suggested that Notch3 pathway might be distinct from Notch1 in muscle regeneration. Because overexpression of Notch3 activated the expression of Nrarp, a negative feedback regulator of Notch signaling, Notch3 might act as a Notch1 repressor by activating Nrarp.
SEL versus SUL: managing seismic risk in commercial real estate investments
Authors: Thiel Charles C. , Kosonen Thomas E. , Stivers David A.
Published: October 2010

Two common scenario loss ratios are used when calculating Probable Maximum Losses from earthquakes: Scenario Expected Loss (SEL) and Scenario Upper Loss (SUL). Analyses of seismic loss ratios prepared by five seismic consulting firms, four loan pools securitized in the capital markets, two very large loans with many properties, two large hospitality portfolios and a general account portfolio indicate that use of SUL rather than SEL would yield significantly larger numbers of loans with loss ratios in excess of 20%. When using SEL, the percentage of loans in the four large pools exceeding a 20% loss ratio was 3.8%. When SUL was used on this same data set, 47.8% of these properties had SUL values above 20%. Common industry practice has been to use SEL. Some of the implications of tightening seismic underwriting standards to apply a 20% threshold to the SUL, rather than SEL, may include: lower loan production, properties may lose value, properties may be costlier and more difficult to finance, existing loan portfolios may appear more seismically risky, and demand for insurance and seismic retrofit could go up. Equally undesirable effects could be that seismic consultants and lenders who do more rigorous analysis will be less competitive than those who do not. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Seismic energy analysis of structures with nonlinear fluid viscous dampers—algorithm and numerical verification
Authors: Wong Kevin K. F.
Published: October 2010

To protect structures from suffering significant damage during a major earthquake, fluid viscous dampers (FVDs) have been used in both newly constructed and seismically retrofitted structures to effectively reduce dynamic responses. The main benefit of installing FVDs into structures is to dissipate larger portions of earthquake induced energy through viscous damping, thereby decreasing energy dissipation demands on structural members, which, in turn, reduces structural damage. The objective of this paper is to propose a simple numerical algorithm for analysing the dynamic response and energy transfer of inelastic structures with nonlinear FVDs. This numerical algorithm uses the state space method of dynamic analysis, an explicit time‐stepping method that has proven to be both numerically accurate and time efficient, as well as the force analogy method to determine the inelasticity of structures and to quantify the corresponding plastic energy when inelastic structural behaviour occurs. Numerical verification of the algorithm is performed by comparing nonlinear time history structural responses of using a linear FVD in a single degree of freedom system. Application of the algorithm on studying the effectiveness of installing FVDs with different nonlinear power law coefficients and damping coefficients are also investigated and presented. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of different optimum criteria for sensor placement in lattice towers
Authors: Marano Giuseppe Carlo , Monti Giorgio , Quaranta Giuseppe
Published: October 2010

Placing sensors at appropriate locations is an important task in the dynamic assessment of the mechanical systems, and its role is central in structural health monitoring. All sensors have to be placed on the structure so that all sought system features be obtained from the experimental tests. Sensor network design is rather diffused in laboratory applications, but there are scarce investigations on real civil structures, and they are not so well documented. In order to give a contribution in this framework, the present paper deals with the optimal sensor placement problem in lattice towers. With reference to six of the most diffused existing optimum criteria and according to mechanical and energetic formulations, several sensor network configurations are calculated for two broadcasting antennas, adopted as benchmark cases of studies. The final topological configurations of the networks are compared, and the most relevant differences are discussed. Moreover, the information content behaviour is computed to investigate the connection between sensor network topology and its ability to withstand the presence of undesired signals (e.g., noise) during the measurements. The results illustrated here may be useful for sensor network design for this special class of structures. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Experimental verification on nonlinear dynamic characteristic of a tuned liquid column damper subjected to various excitation amplitudes
Authors: Lee Sung‐Kyung , Lee Hye‐Ri , Min Kyung‐Won
Published: October 2010

