bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single tube confirmatory tests forEscherichia coli
Authors:   Joint Committee of the Public Health Laboratory Service and the Standing Committee of Analysts
Published: May 2009

In a multi-laboratory trial, lauryl tryptose mannitol broth (LTMB) and minerals-modified glutamate medium with added tryptophan (MMGM + T) were compared as single tube tests for the confirmation ofEscherichia coliin water; the confirmed results were also compared with the production of gas from minerals-modified glutamate medium without added tryptophan (MMGM). LTMB and MMGM + T gave similar gas and indole results with about 90% of the water samples in most of the laboratories. When compared with the ‘correct’ results as judged by acid and gas production from lactose peptone water and indole from tryptone water, the difference in the rate of false positive reactions between LTMB and MMGM + T was insignificant; but LTMB gave a significantly lower rate of false negative reactions than MMGM + T. Gas production from MMGM without added tryptophan gave significantly higher rates of both false positive and false negative reactions. Lauryl sulphate is therefore a suitable inhibitory surfactant for use in single tubemedia for the confirmation ofE. coli, which can be recommended.
Notes on Venereal Diseases in the Royal Navy
Authors: McNabb Daniel
Published: May 2009

Any description of the outbreaks of venereal disease is of necessity bound up with the migration of races, or parts of races, with wars and the consequent dislocation of the social system resulting from them. There are many inferences available from current writers showing how this contagious disease was spread and there is a good deal of reason to believe that some, at least, of the numerous cases of “leprosy” for which provision was made on frequent trade routes in past times were really cases of venereal disease.
The influenze virus flocculation reaction as a method of antigenic typing
Authors: Belyavin G.
Published: May 2009

The influenza virus serum flocculation previously reported (Belyavin, 1955) opened up a number of lines of investigation. One of obvious importance was extension of the reaction to other viruses belonging to both related and unrelated groups. Indeed, other workers in this laboratory have already achieved the flocculation of poliomyelitis viruses by specific antisera (Smith, Sheffield, Lee & Churcher, 1956) and flocculation of both mumps and Newcastle disease viruses is now reported in this communication. The ease with which the viruses of the mumps-influenza group can be flocculated by homologous rabbit antisera suggested that the technique may be applicable as a method of antigenic analysis. If so, it would have the advantage of being much simpler than the standard haemagglutination inhibition and complement-fixation tests. The exploration of this possibility forms the basis of this paper. A large-scale antigenic survey involving numerous virus strains has not been attempted, greater emphasis being placed on the examination of techniques and their applicability to the end in view. The investigation has also revealed new phenomena peculiar to the direct virus flocculation reaction.
The titration of vaccinial neutralizing antibody on chorio-allantoic membranes
Authors: Boulter E. A.
Published: May 2009

A study has been made of various factors involved in performing neutralization tests with vaccinia virus on chorio-allantoic membranes.

The common practice of using a single serum concentration has been shown to result in a test which is qualitative only. The linear relationship between the logarithm of the pock count of the surviving virus and the logarithm of the serum dilution can be used to determine the dilution of serum which will neutralize 50% of a virus suspension. By this method it is possible to distinguish between sera whose potencies vary by about fourfold.

I gratefully acknowledge the advice and criticism given by Dr J. C. N. Westwood and Dr I. A. Macpherson, as well as the help given by Mr S. Peto with the statistical treatment of results. My thanks are also due to Mr H. B. Maber and Corporal M. Fitzpatrick, R.A.M.C., for their technical assistance.
Sporadic acute respiratory infections in adults with special reference to adenovirus infections
Authors: Stovin Sybille
Published: May 2009

Four out of fifty acute respiratory infections occurring in forty-five adult volunteers in a teaching hospital, from October 1956 to July 1957, were associated with infection by a member of the adenovirus group. In three of these adenovirus infections the clinical picture was quite distinct from that of the common cold, but not from other syndromes of unknown aetiology; in the fourth case the clinical picture was not easily distinguishable from the common cold.

It is suggested on the basis of this study that adenovirus vaccines would do little towards reducing sporadic acute respiratory infections in this type of community.

Complement-fixing and neutralizing antibody patterns to adenovirus Types 1–7, 9 and 10 were determined in paired sera from forty-four of the forty-five volunteers.

I wish to thank all the volunteers who took part in this investigation, Mrs Audrey Rae, A.I.M.L.T., for expert technical assistance, Dr Nuala Crowley and Prof. K. R. Hill, Pathology Department, Royal Free Hospital, Dr H. G. Pereira, National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, and Dr F. K. Sanders, M.R.C. Virus Research Unit, London School of Hygiene, for advice and help.
The isolation of Coxsackie A viruses from human sera and mosquitoes in Fiji
Authors: Maguire T. , Macnamara F. N.
Published: May 2009

1. Coxsackie A6 virus was isolated in January 1963 from the circulating blood of four children in Suva, Fiji, suffering from fever, lymphadenitis and pharyngitis.

2. Nine strains of the same agent were isolated from Aedes (Stegomyia) poly-nesiensis mosquitoes caught over a period of 2 weeks near or in a village situated among mangrove swamps at the mouth of the Rewa river, in January 1963.

