bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Micro‐PIXE determination of Zr in rutile: an application to geothermometry of high‐P rocks from the western Alps (Italy)
Authors: Vaggelli Gloria , Borghi Alessandro , Calusi Silvia , Cossio Roberto , Giuntini Lorenzo , Massi Mirko 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe Western Alps of Northern Italy mostly consist of lithotectonic units which re‐crystallised and were metamorphosed at high depth in a subduction zone. During their exhumation to shallow crustal levels, however, the high‐pressure (high‐P) mineral assemblages were pervasively re‐equilibrated under low‐pressure (low‐P) conditions, making difficult to estimate the metamorphic thermal peak.Rutile [TiO2] is a typical high‐P mineral, occurring as relict phase in low‐P re‐equilibrated metamorphic rocks. Recent studies suggest that, in thermodynamic systems buffered by the occurrence of quartz and zircon in the rock, Zr content in rutile is a temperature–dependent function that can be modelled quantitatively.An application of rutile Zr‐geothermometer to continental and oceanic rocks of the Western Alps, pervasively re‐equilibrated under low‐P conditions, is presented.The selected rutile crystals were analysed by PIXE using a microbeam set‐up at the LABEC laboratory of INFN in Florence. The PIXE spectra and maps were processed by Geopixe software package. Micro‐PIXE analyses allowed determining the concentration and the distribution of Zr.Results obtained by applying the rutile Zr‐geothermometer gave a more precise indication about the temperatures of the metamorphic conditions suffered by Alpine metamorphic rocks with respect to phase relations and conventional geothermometry, showing that determination of Zr concentration by micro‐PIXE technique is a useful tool to reconstruct metamorphic events.The continental units, outcropping in separate zones of Western Alps, show two slightly different thermal peaks (Tmean = 530 ± 10 °C and Tmean = 555 ± 10 °C) for the same metamorphic event. The oceanic units provide Tmean estimates of 575 ± 10 °C slightly higher than the continental units. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects due to Popocatepetl volcano eruptions on the elemental concentrations in tree growth rings
Authors: Cruz‐Muñoz A. R. , Rodríguez‐Fernández L. , Calva‐Vázquez G. , Ruvalcaba‐Sil J. L. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe Popocatepetl volcano has increased its activity since the 1991 affecting the environmental conditions of its surroundings. The concentration of Z > 12 elements were measured on pine tree rings from forests in Paso de Cortés, located at 6 km from the volcano's crater. The analysis was done by simultaneous PIXE‐RBS using an external proton beam on tree rings of Pinus montezumae. In order to understand the effects originated by eruptions in those near forests this study provides information about the elemental concentration in pines of this region during the years from 1974 to 2004. The tree rings composition exhibit an increment tendency for P, S and K concentrations since 1991. The metallic elements Mn, Fe and Cu do not present significant variations or a clear behavior with the time. These results indicate that changes in the pines elemental compositions are more related to gaseous volcanic exhalations of the Popocatepetl than to its ash emissions. A decrease in the Zn content related to the S increment is observed. The Zn decrement began to be registered around 8 years before the volcano raised its activity and this effect is due to the micronutrients mobility through the tree trunk. From this result it is possible to establish that for dendrochronology studies in pines using elemental minerals with Z > 20, changes in the environment can be comparable only by intervals of 7 to 8 years. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transmission of raised blood pressure and endothelial dysfunction to the F2generation induced by maternal protein restriction in the F0, in the absence of dietary challenge in the F1generation
Authors: Torrens Christopher , Poston Lucilla , Hanson Mark A. 
Published: February 2008

