bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post‐transcriptional regulation in cancer
Authors: Audic Yann , Hartley Rebecca S.
Published: June 2004

Summry— Deregulation of gene expression is a hallmark of the cancer cell. Acquiring a new profile of expressed proteins may enable the cell to re‐enter the cell cycle, or give them a growth or motility advantage over “normal cells”. An efficient and rapid way to alter gene expression is via regulation of mRNAs already transcribed. Modifications of mRNA stability and/or translational efficiency are increasingly reported in cancer. mRNA stability and translation are controlled through a complex network of RNA/protein interactions involving recognition of specific target mRNAs by RNA‐BPs. We review how alterations in regulatory sequences, RNA‐BPs, or in upstream signalling pathways affect the stability and/or translational efficiency of mRNAs encoding proto‐oncogenes, cytokines, cell cycle regulators and other regulatory proteins to promote tumorigenesis and cancer progression.

A more thorough understanding of post‐transcriptional mechanisms such as these will enable the design and development of specific therapies based on modulating the translation or stability of specific mRNAs.
Recruitment indices of European hake, Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus 1758), in the Northwest Mediterranean based on landings from bottom-trawl multispecies fisheries
Authors: Goñi Raquel , Adlerstein Sara , Alvarez Federico , García Mariano , Sánchez Pilar , Sbrana Mario , Maynou Francesc , Viva Claudio
Published: June 2004

Temporal and spatial variation in Merluccius merluccius recruitment in the Northwest Mediterranean is examined, and recruitment indices are derived from monthly M. merluccius catch rates of four bottom-trawl fleets operating in Spanish and Italian waters during the period 1991–1999. Where M. merluccius catches were not recorded by size category, multivariate techniques were applied to species proportions in order to identify catch records most representative of recruit abundance. Selected catch rates were analysed by generalized linear models (GLMs) to estimate recruitment indices. The GLMs explain large proportions of the variation in recruit abundance (50–84%) and indicate significant annual and seasonal variation in recruitment strength. Vessel was by far the most important factor affecting catch rates of recruits, stressing the need to account for vessel characteristics when analysing commercial catch data for stock assessment. Seasonal patterns of recruitment reveal similarities among the study areas and interannual variations within areas. One major recruitment peak was identified in each area during either spring/summer or late summer/winter. In most areas, recruitment between 1991 and 1999 seemed to decline, but this could not be confirmed owing to high interannual variability. The coherence of annual fluctuations in recruitment indices with those of MEDITS surveys supports the present results.
Analysis of non-linear relationships between catch per unit effort and abundance in a tuna purse-seine fishery simulated with artificial neural networks
Authors: Gaertner Daniel , Dreyfus-Leon Michel
Published: June 2004

A simulation study, combining grid- and individual-based approaches, was conducted to analyse the shape of the relationship between catch per unit effort (cpue) and abundance in a tuna purse-seine fishery. To understand the effect of fleet dynamics on the interpretation of cpue, the decision-making process used by fishers while searching for the resource is modelled with artificial neural networks. The cpue of fishers operating independently (i.e. individuals) vs. fishers sharing information (i.e. a code-group) is compared, accounting for different environmental scenarios. The results show that a power curve non-proportional relationship between cpue and abundance performs better than a linear relationship. As the shape parameter of the power curve for the code-group fishers was lower in every scenario than that of individual fishers, we conclude that hyperstability, a phenomenon commonly observed in schooling fisheries, is mainly attributable to information exchange among vessels. Setting the individual-level state variables of the virtual system at a specific spatial and temporal scale may affect the results of the simulations.
Testing and classifying vehicle dispatching rules in three real‐world settings
Authors: de Koster René (M.)B.M , Le‐Anh Tuan , van der Meer J.Robert
Published: June 2004

Guided vehicles (GVs) are commonly used for the internal transportation of loads in warehouses, production plants and terminals. These guided vehicles can be routed with a variety of vehicle dispatching rules in an attempt to meet performance criteria such as minimizing the average load waiting times. In this research, we use simulation models of three companies to evaluate the performance of several real‐time vehicle dispatching rules, in part described in the literature. It appears that there is a clear difference in average load waiting time between the different dispatching rules in the different environments. Simple rules, based on load and vehicle proximity (distance‐based) perform best for all cases. The penalty for this is a relatively high maximum load waiting time. A distance‐based rule with time truncation, giving more priority to loads that have to wait longer than a time threshold, appears to yield the best possible overall performance. A rule that particularly considers load‐waiting time performs poor overall. We also show that using little pre‐arrival information of loads leads to a significant improvement in the performance of the dispatching rules without changing their performance ranking.
The California Health Interview Survey 2001: Translation of a Major Survey for California's Multiethnic Population
Authors: Ponce Ninez A. , Lavarreda Shana Alex , Yen Wei , Brown E. Richard , DiSogra Charles , Satter Delight E.
Published: June 2004