In this study, nonlinear dynamic characteristics of a tuned liquid column damper (TLCD) varying with the amplitude of excitation input are investigated through shaking table tests and numerical model of a TLCD. The tuned mass damper (TMD) analogy of a TLCD is used to simplify the formulation, in which it involves equivalent viscous damping of the inherent nonlinear damping term of a TLCD. The equivalent TMD model of a TLCD shows that the dynamic behaviour of a TLCD is affected by the natural frequency, damping ratio and ratio of total liquid mass to the mass in horizontal column of a TLCD. Shaking table test is performed to obtain experimental transfer functions that describe the dynamic behaviour of a TLCD specimen subjected to a harmonic loading with various excitation amplitudes. Transfer functions for various excitation amplitudes are measured from shaking table acceleration to both the liquid displacement within a TLCD container and the control force produced by a TLCD specimen. In addition, the dissipation energy due to the inherent damping of a TLCD is measured from the shaking table test varying with excitation amplitude. The variation of design parameters of a TLCD according to the excitation amplitude is investigated by comparing the transfer functions obtained from the shaking table test to those derived from the TMD analogy of a TLCD. These results showed that both the natural frequency and the mass ratio of a TLCD are independent on the variation of excitation amplitude, while the damping ratio of a TLCD increases with larger excitation amplitude. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mitigation of wind response of a tall building using semi‐active tuned mass dampers
Authors: Kang Joowon , Kim Hyun‐Su , Lee Dong‐Guen
Published: October 2010

In this study, the effectiveness of semi‐active tuned mass dampers (STMDs) for the response control of a wind‐excited tall building was investigated. To this end, a 76‐storey, 306 m benchmark building proposed for the city of Melbourne, Australia was used. Across wind load, data from wind tunnel tests were employed as excitation. A variable damping device and a magnetorheological (MR) damper were used to compose STMDs. A groundhook control algorithm was used to appropriately modulate the damping force of the semi‐active damper. The control performance of the STMD was compared to that of a sample TMD, an active TMD (ATMD) and a semi‐active variable stiffness TMD. The robustness of the STMD was investigated through the uncertainty in the building's stiffness. This study also investigated whether each of the mass dampers could satisfy the design requirements and constraints. The numerical studies show that the STMD can reduce the structural responses similar to an ATMD, but with a significant reduction in power consumption. It is also shown that the STMD with a 50 kN capacity MR damper can effectively control a full‐scale tall building subjected to wind excitation, and it can satisfy the design requirements and constraints of the benchmark problem. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Towards optimal design of high‐rise building tube systems
Authors: Shin Myoungsu , Kang Thomas H.‐K. , Pimentel Benjamin
Published: October 2010

The primary objectives of this study are to investigate effects of varying design parameters on the tube action and shear lag behaviour of a typical reinforced concrete frame‐wall tube building, and propose optimal design approaches for similar tube structures. A parametric study was conducted with selected key design variables on the performance of a 55‐storey hotel building planned in New York City. The lateral force resistance of the case study building is primarily exerted by exterior shear walls in one direction and by exterior moment frames in the other direction, enhanced by the tube action credited to the connection of the walls and the frames. The design variables considered for the parametric study include the column depth, beam depth, column width and beam width of the moment frames. The performance of each model was assessed in terms of overall and critical (maximum) storey drifts, force distributions between various lateral force‐resisting members and shear lag behaviour. Overall, the effects of the column depth (column dimension parallel to the frame direction) on the tube action and shear lag behaviour were more prominent than the other member dimensions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of relative intensity of wind load on the RC column reliability in tall buildings
Authors: Baji Hassan , Ronagh Hamid
Published: October 2010

