bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cosmic-Ray Exposure Ages of Large Presolar SiC Grains
Authors: Gyngard Frank , Amari Sachiko , Zinner Ernst , Ott Ulrich 
Published: September 2009

AbstractAmong presolar SiC grains found in the Murchison carbonaceous meteorites (average size less than 0.5 μm) are very large grains, ranging in size up to 50 μm. We interpret 6Li excesses measured in eight of these grains as being the result of spallation reactions by Galactic cosmic rays during the time the grains spent in the interstellar medium before their incorporation into the meteorite. Derived interstellar exposure ages range from 40 My to 1 Gy, the highest values being consistent with theoretical expectations of interstellar grain lifetimes. Although six grains have almost identical C and Si isotopic compositions, their exposure ages are very different. This observation, combined with low trace element contents, and unusual grain sizes, raises fundamental questions about their stellar sources.
New High-Precision Measurement of the Reaction Rate of the 18O(p, α)15N Reaction via THM
Authors: La Cognata M. , Spitaleri C. , Mukhamedzhanov A. M. , Irgaziev B. , Tribble R. E. , Banu A. , Cherubini S. , Coc A. , Crucillà V. , Goldberg V. Z. , Gulino M. , Kiss G. G. , Lamia L. , Chengbo L. , Mrazek J. , Pizzone R. G. , Puglia S. M. R. , Rapisarda G. G. , Romano S. , Sergi M. L. , Tabacaru G. , Trache L. , Trzaska W. , Tumino A. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe 18O(p, α)15N reaction rate has been extracted by means of the Trojan-Horse method. For the first time the contribution of the 20-keV peak has been directly evaluated, giving a value about 35% larger than previously estimated. The present approach has allowed to improve the accuracy of a factor 8.5, as it is based on the measured strength instead of educated guesses or spectroscopic measurements. The contribution of the 90-keV resonance has been determined as well, which turned out to be of negligible importance to astrophysics.
Neutron Capture Cross Sections for the Weak s Process
Authors: Heil M. , Juseviciute A. , Käppeler F. , Gallino R. , Pignatari M. , Uberseder E. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractIn past decades a lot of progress has been made towards understanding the main s-process component that takes place in thermally pulsing Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars. During this process about half of the heavy elements, mainly between 90 ≤ A ≤ 209 are synthesized. Improvements were made in stellar modeling as well as in measuring relevant nuclear data for a better description of the main s process. The weak s process, which contributes to the production of lighter nuclei in the mass range 56 ≤ A ≤ 90 operates in massive stars (M ≥ 8 M⊙) and is much less understood. A better characterization of the weak s component would help disentangle the various contributions to element production in this region. For this purpose, a series of measurements of neutron-capture cross sections have been performed on medium-mass nuclei at the 3.7-MV Van de Graaff accelerator at FZK using the activation method. Also, neutron captures on abundant light elements with A < 56 play an important role for s-process nucleosynthesis, since they act as neutron poisons and affect the stellar neutron balance. New results are presented for the (n, γ) cross sections of 41K and 45Sc, and revisions are reported for a number of cross sections based on improved spectroscopic information.
Tuning the Re/Os Clock: Stellar-Neutron Cross Sections
Authors: Mengoni A. , Mosconi M. , Fujii K. , Käppeler F. ,   The n_TOF Collaboration
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe neutron-capture cross sections of 186,187Os have been recently measured at the CERN neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF for an improved evaluation of the Re/Os cosmo-chronometer. This experimental information was complemented by nuclear model calculations for obtaining the proper astrophysical reaction rates at s-process temperatures. The calculated results and their implications for the determination of the time-duration of nucleosynthesis during galactic chemical evolution is discussed.
TOWARDS THE UNIVERSAL CARE COURSE MODEL
Authors: Haas Barbara , Hartel Margit 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT
The principle aim is to analyse care policies and mothers' employment patterns in Austria in comparison with The Netherlands and Sweden. While Sweden fosters a Universal Breadwinner Model, Austrian policies set incentives for mothers to organize private care for their children for a relatively long period of time, similar to the Caregiver Parity model. The Netherlands, approaching the Universal Caregiver model, support part-time integration into the labour market, combined with private part-time caring facilities for the children. The cross-national comparative approach has been adopted throughout the description of care policies and the data analysis, using the European Social Survey. Drawing on the strong cross-national differences in policies and employment patterns, we outline the main principles of a Universal Care Course (UCC). The model addresses questions about how to achieve the ideal of a smooth transition between work and care in a gender-sensitive way.