The cultural and linguistic diversity of the U.S. population presents challenges to the design and implementation of population-based surveys that serve to inform public policies. Information derived from such surveys may be less than representative if groups with limited or no English language skills are not included. The California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), first administered in 2001, is a population-based health survey of more than 55,000 California households. This article describes the process that the designers of CHIS 2001 underwent in culturally adapting the survey and translating it into an unprecedented number of languages: Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Khmer. The multiethnic and multilingual CHIS 2001 illustrates the importance of cultural and linguistic adaptation in raising the quality of population-based surveys, especially when the populations they intend to represent are as diverse as California's.
Mental Health Disorders among Individuals with Mental Retardation: Challenges to Accurate Prevalence Estimates
Authors: Kerker Bonnie D. , Owens Pamela L. , Zigler Edward , Horwitz Sarah M.
Published: June 2004

Objectives.

The objectives of this literature review were to assess current challenges to estimating the prevalence of mental health disorders among individuals with mental retardation (MR) and to develop recommendations to improve such estimates for this population.

Methods.

The authors identified 200 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, government documents, or reports from national and international organizations on the mental health status of people with MR. Based on the study's inclusion criteria, 52 articles were included in the review.

Results.

Available data reveal inconsistent estimates of the prevalence of mental health disorders among those with MR, but suggest that some mental health conditions are more common among these individuals than in the general population. Two main challenges to identifying accurate prevalence estimates were found: ( 1) health care providers have difficulty diagnosing mental health conditions among individuals with MR; and ( 2) methodological limitations of previous research inhibit confidence in study results.

Conclusions.

Accurate prevalence estimates are necessary to ensure the availability of appropriate treatment services. To this end, health care providers should receive more training regarding the mental health treatment of individuals with MR. Further, government officials should discuss mechanisms of collecting nationally representative data, and the research community should utilize consistent methods with representative samples when studying mental health conditions in this population.
Health Disparities among Adults with Developmental Disabilities, Adults with other Disabilities, and Adults Not Reporting Disability in North Carolina
Authors: Havercamp Susan M. , Scandlin Donna , Roth Marcia
Published: June 2004

Objectives.

The purposes of this study were ( 1) to identify disparities between adults with developmental disabilities and non-disabled adults in health and medical care, and ( 2) to compare this pattern of disparities to the pattern of disparities between adults with other disabilities and adults without disabilities.

Methods.

The authors compared data on health status, health risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and utilization of medical care across three groups of adults: No Disability, Disability, and Developmental Disability. Data sources were the 2001 North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the North Carolina National Core Indicators survey.

Results.

Adults with developmental disabilities were more likely to lead sedentary lifestyles and seven times as likely to report inadequate emotional support, compared with adults without disabilities. Adults with disabilities and developmental disabilities were significantly more likely to report being in fair or poor health than adults without disabilities. Similar rates of tobacco use and overweight/obesity were reported. Adults with developmental disabilities had a similar or greater risk of having four of five chronic health conditions compared with non-disabled adults. Significant medical care utilization disparities were found for breast and cervical cancer screening as well as for oral health care. Adults with developmental disabilities presented a unique risk for inadequate emotional support and low utilization of breast and cervical cancer screenings.

Conclusions.

Significant disparities in health and medical care utilization were found for adults with developmental disabilities relative to non-disabled adults. The National Core Indicators protocol offers a sound methodology to gather much-needed surveillance information on the health status, health risk behaviors, and medical care utilization of adults with developmental disabilities. Health promotion efforts must be specifically designed for this population.
A Review of Outbreaks of Foodborne Disease Associated with Passenger Ships: Evidence for Risk Management
Authors: Rooney Roisin M. , Cramer Elaine H. , Mantha Stacey , Nichols Gordon , Bartram Jamie K. , Farber Jeffrey M. , Benembarek Peter K.
Published: June 2004

Objective.

Foodborne disease outbreaks on ships are of concern because of their potentially serious health consequences for passengers and crew and high costs to the industry. The authors conducted a review of outbreaks of foodborne diseases associated with passenger ships in the framework of a World Health Organization project on setting guidelines for ship sanitation.

Methods.

The authors reviewed data on 50 outbreaks of foodborne disease associated with passenger ships. For each outbreak, data on pathogens/toxins, type of ship, factors contributing to outbreaks, mortality and morbidity, and food vehicles were collected.

Results.

The findings of this review show that the majority of reported outbreaks were associated with cruise ships and that almost 10,000 people were affected. Salmonella spp were most frequently associated with outbreaks. Foodborne outbreaks due to enterotoxigenic E. coli spp, Shigella spp, noroviruses (formally called Norwalk-like viruses), Vibrio spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, Cyclospora sp, and Trichinella sp also occurred on ships. Factors associated with the outbreaks reviewed include inadequate temperature control, infected food handlers, contaminated raw ingredients, cross-contamination, inadequate heat treatment, and onshore excursions. Seafood was the most common food vehicle implicated in outbreaks.