3. No virus was isolated from mosquitoes caught in Suva.

4. A serological survey indicated that Coxsackie A6 infections are common and widespread in Fiji.
Airborne excretion of foot-and-mouth disease virus
Authors: Sellers R. F. , Parker J.
Published: May 2009

A large-volume sampler was used to recover virus excreted as aerosol by cattle, sheep and pigs infected with foot-and-mouth disease. Pigs were found to excrete virus to a maximum of 104.7ID 50 per animal per hour and sheep and cattle to a maximum of 103.2ID 50. Excretion from pigs totalled 106ID 50 per animal over 5 days and from cattle and sheep 3 x 104ID 50 per animal over 4 days. Maximum recovery occurred 41 hr. after infection in pigs and cattle when lesions had generalized and 17 hr. after infection in sheep before lesions had been observed. Sampling in a multistage liquid impinger showed that 65–71% of virus was excreted as an aerosol of size > 6 μ, 19–24% 3–6 μ and 10–11% less than 3 μ. The site of production of virus excreted as aerosol is suggested to be the upper respiratory tract. Under conditions of relative humidity greater than 70% and at low temperatures, survival of virus to a distance of 100 km. is likely to occur and because of the minute respiratory volume the aerosol would be sampled more efficiently by cattle than pigs or sheep and by large animals than by small. These findings are discussed in relation to spread of virus in the field.

Mr Dave Allen and Massey-Ferguson Ltd. are thanked for their generous donations, with which the large-volume sampler was purchased. We are grateful to Dr C. E. Gordon Smith, Mr G. J. Harper and Dr K. P. Norris of the Microbiological Research Establishment, Porton, for advice and help and for the loan of the multistage liquid impinger. The technical assistance of N. H. Cheale and C. W. Hawkins is gratefully acknowledged.
Trials with a live attenuated rubella virus vaccine, Cendehill strain
Authors: Grant L. , Belle E. A. , Provan G. , King S. D. , Sigel M. M.
Published: May 2009

This report summarizes closed, family, and open studies conducted sequentially over a 10 month period with the Cendehill rubella virus vaccine in more than 16,000 children and adolescents. This strain of rubella was attenuated by serial propagation on primary rabbit kidney cell cultures. Inoculation of the Cendehill vaccine produced seroconversion in 97% of the 3589 susceptible (seronegative) vaccinated persons. There was no spread of the virus to susceptible controls living in close contact with those vaccinated. The vaccine was well tolerated. No arthritis or arthralgia occurred in 860 female subjects 13–18 years of age who were included in the study. The Cendehill vaccine would appear to meet the requirements of an acceptable vaccine.
Field Studies of the Role of Anopheles Atroparvusin the Transmission of Myxomatosis in England
Authors: Muirhead-Thomson R. C.
Published: May 2009

Evidence is presented that outbreaks of myxomatosis among domestic rabbits at Newhaven in Sussex were spread through the agency of Anopheles atroparvus. The habits of this insect are discussed in relation to its possible importance as a vector of myxomatosis.
Pertussis antibodies in the sera of children exposed toBordetella pertussisby vaccination or infection
Authors: Dolby Jean M. , Stephens Susan
Published: May 2009

Low agglutinin titres to pertussis suspensions were found in 99% of sera from a group comprising healthy adults and non-vaccinated, non-infected infants of 1–6 months of age. These are attributable to agglutinins to heat-stable antigens and/or heat labile agglutinogen 1, and cross-absorption tests must be done on the sera in order to distinguish between the two. Agglutinins to agglutinogens 2 and 3 were found in only about 20% of adult sera. Bactericidal antibody was low in titre or absent in all sera from non-exposed individuals.

Raised bactericidal antibody titres and the presence of agglutinins 2 and 3 were attributed to exposure toBordetella pertussisantigens, either as vaccine or as infection. The variation, amongst both vaccinated and infected children, was very great. A vaccinated child who became ill responded to the infection in much the same way as a non-vaccinated child. We were unable to relate the immunity of the child to the titres either of agglutinins or of the bactericidal antibody.

The protective ability of sera from vaccinated or infected children measured in mice against small, lethal brain infections was also unrelated to the state of immunity in the children, but this protective ability was correlated with the complement-mediated bactericidal antibody titres of the sera.

The distribution of agglutinins, bactericidal antibody, and anti-haemagglutinin in serum IgG and IgM was different in vaccinated and infected children.
Antibody responses of burned patients immunized with a polyvalent Pseudomonas vaccine
Authors: Jones R. J.
Published: May 2009

In two controlled clinical trials of a polyvalent pseudomonas vaccine, vaccinated burned patients showed higher antibody titres to the 16 antigens in the vaccine and higher titres of a passively transferable protective antibody than was found in unvaccinated burned patients.
The size of airborne dust particles precipitating bronchospasm in house dust sensitive children
Authors: Clark R. P. , Preston T. D. , Gordon-Nesbitt D. C. , Malka S. , Sinclair L.
Published: May 2009

We have assessed the effect of house-cleaning procedures on changes in airborne dust and bacteria counts and correlated these with respiratory function tests in 14 children with bronchial asthma who were known to have developed attacks at home, and who had positive skin tests to house dust and the house-dust mite.

