bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modulation of cytokine production by plant sterols in stimulated human Jurkat T cells
Authors: Aherne S. Aisling , O'Brien Nora M.
Published: May 2008

The plant sterols campesterol, β‐sitosterol and β‐sitostanol were investigated for potential immunomodulatory effects in Jurkat T cells. Treatments involved supplementing cells with or without concanavalin A (ConA) or phorbol‐12‐myristate‐13‐acetate plus ionomycin (PMA+IoM) in the presence or absence of increasing concentrations (10–100 μM) of each plant sterol for 24 h. None of the plant sterols significantly affected mitogen‐stimulated IL‐4, IL‐10 or IFN‐γ production. However, campesterol, β‐sitosterol and β‐sitostanol significantly suppressed mitogen‐induced IL‐2 production in a dose‐dependent manner. Both bisindolylmaleimide‐I (BIM‐I), a specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, and the immunosuppressant drug known as Tacrolimus (FK506), an IL‐2 inhibitor, prevented mitogen‐stimulated IL‐2 production in Jurkat cells. Treatment with PMA+IoM alone significantly increased PKC activity and the presence of BIM‐I prevented PKC activation by PMA+IoM. Following 24 h treatments, the plant sterols did not affect PMA+IoM‐enhanced PKC activity, cellular calcium content or calcineurin activity. Intracellular cyclic 3′,5′‐adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels were significantly reduced by PMA+IoM. The presence of FK506 prevented a PMA+IoM‐induced reduction of intracellular cAMP. Likewise the plant sterols behaved in a similar manner as FK506. Our findings suggest that the suppression of IL‐2 by the plant sterols was not mediated via PKC inhibition and that their effects occurred possibly via cAMP modulation and/or a calcium/calcineurin‐independent pathway.
Quantitative prediction of ischemic stroke tissue fate
Authors: Shen Qiang , Duong Timothy Q.
Published: May 2008

Accurate prediction of ischemic tissue fate could aid clinical decision‐making in the treatment of acute stroke. We investigated predictions of tissue fate for three (30‐min, 60‐min and permanent) stroke models in rats. Quantitative cerebral blood flow (CBF), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and spin–spin relaxation time constant (T2) were acquired during the acute phase and at the end point followed by histological examination. Probability‐of‐infarct profiles based on ADC and CBF data were constructed using a training dataset. Probability‐of‐infarct maps were predicted using only acute stroke data from a separate experimental dataset, revealing the likelihood of future infarction. Performance measures of sensitivity and specificity showed accurate predictions. Sensitivities (mean ± SD) for the 30‐min, 60‐min and permanent stroke were, respectively, 82 ± 6%, 82 ± 7%, and 86 ± 4%, specificities were 83 ± 5%, 86 ± 5%, and 89 ± 6%, and the areas under the receiver operating curve were 87 ± 3%, 90 ± 4%, and 93 ± 3%. Importantly, to improve prediction accuracy, we took into account regional susceptibility to infarction. Spatial frequency‐of‐infarct maps were constructed and predictions were made by taking the weighted average of the probability‐of‐infarct map and spatial frequency‐of‐infarct map. The optimal weighting coefficient of spatial frequency‐of‐infarct was small (10%) for the permanent occlusion group but surprisingly large (40%) for the reperfusion groups, indicating that regional susceptibility of infarction was important for accurate prediction in reperfusion stroke. We concluded that the likelihood of cerebral infarction in rats can be accurately predicted and that accounting for regional susceptibility of infarct further improves prediction accuracy. Predictive models have the potential to provide a valuable quantitative framework for clinicians to consider different stroke treatment options. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychometric evaluation of the Spanish version of the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment and Preferences for Activities of Children
Authors: Colón Wanda I. , Rodríguez Carmen , Ito Max , Reed Carol N.
Published: May 2008

Culturally sensitive and valid assessments of participation in occupations are needed for Spanish‐speaking children to enhance services offered to this population. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the newly developed Spanish version of the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment and Preferences for Activities of Children, the Evaluación de Participacion y Disfrute de los Niños y Preferencias de las Actividades de los Niños (EPDN/PAN). The sample included 249 children with and without disabilities, aged 6 to 15 years. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the participation of children with disabilities and children without disabilities, and between younger and older children were found. No statistical significant differences were found between males and females in the dimensions of participation assessed. Adequate internal consistency (0.70–0.92) was found for the PAN scale and the Overall and Informal domain scores of the EPDN‐Intensity scale. Further study is needed to evaluate the formal domain scale and gender differences by activity types. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermal behavior of covalently bonded phosphonate flame‐retarded poly(methyl methacrylate) systems
Authors: Price D. , Cunliffe L. K. , Bullet K. J. , Hull T. R. , Milnes G. J. , Ebdon J. R. , Hunt B. J. , Joseph P.
Published: May 2008