Conclusions.

Many ship-associated outbreaks could have been prevented if measures had been taken to ensure adequate temperature control, avoidance of cross-contamination, reliable food sources, adequate heat treatment, and exclusion of infected food handlers from work.
A Review of Outbreaks of Waterborne Disease Associated with Ships: Evidence for Risk Management
Authors: Rooney Roisin M. , Bartram Jamie K. , Cramer Elaine H. , Mantha Stacey , Nichols Gordon , Suraj Rohini , Todd Ewen C.D.
Published: June 2004

Objective.

The organization of water supply to and on ships differs considerably from that of water supply on land. Risks of contamination can arise from source water at the port or during loading, storage, or distribution on the ship. The purpose of this article is to review documented outbreaks of waterborne diseases associated with passenger, cargo, fishing, and naval ships to identify contributing factors so that similar outbreaks can be prevented in the future.

Methods.

The authors reviewed 21 reported outbreaks of waterborne diseases associated with ships. For each outbreak, data on pathogens/toxins, type of ship, factors contributing to outbreaks, mortality and morbidity, and remedial action are presented.

Results.

The findings of this review show that the majority of reported outbreaks were associated with passenger ships and that more than 6,400 people were affected. Waterborne outbreaks due to Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, noroviruses, Salmonella spp, Shigella sp, Cryptosporidium sp, and Giardia lamblia occurred on ships. Enterotoxigenic E. coli was the pathogen most frequently associated with outbreaks. One outbreak of chemical water poisoning also occurred on a ship. Risk factors included contaminated port water, inadequate treatment, improper loading techniques, poor design and maintenance of storage tanks, ingress of contamination during repair and maintenance, cross-connections, back siphonage, and insufficient residual disinfectant.

Conclusions.

Waterborne disease outbreaks on ships can be prevented. The factors contributing to outbreaks emphasize the need for hygienic handling of water along the supply chain from source to consumption. A comprehensive approach to water safety on ships is essential. This may be achieved by the adoption of Water Safety Plans that cover design, construction, operation, and routine inspection and maintenance.
Patterns in Cancer Incidence among American Indians/Alaska Natives, United States, 1992–1999
Authors: Paltoo Dina N. , Chu Kenneth C.
Published: June 2004

Objective.

Cancer is a major public health concern in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. However, information on the incidence of cancer is lacking for this group. The purpose of this study is to report cancer incidence patterns for the U.S. AI/AN population.

Methods.

Age-adjusted annual cancer incidence rates for 1992 through 1999 were calculated for 12 Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) areas, representing a sample (42%) of the U.S. AI/AN population. Trends in cancer incidence rates for the AI/AN sample were determined using standard linear regression of log-transformed rates and were compared to those of the U.S. white population.

Results.

The top five incident cancers (from highest to lowest) among AI/AN males were prostate, lung and bronchus, colon and rectum, kidney and renal pelvis, and stomach cancers. Among AI/AN women, cancers of the breast, colon and rectum, lung and bronchus, endometrium, and ovary ranked highest. Four sites where cancer incidence rates are greater for AI/ANs than for whites include gallbladder (the AI/AN rate was 4.1 times the rate for white males and 2.6 times the rate for white females), liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancers (1.3 times for males and 2.3 times for females), stomach (1.2 times for males and 1.5 times for females), and kidney and renal pelvis (1.03 times for males and 1.07 times for females). The data show increasing trends for AI/AN males and females and declining trends for white males and females for colorectal, stomach, and pancreatic cancers and leukemia. Similar differences between AI/AN rates and white rates were found for urinary bladder cancers in males and gallbladder cancer in females.

Conclusions.

Analysis of SEER data allowed for the determination of disparities in cancer incidence between a sample of the U.S. AI/AN population and the white population. The findings of this study provide baseline information necessary for developing cancer prevention and intervention strategies specific to the AI/AN population to address these cancer disparities.
Preliminary investigation of a late Wisconsinan fauna from K1 cave, Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii), Canada
Authors: Ramsey Carolyn L. , Griffiths Paul A. , Fedje Daryl W. , Wigen Rebecca J. , Mackie Quentin
Published: June 2004

Recent investigations of a limestone solution cave on the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) have yielded skeletal remains of fauna including late Pleistocene and early Holocene bears, one specimen of which dates to ca. 14,40014C yr B.P. This new fossil evidence sheds light on early postglacial environmental conditions in this archipelago, with implications for the timing of early human migration into the Americas.
PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSESSMENT FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN PERU: THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL PARTICIPATION
Authors: SNIDER LESLIE , CABREJOS CLAUDIO , HUAYLLASCO MARQUINA EDITH , JOSE TRUJILLO JUAN , AVERY ALEXIS , ANGO AGUILAR HOMERO
Published: June 2004