We have demonstrated that after cleaning procedures a positive and statistically significant correlation exists between the increase in the numbers of small particles, 2 μm. and less in diameter, in the environment, and reduction in mean peak flow. This indicates that particles of this size penetrate the bronchial tree and are the causative factor in the genesis of bronchospasm.
Biological characteristics of blue shark, Prionace glauca, in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Megalofonou Persefoni , Damalas Dimitris , de Metrio Gregorio
Published: May 2009

A total of 870 blue sharks ranging from 70 to 349 cm in total length (LT) were sampled from the swordfish longline fishery in the Mediterranean Sea during the period 1998–2003. Males predominated and the sex-ratio (1:1.8) showed an increase in the proportion of males as size of fish increased. Gonad observation revealed that females smaller than 120 cm LT had immature ovaries with no mature oocytes, while mature ovaries with visible yolky oocytes were present in specimens larger than 203 cm LT. Ovary weight varied from 4–137 g and maximum oocyte diameter was 21.1 mm in mature females. All males smaller than 125 cm LT were immature while males larger than 187 cm LT were mature, as indicated by the presence of heavily calcified claspers, which extended beyond the posterior end of the pelvic fins. Length at 50% maturity (L50) was estimated to be 202.9 cm LT for males and 214.7 cm LT for females. Age estimates using caudal vertebrae ranged from 1 to 12 years, while age at 50% maturity was estimated at 4.9 years for males and 5.5 year for females.
Distribution of echinoderms on continental shelf in open waters of the northern and middle Adriatic Sea
Authors: Despalatović Marija , Grubelić Ivana , Piccinetti Corrado , Cvitković Ivan , Antolić Boris , Žuljević Ante , Nikolić Vedran
Published: May 2009

This study presents the first extensive investigation of echinoderm distribution in the area of mobile bottoms in the open part of the northern and middle Adriatic Sea. Five hundred and eighteen bottom trawl hauls were performed at 56 predetermined permanent stations along ten transects over different sediment types, at depths of 10 to 430 m. A total of 34 species of Echinodermata were identified (9 from the class Holothuroidea, 12 from the class Asteroidea, 4 from the class Ophiuroidea and 9 from the class Echinoidea). The list of the species, together with data on depth and sediment distribution, and the stations where individual species were found, are presented.
A restriction site to differentiatePlasmodiumandHaemoproteusinfections in birds: on the inefficiency of general primers for detection of mixed infections
Authors: MARTÍNEZ J. , MARTÍNEZ-DE LA PUENTE J. , HERRERO J. , DEL CERRO S. , LOBATO E. , RIVERO-DE AGUILAR J. , VÁSQUEZ R. A. , MERINO S.
Published: May 2009

AvianPlasmodiumandHaemoproteusparasites are easily detected by DNA analyses of infected samples but only correctly assigned to each genus by sequencing and use of a phylogenetic approach. Here, we present a restriction site to differentiate between both parasite genera avoiding the use of those analyses. Alignments of 820 sequences currently listed in GenBank encoding a particular cytochrome B region of avianPlasmodiumandHaemoproteusshow a shared restriction site for both genera using the endonucleaseHpyCH4III. An additional restriction site is present inPlasmodiumsequences that would initially allow differentiation of both genera by differential migration of digested products on gels. Overall 9 out of 326 sequences containing both potential restriction sites do not fit to the general rule. We used this differentiation of parasite genera based onHpyCH4III restriction sites to evaluate the efficacy of 2 sets of general primers in detecting mixed infections. To do so, we used samples from hosts infected by parasites of both genera. The use of general primers was only able to detect 25% or less of the mixed infections. Therefore, parasite DNA amplification using general primers to determine the species composition of haemosporidian infections in individual hosts is not recommended. Specific primers for each species and study area should be designed until a new method can efficiently discriminate both parasites.
The United Nations and Antarctica, 2002: ‘constructive engagement’ between the Antarctic Treaty System and the United Nations
Authors: Beck Peter J.
Published: May 2009

At the close of 2002, the United Nations (UN), acting in accordance with its 1999 resolution A54/45, returned to the ‘Question of Antarctica,’ which is currently being placed upon the agenda of the General Assembly's First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) every three years. In 2002, the First Committee's discussions, informed yet again by a report produced by the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) updating members about recent Antarctic developments, reaffirmed the varying perspectives existing within the international community about the management of Antarctica. Following statements delivered by the Polish delegate on behalf of the Antarctic Treaty Parties (ATPs) and the Malaysian representative, the First Committee adopted another consensus draft resolution. Subsequently, the UN General Assembly, acting by consensus without a vote, formally adopted the First Committee's draft as resolution A57/51, which basically updated the wording of that adopted in 1999. Thus, the UNSG was instructed to produce another report to guide the next UN session on the ‘Question of Antarctica’ scheduled for 2005. Although the UN discussions on the topic in 2002 proved relatively brief and low key, the actions of Malaysia during the past year or so have raised a number of questions about the future course of the ‘Question of Antarctica,’ given its lead role in first raising the topic at the UN in 1983 and then maintaining pressure upon the Antarctic Treaty System.
Reading strategies of bilingual normally progressing and dyslexic readers in Hindi and English
Authors: GUPTA ASHUM , JAMAL GULGOONA
Published: May 2009

