bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spying on your neighbors with ultra-high precision
Authors: Jao W. C. , Henry T. J. , Subasavage J. P. , Ianna P. A. , Costa E. , Méndez R. A. ,   the RECONS Team
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe are entering the era of microarcsecond astrometric accuracy. Breaking the milliarcsecond barrier will lead to consequent leaps in astronomical understanding of diverse topics. Here we review some current ground-based trigonometric parallax efforts and their recent scientific results. We highlight the current status of nearby star research, including the RECONS census of stars within a 10 pc horizon, white dwarfs and cool subdwarfs, and the push to detect substellar objects via astrometry. We also provide details about recent improvements in the methodology that have permitted the determination of parallaxes with ~1 milliarcsecond accuracy, and what might be done to push routinely into the sub-millarcsecond regime.
L and T dwarfs in Gaia/SIM
Authors: Smart R. L. , Bucciarelli B. , Lattanzi M. G. , Jones H. R. A. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe discuss the role of distances for understanding brown dwarfs and estimate the contribution expected by Gaia. We show that Gaia will only observe 25% of L and T dwarfs within 50pc which, at a conservative estimate, amounts to less than 400 objects. We discuss how Gaia results will nevertheless aid the ground-based programs providing reliable, bias free constraints for the calculation of parallaxes in an absolute system. We list the current ground-based programs underway and the possibilities for future all sky survey programs.
Modelling the Galaxy from survey data
Authors: Robin A. C. , Reylé C. , Marshall D. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractRecent optical and near-infrared surveys have considerably improved our knowledge of galactic structure and galactic evolution. Two ways can be used to infer this knowledge from datasets: either inversing the data to get parameters describing the Galaxy, or using a synthetic approaches to test scenarios of formation and theoretical models for star and galaxy formation and evolution, both approaches being complementary. Using the synthetic approach the Besancon Galaxy model allows to test scenarios for the structure and evolution of the Galaxy by comparing simulations with the survey data. Examples are given using the 2MASS survey. Future uses of astrometric survey data are shown to be able to efficiently constrain the kinematics and dynamics of the Galaxy.
Microarcsecond astrometry in the Local Group
Authors: Brunthaler A. , Reid M. J. , Falcke H. , Henkel C. , Menten K. M. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractMeasuring the proper motions and geometric distances of galaxies within the Local Group is very important for our understanding of its history, present state and future. Currently, proper motion measurements using optical methods are limited only to the closest companions of the Milky Way. However, given that VLBI provides the best angular resolution in astronomy and phase-referencing techniques yield astrometric accuracies of ≈ 10 micro-arcseconds, measurements of proper motions and angular rotation rates of galaxies out to a distance of ~ 1 Mpc are feasible. This paper presents results of VLBI observations in regions of H2O maser activity of the Local Group galaxies M33 and IC 10. Two masing regions in M33 are on opposite sides of the galaxy. This allows a comparison of the angular rotation rate (as measured by the VLBI observations) with the known inclination and rotation speed of the Hi gas disk leading to a determination of a geometric distance of 730 ± 100 ± 135 kpc. The first error indicates the statistical error of the proper-motion measurements, while the second error is the systematic error of the rotation model. Within the errors, this distance is consistent with the most recent Cepheid distance to M33. Since all position measurements were made relative to an extragalactic background source, the proper motion of M33 has also been measured. This provides a three dimensional velocity vector of M33, showing that this galaxy is moving with a velocity of 190 ± 59 km s−1 relative to the Milky Way. For IC 10, we obtain a motion of 215 ± 42 km s−1 relative to the Milky Way. These measurements promise a new handle on dynamical models for the Local Group and the mass and dark matter halo of Andromeda and the Milky Way.
Calibration of stellar parameters using high-precision parallaxes
Authors: Butkevich A. G. , Berdyugin A. V. , Teerikorpi P. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractUtilization of sub-milliarcsecond trigonometric parallaxes shifts the classical problem of calibration of stellar parameters to a new level of complexity. Derivation of stellar luminosity from the parallaxes is not a straightforward task with a number of statistical effects, such as Malmquist bias, to be taken into account. Different methods are to be used in order to derive parameters of luminosity function depending on the nature of underlying stellar sample. It is emphasized that any combination of astrometric parameters (i.e. parallaxes) and astrophysical ones must be handled carefully to avoid or reduce statistical effects, which otherwise may seriously affect the astrophysical applications.