This paper describes a pilot study assessing the psychosocial impact of political violence in the Peruvian Andes, utilizing a collaborative approach with local professionals and communities. The study team prioritized dialogue and information exchange with the local professional community and villagers participating in the assessment in order to raise awareness of psychosocial issues and provide education and support. Participation in the pilot study had positive therapeutic effects for villagers, and inspired ongoing discussion groups to address psychosocial problems in communities. This paper also describes a psychosocial assessment strategy utilizing qualitative methods and an adaptation of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire in collaboration with Andean villagers. Usefulness and limitations of the data will be reviewed, in terms of cultural and context relevance, usefulness for informing interventions, and comparisons with ethnographic methodologies and other survey instruments.
ADVOCATING MULTI-DISCIPLINARITY IN STUDYING COMPLEX EMERGENCIES: THE LIMITATIONS OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING HOW YOUNG PEOPLE COPE WITH PROLONGED CONFLICT IN GAZA
Authors: LEWANDO HUNDT GILLIAN , CHATTY DAWN , AZIZ THABET ABDEL , ABUATEYA HALA
Published: June 2004

The paper looks at the limitations and strengths of using the A-cope questionnaire for measuring strategies for coping with prolonged conflict by Palestinian young people in Gaza. The scale was administered to young people between the ages of 8 and 17. The results show some gender differences in coping strategies. However, some items on the subscales are not relevant for Muslim societies or societies in situations of prolonged conflict. The authors suggest that combining an anthropological contextual perspective and qualitative data with psychological instruments is an effective way of addressing the limitations of using a single quantitative method of assessment in non-Western complex social and cultural settings.
MENTAL HEALTH AND COPING IN A WAR SITUATION: THE CASE OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Authors: CARBALLO MANUEL , SMAJKIC ARIF , ZERIC DAMIR , DZIDOWSKA MONIKA , GEBRE-MEDHIN JOY , VAN HALEM JOOST
Published: June 2004

The latter part of the twentieth century has seen an increased concern for the implications of war for civilian populations, and more attention has been given to psychosocial impacts of uprooting and displacement. ‘Loss of place’, acute and chronic trauma, family disruption and problems of family reunification have become issues of concern. The war in Bosnia was characterized by massive displacement, disruption and loss of life, relatives and property. Health and psychosocial well-being were affected in a number of ways. There was an overwhelming loss of perceived power and self-esteem. Over 25% of displaced people, for example, said they no longer felt they were able to play a useful role; even in non-displaced populations approximately 11% of those interviewed said that they had lost a sense of worth. Widespread depression and feelings of fatigue and listlessness were common and may have prevented people from taking steps to improve their situation. Almost a quarter of internally displaced people had a high startle capacity and said they were constantly nervous. Most adverse psychosocial responses increased with age and in a population that includes many elderly people this poses serious problems. The findings point to major challenges with respect to repatriation and reconstruction. They highlight the importance of family reunification and the facilitating of decision-making by affected people themselves. The findings also shed light on potential problems associated with over-dependence on external assistance and hence the need for people to be given the means of using their skills and knowledge to control their day-to-day lives.
Upward delamination of Cascadia Basin sediment infill with landward frontal accretion thrusting caused by rapid glacial age material flux
Authors: Adam Juergen , Klaeschen Dirk , Kukowski Nina , Flueh Ernst
Published: June 2004

The Cascadia convergent margin is a first‐order research target to study the impact of rapid sedimentation processes on the mechanics of frontal subduction zone accretion. The near‐trench part of the accretionary prism offshore Washington is affected by strongly increased glacial age sedimentation and fan formation that led to an outstanding Quaternary growth rate with landward vergent thrust faulting that is rarely observed elsewhere in accretionary wedges. Multichannel seismic reflection data acquired on the ORWELL project allows us to study the structure and dynamics of the atypical frontal accretion processes. We performed a kinematical and mechanical analysis of the frontal accretion structures, and developed a dynamic Coulomb‐wedge model for the landward‐verging backthrust formation. Backthrusting results from heterogeneous diffuse strain accumulation in the mechanically heterogeneous Cascadia basin sediment succession entering the subduction zone, and strain partitioning along a midlevel detachment that is activated by gravitational loading caused by rapid glacial age sedimentation. These complex deformation processes cause the passive “upward” delamination of the upper turbidite beds from the basal pelagic carbonate section similar to triangle‐zone formation and passive backthrust wedging in foreland thrust belts caused by rapid burial beneath syntectonic sediment deposits. The deformation mechanism at the tectonic front of the Cascadia margin is an immediate response to the strongly increased late Pleistocene sediment flux rather than to atypical physical boundary conditions as generally thought.
Enigmatic formation of the Norfolk Basin, SW Pacific: A plume influence on back‐arc extension
Authors: Sdrolias Maria , Müller R. Dietmar , Mauffret Alain , Bernardel George
Published: June 2004