This study examined the reading accuracy of dyslexic readers in comparison to chronological age-matched normally progressing readers in Hindi and English using word reading tasks, matched for spoken frequency of usage, age of acquisition, imageability, and word length. Both groups showed significantly greater reading accuracy in Hindi than in English. For normally progressing readers, spoken frequency of usage had no significant effect in Hindi and a significant effect in English, whereas for dyslexic readers it had a significant effect in both languages. In Hindi, normally progressing readers produced only nonword errors; dyslexic readers produced a far greater percentage of nonword than word errors. In English, normally progressing readers produced greater percentage of word than nonword errors, whereas dyslexic readers produced greater percentage of nonword than word errors. Results are discussed in terms of orthographic transparency, sublexical, and lexical reading strategies.
Adults' knowledge of phoneme–letter relationships is phonology based and flexible
Authors: LEHTONEN ANNUKKA , TREIMAN REBECCA
Published: May 2009

Despite the importance of phonemic awareness in beginning literacy, several studies have demonstrated that adults, including teacher trainees, have surprisingly poor phonemic skills. Three experiments investigated whether adults' responses in phonemic awareness and spelling segmentation tasks are based on units larger than single letters and phonemes. Responses often involved large units, and they were influenced by sonority and syllable structure. Participants who performed a phoneme counting task before a spelling segmentation task produced significantly more phoneme-based responses and fewer onset–rime responses than participants who first counted words in sentences. This training effect highlights the flexibility of adults' strategies. Although adults are capable of phoneme-based processing, they sometimes fail to use it.
The Epistemologies of Non-Forecasting Simulations, Part I: Industrial Dynamics and Management Pedagogy at MIT
Authors: Thomas William , Williams Lambert
Published: May 2009

Argument

This paper is the first part of a two-part examination of computer modeling practice and philosophy. It discusses electrical engineer Jay Forrester's work on Industrial Dynamics, later called System Dynamics. Forrester developed Industrial Dynamics after being recruited to the newly-established School of Industrial Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which had been seeking a novel pedagogical program for management for five years before Forrester's arrival. We argue that Industrial Dynamics should be regarded in light of this institutional context. Unlike economics, as well as operations research and management science (twin fields which were also gaining traction at that time), Industrial Dynamics was not meant to be applied by mathematicians and technical specialists in consultation with managers, but by managers themselves. This concern shifted the emphasis in modeling from the specialist act of analysis of a crucial problem to the managerial act of choosing which problems were crucial and developing effective policies around them.
Homotopy type of disentanglements of multi-germs
Authors: HOUSTON KEVIN
Published: May 2009

For a complex analytic map f from n-space to p-space with n < p and with an isolated instability at the origin, the disentanglement of f is a local stabilization of f that is analogous to the Milnor fibre for functions.

For mono-germs it is known that the disentanglement is a wedge of spheres of possibly varying dimensions. In this paper we give a condition that allows us to deduce that the same is true for a large class of multi-germs.
Human parvovirus B19 infection within a family and risk for pregnant women
Authors: Azzi A. , Trotta M. , Zakrzewska K. , Balzer E. , Rogasi P. G. , Carocci A. , Leoncini F.
Published: May 2009

During an outbreak of parvovirus B19 infection among four related families at least 70% of the household contacts, including a woman at the 33rd week of pregnancy, became infected. Twins were born at the 39th week of pregnancy, both with B19 infection. B19 DNA was detected in their sera by a nested PCR, anti-B19 IgM was detectable only by an immunofluorescence assay, and low levels of maternal anti-B19 IgG were demonstrable by an immunoenzymatic test in the serum of both children. All the haematological parameters were normal at birth and 6 months later, when B19 DNA and anti-B19 antibody were no longer detectable in serum samples. This observation emphasizes the high risk of B19 infection among household contacts and the possibility of a favourable outcome of the foetal infection, possibly related to infection late in the pregnancy.
Susceptibility of enterococci and epidemiology of enterococcal infections in the 1980s
Authors: George R. C. , Uttley A. H. C.
Published: May 2009

Enterococcisensu strictoform part of the normal gut flora (1) and may be found in the mouth, vagina and anterior urethra (2). They are opportunist pathogens which can cause serious infection including endocarditis. Nosocomial enterococcal infection appears to be increasing both in the UK (Public Health Laboratory Service [PHLS] Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre [CDSC], unpublished) and the USA (3) and to correspond to usage of broad spectrum β-lactam antimicrobial agents (4−7) and invasive surgical devices (8, 9). At the same time, the incidence of enterococci resistant or tolerant to previously commonly employed antimicrobial agents or their synergistic combinations is increasing and is compromising therapy of serious enterococcal infection. Strains of enterococci with high-level resistance to streptomycin and kanamycin (minimal inhibitory concentrations [MICs] > 2000 mg/L) were first reported in 1970 (10, 11) and rapidly became widespread (8, 12−14).
A new approach to morbidity risk assessment in hookworm endemic communities
Authors: Lwambo N. J. S. , Bundy D. A. P. , Medley G. F. H.
Published: May 2009