MOODS: fast search for position weight matrix matches in DNA sequences
Authors: Korhonen Janne , Martinmäki Petri , Pizzi Cinzia , Rastas Pasi , Ukkonen Esko 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
Summary: MOODS (MOtif Occurrence Detection Suite) is a software package for matching position weight matrices against DNA sequences. MOODS implements state-of-the-art online matching algorithms, achieving considerably faster scanning speed than with a simple brute-force search. MOODS is written in C++, with bindings for the popular BioPerl and Biopython toolkits. It can easily be adapted for different purposes and integrated into existing workflows. It can also be used as a C++ library.
Availability: The package with documentation and examples of usage is available at http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/group/pssmfind. The source code is also available under the terms of a GNU General Public License (GPL).
Contact: janne.h.korhonen@helsinki.fi
Feasibility of Video Capsule Endoscopy in the Management of Children With Peutz‐Jeghers Syndrome: A Blinded Comparison With Barium Enterography for the Detection of Small Bowel Polyps
Authors: Postgate Aymer , Hyer Warren , Phillips Robin , Gupta Arun , Burling David , Bartram Clive , Marshall Michelle , Taylor Stuart , Brown Gregor , Schofield Gill , Bassett Paul , Spray Christine , Fitzpatrick Aine , Fraser Chris , Latchford A 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTObjectives:Peutz‐Jeghers syndrome (PJS) in children may present with anaemia, intussusception, or obstruction from an early age and surgery is common. Prophylactic polypectomy may reduce subsequent complications. Traditional barium enterography (BE) has poor sensitivity and requires significant radiation. We compared the performance of capsule endoscopy (CE) with BE in children with PJS.Materials and Methods:Children with PJS (ages 6.0–16.5 years) were prospectively recruited and underwent BE followed by CE, each reported by expert reviewers blinded to the alternate modality. Number of “significant” (>10 mm) and total number of polyps were recorded. Child preference was assessed using a visual analogue questionnaire. Definitive findings were assessed at laparotomy or enteroscopy, when performed.Results:There was no significant difference for >10 mm polyp detection. Six polyps were found in 3 children by both modalities: 3 polyps in 2 children at CE, 3 polyps in 1 child at BE (P = 0.50). Re‐review of 1 CE identified 3 polyps that were missed in 1 child at initial reading. Significantly more <10 mm polyps were identified by CE than BE: 61 vs 6 (P = 0.02). CE was significantly more comfortable than BE (median score CE 76 [interquartile range 69–87] vs BE 37 [interquartile range 31–68], P = 0.03) and was the preferred investigation in 90% (P = 0.02).Conclusions:CE is a feasible, safe, and sensitive test for small bowel polyp surveillance in children with PJS. It is significantly more comfortable than BE and is the preferred test of most children for future surveillance. There is a learning curve for reporting CE studies in PJS and appropriate training is essential.
Water‐immersion Technique During Standard Upper Endoscopy May Be Useful to Drive the Biopsy Sampling of Duodenal Mucosa in Children With Celiac Disease
Authors: Cammarota Giovanni , Cazzato Alessia , Genovese Orazio , Pantanella Adriano , Ianiro Gianluca , Giorgio Valentina , Montalto Massimo , Vecchio Fabio M , Larocca Luigi M , Gasbarrini Giovanni , Fundarò Carlo 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTObjective:To evaluate the accuracy of the water‐immersion technique during upper endoscopy in recognizing the duodenal villous pattern in a series of children who were undergoing endoscopy to obtain duodenal biopsy for histological analysis.Materials and Methods:The water‐immersion technique was performed in 19 children. Endoscopic findings were compared with histology. Results were assessed on per biopsy analysis and per patient analysis, taking into account the worst endoscopic finding in each patient and correlating it with the worst histological diagnosis.Results:Per biopsy analysis: A total of 57 biopsy specimens were obtained and assessed. The endoscopic duodenal investigation correctly identified 53 areas (93%), which corresponded to histology, giving it an accuracy rate of 93%. Per patient analysis: The worst histology of the duodenal bulb was predicted by endoscopy in 18 of the 19 enrolled patients (95%), whereas the worst histopathological lesion of the second portion of the duodenum was recognized in 100% of cases. On the whole, therefore, the endoscopist suggested a diagnosis of celiac disease in 11 patients, with both positive and negative predictive values of 100%.Conclusions:The water‐immersion technique during upper endoscopy is highly accurate in recognizing the duodenal villous pattern in subjects who need a duodenal investigation. Our findings encourage a cost‐saving and patient‐retaining approach to the diagnosis of celiac disease by driving biopsy and reducing the number of duodenal samplings.