Pyrolysis studies of reactively flame‐retarded methyl methacrylate copolymers MMA/diethyl(acryloyloxymethyl)phosphonate (MMA/DEAMP) and MMA/diethyl(methacryloyloxymethyl)phosphonate (MMA/DEMMP) have been undertaken with a view to gaining information pertinent to the mechanisms of their flame‐retardant behavior. The homopolymer with and without the additive diethylethylphosphonate was also investigated for comparison purposes. Each system contained 3.5 wt% of phosphorus. A range of techniques, namely TG with EGA, DSC, SEM, laser and microfurnace pyrolysis mass spectrometry, and isothermal pyrolysis‐GC‐MS, enabled the study to be carried out under a range of conditions. In the case of the additive system, the additive was evolved prior to the polymer decomposition. Little or no char residue remained at the end of the decomposition. Thus, the additive acted almost completely in the vapor phase. In the case of the MMA/DEMMP and MMA/DEAMP copolymers, substantial char residues were formed with 1.0 and 2.5 wt% phosphorus contents, respectively. This is evidence that predominantly condensed phase flame retardation occurs in these systems. SEM studies showed the chars from both copolymers to have flaky and smooth surfaces. Both copolymer samples showed slower decomposition rates compared to PMMA, the MMA/DEAMP being the slowest. Decomposition of MMA/DEMMP occurred mainly via end‐chain scission with both MMA and DEMMP appearing concurrently, which would facilitate condensed‐phase flame‐retardant action. On the other hand, in the case of MMA/DEAMP, end‐chain scission is to some extent is inhibited so that both end and the slower random‐chain scission occur. As a result, the decomposition of the acrylate system was slower than that of the methacrylate copolymer. The former system yields more char which contains the higher percentage of phosphorus than does the methacrylate copolymer. Thus, MMA/DEAMP showed the greater condensed‐phase flame‐retardant action. This is consistent with the results of our previous flammability studies of these copolymers. The flame‐retardant abilities of these two phosphonate copolymers are assessed with reference to previous studies of their equivalent phosphate copolymers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differentiation of isomeric malonylated flavonoid glyconjugates in plant extracts with UPLC‐ESI/MS/MS
Authors: Muth Dorota , Marfisden‐Edwards Emma , Kachlicki Piotr , Stobiecki Maciej
Published: May 2008

Introduction: Glycosylation at different hydroxyl groups of flavonoids and acylation of sugar moieties are ubiquitous modifications observed in plants. These modifications give rise to simultaneous presence of numerous isomeric and isobaric compounds in tissues and extracts thereof.

Objective: To develop UPLC‐MS method capable for resolution of isomeric malonylated glycoconjugates of flavonoids and recognition of structural differences.

Methodology: Flavonoid glycoconjugates were extracted from leaves of blue lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) plants with 80% methanol. Extracts were analysed using ultraperformance liquid chromatography (UPLC) combined with tandem (quadrupole–time of flight, QToF) mass spectrometry.

Results: Differentiation of malonylated glycosides of isoflavones and flavones is demonstrated in this paper. The use of UPLC‐MS/MS enabled 38 flavonoid conjugates to be distinguished, including the discrimination of five different isomers of a single 3′‐O‐methylluteolin glycoside. Additionally, pseudo MS3 experiments (CID spectra registered at high cone voltages) enabled confirmation of the aglycone structures by comparison of their spectra with those obtained from aglycone standards.

Conclusions: Application of UPLC‐MS/MS allows separation and identification numerous positional isomers of malonylated glycosides of flavonoids and isoflavonoids in plant material. Provided there is strict control of the MS ionisation parameters, this method may be useful for preparation of a flavonoids spectra database, enabling the inter‐laboratory comparison of analytical results. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The use of an electronic medical record system for mandatory reporting of drug hypersensitivity reactions has been shown to improve the management of patients in the university hospital in Korea
Authors: Park Chan Sun , Kim Tae‐Bum , Kim Seoung Lan , Kim Jae Youn , Yang Kyung Ai , Bae Yun‐Jeong , Cho You Sook , Moon Hee‐Bom
Published: May 2008

Purpose

This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a computerized surveillance system for adverse drug events (ADEs) reinforced with mandatory reporting of all past drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHSRs) and supervision of the processes by allergy specialists in a university hospital.

Methods

All information on both prior and newly developed DHSRs was collected via the surveillance system described above and compared with the data from previous system based on voluntary reporting of DHSRs by attending physicians.

Results

The report rate of past DHSRs was greatly increased and the estimated incidence of new events decreased under the new system. The occurrence rate of new DHSRs during hospitalization, which were caused by the repeated administration of the agents previously suspected as culprit drugs enormously, decreased from 15% of previous system to 1% of new system.

Conclusion

The mandatory reporting system for past DHSRs and the supervision by allergy specialists appear to be important in improving the management of patients with drug hypersensitivity and in preventing the occurrence of DHSRs in a general hospital. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kinetics–energetics relationship during the electron transfer from trivalent phosphorus compounds to the singlet photoexcited sensitizers
Authors: Yasui Shinro , Tsujimoto Munekazu
Published: May 2008

The rate constants kET for the electron transfer (ET) from trivalent phosphorus compounds Z3P to the singlet photoexcited states 1S* of neutral sensitizers, i.e., 9,10‐dicyanoanthracene (DCN) and 9‐cyanoanthracene (CA), were determined based on the Stern–Volmer (SV) method. As previously found in the ET from Z3P to the singlet photoexcited states 1S+* of a monocationic sensitizer, i.e., rhodamine 6G (Rho+), the plot of logkET versus the free‐energy change of the ET step, ΔG0, in the endothermic region deviated upward from the line predicted by the Rehm–Weller theory. The deviation was slightly greater during the ET to 1S* than during the ET to 1S+*. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new chemical modification of liquid polybutadienes: Radical addition of aliphatic aldehydes onto pending vinyl groups
Authors: Podešva Jiří , Hrubý Martin , Spěváček Jiří , Hrdličková Miluše , Netopilík Miloš
Published: May 2008