The relationship between paired hookworm prevalence and mean intensity of infection data from geographically defined communities was examined. The results show that, in spite of major socio-economic and environmental differences between communities, the relationship is consistent and non-linear. A generalized value of k (the exponent of the negative binomial distribution) for hookworms was estimated to be 0.34, which is consonant with previous estimates from cross-sectional data. Maximum likelihood analysis indicates that the severity of hookworm aggregation in humans has an inverse relationship to mean worm burden which is less marked than for Ascaris lumbricoides. A simple model, based on published estimates of hookworm burdens associated with hookworm anaemia, was used to predict prevalence of morbidity from prevalence of infection data for Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia. Predictions correspond to the observation that hookworm anaemia is highly focal, and largely coastal, in distribution. These analyses suggest that locality-targeting of chemotherapy is particularly appropriate for the control of hookworm morbidity.
Campylobacter diarrhoea and an association of recent disease with asymptomatic shedding in Egyptian children
Authors: Pazzaglia G. , Bourgeois A. L. , Diwany K. El , Nour N. , Badran N. , Hablas R.
Published: May 2009

A hospital-based case-control diarrhoea survey was conducted in Cairo. Egypt to determine the age-specific frequency of campylobacter infection among diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic children aged new born to 5 years. Campylobacter was the most common bacterial enteropathogen isolated from diarrhoeic stools. The overall prevalence of campylobacter isolations was 25·9% from stools of 143 diarrhoeic children compared to 15·2% of 132 non-diarrhoeic control children (P= 0·028) during the 4-month period of study. Children less than 1 year of age were at greatest risk of campylobacter infection with 32·6% of diarrhoeic patients culture positive, compared to 14·3% of controls. Asymptomatic shedding in controls was positively associated with a recent diarrhoeal episode (P= 0·019) and may be an important source of new infections.
From parametric polymorphism to models of polymorphic FPC
Authors: MØGELBERG RASMUS EJLERS
Published: May 2009

This paper shows how PILLY(Polymorphic Intuitionistic/Linear Lambda calculus with a fixed point combinatorY) with parametric polymorphism can be used as a metalanguage for domain theory, as originally suggested by Plotkin more than a decade ago. Using Plotkin's encodings of recursive types in PILLY, we show how parametric models of PILLYgive rise to models of FPC, which is a simply typed lambda calculus with recursive types and an operational call-by-value semantics, reflecting a classical result from domain theory. Essentially, this interpretation is an interpretation of intuitionistic logic into linear logic first discovered by Girard, which in this paper is extended to deal with recursive types. Of particular interest is a model based on ‘admissible’ pers over a reflexive domain, the theory of which can be seen as a domain theory for (impredicative) polymorphism. We show how this model gives rise to a parametric and computationally adequate model of PolyFPC, an extension of FPC with impredicative polymorphism. This is to the author's knowledge the first denotational model of a non-linear language with parametric polymorphism and recursive types.
Activated caspases are present in frozen–thawed canine sperm and may be related to post thaw sperm quality
Authors: Sokolowska A. , García B. Macías , Fernández L. González , Ortega-Ferrusola C. , Tapia J. A. , Peña F. J.
Published: May 2009

The identification of early changes in the sperm plasmalemma is currently a factor in the improvement of freezing protocols. We analysed the presence of active caspases in freeze–thawed (FT) dog spermatozoa, and evaluated straws from eight dogs using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy with fluorescein isothyocyanate–Val–Ala–Asp–fluoromethylketone (FITC–VAD–fmk) combined with ethidum homodimers. Apoptotic-like changes were evaluated using the YO–PRO-1/ethidium homodimer combination, and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential were monitored with JC-1. Sperm motility post-thaw was evaluated using a CASA system. FITC–VAD–fmk stained sperm cells in situ and the subcellular labelling pattern was consistent with known localization of caspases. On average, a high proportion of FT canine sperm showed caspase activity, ranging from 30.2 to 70.7% of the live sperm compared with 7.3 to 24.0% in dead spermatozoa. This observed differentiation between caspase activity in dead and live spermatozoa may be a simple method to disclose subtle differences in sperm quality, since this staining allowed us to find statistically significant differences among dogs. Notably, the sperm sample with overall better results in all sperm parameters studied after thawing had a lower percentage of active caspases in both dead and live spermatozoa.
On the variation of ice pellet characteristics
Authors: Gibson Steven R. , Stewart Ronald E. , Henson William
Published: May 2009

Ice pellets are an important yet little‐studied type of winter precipitation. To better document and understand this type of precipitation, ice pellet particles were imaged with a high‐resolution digital camera during three winter storms in the Montréal area. Particle characteristics, size distributions, precipitation rates, and parameterizations of the particle size distributions were determined from the analysis of the images and compared between events. There were many similarities between the events, and these include the following: The same particle classes were present, the overall size distributions were very similar, and the most common particle diameter (0.6 mm) was the same. The relative lengths of spicules with respect to their base particles were also found to be similar among the three events, with the following relationship being determined: spicule length = 0.45 · particle size. In addition, substantial temporal variability (down to 5 min) was observed in both the particle sizes and the precipitation rate. Also, a range of particle sizes was observed even at low precipitation rates (0.5 mm/h). Differences between the events included the relative numbers of the different classes and the degree of temporal variability. This study confirmed that ice pellet characteristics illustrate many common features in at least three events, although important differences exist as well.
Implications of the day versus night differences of water vapor, carbon monoxide, and thin cloud observations near the tropical tropopause
Authors: Liu Chuntao , Zipser Edward J.
Published: May 2009