Infant Feeding Practices and Associated Factors Through the First 9 Months of Life in Bavaria, Germany
Authors: Rebhan Barbara , Kohlhuber Martina , Schwegler Ursula , Koletzko Berthold V , Fromme Hermann 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTObjectives:To investigate infant feeding and breast‐feeding practices during the first 9 months of life in Bavaria, Germany, in relation to recommendations and to identify factors associated with early feeding of semisolid food.Materials and Methods:Data from 3103 infants throughout Bavaria, Germany, were collected in a prospective cohort study. Questionnaires were administered at the age of 6 days, and 2, 4, 6, and 9 months.Results:There was a considerable variety concerning the time when complementary feeding was introduced. Only 16.4% of the infants ate solid/semisolid food before the age of 5 months. Most of the infants received as their first solid food a mash of vegetable, meat, and potato. Compared to national guidelines fluids were introduced early. More than 37% of the breast‐fed infants received additional fluids/formula. The strongest risk factor associated with complementary feeding before the fifth month was breast‐feeding duration of less than 4 months (any breast‐feeding) with an odds ratio of 8.57 (95% confidence interval 6.16–11.94). Other factors were low level of education, young age of the mother, smoking habit of the mother, and mother not being born in Germany.Conclusions:Further improvements in nutrition of infants may be achieved in 2 ways: promotion of breast‐feeding according to current recommendations and better counselling on the correct timing of introduction of semisolid food—especially for parents of not‐ or short‐time breast‐fed babies and focused on young mothers with low levels of education.
Maternal HLA Class I Compatibility in Patients With Biliary Atresia
Authors: Irie Naoki , Muraji Toshihiro , Hosaka Naoki , Takada Yasutsugu , Sakamoto Seisuke , Tanaka Kohichi 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTBiliary atresia (BA) is an inflammatory cholangiopathy of unknown etiology. Maternal microchimerism has been identified in the livers of patients with BA. We analyzed the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) compatibility between 57 BA patient‐mother pairs and 50 control‐mother pairs. The HLA class I matching was significantly more frequent in BA pairs (odds ratio [OR] = 2.46) than controls. Similar results were also found in child‐to‐mother HLA compatibility (OR = 2.16). Our results indicate that patients with BA have an immunogenetic histocompatible relationship with their mothers, which may result in an increase in maternal microchimerism found in BA.
FLT3‐ITD expression levels and their effect on STAT5 in AML with and without NPM mutations
Authors: Seedhouse Claire H. , Pallis Monica , Grundy Martin , Shang Shili , Russell Nigel H. 
Published: September 2009

Summary FLT3‐internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations are heterogeneous with regards to length and proportion of DNA harbouring the mutation and the expression level of FLT3 also varies widely, however very little is known about the biological effects of these variables. We studied FLT3‐associated biological parameters in 322 acute myeloid leukaemia samples to establish their importance. Expression of total FLT3 transcripts was shown to be significantly higher in the FLT3‐ITD cohort (n = 121) compared to the wild‐type cohort (P = 0·004). Whilst phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (phospho‐STAT5) was not confined to FLT3‐ITD samples, within the FLT3‐ITD group phosphorylation correlated with adjusted FLT3‐ITD levels assessed by determining the total transcripts and proportion of FLT3‐ITD within a sample. Expression of the STAT5 downstream target Bcl‐xl (an isoform of BCL2L1) was strongly correlated with FLT3 total and adjusted FLT3‐ITD levels in FLT3‐ITD samples (P < 0·001), however there was no association between Bcl‐xl and phospho‐STAT5 levels suggesting that STAT5 is not the sole regulator of Bcl‐xl in FLT3‐ITD cells. We further stratified our cohort by the presence/absence of a cytoplasmic nucleophosmin NPMc+ mutation. Samples co‐expressing NPMc+ had longer FLT3‐ITD mutations (P = 0·01) and there was a high occurrence of NPMc+ in samples that had >1 FLT3‐ITD mutation. Phospho‐STAT5 levels were reduced in the FLT3‐ITD/NPMc+ group (P = 0·04) suggesting that NPMc+ may oppose the FLT3‐ITD‐dependent activation of STAT5.