A new chemical modification of liquid polybutadiene by radical addition of model aldehydes (butanal and hexanal) onto pending vinyls of the polymer is described. The dibenzoyl peroxide/N,N‐dimethylaniline redox system was shown to initiate the hydroacylation more efficiently than the thermal decomposition of 2,2′‐azobis(2‐methylpropanenitrile) because it gives higher conversions (content of hydroacylated monomer units, as determined by NMR) without forming crosslinks or microgels. Typically, the former source of radicals gives the content of modified units as high as 13% related to all monomer units, while the latter only 2–6%. Repeated introduction of the redox system into the reaction mixture resulted in an increased content of the acyl groups. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3919–3925, 2008
Synthesis of double hydrophilic graft copolymer containing poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(methacrylic acid) side chains via successive ATRP
Authors: Gu Lina , Shen Zhong , Feng Chun , Li Yaogong , Lu Guolin , Huang Xiaoyu
Published: May 2008

A well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymer, with polyacrylate as backbone, hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(methacrylic acid) as side chains, was synthesized via successive atom transfer radical polymerization followed by the selective hydrolysis of poly(methoxymethyl methacrylate) side chains. The grafting‐through strategy was first used to prepare poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] comb copolymer. The obtained comb copolymer was transformed into macroinitiator by reacting with lithium diisopropylamine and 2‐bromopropionyl chloride. Afterwards, grafting‐from route was employed for the synthesis of poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate]‐g‐poly(methoxymethyl methacrylate) amphiphilic graft copolymer. The molecular weight distribution of this amphiphilic graft copolymer was narrow. Poly(methoxymethyl methacrylate) side chains were connected to polyacrylate backbone through stable CC bonds instead of ester connections. The final product, poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate]‐g‐poly(methacrylate acid), was obtained by selective hydrolysis of poly(methoxymethyl methacrylate) side chains under mild conditions without affecting the polyacrylate backbone. This double hydrophilic graft copolymer was found be stimuli‐responsive to pH and ionic strength. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4056–4069, 2008
Thermal degradation kinetics of biodegradable poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)/layered double hydroxide nanocomposites
Authors: Wu Tzong‐Ming , Hsu Sung‐Fu , Shih Yeng‐Fong , Liao Chien‐Shiun
Published: May 2008

The thermal degradation behaviors of biodegradable poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and PHB/poly(ethylene glycol) phosphonates (PEOPAs)‐modified layered double hydroxide (PMLDH) nanocomposites have been investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. Effects of PMLDH contents on the isothermal degradation kinetics of PHB were explored. These experimental results show that the degradation kinetics of PHB/PMLDH nanocomposites is the chain‐scission process of cyclic β‐elimination reaction with the following autocatalytic reactions, which is very similar to that of pure PHB matrix. Further calculated data based on the autocatalytic model can fit very well with the experimental data. The Ea value of PHB/PMLDH nanocomposites is increased as the content of PMLDH increases. This can be attributed to the incorporation of more PMLDH loading to PHB induced a decrease in the degradation rate and an increase in the residual weight for PHB/PMLDH nanocomposites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1207–1213, 2008
On the relevance of the 8‐chain model and the full‐network model for the deformation and failure of networks formed through photopolymerization of multifunctional monomers
Authors: Diani J. , Ortega A. M. , Gall K. , Kasprzak S. , Greenberg A. R.
Published: May 2008

Crosslinked networks were synthesized by copolymerization of mono‐functional tert‐butyl acrylate (tBA) with diethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (DEGDMA) or polyethylene glycol dimethacrylates (PEGDMA). By varying the chain length and concentration of the difunctional PEGDMA, we obtained tBA‐PEGDMA copolymer networks while by varying the concentration of difunctional DEGDMA, we obtained tBA‐DEGDMA crosslinked networks. The various materials were submitted to large deformations through uniaxial tension tests. For moderate weight percent of crosslinking agent, up to 20%, the networks showed standard S‐shape stress–strain curves, characteristic of rubber‐like elasticity. Two macromolecular models, the 8‐chain model and the full‐network model, were applied to fit the uniaxial tensile response of the materials. Both models provide good representations of the overall uniaxial stress–strain response of each material. After fitting to stress–strain data, the network models were employed to predict the shear modulus and the elongation at break. Neither the 8‐chain nor the full network model were capable of predicting the failure strain or shear modulus, indicating these models are best used to describe stress–strain relations rather than predict mechanical properties for the network polymers considered here. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1226–1234, 2008
Electrically conductive transparent papers using multiwalled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Jung Rira , Kim Hun‐Sik , Kim Yeseul , Kwon Soon‐Min , Lee Heon Sang , Jin Hyoung‐Joon
Published: May 2008