There are some interesting day versus night differences in the water vapor and carbon monoxide concentrations near the tropopause over tropical land and ocean from 4 years of EOS Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) observations. To interpret these differences, the diurnal cycle of deep convection reaching near tropical tropopause summarized from a decade of tropical rainfall measuring mission (TRMM) observations. We also present the diurnal cycle of the cold point tropopause temperature and height derived from 2 years of constellation observing system for meteorology ionosphere and climate (COSMIC) GPS temperature profiles, the day versus night differences of occurrence of thin clouds from 2 years of cloud‐aerosol lidar and infrared pathfinder satellite observations (CALIPSO) and 16 years of stratospheric aerosol and gaseous experiment (SAGE) II. In the tropical upper troposphere, day versus night differences of water vapor and carbon monoxide are consistent with the diurnal cycle of the vertical transport of water vapor and carbon monoxide–rich air from the surface by deep convection. However, in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) over land, day versus night differences of water vapor concentration are more consistent with the diurnal variations of temperature in a saturated TTL, which is related to the diurnal cycle of cooling in the TTL induced by deep convection. The day versus night differences of occurrences of thin clouds in the TTL are also consistent with the freeze drying, controlled by the diurnal cycles of temperature in the TTL.
Feridex Preloading Permits Tracking of CNS-Resident Macrophages after Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion
Authors: Henning Erica C , Ruetzler Christi A , Gaudinski Martin R , Hu Tom C-C , Latour Lawrence L , Hallenbeck John M , Warach Steven
Published: May 2009

At this time, the pathophysiology of macrophage involvement and their role in stroke progression are poorly understood. Recently, T2- and T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), after intravenous administration of iron-oxide particles, have been used to understand the inflammatory cascade. Earlier studies report that image enhancement after stroke is from iron-laden macrophages; however, they do not account for potential blood-brain barrier disruption and nonspecific contrast enhancement. In this study, spontaneously hypertensive rats were preloaded with Feridex 7 days before stroke, permitting the labeling of bone-marrow-derived macrophages. Three-dimensional gradient-echo imaging showed average signal decreases of 13% to 23% in preloaded animals, concentrated on the lesion periphery and reaching a maximum on days 2 to 4 after stroke. Immunohistochemistry showed ED-2+, PB+, MHC-II+ and TNF-α+ perivascular macrophages (PVM), meningeal macrophages (MM), and choroid plexus macrophages (CPM). ED-1+ and IBA+ tissue macrophages and/or activated microglia were located throughout the lesion, but were PB−. These findings indicate the following: (1) Feridex preloading permits tracking of the central nervous system (CNS)-resident macrophages (PVM, MM, and CPM) and (2) CNS-resident macrophages likely play an integral role in the inflammatory cascade through antigen presentation and expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Further refinement of this method should permit noninvasive monitoring of inflammation and potential evaluation of antiinflammatory therapies in preclinical models of stroke.
The GABI Primary Database: GABIPD - Integration of Plant 'Omics'-Data in Gene Context
Authors: Riaño-Pachón Diego Mauricio , Nagel Axel , Neigenfind Jost , Wagner Robert , Basekow Rico , Weber Elke , Kleessen Sabrina , Kersten Birgit
Published: May 2009

GabiPD ("http://www.gabipd.org/":http://www.gabipd.org/) at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology constitutes a repository and analysis platform of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic plant data provided by the GABI community (Riaño-Pachón et al., 2009). Beside the data, current versions of useful tools are being made accessible via GabiPD, such as MapMan (Usadel et al., 2005) and SATlotyper (Neigenfind et al., 2008). Access to GabiPD is provided via either the web interface or WebServices.In GabiPD, twenty different plant species are currently represented with the model plant A. thaliana on top followed by the crop plants S. tuberosum and H. vulgare. Innovative user interfaces allow interactive access to the different data types, e.g. (i) GreenCards to all text-based information, like sequences and comparative SNP information (e.g., Pajerowska-Mukhtar et al., 2009) (ii) YAMB to comparative genetic maps, (iii) MapManWeb to gene expression or metabolite profiling data mapped onto pathways, or (iv) 2DGelViewer to annotated 2DE gel images. All data types (e.g., clones, protein spots, gene expression data) in GabiPD are pointing to the central Gene GreenCard, where gene information is retrieved from genome annotation projects or UniGene sets (provided by NCBI). With the Gene GreenCards, we provide MapMan and Gene Ontology annotations and ortholog information (currently only between A. thaliana and O. sativa ssp. japonica). Recently, a new graphical representation of transcripts was integrated displaying gene structure (untranslated regions, start and stop codons and exon-exon junctions). Protein domains as well as ESTs, are mapped on the transcript displays. In order to ease the transfer of knowledge from model to crop plants, we have performed similarity-based mappings between closely related species, i.e., O. sativa ssp. japonica and H. vulgare. By the integration of complex data in a framework of existing knowledge, GabiPD provides new insights and allows for new interpretations of plant data.This work is/was supported by the BMBF (GABI grants 0312272, 0313112, 0315046).Neigenfind J et al. (2008) Haplotype inference from unphased SNP data in heterozygous polyploids based on SAT. BMC Genomics 9:356.Pajerowska-Mukhtar K et al. (2009) Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the allene oxide synthase 2 gene are associated with field resistance to late blight in populations of tetraploid potato cultivars. Genetics, doi:"10.1534/genetics.108.094268":http://dx.doi.org/10.1534/genetics.108.094268Riano-Pachon DM et al. (2009) GabiPD: The GABI Primary Database - a plant integrative ‘omics’ database. Nucleic Acids Research 37(Database issue):D954-9, DOI "10.1093/nar/gkn611":http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkn611Usadel B et al (2006) PageMan: an interactive ontology tool to generate, display, and annotate overview graphs for profiling experiments. BMC Bioinformatics 7:535.
NO chemisorption dynamics on thick FePc and ttbu-FePc films
Authors: Tran N. L. , Bishop S. R. , Grassman T. J. , Poon G. C. , Bohrer F. I. , Trogler W. C. , Kummel A. C.
Published: May 2009