Simultaneous Bayesian estimation of distances and ages from isochrones: SDSS and solar neighborhood FGK stars
Authors: Franchini M. , Morossi C. , Di Marcantonio P. , Malagnini M. L. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBy using a procedure based on the Bayesian probability theory we computed reliable and self–consistent estimates of absolute magnitude and age for about 2000 FKG spectral-type stars from SDSS–DR5, ELODIE, and INDO–US surveys, with effective temperature, surface gravity, and metallicity values homogeneously derived.
A spectroscopic survey of late-type giants in the Milky Way disk and local halo substructure
Authors: Sheffield A. A. , Majewski S. R. , Cheung A. M. , Hampton C. M. , Crane J. D. , Patterson R. J. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe report the results of a survey of late-type giants aimed at understanding the nature of the disk and nearby halo Galactic stellar populations. We have obtained medium resolution (2–4 Å) spectra for 749 late K and early M giants at mid-latitudes selected from the 2MASS catalog with the FOBOS system at Fan Mountain Observatory. These spectra provide radial velocities (RVs) at the 5 km s−1 level, spectroscopic [Fe/H] good to σ[Fe/H] = 0.25 dex, and information on the relative abundances of Mg/Fe and Na/Fe in these stars. Proper motions from UCAC2 are used to search for local substructures, in particular the leading arm of the Sagittarius tidal streamer passing through the solar neighborhood. The combined proper motions and RVs yield full 6D stellar space motions. We have, by way of kinematics, relatively cleanly isolated the thick disk from the typically high velocity substructures that compose the nearby halo.We find evidence for substructure in the kinematics and metallicities of local halo stars.
Development of a near-infrared high-resolution spectrograph (WINERED) for a survey of bulge stars
Authors: Tsujimoto T. , Kobayashi N. , Yasui C. , Kondo S. , Minami A. , Motohara K. , Ikeda Y. , Gouda N. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe are developing a new near-infrared high-resolution (R[max] = 100,000) and high-sensitive spectrograph WINERED, which is specifically customized for short NIR bands at 0.9–1.35 μm. WINERED employs an innovative optical system; a portable design and a warm optics without any cold stops. The planned astrometric space mission JASMINE will provide precise positions, distances, and proper motions of the bulge stars. The missing components, the radial velocity and chemical composition will be measured by WINERED. These combined data brought by JASMINE and WINERED will certainly reveal the nature of the Galactic bulge. We plan to complete this instrument for observations of single objects by the end of 2008 and to attach it to various 4–10m telescopes as a PI-type instrument. We hope to upgrade WINERED with a multi-object feed in the future for efficient survey of the JASMINE bulge stars.
Acoustic astrometry with a VLBI-like interferometer
Authors: Martí-Vidal I. , Marcaide J. M. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe show how loud-speakers, home digital recorders, and a common personal computer can be used to emulate VLBI observations on a small scale. These audio-VLBI observations allow for single-field astrometry (sources within the same interferometric field), differential group-delay astrometry, etc. These experiments can be set up very easily and in many possible configurations. Students may find these experiments very useful to learn about the innermost details of the interferometric technique.
ProteoWizard: open source software for rapid proteomics tools development
Authors: Kessner Darren , Chambers Matt , Burke Robert , Agus David , Mallick Parag 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
Summary: The ProteoWizard software project provides a modular and extensible set of open-source, cross-platform tools and libraries. The tools perform proteomics data analyses; the libraries enable rapid tool creation by providing a robust, pluggable development framework that simplifies and unifies data file access, and performs standard proteomics and LCMS dataset computations. The library contains readers and writers of the mzML data format, which has been written using modern C++ techniques and design principles and supports a variety of platforms with native compilers. The software has been specifically released under the Apache v2 license to ensure it can be used in both academic and commercial projects. In addition to the library, we also introduce a rapidly growing set of companion tools whose implementation helps to illustrate the simplicity of developing applications on top of the ProteoWizard library.