Wind loads are very important in the design of tall buildings as often the load combinations containing the wind load govern the design. As for reliability, however, because of the higher inherent uncertainty in the wind load in comparison to the gravity load, safety indices decrease as the ratio of wind load to gravity load increases. The safety indices in RC columns depend on the nominal wind to gravity load ratios. Due to the interaction between bending moment and axial force, a single ratio cannot be defined, because the eccentricity is not similar for wind and gravity loads. In this paper, the ratio of wind to gravity loads is considered separately for axial force and bending moments. Unlike conventional approach, here it is assumed that the wind and gravity loads' eccentricities are not equal, and the final load eccentricity used in either the design or the reliability analysis is a function of applied loads. The results demonstrate that the sensitivity of RC columns' safety indices to bending moment ratios is higher than that of axial force ratios. Furthermore, the variation of RC columns' safety indices with a low rebar percentage is very different from RC columns with high rebar percentages. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Drought under global warming: a review
Authors: Dai Aiguo
Published: October 2010

This article reviews recent literature on drought of the last millennium, followed by an update on global aridity changes from 1950 to 2008. Projected future aridity is presented based on recent studies and our analysis of model simulations. Dry periods lasting for years to decades have occurred many times during the last millennium over, for example, North America, West Africa, and East Asia. These droughts were likely triggered by anomalous tropical sea surface temperatures (SSTs), with La Niña‐like SST anomalies leading to drought in North America, and El‐Niño‐like SSTs causing drought in East China. Over Africa, the southward shift of the warmest SSTs in the Atlantic and warming in the Indian Ocean are responsible for the recent Sahel droughts. Local feedbacks may enhance and prolong drought. Global aridity has increased substantially since the 1970s due to recent drying over Africa, southern Europe, East and South Asia, and eastern Australia. Although El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO), tropical Atlantic SSTs, and Asian monsoons have played a large role in the recent drying, recent warming has increased atmospheric moisture demand and likely altered atmospheric circulation patterns, both contributing to the drying. Climate models project increased aridity in the 21st century over most of Africa, southern Europe and the Middle East, most of the Americas, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Regions like the United States have avoided prolonged droughts during the last 50 years due to natural climate variations, but might see persistent droughts in the next 20–50 years. Future efforts to predict drought will depend on models' ability to predict tropical SSTs. WIREs Clim Change 2011 2 45–65 DOI: 10.1002/wcc.81

This article is categorized under:

Paleoclimates and Current Trends > Detection and Attribution

Paleoclimates and Current Trends > Modern Climate Change

Assessing Impacts of Climate Change > Evaluating Future Impacts of Climate Change

Assessing Impacts of Climate Change > Observed Impacts of Climate Change
Turnover of AU‐rich‐containing mRNAs during stress: a matter of survival
Authors: von Roretz Christopher , Marco Sergio Di , Mazroui Rachid , Gallouzi Imed‐Eddine
Published: October 2010

Cells undergo various adaptive measures in response to stress. Among these are specific changes in the posttranscriptional regulation of various genes. In particular, the turnover of mRNA is modified to either increase or decrease the abundance of certain target messages. Some of the best‐studied mRNAs that are affected by stress are those that contain adenine/uridine‐rich elements (AREs) in their 3′‐untranslated regions. ARE‐containing mRNAs are involved in many important cellular processes and are normally labile, but in response to stress they are differentially regulated through the concerted efforts of ARE‐binding proteins (AUBPs) such as HuR, AUF1, tristetraprolin, BRF1, and KSRP, along with microRNA‐mediated effects. Additionally, the fate of ARE‐containing mRNAs is modified by inducing their localization to stress granules or mRNA processing bodies. Coordination of these various mechanisms controls the turnover of ARE‐containing mRNAs, and thereby enables proper responses to cellular stress. In this review, we discuss how AUBPs regulate their target mRNAs in response to stress, along with the involvement of cytoplasmic granules in this process. WIREs RNA 2011 2 336–347 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.55

This article is categorized under:

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Interactions: Functional Implications

RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Turnover/Surveillance Mechanisms

RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Regulation of RNA Stability
Vascularized Genicular Osseous-Periosteal Flap for Pseudarthrosis of the Proximal Phalanx of the Little Finger: A Case Report
Authors: Kimura Kazumasa , Sano Kazufumi , Hashimoto Tomohisa , Ozeki Satoru
Published: October 2010

This study describes pseudoarthrosis of the proximal phalanx of the little finger and its successful treatment using a free vascularized genicular osseous-periosteal flap. Since this thin and pliable flap can be harvested as a small vascularized unit, it is ideal for the treatment of phalangeal pseudoarthrosis.
Technical aspects of CT imaging of the spine
Authors: Tins Bernhard
Published: October 2010

This review article discusses technical aspects of computed tomography (CT) imaging of the spine. Patient positioning, and its influence on image quality and movement artefact, is discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on the choice of scan parameters and their relation to image quality and radiation burden to the patient. Strategies to reduce radiation burden and artefact from metal implants are outlined. Data acquisition, processing, image display and steps to reduce artefact are reviewed. CT imaging of the spine is put into context with other imaging modalities for specific clinical indications or problems. This review aims to review underlying principles for image acquisition and to provide a rough guide for clinical problems without being prescriptive. Individual practice will always vary and reflect differences in local experience, technical provisions and clinical requirements.
Identity, prosocial behavior, and generative concern in German and Cameroonian Nso adolescents
Authors: Busch Holger , Hofer Jan
Published: October 2010

Little is known about whether ego identity statuses have the same developmental concomitants in different cultural contexts. Thus, 159 German and 158 Cameroonian Nso adolescents aged 15–18 were recruited to test if associations between identity and generativity (i.e. the desire to create a positive legacy) and prosocial behavior (i.e. helpful and supportive behavior), respectively, are comparable. In both cultural samples, only identity achievement was positively linked with generative concern and prosocial tendencies. Integrating these and previous findings on the association between prosocial behavior and generativity, a partial mediation of the relation between identity achievement and generative concern through prosocial tendencies was hypothesized and confirmed for both cultural groups. Thus, there is an equivalent association between identity achievement, prosocial behavior, and generative concern in adolescents with widely different cultural background.
p-adic cocycles and their regulator maps
Authors: Choo Zacky , Snaith Victor
Published: October 2010

We derive a power series formula for the p-adic regulator on the higher dimensional algebraic K-groups of number fields. This formula is designed to be well suited to computer calculations and to reduction modulo powers of p.
EPA inhibits the inhibitor of κBα (IκBα)/NF-κB/muscle RING finger 1 pathway in C2C12 myotubes in a PPARγ-dependent manner
Authors: Huang Feiruo , Wei Hongkui , Luo Hefeng , Jiang Siwen , Peng Jian
Published: October 2010

The present study was conducted to evaluate the mechanism by which n-3 PUFA regulates the inhibitor of κBα (IκBα)/NF-κB/muscle RING finger 1 (MuRF1) pathway in C2C12 myotubes. After treatment with 150, 300 or 600 μm-α-linolenic acid (ALA) or -EPA for 24 h in C2C12 myotubes, the levels of phosphorylated IκBα (p-IκBα) and total IκBα were measured by Western blot. Compared with the bovine serum albumin (BSA) control, 150 and 300 μm-ALA and -EPA, respectively, did not affect the total IκBα protein level (P>0·05). However, 600 μm-EPA, but not 600 μm-ALA, prevented IκBα phosphorylation and increased the total IκBα levels (P < 0·01). Furthermore, total nuclear protein was isolated and analysed by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay for NF-κB DNA-binding activity after treatment with 600 μm-ALA or -EPA for 24 h. EPA (600 μm), but not ALA (600 μm), decreased the NF-κB DNA-binding activity when compared with BSA (P < 0·01). It was further observed that 600 μm-EPA caused a 3·38-fold reduction in the levels of MuRF1 mRNA expression compared with BSA (P < 0·01). Additionally, 600 μm-EPA resulted in a 2·3-fold induction of PPARγ mRNA expression (P < 0·01). In C2C12 myotubes, PPARγ knockdown by RNA interference significantly decreased PPARγ mRNA and protein expression to approximately 50 and 60 % (P < 0·01), respectively. Interestingly, in C2C12 myotubes with PPARγ knockdown, 600 μm-ALA and -EPA did not affect the levels of p-IκBα and total IκBα, NF-κB DNA-binding activity or MuRF1 mRNA expression when compared with BSA (P>0·05). These results revealed that EPA, but not ALA, inhibited the IκBα/NF-κB/MuRF1 pathway in C2C12 myotubes in a PPARγ-dependent manner.
Two-dimensional gyrokinetic turbulence
Authors: PLUNK G. G. , COWLEY S. C. , SCHEKOCHIHIN A. A. , TATSUNO T.
Published: October 2010