The Norfolk Basin is a small back‐arc basin in the SW Pacific with an unknown age and origin for its formation. Moreover, the process behind its formation as a back‐arc basin in a region of extensive volcanism has previously never been resolved. We have conducted a detailed interpretation of recently acquired swath bathymetry, gravity and magnetic data from the northern Norfolk Basin (FAUST‐2 survey), together with existing data from the region, to address the age and origin of the Norfolk Basin and propose a new model for basin evolution. The Norfolk Basin is characterized by complex bathymetry, which formed during three distinct tectonic phases: (1) regions of elevated topography (termed plateaus) show characteristics of thickened oceanic crust formed during the Cretaceous Normal Superchron, in either a back‐arc basin environment or as a trapped piece of Pacific‐Phoenix oceanic crust; (2) regions of deep bathymetry (termed basins) separate the Cretaceous plateaus and show basement textured by seafloor spreading fabric of Miocene age; (3) widespread intraplate, plume‐related volcanic activity post‐dating the formation of the plateaus but predating the formation of the basins. A Miocene model for the formation of the basin regions in the Norfolk Basin requires a 700 km landward jump in the location of back‐arc spreading, even with continued subduction at the Tonga‐Kermadec Trench and the seaward migration of the subduction hinge. The cessation of spreading in the basin regions would have been followed by an eastward jump of back‐arc spreading by about 1000 km, into the current Lau Basin. We propose that the driving force for such an enormous landward jump in back‐arc spreading is active rifting driven by a mantle plume. This scenario is supported by the extensive Miocene intraplate volcanism observed in the Norfolk Basin and the elevated bathymetry of the entire region. In this model, mantle driven uplift and excess volcanism would have favored back‐arc rifting landward, rather than seaward, of the existing South Fiji Basin, in an extensional regime on the over‐riding plate caused by the continued roll‐back of the subduction hinge. This scenario is supported by the numerous Miocene volcanic cones in the Norfolk Basin, which are mainly located on the preexisting plateaus, probably predating the formation of the basins, as well as their plume melt signature. The Norfolk Basin appears to be the first known example of a major back‐arc basin whose position relative to the slab was not controlled by subduction‐driven mantle flow and melting but by plume tectonics. This requires a re‐evaluation of the traditional back‐arc basin theory in supra‐subduction zones.
North Atlantic Oscillation signatures in the atmospheric concentrations of persistent organic pollutants: An analysis using Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network–Great Lakes monitoring data
Authors: Ma Jianmin , Cao Zuohao , Hung Hayley
Published: June 2004

Spring average air concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dieldrin, and two low‐molecular‐weight polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) measured around the Great Lakes during the 1990s showed strong association with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Decadal air monitoring of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) around the Great Lakes revealed that air concentrations of the aforementioned compounds tend to increase in the positive mode of the NAO. During the same time period, western and northwestern North America experienced warmer‐than‐normal springs, enhancing volatilization of these compounds from reservoirs accumulated because of past and current use. Atmospheric flows associated with the NAO then transported these compounds from source regions to downwind locations such as the Great Lakes. Roughly reversed situations occurred during the negative mode of the NAO, which was linked to lower POP air concentrations observed around the Great Lakes. Interannual fluctuations of the air concentrations of these POPs significantly correlated with the 1000–500‐hPa thickness of the atmospheric layer to the west of the Great Lakes and changes in zonal wind over the western United States. Results indicate that the NAO index may be a useful factor for forecasting interannual fluctuations of POP air concentrations in North America.
Performance of correlation estimators for spaced‐antenna wind measurement in the presence of noise
Authors: Zhang Guifu , Doviak Richard J. , Vivekanandan J. , Brown William O. J. , Cohn Stephen A.
Published: June 2004

The theoretical accuracy of baseline winds, estimated using spaced antennas (SA) and a full correlation analysis (FCA) method to process signals in the presence of noise, is derived assuming horizontally isotropic refractive index perturbations with a horizontal scale small compared to the transmitting antenna diameter D. This performance of the FCA method is compared with the theoretical performance of another correlation‐based approach (i.e., the cross‐correlation ratio method, CCR). The theoretical results of the error analysis are supported with numerical simulations and experimental data. It is shown that the theoretical analysis is valid and the results can be applied to improve wind estimates obtained from SA signals contaminated with additive white noise. The theory shows that the effect noise has on SA wind estimates depends on system configuration and lag spacing, and cannot be correctly accounted by a reduced correlation coefficient due to noise as hypothesized by May [1988].
Seafloor seismic monitoring of an active submarine volcano: Local seismicity at Vailulu'u Seamount, Samoa
Authors: Konter J. G. , Staudigel H. , Hart S. R. , Shearer P. M.
Published: June 2004