We describe a novel class of electrically conductive transparent materials based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Transparent nanocomposites were fabricated by incorporating an aqueous silk fibroin solution into bacterial cellulose membranes. The transparent nanocomposites had a high transmittance in the visible and infrared regions, regardless of the bacterial cellulose fiber content, due to the nanosize effect of the bacterial cellulose nanofibrils. This phenomenon allowed the preparation of a novel electrically conductive transparent paper. The high dispersity of the MWCNTs was realized by utilizing a bacterial cellulose membrane as a template to deposit them uniformly, thereby achieving electrically conductive transparent papers with outstanding optical transparency. The light transmittance and electrical conductivity varied according to the concentration of the MWCNT dispersion. Good optimal transparency and electrical properties were obtained with a light transmittance of 70.3% at 550 nm and electrical conductivity of 2.1 × 10−3 S/cm when the electrically conductive transparent paper was fabricated from a 0.02 wt % aqueous MWCNT dispersion. In addition, the electrically conductive transparent papers showed remarkable flexibility without any loss of their initial properties. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1235–1242, 2008
Mukaiyama Reagent as an Efficient Activating Agent for Anchoring Carboxylic Acids to Hydroxymethylated Resins
Authors: Boggián Dora B. , Mata Ernesto G.
Published: May 2008

This work describes an efficient methodology based on the use of Mukaiyama reagent as an activating agent for the immobilization of diverse carboxylic acids to hydroxymethylated resins through an ester linkage. The reaction efficiency was high for aromatic and aliphatic acids, including synthetic and biologically promising penicillin derivatives.
Comparison of methods for determining peroxidation in processed whole peanut products
Authors: St. Angelo Allen J. , Ory Robert L. , Brown Lawrence E.
Published: May 2008

Oxidation of fatty acids in peanut butter produces peroxides and changes in the conjugated diene contents. Two of the most widely used methods for measuring these oxidative effects, peroxide value and the spectrophotometric assay of conjugated diene hydroperoxides, were compared in determinations of shelf‐life stability of peanut butters during short and long term storage. Results by the conjugated diene hydroperoxides method correlated with those by the peroxide value method over 4 and 12 week storage periods. The conjugated diene hydroperoxides method requires smaller samples and is quicker, more accurate, and simpler than the peroxide value method, nor does it require additional reagents nor depend upon a chemical reaction or color development.
Spatial interactions between grey wolves and Eurasian lynx in Białowieża Primeval Forest, Poland
Authors: Schmidt Krzysztof , Jędrzejewski Włodzimierz , Okarma Henryk , Kowalczyk Rafał
Published: May 2008

Various species of large predators are reported to influence each other through interference or exploitation competition that may affect demography and survival of the subordinate species. We analyzed spatial relationships between grey wolf (Canis lupus) and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Białowieża Primeval Forest (BPF, eastern Poland) to determine how they partitioned the space. The wolves (n = 8) and lynx (n = 14) were radio‐tracked in 1991–1999. Three wolves and seven lynx were radio‐tracked simultaneously in 1994–1996. Territories of wolf packs and home ranges of lynx overlapped considerably (76% of wolf territories and 50% of lynx home ranges, on average). In three cases, their core areas were also overlapping. Wolf‐lynx dyads with overlapping home ranges were simultaneously located at distances from 0 to 28 km from each other. We found neither avoidance nor attraction between wolves and lynx occupying the same areas. We concluded that in BPF, the two large predators coexist due to specialization on different preferred prey and heterogeneous habitat.
The Characteristic Curvature of Ionic Surfactants
Authors: Acosta Edgar J. , Yuan Jessica Sh. , Bhakta Arti Sh.
Published: May 2008

Characterizing the hydrophilic‐lipophilic nature of a surfactant molecule has been a challenge for colloid scientists and technologists. The hydrophilic‐lipophilic balance (HLB), the packing factor, the phase inversion temperature (PIT) and the natural curvature of the surfactant are all terms that seek to address this issue. In this article we build on the hydrophilic–lipophilic difference concept (HLD) (Salager et al. Langmuir, 16, 5534–5539, 2000) to develop a methodology to determine a characteristic curvature (Cc) for ionic surfactants based on the phase behavior of mixed ionic surfactant microemulsions. In essence, the method consists of evaluating the shift in optimal electrolyte concentration as a function of the mole fraction of the test surfactant in a mixture with a reference surfactant, sodium dihexyl sulfosuccinate (SDHS) and applying the appropriate HLD equation for ionic surfactant mixtures to determine Cc. The values of Cc were determined for a range of surfactants, including sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), sodium naphthenate, and others. The method was also extrapolated to nonionic additives and hydrophilic linkers. It was observed that the calculated values of Cc were similar to those predicted by group contribution models, however the proposed method can be used even for complex surfactant mixtures. Finally, when Cc values were compared to apparent packing factor and HLB values, it was found that Cc is correlated with the apparent packing factor of ionic surfactants, and that Cc correlates with the HLB value for nonionic amphiphiles. The physical interpretation of Cc, and its potential application in the Net‐Average Curvature equation of state for oil‐surfactant‐water systems is discussed.
A characterization of convex calibrable sets in \( R^{N} \) with respect to anisotropic norms
Authors: Caselles V. , Chambolle A. , Moll S. , Novaga M.
Published: May 2008

A set is called “calibrable” if its characteristic function is an eigenvector of the subgradient of the total variation. The main purpose of this paper is to characterize the “

ϕ

-calibrability” of bounded convex sets in

\mathbb{R}^{N}

with respect to a norm

ϕ

(called
anisotropy
in the sequel) by the anisotropic mean

ϕ

-curvature of its boundary. It extends to the anisotropic and crystalline cases the known analogous results in the Euclidean case. As a by-product of our analysis we prove that any convex body

C

satisfying a

ϕ

-ball condition contains a convex

ϕ

-calibrable set

K

such that, for any

V \in [|K|,|C|]

, the subset of

C

of volume

V

which minimizes the

ϕ

-perimeter is unique and convex. We also describe the anisotropic total variation flow with initial data the characteristic function of a bounded convex set.