Two-dimensional gyrokinetics is a simple paradigm for the study of kinetic magnetised plasma turbulence. In this paper, we present a comprehensive theoretical framework for this turbulence. We study both the inverse and direct cascades (the ‘dual cascade’), driven by a homogeneous and isotropic random forcing. The key characteristic length of gyrokinetics, the Larmor radius, divides scales into two physically distinct ranges. For scales larger than the Larmor radius, we derive the familiar Charney–Hasegawa–Mima equation from the gyrokinetic system, and explain its relationship to gyrokinetics. At scales smaller than the Larmor radius, a dual cascade occurs in phase space (two dimensions in position space plus one dimension in velocity space) via a nonlinear phase-mixing process. We show that at these sub-Larmor scales, the turbulence is self-similar and exhibits power-law spectra in position and velocity space. We propose a Hankel-transform formalism to characterise velocity-space spectra. We derive the exact relations for third-order structure functions, analogous to Kolmogorov's four-fifths and Yaglom's four-thirds laws and valid at both long and short wavelengths. We show how the general gyrokinetic invariants are related to the particular invariants that control the dual cascade in the long- and short-wavelength limits. We describe the full range of cascades from the fluid to the fully kinetic range.
Interaction of high power laser beam with magnetized plasma and THz generation
Authors: Sharma R.P. , Monika A. , Sharma P. , Chauhan P. , Ji A.
Published: October 2010

This paper presents an investigation of the excitation of a Tera hertz (THz) radiation by nonlinear interaction of a circularly polarized high power laser beam and density ripple in collisionless magneto plasma. The ponderomotive force due to the nonlinear interaction between the laser and density ripple generates a nonlinear current at a difference frequency. If the appropriate phase matching conditions are satisfied and the frequency of the ripple is appropriate, then this difference frequency can be brought in the THz range. Filamentation (self focusing) of a circularly polarized beam propagating along the direction of ambient magnetic field in plasma is first investigated within paraxial ray approximation. The beam gets focused when the initial power of the laser beam is greater than its critical power. Resulting localized beam couples with the pre-existing density ripple to produce a nonlinear current driving the THz radiation. Analytical expressions for the beam width of the laser beam, electric vector of the THz wave have been obtained. By changing the strength of the magnetic field, one can enhance or suppress the THz emission. For typical laser beam and plasma parameters with the incident laser power flux = 1014 W/cm2, laser beam radius (r0) = 40 µm, laser frequency (ω0) = 1014 rad/s and plasma density (n0) = 3 × 1018 cm−3, normalized ripple density amplitude (μ) = 0.3, the produced THz emission can be at the level of Giga watt in power.
Coherently enhanced radiation reaction effects in laser-vacuum acceleration of electron bunches
Authors: Smorenburg P.W. , Kamp L.P.J. , Geloni G.A. , Luiten O.J.
Published: October 2010

