bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Electron, proton and ion induced molecular synthesis and VUV spectroscopy of interstellar molecules in the ice phase
Authors: Sivaraman Bhalamurugan , Jheeta Sohan , Mason Nigel , Hunniford Adam , Merrigan Tony , McCullough Bob , Fulvio Daniele , Palumbo Maria Elisabetta , Moore Marla 
Published: October 2008

AbstractPlanets and their moons are constantly subjected to irradiation from both their respective planetary magnetospheres and the solar wind. Energetic particles (electrons, protons and ions) in such radiation may induce complex chemistry within the icy mantles of such bodies, producing many organic compounds. Such processes can be simulated in laboratory experiments. In this report we present recent results from experiments exploring both molecular synthesis and the morphology of such ices.The morphology of any ice may be characterised by IR and Vacuum Ultra-Violet (VUV) spectroscopy. The latter is particularly useful for studying ices in which infrared inactive molecules like oxygen (O2) are common. We have shown that oxygen forms dimers in typical planetary ices and that, in contrast to previous analysis, many of the chemical reactions within the ice involve such dimer (and larger cluster) chemistry. We also present the results of a series of experiments that explore electron, proton and ion irradiation on Solar System relevant ices such as carbon dioxide (CO2) at different temperatures. Infrared spectra recorded before and after irradiation are used to identify and quantify molecules formed in such irradiation, e. g. ozone. These experiments show that the morphology of the ice plays a critical role in the chemistry.
Hydrogen cyanide polymers connect cosmochemistry and biochemistry
Authors: Matthews Clifford N. , Minard Robert D. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractTo understand the origin of protein/nucleic acid based life as we know it on Earth, we must “follow” the nitrogen. Because of its unique hydrogen bonding characteristics, nitrogen is the key element in catalytic and/or informational proteins and nucleic acids essential to cell function and reproduction. We present evidence that HCN is the original source of prebiotic protein and nucleobase nitrogen. We also present chemically rational models supporting the radical hypothesis that the polymerization of HCN yields ab initio mundi prebiotic protein and polynucleobase macromolecules of sufficient size and complexity to allow the spontaneous generation of pre-RNA World biopolymers capable of catalysis and information transfer.
Laboratory simulation of the evolution of organic matter in dense interstellar clouds
Authors: Mennella Vito 
Published: October 2008

AbstractLaboratory simulation of interstellar grain processing is a unique tool to better understand the nature and evolution of cosmic dust. In recent years this approach has been crucial to outline a new model of evolution of the aliphatic component of organic matter in the interstellar medium. Here, the results of a recent laboratory research on processing of nano-sized carbon particles by H atoms under simulated dense medium conditions are discussed. The experiments show that the formation of C-H bonds in the aliphatic CH2 and CH3 functional groups does not take place, while the activation of a band at 3.47 μm, due to the C-H stretching vibration of tertiary sp3 carbon atoms, is observed. These results indicate that the assumption about inhibition of aliphatic C-H bond formation in interstellar dense clouds is correct. Moreover, they suggest that carbon grains responsible for the interstellar aliphatic band at 3.4 μm in diffuse regions can contribute to the absorption observed at 3.47 μm in dense clouds.
Modulation of auditory responses by modality-specific attention in rat primary auditory cortex
Authors: Tai Lung-Hao , Zador Anthony 
Published: October 2008