The NO chemisorption dynamics on ordered multilayer iron phthalocyanine (FePc) and quasiamorphous multilayer tetra-t-butyl FePc (ttbu-FePc) films on a Au(111) substrate was investigated using the King and Wells reflection technique. The NO zero coverage or initial sticking probabilities (S0) were measured as a function of sample temperature (Ts) and beam energy (Ei). The experimental results for both films show a monotonic decrease in S0 with increasing Ts and Ei consistent with NO adsorption occurring via a multiple pathway precursor-mediated mechanism in which the adsorbate initially physisorbs to the FePc organics, diffuses, and chemisorbs to the Fe metal center. The saturation coverage is 3% for the multilayer FePc surface and only 2% for the multilayer ttbu-FePc surface consistent with NO chemisorption occurring only on the Fe metal, where NO chemisorbs to 100% of the surface Fe metal centers. The reduced saturation coverage in the ttbu-FePc film is attributed to fewer Fe metal centers in the less dense ttbu-FePc films. A comparison of NO sticking on a multilayer FePc/Au(111) film with NO sticking on a monolayer FePc/Au(111) film shows that S0 is greater on the multilayer FePc film for all Ts and Ei, consistent with an increase in collision inelasticity for NO/multilayer FePc/Au(111).
Peristaltic particle transport using the lattice Boltzmann method
Authors: Connington Kevin , Kang Qinjun , Viswanathan Hari , Abdel-Fattah Amr , Chen Shiyi
Published: May 2009

Peristaltic transport refers to a class of internal fluid flows where the periodic deformation of flexible containing walls elicits a non-negligible fluid motion. It is a mechanism used to transport fluid and immersed solid particles in a tube or channel when it is ineffective or impossible to impose a favorable pressure gradient or desirous to avoid contact between the transported mixture and mechanical moving parts. Peristaltic transport occurs in many physiological situations and has myriad industrial applications. We focus our study on the peristaltic transport of a macroscopic particle in a two-dimensional channel using the lattice Boltzmann method. We systematically investigate the effect of variation of the relevant dimensionless parameters of the system on the particle transport. We find, among other results, a case where an increase in Reynolds number can actually lead to a slight increase in particle transport, and a case where, as the wall deformation increases, the motion of the particle becomes non-negative only. We examine the particle behavior when the system exhibits the peculiar phenomenon of fluid trapping. Under these circumstances, the particle may itself become trapped where it is subsequently transported at the wave speed, which is the maximum possible transport in the absence of a favorable pressure gradient. Finally, we analyze how the particle presence affects stress, pressure, and dissipation in the fluid in hopes of determining preferred working conditions for peristaltic transport of shear-sensitive particles. We find that the levels of shear stress are most hazardous near the throat of the channel. We advise that shear-sensitive particles should be transported under conditions where trapping occurs as the particle is typically situated in a region of innocuous shear stress levels.
Local stress determination in shallow trench insulator structures with one-side and two-sides pad-SiN layer by polarized micro-Raman spectroscopy extraction and mechanical modelization
Authors: Liao Milton M. H.
Published: May 2009

Different Si oxide dimension (OD) geometrical features, consisting of shallow trench insulator (STI) structure, and processes of fabrication such as one-side pad-SiN layer and two-sides pad-SiN layer are implemented to investigate the residual mechanical stress in Si OD through full process flow of modern semiconductor device. The Raman spectroscopy with polarized incoming laser light and the technology computer aided design (TCAD) simulation tool are used to estimate and extract the stress distribution, which will influence the device performance seriously, along the different axes. A technology computer aided design tool, ANSYS, is upgraded to yield stress fields in the deep submicron complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor devices. From a practical viewpoint in the modem manufacture of semiconductor, it is demonstrated and proposed in this work that the use of one-side pad-SiN (chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-SiN) layer and optimum STI/OD structure can allow significant reduction of the compressive stress in the active region, which will enhance the electron mobility due to the smaller STI trench volume for the filling of compressivelike STI oxide material and suitable stress distribution, respectively.
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attribution of the 1.3 mT hyperfine structure of the E′γ centers in amorphous SiO2
Authors: Vaccaro G. , Agnello S. , Buscarino G. , Nuccio L. , Grandi S. , Mustarelli P.
Published: May 2009