The effects of coherently enhanced radiation reaction on the motion of subwavelength electron bunches in interaction with intense laser pulses are analyzed. The radiation reaction force behaves as a radiation pressure in the laser beam direction, combined with a viscous force in the perpendicular direction. Due to Coulomb expansion of the electron bunch, coherent radiation reaction takes effect only in the initial stage of the laser-bunch interaction while the bunch is still smaller than the wavelength. It is shown that this initial stage can have observable effects on the trajectory of the bunch. By scaling the system to larger bunch charges, the radiation reaction effects are strongly increased. On the basis of the usual equation of motion, this increase is shown to be such that radiation reaction may suppress the radial instability normally found in ponderomotive acceleration schemes, thereby enabling the full potential of laser-vacuum electron bunch acceleration to GeV energies. However, the applicability of the used equation of motion still needs to be validated experimentally, which becomes possible using the presented experimental scheme.
On Universal Threshold Graphs
Authors: Hammer P. L. , Kelmans A. K.
Published: October 2010

A graphGisthresholdif there exists a ‘weight’ functionw:V(G) →Rsuch that the total weight of any stable set ofGis less than the total weight of any non-stable set ofG. Letndenote the set of threshold graphs withnvertices. A graph is calledn-universal if it contains every threshold graph withnvertices as an induced subgraph.n-universalthresholdgraphs are of special interest, since they are precisely thosen-universal graphs that do not contain any non-threshold induced subgraph.

In this paper we shall studyminimumn-universal (threshold) graphs,i.e.n-universal (threshold) graphs having the minimum number of vertices.

It is shown that for anyn≥ 3 there exist minimumn-universal graphs, which are themselves threshold, and others which are not.

Two extremal minimumn-universal graphs having respectively the minimum and the maximum number of edges are described, it is proved that they are unique, and that they are threshold graphs.

The set of all minimumn-universal threshold graphs is then described constructively; it is shown that it forms a lattice isomorphic to then− 1 dimensional Boolean cube, and that the minimum and the maximum elements of this lattice are the two extremal graphs introduced above.

The proofs provide a (polynomial) recursive procedure that determines for any threshold graphGwithnvertices and for any minimumn-universal threshold graphT, an induced subgraphG' ofTisomorphic toG.
A Matroid Reconstruction Result
Authors: Mills Allan D.
Published: October 2010

Suppose M and N are distinct matroids on a set E such that, for every e ∈ E, the deletion of e from M equals the deletion of e from N or the contraction of e from M equals the contraction of e from N. In this note we prove that, apart from some easily specified exceptions, one of M and N must be a relaxation of the other.
Almost Safe Group Testing with Few Tests
Authors: Pelc Andrzej
Published: October 2010

In group testing, sets of data undergo tests that reveal if a set contains faulty data. Assuming that data items are faulty with given probability and independently of one another, we investigate small families of tests that enable us to locate correctly all faulty data with probability converging to one as the amount of data grows. Upper and lower bounds on the minimum number of such tests are established for different probability functions, and respective location strategies are constructed.
An Extension of Foster's Network Theorem
Authors: Tetali Prasad
Published: October 2010

Consider an electrical network onnnodes with resistorsrijbetween nodesiandj. LetRijdenote theeffective resistancebetween the nodes. Then Foster's Theorem [5] asserts that

wherei∼jdenotesiandjare connected by a finiterij. In [10] this theorem is proved by making use of random walks. The classical connection between electrical networks and reversible random walks implies a corresponding statement for reversible Markov chains. In this paper we prove an elementary identity for ergodic Markov chains, and show that this yields Foster's theorem when the chain is time-reversible.