AbstractHow does attention modulate sensory representations? In order to probe the underlying neural mechanisms, we established a simple rodent model of modality-specific attention. Here we describe results of experiments in freely moving rats in which we have used tetrodes to record neural responses in primary auditory cortex (area A1) while subjects performed this behavior.Subjects were first trained to perform distinct auditory and olfactory two alternative forced-choice (2AFC) tasks. Training and testing were conducted in a custom three-poke computer-controlled behavioral apparatus. Subjects initiated trials with a center-poke, which triggered presentation of a tone (either 5 or 15 Hz), an odor (either R(-)-2-Octanol or S(+)-2-Octanol), or both. Subjects responded moving to the left or right poke. Correct responses were rewarded with water. Auditory and olfactory blocks (of 50 trials each) were interleaved in a single session. In auditory blocks, pure tones were either presented with or without a null odor (caproic acid, n=2 and 3 respectively), and subjects were cued to perform the task based on auditory stimuli. In olfactory blocks, both odors and pure tones were presented simultaneously, and subjects were cued to perform the task based on olfactory stimuli.After subjects reached consistent performance on the interleaved blocks, tetrode drives were implanted in primary auditory cortex of the left hemisphere. Single unit responses to tones were heterogeneous, and included transient, sustained, and suppressed. Among 304 responsive units recorded, 19% (58 units) showed modality-specific attentional modulation of at least one of the tone-evoked responses; in most cases, the responses to a particular auditory stimulus was enhanced in the auditory block (or, equivalently, suppressed in the olfactory block). In addition, we also observed modality-specific attentional modulation of the spontaneous activity in similar proportion of units (61 units). Our results suggest that shifting attention from audition to olfaction and back can modulate the activity of single neurons in primary auditory cortex.
Functional capacities and sport‐specific skills of 14‐ to 15‐year‐old male basketball players: Size and maturity effects
Authors: Coelho E Silva Manuel J. , Figueiredo António J. , Moreira Carvalho Humberto , Malina Robert M. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe aim of the study was to estimate the influence of body size and pubertal status on variation in functional capacities and sport‐specific skills of 59 youth basketball players aged 14.0–15.9 years. Height and mass were measured and stage of pubic hair was assessed at clinical examination. Six tests of functional capacity were evaluated: squat jump, countermovement jump, 60‐s sit‐ups, 2‐kg standing medicine ball throw, hand grip strength, and 20‐m multi‐stage shuttle run. Four basketball skills were tested (shooting, passing, dribbling, and defensive movements). Comparisons between basketball players of different sexual maturity status were performed using analysis of covariance (controlling for chronological age). Functional capacities and basketball skills appeared to be largely independent of pubertal status especially after controlling for variation in body size. Results of multiple linear regressions indicated chronological age as a significant predictor for four items, while maturity status was a significant predictor for only one item. The influence of body mass was negative for two functional indicators (jumping, multi‐stage shuttle run) and two basketball skills (dribbling, defensive movements), but positive for two functional tests of upper body strength (hand grip, ball throw). Height was positively correlated with two specific skills (passing, defensive movements), while a combination of tallness and heaviness was associated with a disadvantage on three functional capacities and two sport‐specific skills.
Motives for lifestyle and exercise activities: A comparison using the theory of planned behaviour
Authors: Bellows‐Riecken Kai H. , Rhodes Ryan E. , Hoffert Krista M. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractRegular exercise and lifestyle physical activity are often used interchangeably or combined in physical activity messaging based on evidence for their relatively equivalent health outcomes. However, differences between their motivational correlates are relatively unexplored. The purpose of this study was to compare the motives towards lifestyle physical activity and exercise and their relationship with behaviour using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). The participants were a sample of undergraduate students (n=150) who completed measures of the TPB framed in terms of exercise and lifestyle physical activity and self‐reported physical activity measures with similar framing. Results identified marked differences between the instrumental attitudes towards the two activities showing instrumental attitudes towards exercise to be higher (P<0.01; d=0.68). Most importantly, exercise had larger TPB–behaviour correlations (P<0.01; q=0.15–0.20) compared with lifestyle physical activity, but follow‐up analyses by intensity (strenuous, moderate, mild) showed that these differences were only present at strenuous intensity. Our results suggest that the correlates for the two types of physical activity may differ. Although more research is necessary, this may affect the efficacy of promotion campaigns that do not tailor content exclusively for either exercise or lifestyle physical activity.
Childhood single skinfold thickness is a better predictor for adult relative fat mass in females than the body mass index: Data from a 30‐year longitudinal growth study
Authors: Taeymans Jan , Hebbelinck Marcel , Borms Jan , Clarys Peter , Duquet William ,   (IN MEMORIAM)
Published: October 2008