We have previously demonstrated that maternal protein restriction during pregnancy leads to raised blood pressure and endothelial dysfunction in the offspring (F1). Here we show that these characteristics are transmitted to the F2offspring through the maternal line, in the absence of any additional challenges to the F1. Female Wistar rats were fed either a control (18 % casein) or protein-restricted diet (PR; 9 % casein) throughout pregnancy. Female F1offspring, maintained on standard chow postpartum, were mated with breeding males to produce F2progeny. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) in male F2offspring was assessed by tail-cuff plethysmography at age 100 d and vascular function of small mesenteric arteries by wire myography at age 80 and 200 d. SBP was raised in PR F2offspring compared with controls (control 122·1 (sem2·3) mmHg,n7; PR 134·7 (sem3·2) mmHg,n6;P < 0·01) and endothelial function, assessed by vasodilatation to acetylcholine, was impaired at both age 80 d (% maximal response: control 89·7 (sem2·6),n14; PR 72·7 (sem4·4),n15;P < 0·01) and 200 d (effective concentration equal to 50 % of maximum (pEC50): control 7·67 (sem0·10),n10; PR 7·33 (sem0·07),n8;P < 0·05). The present study demonstrates that both raised blood pressure and endothelial dysfunction are passed via the maternal line to grand-offspring in the absence of any additional dietary challenges to their F1mothers. Risk factors for chronic disease may therefore be heritable by non-genomic processes.
Parasitism of the soybean aphid,Aphis glycinesbyBinodoxys communis: the role of aphid defensive behaviour and parasitoid reproductive performance
Authors: Wyckhuys K.A.G. , Stone L. , Desneux N. , Hoelmer K.A. , Hopper K.R. , Heimpel G.E. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe Asian parasitoid,Binodoxys communis(Gahan) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), is a candidate for release against the exotic soybean aphid,Aphis glycinesMatsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), in North America. In this study, we examined preferences byB. communisfor the different developmental stages ofA. glycinesand investigated consequences of these preferences for parasitoid fitness. We also determined to what extent aphid defensive behaviours mediate such preferences. We found thatB. communisreadily attacks and successfully develops in the differentA. glycinesdevelopmental stages.Binodoxys communisdevelopment time gradually increased with aphid developmental stage, and wasps took longest to develop in alates. An average (±SE) of 54.01±0.08% of parasitizedA. glycinesalatoid nymphs transformed into winged adult aphids prior to mummification. No-choice assays showed a higher proportion of successful attacks for immature apterousA. glycinesnymphs compared to adults and alatoid nymphs. Also, choice trials indicated avoidance and lower attack and oviposition of adults and alatoid nymphs. The different aphid stages exhibited a range of defensive behaviours, including body raising, kicking and body rotation. These defenses were employed most effectively by larger aphids. We discuss implications for the potential establishment, spread and biological control efficacy ofA. glycinesbyB. communisin the event that it is released in North America.
Multi-stage dehydration–decompression in the metagabbros from the lower crustal rocks of the Serre (southern Calabria, Italy)
Authors: ACQUAFREDDA PASQUALE , FORNELLI ANNAMARIA , PICCARRETA GIUSEPPE , PASCAZIO ANNARITA 
Published: February 2008

AbstractPorphyroblastic garnet-bearing metagabbros from the base of the lower crust section of the Serre (southern Italy) exhibit multi-stage dehydration and decompression after the Panafrican emplacement of their protoliths. The first dehydration event produced Am–Opx–Cpx–Pl–Grt as the peak assemblage. Two decompression stages are documented by: (1) coronas of Opx–Pl and Opx–Am, and symplectites of Opx–Am–Pl around clinopyroxene within the porphyroblastic garnet as well as in the matrix and (2) symplectites of Pl–Am–Opx–Grt having different textures around the porphyroblastic garnet. During the second decompression stage, a new local, somewhat intense, dehydration occurred and produced rims of Opx+Pl around the porphyroblastic amphibole, or lenses of Pl–Opx–Am–Spl±Bt between layers of dominant amphibole. A deformation stage separates older from younger reaction textures. The porphyroblastic garnet, its inclusions and the matrix are affected by fractures, which have been overgrown by coronas and symplectites around the porphyroblastic garnet and the amphibole of the matrix. PreferredP–Testimates are: ∼900 °C and ∼1.1 GPa at the metamorphic peak; ∼850 °C and 0.8–0.9 GPa during the formation of corona around clinopyroxene; 750–650 °C and 0.7–0.8 GPa during the formation of corona around garnet. All these textures formed under granulite-facies conditions. The subsequent metamorphic evolution consists of rehydration under amphibolite-facies conditions. TheP–T–tpath agrees with the path shown by the uppermost migmatites of the Serre section, and theP–Testimates at the top and the bottom of the section are consistent with the thickness (7–8 km) of the lower crustal segment. A contractional regime, which caused a crustal thickening of about 35 km, was followed by an extensional one producing significant crustal thinning; the change of tectonic regime probably occurred about 300 Ma ago when the emplacement of voluminous granitoids and the initial stages of exhumation of the lower crustal section had taken place.
Structure formation in homogeneous freely decaying rotating turbulence
Authors: STAPLEHURST P. J. , DAVIDSON P. A. , DALZIEL S. B. 
Published: February 2008