On dit qu'un ensemble est « calibrable » si sa fonction est vecteur propre du sous-gradient de la variation totale. Le but de cet article est une caractérisation de la «

ϕ

-calibrabilité » des ensembles convexes bornés de

\mathbb{R}^{N}

, relativement à une norme

ϕ

(appelée
anisotropie
), en fonction de la

ϕ

-courbure moyenne anisotrope de leur frontière. Il s'agit donc d'une extension aux cas anisotropes et cristallins de résultats connus dans le cas euclidien. On démontre en particulier l'existence dans tout corps convexe régulier

C

d'un convexe

K \subseteq C

ϕ

-calibrable, tel que pour tout

V \in [|K|,|C|]

, l'ensemble de volume

V

de

ϕ

-périmètre minimal contenu dans

C

est unique et convexe. Nous étudions aussi le flot de la variation totale anisotrope à partir de la caractéristique d'un ensemble convexe borné.
Strikes and Labor Organization in Hybrid Regimes
Authors: ROBERTSON GRAEME B.
Published: May 2008

Existing theories of labor protest depend on independent organizations representing workers. However, in many countries most workers are either not organized at all or are in labor unions intended for control, not representation. This is particularly the case in partially liberalized or hybrid regimes where, despite the introduction of electoral competition, autonomous, democratic organizations representing labor are not well developed. Yet such workers do protest. Drawing on an original new dataset from one hybrid regime, post-Communist Russia, I develop a theory of labor protest and of the institutional mechanisms used by elites to influence it. Instead of being a function of union membership or characteristics of the information environment, as the existing literature would have it, protest occurs when it is in the interest of powerful elements of the elite, or when economic conditions are truly desperate.
Demand Commitment in Legislative Bargaining
Authors: MONTERO MARIA , VIDAL-PUGA JUAN J.
Published: May 2008

Morelli (1999) provides a model of government formation in which the parties make payoff demands and the order of moves is chosen by the leading party. Morelli's main proposition states that the ex post distribution of payoffs inside the coalition that forms is proportional to the distribution of relative ex ante bargaining power. We provide a counterexample in which the leading party is able to obtain the entire payoff; furthermore, there are coalitions for which proportional payoff division does not occur for any order of moves.
Rousseau's Discriminating Defense of Compassion
Authors: MARKS JONATHAN
Published: May 2008

Political theorists from Martha Nussbaum to Amitai Etzioni appeal to compassion as a basis that liberalism otherwise lacks for refraining from exploiting and even for helping others. However, critics like Clifford Orwin and Richard Boyd have raised this question: is compassion too weak and undiscriminating to rely on in politics? Jean-Jacques Rousseau's account of compassion helps answer it. Rousseau understands compassion as a useful manifestation of the otherwise dangerous desire to extend the self and show signs of power. Consequently, he considers compassion's relative weakness a strength and explains how it can be supplemented and complemented by other, independent motives for serving others, including gratitude, friendship, and obligation. Compassion's weakness also makes it less likely than self-love, narrowly conceived, to overwhelm reason. Rousseau excels compassion's contemporary defenders in his awareness of the complex relationship between compassion and other social passions and of the dangers that his understanding of compassion addresses.
Hitch-hiking to a locus under balancing selection: high sequence diversity and low population subdivision at the S-locus genomic region inArabidopsis halleri
Authors: RUGGIERO MARIA VALERIA , JACQUEMIN BERTRAND , CASTRIC VINCENT , VEKEMANS XAVIER
Published: May 2008

Hitch-hiking to a site under balancing selection is expected to produce a local increase in nucleotide polymorphism and a decrease in population differentiation compared with the background genomic level, but empirical evidence supporting these predictions is scarce. We surveyed molecular diversity at four genes flanking the region controlling self-incompatibility (the S-locus) in samples from six populations of the herbaceous plantArabidopsis halleri, and compared their polymorphism with sequences from five control genes unlinked to the S-locus. As a preliminary verification, the S-locus flanking genes were shown to co-segregate withSRK, the gene involved in the self-incompatibility reaction at the pistil level. In agreement with theory, our results demonstrated a significant peak of nucleotide diversity around the S-locus as well as a significant decrease in population genetic structure in the S-locus region compared with both control genes and a set of seven unlinked microsatellite markers. This is consistent with the theoretical expectation that balancing selection is increasing the effective migration rate in subdivided populations. Although only four S-locus flanking genes were investigated, our results suggest that these two signatures of the hitch-hiking effect are localized in a very narrow genomic region.
Consequences of inbreeding depression due to sex-linked loci for the maintenance of males and outcrossing in branchiopod crustaceans
Authors: PANNELL JOHN R.
Published: May 2008