We report an experimental investigation by electron paramagnetic resonance of the doublet of lines split by ∼1.3 mT and centered on the E′γ center resonance line in the spectrum of irradiated amorphous SiO2. Commercial and sol-gel materials, some of which subjected to hydrogen-deuterium exchange, were investigated. Exposure to γ or β rays at room temperature of the samples and subsequent thermal treatments were carried out to induce the defects and to study their thermal stability. In all the materials used the ratio between the signal of the E′γ centers and that of the 1.3 mT doublet is constant and independent of the OH and OD contents. Furthermore, the 1.3 mT doublet and the E′γ center feature similar thermal stability. These results support the attribution of the 1.3 mT doublet to the hyperfine interaction between the unpaired electron magnetic moment of the E′γ center and the nuclear magnetic moment of a second near neighboring S29i atom. Our results also suggest that the E′γ site needs an appropriate surrounding of S29i in back-bond configuration to experience this hyperfine interaction.
Optimizing the operation of a spark ignition engine: Simulation and theoretical tools
Authors: Curto-Risso P. L. , Medina A. , Calvo Hernández A.
Published: May 2009

By performing quasidimensional computer simulations and finite-time thermodynamic analysis we study the effect of spark advance, fuel ratio, and cylinder internal wall temperature in spark ignition engines. We analyze the effect of these parameters on the power output and efficiency of the engine at any rotational speed, ω. Moreover, we propose the optimal dependence on ω of the spark advance angle and the fuel ratio with the objective to get maximum efficiency for any fixed power requirement. The importance of engine power-efficiency curves in order to perform this optimization procedure and also of the evaluation of macroscopic work losses in order to understand the physical basis of the optimization process is stressed. Taking as reference results from simulations with constant standard values of spark advance, fuel ratio, and cylinder internal wall temperature, the optimized parameters yield to substantial increases in engine performance parameters.
Exchange bias and spin glassy behavior in low doped La1−xSrxCoO3 cobaltites
Authors: Yuan Shujuan , Xu Kun , Li Zhe , Yu Liming , Kang Baojuan , Cao Shixun
Published: May 2009

We present an extensive study of the exchange bias properties and glassy behavior in low-doped La1−xSrxCoO3 cobaltites. The temperature dependences of the dc magnetization and ac susceptibility indicate that the spin glass state exists even at high magnetic fields. The field-cooled magnetic hysteresis loops exhibit both horizontal and vertical shifts. The vertical shift decreases with increasing the measuring field and approaches zero around 40 kOe, while the horizontal shift still exist even at 80 kOe. It is suggested that these two shifts may have different origins. The cooling-field dependence of the training effect was measured and analyzed by the power law and a spin configuration relaxation model. The results show that the suppression of the spin glass state region with increasing cooling fields plays the most important role in the decrease of the exchange bias field.
Comparison of structure and transport properties of concentrated hard and soft sphere fluids
Authors: Lange Erik , Caballero Jose B. , Puertas Antonio M. , Fuchs Matthias
Published: May 2009

Using Newtonian and Brownian dynamics simulations, the structural and transport properties of hard and soft spheres have been studied. The soft spheres were modeled using inverse power potentials (V∼r−n, with 1∕n the potential softness). Although, at constant density, the pressure, diffusion coefficient, and viscosity depend on the particle softness up to extremely high values of n, we show that scaling the density with the freezing point for every system effectively collapses these parameters for n⩾18 (including hard spheres) for large densities. At the freezing points, the long range structure of all systems is identical, when length is measured in units of the interparticle distance, but differences appear at short distances (due to the different shapes of the interaction potential). This translates into differences at short times in the velocity and stress autocorrelation functions, although they concur to give the same value of the corresponding transport coefficient (for the same density to freezing ratio); the microscopic dynamics also affects the short time behavior of the correlation functions and absolute values of the transport coefficients, but the same scaling with the freezing density works for Newtonian or Brownian dynamics. For hard spheres, the short time behavior of the stress autocorrelation function has been studied in detail, confirming quantitatively the theoretical forms derived for it.
Electroluminescence from p-i-n structure fabricated using crystalline silicon on glass technology
Authors: Mchedlidze T. , Arguirov T. , Holla M. , Kittler M.
Published: May 2009

Strong electroluminescence was detected at room temperature from a p-i-n structure fabricated using crystalline silicon on glass technology. The luminescence spectra at small to moderate carrier injection levels contains strong peak with maximum at energy position Eph∼0.8 eV. Additionally, a broad emission band in the range of energies 1 eV<Eph<1.16 eV appears at high injection levels. Obtained results suggest that the low energy peak can be attributed to dislocation related luminescence (DRL), while at least part of the high-energy emission band should be attributed to band-to-band transitions. A shift in the DRL peak position by the electric field present in the structure was observed. The shift is related to strong Stark effect. The relatively high efficiency of room temperature luminescence suggests the possibility for application of the structure for all-silicon light emitter.