One of the most striking features of rotating turbulence is the inevitable appearance of large-scale columnar structures. Whilst these structures are frequently observed, the processes by which they are created are still poorly understood. In this paper we consider the emergence of these structures from freely decaying, rotating turbulence with Ro ∼ 1. Our study follows the conjecture by Davidson, Staplehurst & Dalziel (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 557, 2006, p. 135) that the structure formation may be due to linear inertial wave propagation, which was shown to be consistent with the growth of columnar eddies in inhomogeneous turbulence. Here we extend that work and consider the case of homogeneous turbulence.We describe laboratory experiments where homogeneous turbulence is created in a rotating tank. The turbulence is generated with Ro ∼ 1, and as the energy decays, the formation of columnar vortices is observed. The axial growth of these columnar structures is then measured using two-point correlations and in all cases the results are consistent with structure formation via linear inertial wave propagation. In particular, we obtain a self-similar collapse of the two-point correlations when the axial coordinate is normalized by Ωtb, where b is a measure of the integral scale in the horizontal plane and Ω is the rotation rate. Although our results do not exclude the possibility of significant nonlinear dynamics, they are consistent with the conjecture of Davidson et al. (2006) that linear dynamics play a strong guiding hand in structure formation.
Frontal waves in a strait
Authors: STERN MELVIN E. , SIMEONOV JULIAN A. 
Published: February 2008

The slow downstream (x) variation of a dense and inviscid bottom current (u) in a parabolic strait with a sill at y = 0 is investigated. Vanishing potential vorticity is assumed and the density interface in the 1 1/2-layer model intersects the bottom at y = y1 and y = y2 < y1, where the vanishing layer thickness (h) provides the free dynamical boundary condition. For time-dependent finite-amplitude waves, the nonlinear hyperbolic equations obtained here give the wave velocity and indicate the sense in which lateral wave steepening occurs. The long-wave perturbations of y1(x,t), y2(x,t) are stationary if

where g′ is the reduced gravity, μ = ∂2M/∂y2 is the parabolic curvature of the bottom elevation (M), and f is the Coriolis parameter. This controls the upstream–downstream flow, and the downstream nonlinearity generates ‘short’ waves which may initiate lateral mixing with the adjacent (less dense) water mass.It is also shown that short waves are exponentially amplified with a maximum growth rate (about 1/day) depending only on g′μ/f2. When g′μ/f2 = 1 (a narrow strait) the instability is suppressed, but for small g′μ/f2≪1 the growth rate is comparable to the flat bottom case μ = 0, studied by Griffiths, Killworth & Stern (J. Fluid Mech. Vol. 117, 1982, p. 343.).
Subsyllabic unit preference in young Chinese children
Authors: WANG MIN , CHENG CHENXI 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACTWe reported three experiments investigating subsyllabic unit preference in young Chinese children. In Experiment 1, a Chinese sound similarity judgment task was designed in which 48 pair of stimuli varied in terms of shared subsyllabic units (i.e., vowel, body, rime, onset-coda). Grade 1 Chinese-speaking monolingual children judged pairs with shared body units most similar. In Experiment 2, the sound similarity judgment tasks in Chinese and English were tested on a group of Chinese–English bilingual children. Grade 1 children judged shared-body pairs most similar in Chinese and shared-rime pairs most similar in English. In both experiments, preschool children showed a similar pattern of performance to the Grade 1 children in the Chinese task. In Experiment 3, sound matching tasks in Chinese and English were designed. Grade 1 bilingual children again showed a preference for matching body over rime in Chinese, and for matching rime over body in English. Taken together, these results support the hypotheses that the subsyllabic unit preference in Chinese is driven by the spoken language properties, and that there exist cross-language differences in processing spoken syllables.
Serological evidence ofBartonella henselaeinfection in healthy people in Catalonia, Spain
Authors: PONS I. , SANFELIU I. , CARDEÑOSA N. , NOGUERAS M. M. , FONT B. , SEGURA F. 
Published: February 2008