We deployed five ocean bottom hydrophones (OBHs) for a 1‐year seismic monitoring study of Vailulu'u Seamount, the youngest and easternmost volcano in the Samoan Archipelago. Four instruments were placed on the summit crater rim at 600–700 m water depth, and one was placed inside the crater at 1000 m water depth. An analysis of the first 45 days of records shows a very large number of seismic events, 211 of them local. These events define a steady background activity of about four seismic events per day, increasing to about 10 events per day during a week of heightened seismic activity, which peaked at 40 events during 1 day. We identified 107 earthquakes, whose arrivals could be picked on all five stations and that are likely located within the seamount, based on their similar waveforms. Two linear trends are defined by 21 of these events. These are extremely well correlated and located, first downward then upward on a steeply inclined plane that is close to the axial plane of the southeast rift as it emerges from the main summit of Vailulu'u. These events resemble volcanotectonic earthquakes from subaerial volcanoes in displaying very coherent seismic waveforms and by showing systematic, narrowly defined progressions in hypocenter locations. We propose that these events reflect brittle rock failure due to magma redistribution in or near a central magma reservoir.
The role of surface boundary forcing over south Asia in the Indian summer monsoon circulation: A regional climate model sensitivity study
Authors: Park Suhee , Hong Song‐You
Published: June 2004

The role of surface boundary forcing over South Asia in the Indian summer monsoon circulation is analyzed by a series of sensitivity experiments within a regional climate modeling framework. The components of surface boundary forcing that impacted the modeled monsoon circulation are: land use property, land‐sea contrast, and orography over South Asia. The land use properties including vegetation and soil conditions do not significantly affect the simulated seasonal rainfall, but they do play an important role in reproducing its intra‐seasonal variability. The land‐sea contrast is found to play a role in monsoonal precipitation over India and southern China by enhancing the large‐scale flow in the lower troposphere north of 10°N. Orography over South Asia affects the interhemispheric gyre circulation, and its impact penetrates up to the mid‐troposphere. This study confirms that the regional climate model is a valuable tool for identifying the mechanisms associated with monsoonal circulation.
Impacts of anthropogenic heat on regional climate patterns
Authors: Block Alexander , Keuler Klaus , Schaller Eberhard
Published: June 2004

Four different simulations of a winter period in Central Europe are carried out to investigate the principle effect of anthropogenic heat release from the highly industrialized and populated Ruhrarea region (Germany) on regional climate conditions. The results reveal a permanent warming due to anthropogenic heat emissions over affected areas ranging from 0.15 K over land area with an additional 2 W m−2 anthropogenic heat flux up to 0.5 K over the Ruhrarea with additional 20 W m−2 anthropogenic heat flux. The temperature effects induced by anthropogenic heat not only depend on the amount of added heat but also on orographical factors. No significant variations are found for precipitation.
Heat flow and deep lithospheric thermal structure at Lac de Gras, Slave Province, Canada
Authors: Mareschal J. C. , Nyblade A. , Perry H. K. C. , Jaupart C. , Bienfait G.
Published: June 2004

Temperature measurements in two drill holes near Lac de Gras in the Slave Province of the Canadian Shield yield heat flow values of 43 ± 5 and 48 ± 8 mW m−2 with an average of 46 ± 6 mW m−2. Heat production measured on samples from one of these holes is relatively high (1.9 μW m−3) confirming measurements made on outcrop samples. The surface heat flow and heat generation data imply that below a 10 km thick radioelement enriched layer, heat production is comparable to that in other Archean Provinces of the Canadian Shield. The lithospheric geotherm is very close to the geotherms derived from geothermobarometry on xenoliths. Variations in crustal heat generation account for ≈50 K differences in Moho temperatures within the Slave Province.
Plasma blobs observed by ground‐based optical and radio techniques in the Brazilian tropical sector
Authors: Pimenta A. A. , Sahai Y. , Bittencourt J. A. , Abdu M. A. , Takahashi H. , Taylor M. J.
Published: June 2004

Ground‐based optical and radio observations were carried out in the tropical region in Brazil, during the period from October 1998 to September 2000, and on several occasions we detected F‐region plasma blob (localized discrete plasma density enhancement) events. These are the first observations of blobs in the tropical F‐region using combined ground‐based optical and radio techniques. All‐sky images were used to map the spatial extension and temporal location of plasma blobs and ionosonde and photometer measurements were used to measure the plasma densities. Interesting cases of plasma blob events were observed on October 07, 1999 and March 04, 2000 over Cachoeira Paulista (22.7°S, 45.0°W; magnetic latitude 13.25°S, declination 20°W), showing discrete plasma density enhancements near regions of plasma density depletion structures in the OI 630.0 nm emission images. In these two cases, the electron densities were enhanced by a factor of, approximately, 2 above the background level. In this paper we report the first ground‐based observations of the plasma density enhancements, or blobs, and their association with equatorial spread‐F plasma depletions, and suggest a possible mechanism for their generation.
Quantifying bushfire penetration into urban areas in Australia
Authors: Chen Keping , McAneney John
Published: June 2004