Availability: Cross-platform software that compiles using native compilers (i.e. GCC on Linux, MSVC on Windows and XCode on OSX) is available for download free of charge, at http://proteowizard.sourceforge.net. This website also provides code examples, and documentation. It is our hope the ProteoWizard project will become a standard platform for proteomics development; consequently, code use, contribution and further development are strongly encouraged.
Contact: darren@proteowizard.org; parag@ucla.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Cucurbitacin B has a potent antiproliferative effect on breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Wakimoto Naoki , Yin Dong , O’Kelly James , Haritunians Talin , Karlan Beth , Said Jonathan , Xing Hongtao , Koeffler H. Phillip 
Published: July 2008

Cucurbitacins are a group of diverse triterpenoid substances isolated from plants with medicinal properties. One particularly potent family member is cucurbitacin B (CuB). The antiproliferative effects of CuB against human breast cancer cells were tested. Six human breast cancer cell lines were examined because they represent a diverse mix of breast cancer subtypes varying in expression of estrogen receptor (ER), Her2/neu, and p53 mutation. The antiproliferative effect of CuB were also studied in vivo. The effective dose inhibiting 50% growth (ED50) was between 10−8 M and 10−7 M for this collection of breast cancer cell lines. These cells underwent rapid morphologic changes after 15–20 min exposure to CuB (5 × 10−7 M), which was associated with disruption of the microtubules and F‐actin, as observed by confocal microscopy. Human MDA‐MB‐231 (ER‐, p53 mutated) breast cancer cells were orthotopically implanted into the breasts of nude mice who intraperitoneally received either CuB 1.0 mg/kg or vehicle. Tumor volume was reduced by 55% in the group that received CuB for 6 weeks compared with vehicle controls. No apparent organ tissue damage was observed by pathological assessment. Interestingly, the experimental mice had lower serum glucose levels, consistent with use of CuB as an antidiabetic drug in China. This drug appears to be a third in a family of drugs targeting the microtubules (taxanes [e.g. taxol], vinca alkaloid [e.g. vincristine], and now CuB). Our in vitro and in vivo results suggest that CuB may be an effective, new approach for the treatment of ER‐, Her2/neu amplified, and p53 mutant breast cancers. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 1793–1797)
Gas seeps linked to salt structures in the Central Adriatic Sea
Authors: Geletti Riccardo , Del Ben Anna , Busetti Martina , Ramella Riccardo , Volpi Valentina 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTThe analyses of about 800 km of Chirp sub‐bottom profilers and 600 km2 of Multibeam data acquired during the 2005 and 2007 surveys of the R/V OGS Explora, and their correlation with one new, and several public, multichannel seismic profiles, allow us to propose a relation between the distribution of gas seepages, fracture systems and deep salt features present in the Central Adriatic Sea. Gas seepage is evident from pockmarks on the seabed and in the shallow sub‐bottom, where acoustic chimneys and bright spots have been highlighted and analyzed. The Mid‐Adriatic Depression (MAD) is a distinct morphological feature in the Central Adriatic Sea elongated in a NE–SW direction. The area is affected by salt doming of Triassic evaporites which cause the two main alignments of the Mid‐Adriatic Ridge as far as the Palagruza High and the Jabuka Ridge. These salt tectonics have existed since, at least, Paleogene times and are still active: they characterize sectors with less resistance to deformation produced by successive regional compressive regimes that have affected the area differently during the different geodynamic phases. Gas‐seep features are distributed preferentially above and along the fracture systems produced above and around the salt mounds.