SUMMARYCat scratch disease (CSD), bacillary angiomatosis, hepatic peliosis and some cases of bacteraemia, endocarditis, and osteomyelitis are directly caused by some species of the genusBartonella. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies againstBartonella henselaein healthy people and to identify the epidemiological factors involved. Serum samples from 218 patients were examined by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Significance levels for univariate statistical analysis were determined by the Mann–WhitneyUtest, χ2test and Fisher's exact test. Of 218 patients, 99 were female and 119 male, with a median age of 34·36 years (range 0–91 years). Nineteen (8·7%) reacted withB. henselaeantigens. Of all the factors concerning the seroprevalence rate being studied (age, sex, contact with animals, residential area), only age was statistically significant. Our serological data seems to indicate thatB. henselaeis present in Catalonia and could be transmitted to humans.
Financial relevance of organic farming payments for Western and Eastern European organic farms
Authors: Zander K. , Nieberg H. , Offermann F. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractOrganic farming in the European Union has been supported widely since 1994. Against the background of discussions concerning the design and level of organic farming support, and the relevance of organic payments for the economic success of organic farms, the question emerges as to the impact of support payments on the sustainable development of organic farming in Europe. Different databases and methodological approaches have been chosen to demonstrate the role of organic farming payments for the viability of organic farms for selected Western and Eastern European study countries. Economic analyses are based on national Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) in the Western European countries and on ‘typical farms’ in the Eastern European group. As a supplement to the modeling analyses, a detailed survey of 50 organic farms was carried out in each of the study countries. Organic farming payments were assessed to be ‘important’ or ‘very important’ to the economic situation on farms by the majority of the farmers surveyed. The outcome of the economic analyses shows that organic farming payments contribute on average 4–6% of gross output in the Western European countries and 4–19% in the Eastern European countries studied. The results put the level of specific support for organic farming into perspective, as other support payments and market returns contribute larger shares of total farm revenue in all the countries analyzed. Organic farming payments account for 10–30% of family farm income plus wages in Western European study countries and—after EU accession—up to three-quarters in some of the Eastern European countries, thus highlighting the considerable vulnerability of organic farms to changes in organic farming policy. As a general trend in both the West and the East, it can be observed that the policy dependency of farms has increased over recent years. Changes in organic area support, which are actually under discussion in some countries, must be carried out with a sense of proportion, since support payments will continue to play an important role in the profitability of organic farms. Nevertheless, in order to reduce dependency on area payments, organic farming support should follow an integrated approach, using a mix of support measures including, e.g., the improvement of processing and marketing facilities, support for farm cooperation and activities designed to enhance demand.
Lipoic acid significantly restores, in rats, the age‐related decline in vasomotion
Authors: Smith A R , Visioli F , Frei B , Hagen T M 
Published: February 2008

Background and purpose: The age‐related decline in vasorelaxation is largely due to ceramide‐induced induction of phosphatase 2A (PP2A), which limits nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation at stimulatory sites. We hypothesized that ceramide accumulation was from an age‐related loss of endothelial glutathione (GSH) and subsequent activation of neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase), an enzyme whose activity increases when GSH is limited.Experimental approach: Old (30‐32 mo) F344xBN rats were given (R)‐α‐lipoic acid (LA), an agent known to induce GSH synthesis. Vasorelaxation was measured in aortic rings; GSH and ceramide levels, activity of nSMase and eNOS phosphorylation (by Western blot) was measured in aortic endothelial cells, isolated from the same aortas.Key results: In old animals, endothelium‐dependent relaxation in aortic rings was decreased, GSH levels and its redox state in aortic endothelia were over 30% lower and nSMase activity and endothelial ceramide levels were three‐fold increased, relative to young (2‐4 mo) rats. LA treatment of old animals improved relaxation in aortic rings, reversed the changes in endothelial GSH, in nSMase activities and in ceramide levels. Similar effects on GSH levels and nSMase activity in old rats were also induced by treatment with GSH monoethylester. Activation (by phosphorylation) of eNOS was decreased by about 50% in old rats and this age‐related decrease was partially reversed by LA treatment.Conclusions and implications: Decreased endothelial GSH was partly responsible for the age‐related loss of vascular endothelial function and LA might be therapeutically evaluated to treat endothelial dysfunction.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 153, 1615–1622; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.28; published online 25 February 2008
Prostaglandin E2 glycerol ester, an endogenous COX‐2 metabolite of 2‐arachidonoylglycerol, induces hyperalgesia and modulates NFκB activity
Authors: Hu S Shu‐Jung , Bradshaw H B , Chen J S‐C , Tan B , Walker J Michael 
Published: February 2008