Androdioecy, where males co-occur with hermaphrodites, is a rare sexual system in plants and animals. It has a scattered phylogenetic distribution, but it is common and has persisted for long periods of evolutionary time in branchiopod crustaceans. An earlier model of the maintenance of males with hermaphrodites in this group, by Ottoet al.(1993), considered the importance of male–hermaphrodite encounter rates, sperm limitation, male versus hermaphrodite viability and inbreeding depression suffered by selfed progeny. Here I advance this model in two ways: (1) by exploring the conditions that would allow the invasion of hermaphrodites into a dioecious population and that of females into an androdioecious population; and (2) by incorporating a term that accounts for the potential effects of genetic load linked to a dominant hermaphrodite-determining allele in androdioecious populations. The new model makes plausible sense of observations made in populations of the speciesEulimnadia texana, one of a number of related species whose common ancestor evolved hermaphroditism (and androdioecy) from dioecy. In particular, it offers an explanation for the long evolutionary persistence of androdioecy in branchiopods and suggests reasons for why dioecy has not re-evolved in the clade. Finally, it provides a rather unusual illustration of the implications of the degeneration of loci linked to a sex-determining locus.
Fragments from the Cartonnage of 75
Authors: Robinson James M.
Published: May 2008

In November 1985, the British Museum turned over to me photographs in their files that they had made while conserving the leather binding of 75 for the Bibliothèque Bodmer, which contained fragments of Luke and John not previously published in the editio princeps or otherwise available to scholarship. This article reports on these fragments and includes three plates of the photographs.
The use of an AMMI model and its parameters to analyse yield stability in multi-environment trials
Authors: SABAGHNIA N. , SABAGHPOUR S. H. , DEHGHANI H.
Published: May 2008

Genotype by environment (G×E) interaction effects are of special interest for breeding programmes to identify adaptation targets and test locations. Their assessment by additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model analysis is currently defined for this situation. A combined analysis of two former parametric measures and seven AMMI stability statistics was undertaken to assess G×E interactions and stability analysis to identify stable genotypes of 11 lentil genotypes across 20 environments. G×E interaction introduces inconsistency in the relative rating of genotypes across environments and plays a key role in formulating strategies for crop improvement. The combined analysis of variance for environments (E), genotypes (G) and G×E interaction was highly significant (P<0·01), suggesting differential responses of the genotypes and the need for stability analysis. The parametric stability measures of environmental variance showed that genotype ILL 6037 was the most stable genotype, whereas the priority index measure indicated genotype FLIP 82-1L to be the most stable genotype. The first seven principal component (PC) axes (PC1–PC7) were significant (P<0·01), but the first two PC axes cumulatively accounted for 71% of the total G×E interaction. In contrast, the AMMI stability statistics suggested different genotypes to be the most stable. Most of the AMMI stability statistics showed biological stability, but the SIPCF statistics of AMMI model had agronomical concept stability. The AMMI stability value (ASV) identified genotype FLIP 92-12L as a more stable genotype, which also had high mean performance. Such an outcome could be regularly employed in the future to delineate predictive, more rigorous recommendation strategies as well as to help define stability concepts for recommendations for lentil and other crops in the Middle East and other areas of the world.
Effects of phosphates and citrates on sediment formation in UHT goats' milk
Authors: Boumpa Theodora , Tsioulpas Alexandros , Grandison Alistair S , Lewis Mike J
Published: May 2008

Sediment formation was investigated during UHT treatment of goats' milk, subjected to indirect treatment at 140°C for 2 s, with upstream homogenisation. Stabilisers evaluated were sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP), trisodium citrate (TSC), disodium hydrogen orthophosphate (DSHP), and sodium dihydrogen orthophosphate (SDHP). With no added stabiliser, goats' milk produced a heavy sediment on UHT treatment. Addition of SDHP reduced pH, had little effect on ionic calcium and did not substantially reduce sediment. However, addition of SHMP, DSHP and TSC each reduced ionic calcium, increased ethanol stability and reduced sediment. Following stabiliser additions, there was a good correlation between ethanol stability and ionic calcium (R2=0·85) but not between ethanol stability and pH (R2=0·08). Overall, reducing ionic calcium reduced the amount of sediment formed for all these three stabilisers, although there was no single trend line between sediment formation and ionic calcium concentration. Sediment formation was not well correlated with pH for TSC or for SHMP, but it was for DSHP, making it the only stabiliser where sediment formation correlated well both with ionic calcium and pH, which might account for its effectiveness at higher ionic calcium levels. Sediment was much reduced when the temperature was reduced from 140°C to 125°C and 114°C. There were no further changes in sediment on storage for two weeks. Analysis of the sediment showed that it was predominantly fat and protein, with a mass ratio ranging between 1·43:1 and 1·67:1. Its mineral content was usually less than 5% of dry weight. The maximum amounts of P and Ca were found to be 2·32% and 1·63%, respectively.
The prevalence ofCryptosporidiumspecies and subtypes in human faecal samples in Ireland
Authors: ZINTL A. , PROCTOR A. F. , READ C. , DEWAAL T. , SHANAGHY N. , FANNING S. , MULCAHY G.
Published: May 2008