The extent and trajectory of bushfire penetration at the bushland‐urban interface are quantified using data from major historical fires in Australia. We find that the maximum distance at which homes are destroyed is typically less than 700 m. The probability of home destruction emerges as a simple linear and decreasing function of distance from the bushland‐urban boundary but with a variable slope that presumably depends upon fire regime and human intervention. The collective data suggest that the probability of home destruction at the forest edge is around 60%. Spatial patterns of destroyed homes display significant neighbourhood clustering. Our results provide revealing spatial evidence for estimating fire risk to properties and suggest an ember‐attack model.
Integrated basin-scale and field-scale modelling as a tool to assess improved water and salinity management
Authors: Torabi M. , Salemi H. R. , Droogers P. , Noshadi M.
Published: June 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the impact of changes in water management on water and salinity problems and crop production at field and basin level by analysing several probable scenarios. First, a simplified water and salinity basin model (WSBM) was developed for a quick analysis of river basin processes and was combined with the comprehensive field-scale model, SWAP (soil–water–atmosphere–plant). The WSBM model was calibrated and used for water resources analyses in Zayandeh Rud basin in central Iran. Observed and simulated stream flows were similar, proving that the model could be used for scenario analyses. Yield functions for cotton were developed with SWAP, including the impact of water quantity and quality on crop yields and field water and salinity balances. Three scenarios were considered. The first scenario analysed the effect of more efficient irrigation techniques on the basin water resources, where it was assumed that farmers would not accept lower water allocations if they invested in these more efficient techniques. Therefore, return flows would decrease and less water would be available for downstream users. It was concluded that the effect on the downstream irrigation schemes was dramatic, with a 22% decrease in yield. Obviously, upstream yields would increase. A second scenario was defined where the effect of an increase in water extraction for the town of Esfahan was evaluated. In terms of basin-scale water quantity aspects, this increased extraction was negligible as extractions were relatively low and return flows high. The last scenario was developed to study the additional releases required from the reservoir to provide sufficient water for expansion of the tail-end Rudasht irrigation scheme. If no restriction were imposed on water quality, additional releases from the reservoir would be limited. However, if salinity levels were not to exceed 2�dS/m, mean annual water release requirements from the reservoir would increase from 52 to 64 m3/s, and peak requirements during the irrigation season would increase from 85 to 112 m3/s. In this case, the crop yield would increase from 66% (for the baseline scenario) to 73%. Finally, it was concluded that the methodology and the models developed were useful for a swift and transparent analysis of past, current, and future water and salt resources, and to perform scenario analyses.
Micromorphology and electron microprobe analysis of phosphorus and potassium forms of an Indian Black Earth (IBE) Anthrosol from Western Amazonia
Authors: Schaefer C. E. G. R. , Lima H. N. , Gilkes R. J. , Mello J. W. V.
Published: June 2004

The Indian black earth (IBE) anthrosols (Terra Preta) overlying deep weathered kaolinitic soils of Western Amazonia represent one of the most interesting features of the Amazon Basin, with broad implications to human ecology. We studied one IBE site, in particular the chemical composition and forms of phosphate and potassium, micropedological attributes, and their ecological implications. In the IBE anthrosol, high levels of available P were due to the presence of comminuted fish and animal bone apatite. Flakes of 2 : 1 layer silicates rich in K occurred in pottery remains in the IBE, indicating that they were manufactured from neighbouring 'Várzea' soils. Amazon 'Várzea' environs were the only source of the soil material for pottery, since K-rich 2 : 1 minerals are not present in Terra Firme kaolinitic sediments. High available and total P contents of IBE were related to abundant, very small particles (5–60 μm) of Ca-P and Al-P forms, resolved by s.e.m./EDS at very high magnification. These features originated in animal bones and fish spines that have chemically altered in the soil environment. Earthworm and other biological channels exhibited high Al/P contents, due to apatite ingestion, comminution, and alteration. In transitional horizons, abundant secondary Al/P was present in biological channels, indicating intense biological activity down to 1.5 m. In deeper B horizons, apatite fragments are rare. Charcoal residues of incompletely combusted wood are widespread down to the B horizon. No spatial or concentration relationships exist between P and total free-iron in the soil.
Dissolution of milled-silicate rock fertilisers in the soil
Authors: Priyono J. , Gilkes R. J.
Published: June 2004