AbstractInformation on the prediction of adult relative fat mass (percent body fat,%BF) using measures from pre‐pubertal ages and early childhood is scarce. In the present longitudinal study, we assess the development of different anthropometric indicators of percent body fat during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood in 37½‐year‐old females stratified for low and high percent body fat. Consequently, we study the predictability of percent body fat based on simple anthropometric measurements during childhood and adolescence.Anthropometric data from the Belgian longitudinal experimental growth study “LEGS” were used. Beginning in 1969, five yearly cohorts of about 100 individuals each (mean age 6 years) were recruited in public kindergartens. Of the original 515 participants (260 males, 255 females) that were measured annually from age 6 to 18 years, 59 males and 60 females agreed to participate in a follow‐up study in 2004. During the follow‐up measurements, the participants were invited for a body‐composition assessment by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). We stratified the participants into low (%BF‐BIA < 35%) and high (%BF‐BIA≥35%) relative fat mass samples. Pearson correlations were calculated and used as tracking coefficients. Multiple stepwise linear regression was applied with anthropometric variables at each age separately as predictors for adult percent body fat, expressed as%BF‐BIA, %BF‐Segal, and %BF‐D&W (Durnin & Womersley, 1974).The results indicate that a single skinfold thickness during adolescence is a better predictor for adult percent body fat than adolescent body mass index. Additionally, our results suggest that this holds during childhood as early as from age 8 onwards. The use of single skinfold measurements as predictors for adult adiposity and obesity is supported by other arguments, including: (1) body mass index as a proxy for overweight does not discriminate between fat mass and fat‐free mass, and (2) an excess of adipose tissue is more strongly associated with morbidity than the body mass index.
The prevalence and recovery of concussed male and female collegiate athletes
Authors: Bloom Gordon A. , Loughead Todd M. , Shapcott Erin J. B. , Johnston Karen M. , Delaney J. Scott 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe aims of the present study were two‐fold: (1) to examine whether gender and explanatory style influence the number of concussions an athlete has sustained and the amount of time to recover from this type of injury; and (2) to determine whether gender and the type of sport influence the number of and recovery from concussion injuries. University varsity athletes (n=170) who had sustained at least one concussion over the previous 12 months from six sports completed both the Sport History Questionnaire (Delaney, Lacroix, Leclerc, & Johnston, 2000), used to measure concussions, and the Attributional Style Questionnaire (Peterson et al., 1982), used to measure explanatory style. Overall, males sustained more concussions than female athletes (F 1,153=43.92, P<0.05). Regarding the type of concussion, male athletes sustained more unrecognized concussions than female athletes (F 1,168=6.18, P<0.05), but there was no difference between the sexes for recognized concussions (F 1,168=0.44, P>0.05). Male basketball players took longer to recover (mean=6.17 days) than female basketball players (mean=1.15 days). In contrast, female hockey players took longer to recover (mean=9.56 days) than male hockey players (mean=1.00 day). Finally, gender did not influence an athlete's explanatory style.
Interconnected Histories: Holocaust and Empire in the Cultural Imaginary
Authors: Silverman Max 
Published: October 2008

Abstract

Interconnections between fascism and colonialism and between antisemitism and colonial racism, perceived by post-war theorists of racialized violence such as Hannah Arendt and Aimé Césaire, have for a long time fascinated a number of writers and filmmakers in post-war France, yet their works are not often received from this point of view. This article considers Georges Perec's
W ou le souvenir d'enfance
(1975) and Patrick Modiano's
Dora Bruder
(1997) to show how these are not simply post-Holocaust works but contain an overlapping vocabulary, imagery and, ultimately, history of racism, dehumanization and apocalyptic violence which embraces the Holocaust and Empire. It also argues that the interconnections sought by the post-war generation of theorists of modern forms of violence can be more clearly exposed in imaginative works (rather than historical or sociological works) because these blur the frontiers between the literary imagination, memory and history. Repetitions, substitutions and transformations — the very substance of the literary imagination — open up an alternative history (though one announced by Arendt and others), which challenges the compartmentalization of metropolitan history, colonial history and the history of European genocide.
L'Usage de la photographie chez Annie Ernaux
Authors: Cottille-Foley Nora 
Published: October 2008