Selective effects of CPAP on sleep apnoea‐associated manifestations
Authors: Vgontzas A. N. , Zoumakis E. , Bixler E. O. , Lin H‐M. , Collins B. , Basta M. , Pejovic S. , Chrousos G. P. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTBackground  Visceral adiposity and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) may be independently associated with daytime sleepiness/low performance, insulin resistance, hypercytokinaemia, and/or hypertension. The objectives of this study are to simultaneously test these associations at baseline and after 3 months of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.Materials and methods  Sixteen obese men with OSA; 13 non‐apnoeic, obese controls, and 15 non‐obese controls were monitored in the sleep laboratory for four consecutive nights. Objective measures of daytime sleepiness and performance, serial 24 h plasma measures of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), TNF receptor 1 (TNF‐r1) and adiponectin, fasting blood glucose and insulin, visceral adiposity and blood pressure were obtained. Sleep apnoeics were re‐assessed using the same protocol after 3 months of CPAP.Results  At baseline, IL‐6, TNF‐r1, and insulin resistance were highest in OSA patients, intermediate in obese controls, and lowest in non‐obese controls (P < 0·05). Visceral fat was significantly greater in sleep apnoeics than obese controls and predicted insulin resistance and IL‐6 levels, whereas OSA predicted TNF‐r1 levels (P < 0·05). CPAP decreased daytime sleepiness and blood pressure (P < 0·05), but did not affect fasting glucose or insulin or around the clock adiponectin, IL‐6, TNF‐α, or TNF‐r1 levels.Conclusions  In obese sleep apnoeics, visceral fat is strongly associated with insulin resistance and inflammation. CPAP decreases sleepiness and moderates hypertension but does not affect visceral adiposity, insulin resistance, hypoadiponectinaemia or hypercytokinaemia, all of which are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Tumour‐specific induction of immune complexes: DCP‐IgM in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Beneduce L. , Pesce G. , Gallotta A. , Zampieri F. , Biasiolo A. , Tono N. , Boscato N. , Gatta A. , Pontisso P. , Fassina G. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTBackground  In the sera of liver, colorectal and prostate cancer patients, several biomarkers may be detected as IgM immune complexes. To determine whether the presence of immune complexes was correlated to an increase of IgMs, we measured the IgM content in the sera of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis, and evaluated the occurrence of des‐gamma‐carboxy prothrombin (DCP) as immune complexes (DCP‐IgM) compared to the levels of DCP and alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP).Patients and methods   Serum samples from 31 patients with cirrhosis, 33 untreated HCC patients diagnosed by ultrasound, computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance and confirmed by histopathology, when indicated, and 30 healthy controls were analysed. Concentrations of IgM and DCP‐IgM were determined by ELISAs.Results  Circulating IgM in patients with HCC (median level = 1·79 mg mL−1) and cirrhosis (1·09 mg mL−1) were not significantly different (P = 0·1376) while DCP‐IgM were significantly higher in HCC patients (median level = 2171·2 AU mL−1) than in those with cirrhosis (1152 AU mL−1, P = 0·0047). No correlation was found between DCP‐IgM and IgM in HCC (r = 0·227) and cirrhosis patients (r = 0·475). DPC‐IgM was positive in 55% (18/33) of HCC patients and in 26% (8/31) of cirrhosis patients compared to 39% and 26% for DCP and 48% and 13% for AFP. DCP‐IgM, DCP and AFP tests had 100% specificity in healthy controls.Conclusions  DCP‐IgM in HCC patients was not associated with an increase in IgM concentration. DCP‐IgM was more frequently detected in HCC patients than DCP and AFP, strengthening the diagnostic role of IgM immune complexes for liver cancer.
Size and phenotypic structure of microbial communities within soil profiles in relation to different playing areas on a UK golf course
Authors: Bartlett M. D. , James I. T. , Harris J. A. , Ritz K. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryAmenity turf accounts for up to 4% of land‐use in urban areas, providing key refuges for both above‐ and below‐ground biodiversity. Golf courses occupy the largest surface area of all sports facilities; however, only a limited amount of microbial ecology has been carried out to investigate differences in the size and structure of microbial communities of the soil. The soil microbial community is a key agent in nutrient cycling and delivery of other ecosystem goods and services; however, there has been little work focused on amenity turf ecosystems in the UK. A study of soil microbial community size and structure, on the range of playing areas maintained for the game of golf at a single golf course in relation to depth through the soil profile, was carried out. Soil from different playing areas showed significant differences in the size (measured using chloroform fumigation extraction) of the microbial community (P < 0.01), with a greater concentration of microbial biomass at 0–75 mm from the surface, compared with deeper zones (P < 0.01). Principal component analysis of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) biomarkers indicated that the community structure was significantly different at 0–75 mm from the surface on all areas of the golf course investigated (P < 0.05, in all cases). The PLFA biomarkers consistently associated with such discrimination were 16:0 and 18:1ω9 c. These findings suggest that there is a consistently larger and similarly structured microbial community associated with the surface thatch layer, commonly found in amenity turf.