Background and purpose:Recombinant cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) oxygenates 2‐arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG) in vitro. We examined whether prostaglandin E2 glycerol ester (PGE2‐G), a COX‐2 metabolite of 2‐AG, occurs endogenously and affects nociception and immune responses.Experimental approach:Using mass spectrometric techniques, we examined whether PGE2‐G occurs in vivo and if its levels are altered by inhibition of COX‐2, monoacylglycerol (MAG) lipase or inflammation induced by carrageenan. We also examined the effects of PGE2‐G on nociception in rats and NFκB activity in RAW264.7 cells.Key results:PGE2‐G occurs endogenously in rat. Its levels were decreased by inhibition of COX‐2 and MAG lipase but were unaffected by carrageenan. Intraplantar administration of PGE2‐G induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. In RAW264.7 cells, PGE2‐G and PGE2 produced similar, dose‐related changes in NFκB activity. PGE2‐G was quickly metabolized into PGE2. While the effects of PGE2 on thermal hyperalgesia and NFκB activity were completely blocked by a cocktail of antagonists for prostanoid receptors, the same cocktail of antagonists only partially antagonized the actions of PGE2‐G.Conclusions and implications:Thermal hyperalgesia and immunomodulation induced by PGE2‐G were only partially mediated by PGE2, which is formed by metabolism of PGE2‐G. PGE2‐G may function through a unique receptor previously postulated to mediate its effects. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that 2‐AG is oxygenated in vivo by COX‐2 producing PGE2‐G, which plays a role in pain and immunomodulation. COX‐2 could act as an enzymatic switch by converting 2‐AG from an antinociceptive mediator to a pro‐nociceptive prostanoid.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 153, 1538–1549; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.33; published online 25 February 2008
Microarray-based whole-genome hybridization as a tool for determining procaryotic species relatedness
Authors: Wu Liyou , Liu Xueduan , Fields Matthew W , Thompson Dorothea K , Bagwell Christopher E , Tiedje James M , Hazen Terry C , Zhou Jizhong 
Published: February 2008

Abstract
The definition and delineation of microbial species are of great importance and challenge due to the extent of evolution and diversity. Whole-genome DNA–DNA hybridization is the cornerstone for defining procaryotic species relatedness, but obtaining pairwise DNA–DNA reassociation values for a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of procaryotes is tedious and time consuming. A previously described microarray format containing whole-genomic DNA (the community genome array or CGA) was rigorously evaluated as a high-throughput alternative to the traditional DNA–DNA reassociation approach for delineating procaryotic species relationships. DNA similarities for multiple bacterial strains obtained with the CGA-based hybridization were comparable to those obtained with various traditional whole-genome hybridization methods (r=0.87, P&lt;0.01). Significant linear relationships were also observed between the CGA-based genome similarities and those derived from small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequences (r=0.79, P&lt;0.0001), gyrB sequences (r=0.95, P&lt;0.0001) or REP- and BOX-PCR fingerprinting profiles (r=0.82, P&lt;0.0001). The CGA hybridization-revealed species relationships in several representative genera, including Pseudomonas, Azoarcus and Shewanella, were largely congruent with previous classifications based on various conventional whole-genome DNA–DNA reassociation, SSU rRNA and/or gyrB analyses. These results suggest that CGA-based DNA–DNA hybridization could serve as a powerful, high-throughput format for determining species relatedness among microorganisms.