We also prove a generalization of aresistive inverseidentity. This identity was known for resistive networks, but we prove a more general identity for ergodic Markov chains. We show that time-reversibility, once again, yields the known identity. Among other results, this identity also yields an alternative characterization of reversibility of Markov chains (see Remarks 1 and 2 below). This characterization, when interpreted in terms of electrical currents, implies thereciprocity theoremin single-source resistive networks, thus allowing us to establish the equivalence ofreversibilityin Markov chains andreciprocityin electrical networks.
Dietary patterns and their associations with health behaviours in Korea
Authors: Cho Eo Rin , Shin Aesun , Lim Sun-Young , Kim Jeongseon
Published: October 2010

Objective

Dietary habits, including dietary patterns, have been associated with the risk of chronic diseases, including cancer. The objective of the present study was to evaluate Korean dietary patterns as assessed by using an FFQ and associations of dietary patterns with lifestyle risk factors.

Design

Dietary patterns were analysed by factor analysis using a sixteen-group FFQ. The associations between dietary patterns and lifestyle risk factors were investigated by logistic regression analysis.

Setting

The National Cancer Center in South Korea.

Subjects

The study population included 11 440 participants aged ≥30 years who were recruited between 2002 and 2007.

Results

Compared with the lowest quartile intake of each dietary pattern, current smoking was positively associated with the Western pattern (OR = 1·55 for the highest quartile, 95 % CI 1·27, 1·88; P < 0·001) and the traditional pattern (OR = 1·34, 95 % CI 1·11, 1·62; P = 0·002) in men, but was inversely associated with the healthy pattern in both genders (P < 0·001) and the traditional pattern (OR = 0·52, 95 % CI 0·36, 0·75; P = 0·001) in women. Alcohol consumption was positively associated with all patterns in both genders, while no association was observed with the healthy pattern in women. Physical activity and dietary supplement use were positively associated with all patterns in both genders, with the exception of physical activity in women, which showed an inverse association with the traditional pattern.

Conclusions

Dietary patterns are strongly associated with health behaviours. The possible confounding effect of other risk behaviours should be appropriately considered when conducting nutritional epidemiological studies.
Multilevel cooperation of the European Constitutional Courts: Der Europäische Verfassungsgerichtsverbund
Authors: Voβkuhle Andreas
Published: October 2010

Broad concept of constitutional jurisdiction – Triangle between Karlsruhe, Strasbourg and Luxembourg – European vocation of the German Constitutional Court and Basic Law – European Convention on Human Rights – Karlsruhe decisions can be reviewed in Strasbourg – Human rights-related constitutional court – European Court of Justice developed into constitutional court of the Union – Verbund between three courts – No simplistic hierarchy – Verbund techniques – Dialogue in Human Rights; Interplay in Integration – Federal Constitutional Court and European Court of Human Rights functionally comparable – Both Courts seek substantive coherence as Verbund technique – Federal Constitutional Court commits all German authorities to the Convention – Federal Constitutional Court and ECJ – Principle of openness to European Law – Sharing and assigning responsibilities in complex system – Solange, ultra vires and identity review – Responsibility for integration, due by Court and other German bodies – Federal Court contributes to common European Constitutional order – Europe-wide discursive struggle and ‘Lernverbund’
Kücükdeveci: Mangold Revisited – Horizontal Direct Effect of a General Principle of EU Law: Court of Justice of the European Union (Grand Chamber) Judgment of 19 January 2010, Case C-555/07, Seda Kücükdeveci v. Swedex GmbH & Co. KG
Authors: de Mol Mirjam
Published: October 2010

On 22 November 2005 the European Court of Justice (hereafter, the Court) rendered its Mangold-ruling on Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (hereafter, Directive 2000/78). The most striking part of this judgment, rendered in a private dispute, was the following conclusion:

Community law and, more particularly, Article 6(1) of (…) Directive 2000/78/EC (…) must be interpreted as precluding a provision of domestic law such as that at issue in the main proceedings (…) It is the responsibility of the national court to guarantee the full effectiveness of the general principle of non-discrimination in respect of age, setting aside any provision of national law which may conflict with Community law, even where the period prescribed for transposition of that directive has not yet expired.