Abstract

A la suite d'une expérience personnelle tragique — un cancer du sein qui a failli lui coûter la vie, Annie Ernaux publie en mars 2005 un livre surprenant,
L'Usage de la photo
. Jouant sur l'expérimentation littéraire, Ernaux emprunte le pacte référentiel à l'autobiographie, le processus d'analyse en cours à l'autoportrait, ainsi que les caractéristiques propres à la photographie et à la photobiographie pour se lancer dans un questionnement sur le cancer et sur la mort, qu'elle conduit tantôt sur le mode de l'enquête policière, tantôt sur le mode de l'interrogation métaphysique. Choses fortuites, les photographies successives de vêtements abandonnés après l'acte amoureux forment un kaléidoscope de formes et de couleurs qui doivent susciter l'analyse et finalement mener à une révélation épiphanique. Les vêtements vides, à la fois anthropomorphiques et inanimés, l'inquiétante étrangeté d'un tableau de Chirico ornant les murs dépouillés d'un appartement modeste, et une réflexion sur l'épithète argentique qualifiant un type de photographie tombant en désuétude servent tous à suggérer l'étrange relation de l'absence à la présence, évoquant finalement le mystère de la mort. Empruntant la dialectique manichéenne, Ernaux utilise l'image du Saint Suaire pour renforcer le lien entre le corps et l'écriture, désignant
L'Usage de la photo
comme le cénotaphe devant contenir
in absentia
l'analogon corps-corpus de son œuvre. Le texte mène ultimement à la révélation épiphanique d'une re-co-naissance — reconnaissance pour la valeur de la vie, connaissance des mystères de l'absence, co-naissance tout à la fois du texte à deux voix et de Marie à l'écriture. L'article s'inspire des thèses de Philippe Lejeune, Michel Beaujour, Gilles Mora et Roland Barthes en ce qui concerne la discussion des genres littéraires et l'exploitation des caractéristiques inhérentes à la photographie. Les essais de Didi-Huberman informent l'analyse de la relation du fortuit à l'écriture expérimentale et ont fourni l'image du kaléidoscope comme modèle théorique.
Clinical trial: the effect of Johrei on symptoms of patients with functional chest pain
Authors: GASIOROWSKA A. , NAVARRO‐RODRIGUEZ T. , DICKMAN R. , WENDEL C. , MOTY B. , POWERS J. , WILLIS M. R. , KOENIG K. , IBUKI Y. , THAI H. , FASS R. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryBackground  Patients with functional chest pain (FCP) represent a therapeutic challenge for practising physicians.Aim  To determine the efficacy of Johrei as compared to wait‐list in improving symptoms of FCP patients.Methods  Patients with chest pain of noncardiac origin for at least 3 months were enrolled into the study. All patients had to have negative upper endoscopy, pH testing and oesophageal manometry prior to randomization. Subsequently, patients were randomized to either Johrei or wait‐list control. Patients received 18 Johrei sessions from a Johrei practitioner for 6 weeks.Results  A total of 21 FCP patients enrolled into the Johrei group and 18 into the wait‐list group. There was no difference in symptom intensity score between Johrei group and wait‐list group at baseline (20.28 vs. 23.06, P = N.S.). However, there was a significant pre‐ and post‐treatment reduction in symptom intensity in the Johrei group (20.28 vs. 7.0, P = 0.0023). There was no significant reduction in symptom intensity score between baseline and at the end of the study in the wait‐list group (23.06 vs. 20.69, P = N.S.).Conclusion  This pilot study shows that Johrei may have a role in improving FCP symptoms; however, future studies are needed to compare Johrei treatment with sham Johrei or supportive care.
Systematic review on the effectiveness of caffeine abstinence on the quality of sleep
Authors: Sin Celia WM , Ho Jacqueline SC , Chung Joanne WY 
Published: October 2008