Environmental preferences of longlining for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the tropical high seas of the Indian Ocean
Authors: SONG LI MING , ZHANG YU , XU LIU XIONG , JIANG WEN XIN , WANG JIA QIAO 
Published: July 2008

AbstractA survey of yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares, fishing ground was carried out on board of the Chinese longliners from September 15 to December 12, 2005 in the tropical high seas of the Indian Ocean. The depth at which each yellowfin tuna was hooked was estimated using a stepwise regression analysis of theoretical hook depth and observed average hook depth measured using a temperature depth recorder. Water temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a, dissolved oxygen and thermocline, which are important variables influencing yellowfin tuna habitats, were measured in the survey. Catch rates of yellowfin tuna were then analyzed with respect to depth, temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a, dissolved oxygen and thermocline. We suggest that the optimum ranges of swimming depth, water temperature, chlorophyll a and dissolved oxygen concentration for yellowfin tuna are 100.0–179.9 m, 15.0–17.9°C, 0.090–0.099 μg L−1, 2.50–2.99 mg L−1, respectively; that salinity has less influence on the vertical distribution of adult yellowfin tuna; and that yellowfin tuna are mainly distributed within the thermocline in the high seas of the Indian Ocean. Our results match the yellowfin tuna’s vulnerability to deep longline fishing gear well.
Horizontal current field, ADCP backscatter, and plankton distribution in Sagami Bay, Japan
Authors: TAKIKAWA TETSUTARO , KITAMURA MINORU , HORIMOTO NAHO 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe dry mass of zooplankton and backscatter from an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) used in Sagami Bay, Japan, from 9 to 13 April 2005 were well correlated (correlation coefficient = 0.72, root mean square dry weight = 2.5 mg m−3). The horizontal current field and zooplankton distribution were estimated from shipboard ADCP data. Although sea surface temperature and chlorophyll a concentration observed by satellite were consistent with the current field, a counterclockwise circulation associated with the Kuroshio meander, zooplankton were mainly distributed downstream of the phytoplankton population by horizontal current advection.
Larval fish assemblages along the south‐eastern Australian shelf: linking mesoscale non‐depth‐discriminate structure and water masses
Authors: KEANE JOHN P. , NEIRA FRANCISCO J. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe present findings of the first mesoscale study linking larval fish assemblages and water masses along shelf waters off south‐eastern Australia (southern Queensland‐New South Wales), based on vertical, non‐depth discriminate data from surveys in October 2002 and 2003 (spring) and July 2004 (winter). Clustering and ordination were employed to discriminate between larval assemblages and, for the first time, to define water masses from water column temperature frequencies. Surveys yielded 18 128 larval fishes comprising 143 taxa from 96 identifiable families, with small pelagics accounting for 53% of the total. Three major recurrent larval assemblages were identified during the study, each of which matched one of three water masses, namely East Australian Current to the north (EAC; 20.5–23.4°C), Tasman Sea to the south (TAS; 14.8–17.5°C), and mixed EAC–TAS water in between (MIX; 18.3–19.9°C). All three assemblages were present in spring, whereas only EAC and MIX occurred in the more northerly constrained winter survey. Furthermore, boundaries between the EAC, MIX and TAS assemblages were found to be dynamic, with locations shifting temporally and spatially depending on EAC extent. Assemblage composition differed significantly between water masses across surveys, with EAC–TAS being most dissimilar. Such contrast was due to the presence of tropical/temperate taxa in EAC, primarily temperate‐associated taxa in TAS, and a combination of EAC–TAS taxa within MIX consistent with the convergence of both waters. Results highlight the strength of employing larval assemblages as indicators of water masses, particularly in view of the potential effect of climate change on spawning habitats of shelf fishes.