Cryptosporidiumis an important cause of diarrhoeal disease worldwide and, as several recent waterborne outbreaks have shown, poses a significant threat to public health in Ireland. We identified theCryptosporidiumspp. in 199 positive human stool samples by PCR–RFLP of the 18S rRNA and COWP gene loci. Subspecies were identified in 104 samples by sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene fragment. OverallC. parvumwas identified in 80%, andC. hominisin 20% of cases. No otherCryptosporidiumspp. were detected.C. parvumwas by far the most common species in the rural, more sparsely populated west of Ireland and exhibited a pronounced spring peak coincident with a peak in the national cryptosporidiosis incidence rate. Our data indicated a trend towards higher proportions ofC. hominisin older age groups. Ninety-nine per cent of all subtypedC. parvumisolates belonged to allele family IIa, of which allele IIaA18G3R1 was by far the most common (63%). According to a recent study by Thompson and colleagues [Parasitology Research(2007),100, 619–624] this allele is also the most common in Irish cattle. Subtyping of theC. hominisisolates indicated that they belonged to a geographically widely distributed allele (IbA10G2) known to have caused several water- and foodborne outbreaks around the world. The predominance ofC. parvum, its geographic and seasonal distribution and the IIaA18G3R1 subtype underlines the importance of zoonoticCryptosporidiumtransmission in Ireland.
Online parameter identification in time-dependent differential equations as a non-linear inverse problem
Authors: KÜGLER PHILIPP
Published: May 2008

Online parameter identification in time-dependent differential equations from time course observations related to the physical state can be understood as a non-linear inverse and ill-posed problem and appears in a variety of applications in science and engineering. The feature as well as the challenge of online identification is that sensor data have to be continuously processed during the operation of the real dynamic process in order to support simulation-based decision making. In this paper we present an online parameter identification method that is based on a non-linear parameter-to-output operator and, as opposed to methods available so far, works both for finite- and infinite-dimensional dynamical systems, e.g., both for ordinary differential equations and time-dependent partial differential equations. A further advantage of the method suggested is that it renders typical restrictive assumptions such as full state observability, linear parametrisation of the underlying model and data differentiation or filtering unnecessary. Assuming existence of a solution for exact data, a convergence analysis based on Lyapunov theory is presented. Numerical illustrations given are by means of online identification both of aerodynamic coefficients in a 3DoF-longitudinal aircraft model and of a (distributed) conductivity coefficient in a heat equation.
Minimum resources for phenotyping morphological traits of maize (Zea mays L.) genetic resources
Authors: Ortiz Rodomiro , Crossa José , Sevilla Ricardo
Published: May 2008

The aim of this research was to use variance components to calculate total phenotypic variation for 12 vegetative and reproductive maize traits. A set of 59 accessions, belonging to nine Peruvian highland maize races, were grown at two consecutive planting seasons in 2 years at one inter-Andean site in northern Peru. The trial data provided a means for calculating the variance components using the restricted maximum-likelihood method. The variance components were assumed to be stable while the number of environments and replications varied to simulate phenotypic variation for each trait. The least number of environments and replications, which does not affect the precision of phenotyping, was selected for assessing each trait. Tabulated data provide the number of environments and replications that can be used as a reference for Peruvian highland trials to assess quantitative variation in plant and reproductive traits. The results suggest that fewer environments and replications are needed for reproductive than for plant traits because the former show higher heritability than vegetative traits.
Preparing the exoplanet search with PRIMA: searching for reference stars and target characterization
Authors: Geisler R. , Setiawan J. , Henning Th. , Queloz D. , Quirrenbach A. , Launhardt R. , Müller A. , Reffert S. , Weise P. ,   ESPRI consortium
Published: May 2008

The PRIMA (Phase-Referenced Imaging and Micro-arcsecond Astrometry) facility at ESO VLTI (Paranal observatory) is expected to be commissioned in mid 2008. The ESPRI (Exoplanet Search with PRIMA) consortium is currently preparing an astrometric survey to search for extrasolar planets. To achieve the scientific goal of this survey, a careful selection of target and reference stars is necessary. Apart from catalog search and modelling, extensive and dedicated preparatory observations are indispensable. Here we present two aspects of the preparatory observation programs: A high dynamic range near infrared (NIR) imaging survey to search for astrometric reference stars around the preselected target stars and characterization of the target stars by using high-resolution spectroscopy.
Reconstruction of the transit signal in the presence of stellar variability
Authors: Alapini Aude , Aigrain Suzanne
Published: May 2008

Intrinsic stellar variability can hinder the detection of shallow transits, particularly in space-based data. Therefore, this variability has to be filtered out before running the transit search. Unfortunately, filtering out the low frequency signal of the stellar variability also modifies the transit shape. This results in errors in the measured transit depth and duration used to derive the planet radius, and orbital inclination. We present an evaluation of the magnitude of this effect based on 20 simulated light curves from the CoRoT blind exercise 2 (BT2). We then present an iterative filter which uses the strictly periodic nature of the transits to separate them from other forms of variability, so as to recover the original transit shape before deriving the planet parameters. On average with this filter, we improve the estimation of the transit depth and duration by 15% and 10% respectively.
The On/Off nature of star-planet interactions in the HD 179949 and υ And systems
Authors: Shkolnik Evgenya , Bohlender David A. , Walker Gordon A. H. , Cameron Andrew Collier
Published: May 2008