Dissolution of dry-milled basalt, dolerite, gneiss, and K-feldspar added to 23 soils has been related to milling time and soil properties. The rocks milled for 10, 60, and 120 min were mixed with 23 type of soils from south-western Australia at a rock/soil ratio of 1/100 (≈10 t/ha), wetted to 110% field capacity, then incubated at 20°C for 2 and 10 months. Measurements of cations extractable by 1 M CH3COONH4 at pH 7 indicate that substantial dissolution occurred in the soil and that milling increased dissolution. After 10 months of incubation, about 18% of Ca and Mg had dissolved from basalt and dolerite milled for 120 min and 40% of Na and K from gneiss and K-feldspar milled for 120 min. Some dissolution occurred with 1 h extraction of non-incubated rock–soil mixtures and these released elements are considered to be readily available plant nutrients. The silicate rocks had minor effects on soil pH and EC of soil-rock mixtures (i.e. increased pH by ≤0.5 unit and EC by ≤127 μS/cm in 1 : 5 water extracts). The large increases in silicate rock dissolution in soils due to milling indicate that milled basalt and dolerite may be used as Ca and Mg fertilisers, and K-feldspar as a K fertiliser. Further research is needed to identify soils and plants for which the application of the silicate rock fertilisers will be most beneficial.
Rapid identification of soil textural and management zones using electromagnetic induction sensing of soils
Authors: Hedley C. B. , Yule I. J. , Eastwood C. R. , Shepherd T. G. , Arnold G.
Published: June 2004

Three surveys of a pastoral–cropping farming system were carried out over a period of 1 year, using an electromagnetic sensor and real-time-kinematic (RTK)-GPS. The maps produced delineated areas of different apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa). These delineated areas were compared with soil units of a conventional soil map and results showed the ECa map related well to soil-particle-size classes. In addition ECa could be used to predict groupings of soil phases accurately within one soil type.Soil coring to depths of 1 m, to determine soil physical and chemical properties, showed ECa values were moderately well correlated (R2 = 0.72) to soil clay percentage, weighted for the soil profile. Soil fertility indicators, Olsen P (R2 = 0.61), cation exchange capacity (R2 = 0.59), and exchangeable magnesium (R2 = 0.76) also related well. The linear regression (R2 = 0.76) of ECa with exchangeable magnesium is thought to reflect the dominant clay mineralogy of the study area, i.e. chlorites weathering to illites and releasing magnesium to the soil solution. Discriminant statistical analysis of results showed point ECa values could be used to predict 2 major groupings of the mapped soil phases with 100% accuracy. More precise prediction of these mapped soil units is constrained by localised management effects. Elevated ECa values occur at areas of soil compaction, which have been deduced from measurements of soil strength, aggregate size distribution and visual soil assessment.
A fluorophore attached to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor βM2 detects productive binding of agonist to the αδ site
Authors: Dahan David S. , Dibas Mohammed I. , Petersson E. James , Auyeung Vincent C. , Chanda Baron , Bezanilla Francisco , Dougherty Dennis A. , Lester Henry A.
Published: June 2004

To study conformational transitions at the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor (nAChR), a rhodamine fluorophore was tethered to a Cys side chain introduced at the β19′ position in the M2 region of the nAChR expressed in
Xenopus
oocytes. This procedure led to only minor changes in receptor function. During agonist application, fluorescence increased by (Δ
F
/
F
) ≈10%, and the emission peak shifted to lower wavelengths, indicating a more hydrophobic environment for the fluorophore. The dose–response relations for Δ
F
agreed well with those for epibatidine-induced currents, but were shifted ≈100-fold to the left of those for ACh-induced currents. Because (
i
) epibatidine binds more tightly to the αγ-binding site than to the αδ site and (
ii
) ACh binds with reverse-site selectivity, these data suggest that Δ
F
monitors an event linked to binding specifically at the αδ-subunit interface. In experiments with flash-applied agonists, the earliest detectable Δ
F
occurs within milliseconds, i.e., during activation. At low [ACh] (≤ 10 μM), a phase of Δ
F
occurs with the same time constant as desensitization, presumably monitoring an increased population of agonist-bound receptors. However, recovery from Δ
F
is complete before the slowest phase of recovery from desensitization (time constant ≈250 s), showing that one or more desensitized states have fluorescence like that of the resting channel. That conformational transitions at the αδ-binding site are not tightly coupled to channel activation suggests that sequential rather than fully concerted transitions occur during receptor gating. Thus, time-resolved fluorescence changes provide a powerful probe of nAChR conformational changes.
The evolution of culture: From primate social learning to human culture
Authors: Castro Laureano , Toro Miguel A.
Published: June 2004

Cultural transmission in our species works most of the time as a cumulative inheritance system allowing members of a group to incorporate behavioral features not only with a positive biological value but sometimes also with a neutral, or even negative, biological value. Most of models of dual inheritance theory and gene-culture coevolution suggest that an increase, either qualitative or quantitative, in the efficiency of imitation is the key factor to explain the transformation of primate social learning in a cumulative cultural system of inheritance as it happens during hominization. We contend that more efficient imitation is necessary but not enough for this transformation to occur and that the key factor enabling such a transformation is that some hominids developed the capacity to approve or disapprove their offspring's learned behavior. This capacity to approve or disapprove offspring's behavior makes learning both less costly and more accurate, and it transformed the hominid culture into a system of cumulative cultural inheritance similar to that of humans, although the system was still prelinguistic in nature.