The judgment evoked a great amount of criticism from the media, academia, several advocates general and the member states.
The McNulty Family
Authors: McGRAW TED
Published: October 2010

The McNulty Family was known as the royal family of Irish entertainers. They were the hottest Irish entertainment act on the East Coast, and perhaps in all of North America, from the 1930s through the 1950s. Ann “Ma” McNulty was the leader; her son Peter played the violin and piano, sang, and danced; and her daughter Eileen sang and danced. They also acted and performed skits to accompany their songs and comedy routines. Their shows were a high-energy, fast-paced type of vaudeville event. Ann Burke was born in Kilteevan, County Roscommom, Ireland, in 1887 and emigrated to the United States in 1910. She married John McNulty in 1914 and was a widow by 1928. This emigrant, who played the melodeon, and her two talented children started to entertain people to make a living. At the height of their career in the early 1940s, in addition to appearing at several venues every week, they had two radio shows, wrote a weekly column for the Irish Advocate newspaper, and had released about eighty recordings. Their vaudeville style was an excellent compliment to their talents, where acting and dancing were part of the delivery of a song or comedy routine.
Paddy Cronin: Musical Influences on a Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Player in the United States
Authors: CRANITCH MATT
Published: October 2010

In the world of Irish traditional music, Paddy Cronin from Sliabh Luachra in the southwest of Ireland is regarded as one of the tradition's exceptional fiddle players. Although his music exhibits many characteristics of the Sliabh Luachra tradition, it also has other elements and features, primarily from the Sligo style. A pupil of Pádraig O'Keeffe (the “Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master”), Cronin emigrated to Boston in 1949 and lived there for approximately forty years. Before he left Ireland, he had been familiar with the music of the Sligo masters, such as Michael Coleman and James Morrison, who had gone to the United States many years before him. In Boston Paddy met and played with many of the great Sligo musicians, and also had the opportunity to hear music in other styles, including that of Canadian musicians, whose use of piano accompaniment he admired greatly. This article considers his music before and after he left Ireland, and compares him to Coleman and Morrison by considering their respective performances of the reel “Farewell to Ireland.”
Light scattering enhancement factors in the marine boundary layer (Mace Head, Ireland)
Authors: Fierz‐Schmidhauser R. , Zieger P. , Vaishya A. , Monahan C. , Bialek J. , O'Dowd C. D. , Jennings S. G. , Baltensperger U. , Weingartner E.
Published: October 2010

Direct climate aerosol radiative forcing is influenced by the light scattering of atmospheric aerosols. The chemical composition, the size distribution, and the ambient relative humidity (RH) determine the amount of visible light scattered by aerosols. We measured the aerosol light scattering coefficients at RH varying from 30% to 90% of the marine atmosphere at the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station on the west coast of Ireland. At this site, two major air mass types can be distinguished: clean marine and polluted air. In this paper, we present measurements of light scattering enhancement factors f(RH) = σsp(RH)/σsp(dry) from a 1 month field campaign (January–February 2009). At this site in winter, the mean f(RH = 85%) (standard deviation) for marine air masses at the wavelength of 550 nm was 2.22 (±0.17) and 1.77 (±0.31) for polluted air. Measured σsp(RH) and f(RH) agreed well with calculations from Mie theory using measurements of the size distribution and hygroscopic diameter growth factors as input. In addition, we investigated the RH influence on additional intensive optical properties: the backscatter fraction and the single scattering albedo. The backscatter fraction decreased by about 20%, and the single scattering albedo increased on average by 1%–5% at 85% RH compared to dry conditions.
Mantle structure and dynamic topography in the Mediterranean Basin
Authors: Boschi L. , Faccenna C. , Becker T. W.
Published: October 2010

We study the contribution of mantle flow to surface deformation within the Mediterranean Basin. Flow is modeled numerically based on lateral changes in mantle temperature estimated from tomography models. We find that modeling results are significantly affected by the properties of the selected tomography models. Shear‐velocity models based on surface‐wave observations achieve the highest resolution of upper‐mantle structure, and, as a result, are most successful in predicting microplate motion and dynamic topography.