Where the rare species are
Authors: MOOERS ARNE O. , REDDING DAVID W. 
Published: September 2009

Prioritizing geographic areas for conservation attention is important – time and money are in short supply but endangered species are not – and difficult. One popular perspective highlights areas with many species found nowhere else (Myers et al. 2000). Another identifies areas that contain species with fewer close relatives elsewhere (Faith 1992). One might characterize the first as focusing on geographic, and the second on phylogenetic, rarity. To the extent that geographically rare species are at greater risk of extinction (Gaston & Fuller 2009), and that phylogenetically rare species contribute disproportionally to overall biodiversity (Crozier 1997), it would seem reasonable to formally integrate the two approaches. In this issue, Rosauer et al. (2009) do just that; their elegant combined metric pinpoints areas missed out when the two types of rarity are looked at in isolation.
Analysis of the Yersinia enterocolitica PspBC proteins defines functional domains, essential amino acids and new roles within the phage‐shock‐protein response
Authors: Gueguen Erwan , Savitzky Diana C. , Darwin Andrew J. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryThe Yersinia enterocolitica phage‐shock‐protein (Psp) stress response system is activated by mislocalized outer‐membrane secretin components of protein export systems and is essential for virulence. The cytoplasmic membrane proteins PspB and PspC were proposed to be dual function components of the system, acting both as positive regulators of psp gene expression and to support survival during secretin‐induced stress. In this study we have uncoupled the regulatory and physiological functions of PspBC and discovered unexpected new roles, functional domains and essential amino acids. First, we showed that PspB controls PspC concentration by both pre‐ and post‐transcriptional mechanisms. We then screened for PspBC mutants with altered transcriptional regulatory function. Unexpectedly, we identified PspB and PspC mutants that activated psp gene expression in the absence of secretin‐induced stress. Together with a subsequent truncation analysis, this revealed that the PspC cytoplasmic domain plays an unforeseen role in negatively regulating psp gene expression. Conversely, mutations within the PspC periplasmic domain abolished its ability to activate psp gene expression. Significantly, PspC mutants unable to activate psp gene expression retained their ability to support survival during secretin‐induced stress. These data provide compelling support for the proposal that these two functions are independent.
Targeted gene inactivation in Clostridium phytofermentans shows that cellulose degradation requires the family 9 hydrolase Cphy3367
Authors: Tolonen Andrew C. , Chilaka Amanda C. , Church George M. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryMicrobial cellulose degradation is a central part of the global carbon cycle and has great potential for the development of inexpensive, carbon‐neutral biofuels from non‐food crops. Clostridium phytofermentans has a repertoire of 108 putative glycoside hydrolases to break down cellulose and hemicellulose into sugars, which this organism then ferments primarily to ethanol. An understanding of cellulose degradation at the molecular level requires learning the different roles of these hydrolases. In this study, we show that interspecific conjugation with Escherichia coli can be used to transfer a plasmid into C. phytofermentans that has a resistance marker, an origin of replication that can be selectively lost, and a designed group II intron for efficient, targeted chromosomal insertions without selection. We applied these methods to disrupt the cphy3367 gene, which encodes the sole family 9 glycoside hydrolase (GH9) in the C. phytofermentans genome. The GH9‐deficient strain grew normally on some carbon sources such as glucose, but had lost the ability to degrade cellulose. Although C. phytofermentans upregulates the expression of numerous enzymes to break down cellulose, this process thus relies upon a single, key hydrolase, Cphy3367.
Needle traits of an evergreen, coniferous shrub growing at wind‐exposed and protected sites in a mountain region: does Pinus pumila produce needles with greater mass per area under wind‐stress conditions?