Evidence suggesting an observable magnetic interaction between a star and its hot Jupiter (Porb< 7 days,a< 0.1 AU,Mpsini> 0.2MJ) appears as a cyclic variation of stellar activity synchronized to the planet's orbit. HD 179949 has been observed almost every year since 2001. Synchronicity of the Ca II H & K emission with the orbit is clearly seen in four out of six epochs, while rotational modulation withProt=7 days is apparent in the other two seasons. We observe a similar phenomenon on υ And, which displays rotational modulation (Prot=12 days) in September 2005, while in 2002 and 2003 variations appear to correlate with the planet's orbital period. This on/off nature of star-planet interaction (SPI) in the two systems is likely a function of the changing stellar magnetic field structure throughout its activity cycle. The tentative correlation between this activity in the 13 stars we have observed to date and the ratio ofMpsinito the planet's rotation period, a quantity proportional to the hot Jupiter's magnetic moment, first presented in Shkolniket al. (2005) remains viable. This work furthers the characterization of SPI, improving its potential as a probe of extrasolar planetary magnetic fields.
Tidal friction in close-in planets
Authors: Rodríguez Adrián , Ferraz-Mello Sylvio , Hussmann Hauke
Published: May 2008

We use Darwin's theory (Darwin, 1880) to derive the main results on the orbital and rotational evolution of a close-in companion (exoplanet or planetary satellite) due to tidal friction. The given results do not depend on any assumption linking the tidal lags to the frequencies of the corresponding tide harmonics (except that equal frequency harmonics are assumed to span equal lags). Emphasis is given to the study of the synchronization of the planetary rotation in the two possible final states for a non-zero eccentricity : (1) the super-synchronous stationary rotation resulting from the vanishing of the average tidal torque; (2) the capture into a 1:1 spin-orbit resonance (true synchronization), which is only possible if an additional torque exists acting in opposition to the tidal torque. Results are given under the assumption that this additional torque is produced by a non-tidal permanent equatorial asymmetry of the planet. The indirect tidal effects and some non-tidal effects due to that asymmetry are considered. For sake of comparison with other works, the results obtained when tidal lags are assumed proportional to the corresponding tidal wave frequencies are also given.
Testing planet formation theories with giant stars
Authors: Pasquini Luca , Döllinger M.P. , Hatzes A. , Setiawan J. , Girardi L. , da Silva L. , de Medeiros J. R. , Weiss A.
Published: May 2008

Planet searches around evolved giant stars are bringing new insights to planet formation theories by virtue of the broader stellar mass range of the host stars compared to the solar-type stars that have been the subject of most current planet searches programs. These searches among giant stars are producing extremely interesting results. Contrary to main sequence stars planet-hosting giants do not show a tendency of being more metal rich. Even if limited, the statistics also suggest a higher frequency of giant planets (at least 10%) that are more massive compared to solar-type main sequence stars.

The interpretation of these results is not straightforward. We propose that the lack of a metallicity-planet connection among giant stars is due to pollution of the star while on the main sequence, followed by dillution during the giant phase. We also suggest that the higher mass and frequency of the planets are due to the higher stellar mass. Even if these results do not favor a specific formation scenario, they suggest that planetary formation might be more complex than what has been proposed so far, perhaps with two mechanisms at work and one or the other dominating according to the stellar mass. We finally stress as the detailed study of the host stars and of the parent sample is essential to derive firm conclusions.
Migration and Final Location of Hot Super Earths in the Presence of Gas Giants
Authors: Zhou Ji-Lin , Lin Douglas N. C.
Published: May 2008

Based on the conventional sequential-accretion paradigm, we have proposed that, during the migration of first-born gas giants outside the orbits of planetary embryos, super Earth planets will form inside the 2:1 resonance location by sweeping of mean motion resonances (Zhou et al. 2005). In this paper, we study the subsequent evolution of a super Earth (m1) under the effects of tidal dissipation and perturbation from a first-born gas giant (m2) in an outside orbit. Secular perturbation and mean motion resonances (especially 2 : 1 and 5 : 2 resonances) between m1 and m2 excite the eccentricity of m1, which causes the migration of m1 and results in a hot super Earth. The calculated final location of the hot super Earth is independent of the tidal energy dissipation factor Q′. The study of migration history of a Hot Super Earth is useful to reveal it's Q′ value and to predict its final location in the presence of one or more hot gas giants. When this investigation is applied to the GJ876 system, it correctly reproduces the observed location of GJ876d around 0.02 AU.
Disc signatures in a new population of low mass YSOs in ρ Ophiuchi
Authors: de Oliveira Catarina Alves , Casali Mark
Published: May 2008

The deepest near-IR variability survey of the ρ Ophiuchi cluster with the WFCAM/UKIRT has been used to uncover a new population of young low mass objects. Evidence for the existence of discs around the new objects has been found when combining data with IRAC/Spitzer observations. A new insight on the frequency and dynamics of discs around low mass YSOs is given, essential for understanding the origin and evolution of circumstellar discs and ultimately the environment for planet formation.