Aim.  The aim of the present study is to review the effects of caffeine abstinence on the quality of sleep.Background.  Insomnia is a common problem and abstinence from caffeine is the most popular component in sleep hygiene advice. However, there have been inconsistent results relating to the effectiveness of caffeine abstinence in improving sleep.Design.  Systematic review.Methods.  We browsed several electronic databases and reference lists of articles about the correlation of caffeine consumption and sleep deprivation. We selected the articles according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two reviewers assessed the quality of trials, which were selected according to the Jadad quality assessment scale. We included the trials scoring three or above in the systematic review and extracted their data. We assessed the heterogeneity of the studies before we considered whether or not to combine the studies’ results.Results.  Three randomised control trials fulfilled the selection criteria among which two trials scored ≥3 on the Jadad scale. We included these two trials in our systematic review. The designs and outcome measurements of these two trials were not homogeneous, therefore, we did not combine their results. Instead, we conducted a critical appraisal. In one trial, caffeine abstinence was associated with significant lengthening of sleep duration (p < 0·01) and better sleep quality (p < 0·05). In another trial, subjects had less difficulty falling asleep on days when they drank decaffeinated coffee (p < 0·05).Conclusions.  The results showed that caffeine abstinence for a whole day could improve sleep quality. Thus, health practitioners were recommended to include caffeine abstinence in the instructions for sleep hygiene.Relevance to clinical practice.  This study demonstrates the effectiveness of caffeine abstinence in improving sleep quality. It provides evidence for the practice of including caffeine abstinence in sleep hygiene advice.
Modulation of syllable period‐selective phonotaxis by prothoracic neurones in crickets (Acheta domesticus): juvenile hormone, picrotoxin and photoinactivation of the ON1 neurones
Authors: ATKINS GORDON , KILMER JASON , SCALFANI MICHEAL , NAVIA BENJAMIN , STOUT JOHN 
Published: October 2008

Abstract In response to model calling songs (CSs), the phonotaxis of female Acheta domesticus ranges from being very selective to unselective. Within 15 min of nanoinjecting juvenile hormone III (JHIII) or picrotoxin (PTX) into the prothoracic ganglion, females become more selective for syllable period (SP) than in pre‐tests. Controls for JHIII experiments, including nanoinjection of acetone into the prothoracic ganglion or nanoinjection of JHIII into the metathoracic ganglion, do not influence selectivity. Similarly, nanoinjection of saline into the prothoracic ganglion and nanoinjection of PTX outside of the prothoracic ganglion does not change the overall selectivity of the female’s phonotaxis. These results indicate that circuits in the prothoracic ganglion modulate the SP‐selectivity of phonotaxis.Photoinactivating both of the ON1 prothoracic auditory interneurones in old females that were previously unselective for SP also results in greater SP‐selectivity during phonotaxis. Evidence suggesting that ON1 has this effect via its inhibitory input to L3 (another prothoracic auditory neurone) includes: photoinactivation of one ON1 neurone causes angular errors in the female’s orientation to CSs at 85 dB (above the threshold of the L3), stimulation with 60 dB CSs (above the threshold of ON1 but below the threshold of L3) does not induce errors in angular orientation, inactivation of ON1 in old crickets results in greater angular errors (85 dB stimulus) than it does when ON1 is inactivated in young females, and photoinactivation of ON1 increases the firing rate of the L3 neurone.
Exhaustion of the chloroplast protein synthesis capacity by massive expression of a highly stable protein antibiotic
Authors: Oey Melanie , Lohse Marc , Kreikemeyer Bernd , Bock Ralph 
Published: October 2008

SummaryPlastids (chloroplasts) possess an enormous capacity to synthesize and accumulate foreign proteins. Here we have maximized chloroplast protein production by over‐expressing a proteinaceous antibiotic against pathogenic group A and group B streptococci from the plastid genome. The antibiotic, a phage lytic protein, accumulated to enormously high levels (>70% of the plant’s total soluble protein), and proved to be extremely stable in chloroplasts. This massive over‐expression exhausted the protein synthesis capacity of the chloroplast such that the production of endogenous plastid‐encoded proteins was severely compromised. Our data suggest that this is due to translational rather than transcriptional limitation of gene expression. We also show that the chloroplast‐produced protein antibiotic efficiently kills the target bacteria. These unrivaled expression levels, together with the chloroplast’s insensitivity to enzymes that degrade bacterial cell walls and the elimination of the need to remove bacterial endotoxins by costly purification procedures, indicate that this is an effective plant‐based production platform for next‐generation antibiotics, which are urgently required to keep pace with rapidly emerging bacterial resistance.