Authors: Nagano S. , Nakano T. , Hikosaka K. , Maruta E. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractSnow depth is one of the most important determinants of vegetation, especially in mountainous regions. In such regions, snow depth tends to be low at wind‐exposed sites such as ridges, where stand height and productivity are limited by stressful environmental conditions during winter. Siberian dwarf pine (Pinus pumila Regel) is a dominant species in mountainous regions of Japan. We hypothesized that P. pumila produces needles with greater mass per area at wind‐exposed sites than at wind‐protected sites because it invests more nitrogen (N) in cell walls at the expense of N investment in the photosynthetic apparatus, resulting in increased photosynthetic N use efficiency (PNUE). Contrary to our hypothesis, plants at wind‐exposed site invested less resources in needles, as exhibited by lower biomass, N, Rubisco and cell wall mass per unit area, and had higher photosynthetic capacity, higher PNUE and shorter needle life‐span than plants at a wind‐protected site. N partitioning was not significantly different between sites. These results suggest that P. pumila at wind‐exposed sites produces needles at low cost with high productivity to compensate for a short leaf life‐span, which may be imposed by wind stress when needles appear above the snow surface in winter.
Assessment of transpiration efficiency in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under drought using a lysimetric system
Authors: Ratnakumar P. , Vadez V. , Nigam S. N. , Krishnamurthy L. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractTranspiration efficiency (TE) is an important trait for drought tolerance in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). The variation in TE was assessed gravimetrically using a long time interval in nine peanut genotypes (Chico, ICGS 44, ICGV 00350, ICGV 86015, ICGV 86031, ICGV 91114, JL 24, TAG 24 and TMV 2) grown in lysimeters under well‐watered or drought conditions. Transpiration was measured by regularly weighing the lysimeters, in which the soil surface was mulched with a 2‐cm layer of polythene beads. TE in the nine genotypes used varied from 1.4 to 2.9 g kg−1 under well‐watered and 1.7 to 2.9 g kg−1 under drought conditions, showing consistent variation in TE among genotypes. A higher TE was found in ICGV 86031 in both well‐watered and drought conditions and lower TE was found in TAG‐24 under both water regimes. Although total water extraction differed little across genotypes, the pattern of water extraction from the soil profile varied among genotypes. High water extraction within 24 days following stress imposition was negatively related to pod yield (r2 = 0.36), and negatively related to water extraction during a subsequent period of 32 days (r2 = 0.73). By contrast, the latter, i.e. water extraction during a period corresponding to grain filling (24 to 56 days after flowering) was positively related to pod yield (r2 = 0.36). TE was positively correlated with pod weight (r2 = 0.30) under drought condition. Our data show that under an intermittent drought regime, TE and water extraction from the soil profile during a period corresponding to pod filling were the most important components.
Rapid reversal of hyperpigmentation in pityriasis versicolor upon short‐term topical cycloserine application
Authors: Mayser Peter , Rieche Inga 
Published: September 2009

SummaryThe clinical phenomena of pityriasis versicolor (PV), a common Malassezia‐associated skin disease, such as hyperpigmentation, depigmentation and fluorescence of the lesions may at least partly be explained by the generation of Trp‐derived indole pigments through the action of transaminase 1 (TAM 1). Cycloserine, a TAM inhibitor, was able to completely inhibit pigment production in M. furfur in vitro in a dose‐dependent manner. Application of a 0.2‐mol l−1 aqueous cycloserine solution b.i.d. for 5 days in three patients with hyperpigmented PV resulted in complete healing within 3–5 days without side‐effects. Topically applied TAM inhibitors may therefore represent a new therapeutic principle for prophylaxis and therapy of PV, thus underlining the importance of the TAM pathway for the pathogenesis of the disease.
Inverse determination of the elastoplastic and damage parameters on small punch tests
Authors: PEÑUELAS I. , CUESTA I. I. , BETEGÓN C. , RODRIGUEZ C. , BELZUNCE F. J. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTThe small punch test (SPT) is very useful in those situations where it is necessary to use small volumes of material. The aim of this paper is to create and validate a methodology for the determination of the mechanical and damage properties of steels from the load‐displacement curve obtained by means of SPTs. This methodology is based on the inverse method, the design of experiments, the polynomial curve adjustment and the evolutionary multi‐objective optimization, and also allows simulating the SPTs. In order to validate the proposed methodology, the numerical results have been compared with experimental results obtained by means of normalized tests. Two dimensional axisymmetric and three‐dimensional simulations have been performed in order to allow the analysis of isotropic and anisotropic materials, respectively.