bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vertebral osteomyelitis with a rare etiology diagnosed by fine‐needle aspiration cytology
Authors: BN Nandeesh , Kini Usha , Alexander Betty
Published: November 2009

Invasive fungal infections are rare in immunocompromised individuals, but are not uncommon in immunologically compromised patients. Bone involvement by these infections, though exceedingly rare, may occur due to direct extension of the infection from a neighboring organ or due to hematogenous dissemination in critically ill patients. Still rarer is the invasive aspergillosis involving either the vertebral body or the intervertebral disc with extension into the extradural space as an abscess. We report one such case of vertebral osteomyelitis due to Aspergillus diagnosed by FNAC in a well‐controlled diabetic patient who presented with nonspecific symptoms and in whom a clinical and radiological diagnosis of Pott's spine was considered. The present case stresses the importance of early cytologic diagnosis of vertebral Aspergillus osteomyelitis, which in conjunction with appropriate timely medical and surgical treatment, offers good recovery without much sequelae or threat to life. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Highly Enantioselective Aza‐Baylis–Hillman‐Type Reaction of α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes with In Situ Generated N‐Boc‐ and N‐Cbz‐Imines
Authors: Číhalová Sylva , Remeš Marek , Císařová Ivana , Veselý Jan
Published: November 2009

An organocatalytic highly enantioselective aza‐Baylis–Hillman reaction of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes with in situ generated N‐Boc‐ and N‐Cbz‐imines is presented. This novel process opens the pathway for the synthesis of β‐amino carbonyl compounds bearing an α‐alkylidene group under mild and simple conditions. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Dispersion characteristics of LiTi‐Ferrite radome
Authors: Saxena Naveen Kumar , Kumar Nitendar , Pourush P. K. S.
Published: November 2009

The dispersion characteristics of a magnetically switchable LiTi‐Ferrite radome is presented. A thin layer of LiTi‐ferrite is used as superstrate or radome layer, which control the radiation, reception, and scattering from a printed antenna or array by applying a DC magnetic bias field in the plane of the ferrite, orthogonal to the RF magnetic field. In this analysis, absorbing and transmission power coefficients are calculated to obtain the power loss in radome layer and transmitted power, respectively. The absorbing power coefficient verifies the switching behavior of radome for certain range of applied external magnetic field (Ho), which depends on the resonance width parameter (ΔH) of ferrite material. By properly choosing the bias field, quasi TEM wave propagation in the ferrite layer can be made to be zero or negative over a certain frequency range, results in a switching behavior in the ferrite layer. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 52–54, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24828
Inductive matching technique for a feed‐forward noise‐canceling CMOS low‐noise amplifier
Authors: Chiou Hwann‐Kaeo , Li Chin‐Lung , Liao Hsien‐Yuan , Lee Sung‐Huang
Published: November 2009

An inductive matching technique is proposed for a noise‐canceling CMOS low‐noise amplifier (LNA). This composite LNA consists of a main amplifier and a feed‐forward amplifier. The feed‐forward amplifier provides a noise canceling path to eliminate the noise at the output of the main amplifier. An inductor is used to tune out the remaining capacitive impedance at the output common node of two amplifiers, which provides the proper phase difference to cancel the overall noise voltage. For an optimum noise canceling bias, the measured noise figure is 2.5 dB, which is an improvement of 0.6 dB. ©2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 72–75, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24838
Microwave signal generation based on two single‐longitudinal‐mode erbium‐doped fiber lasers
Authors: Luo Jian‐Hua , Liu Bo , Zhang Hao , Yan Shao‐Lin , Ma Xiu‐Rong , Jia Cheng‐Lai
Published: November 2009

A simple microwave signal source is proposed by connecting two single‐longitudinal‐mode erbium‐doped distributed Bragg reflector fiber lasers in series. For using same pump LD, mutual injection locking of two fiber lasers is achieved. The two single‐longitudinal‐mode lasers have 0.048 nm wavelength difference. By beating the two wavelengths at a photodetector, stable microwave signal at 6.17 GHz is achieved at room temperature. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 177–179, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24840
A tunable photonic microwave notch filter using a multiple wavelength optical source
Authors: Choi Yong‐Kyu , Jeon Sie‐Wook , Kim Youngbok , Keun Oh Choong , Park Chang‐Soo
Published: November 2009

We propose a tunable photonic microwave notch filter using a multi‐wavelength optical source. Two peak wavelengths are generated using a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) self‐injection, locked by two external fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). The time delay required for the notch filter is obtained based on the wavelength‐dependent propagation velocity through the fiber. The tunable filter characteristic is obtained by changing the center wavelength of one of the gratings and its tunability is limited only by the gain profile of the RSOA and the tuning range of the grating. Based on the proposed structure, a two‐tap microwave notch filter with free spectral range tunable from 1.15 to 5.79 GHz is experimentally demonstrated. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 134–138, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24841
Stable operation of microwave photonic filters constructed with two cascaded Hi‐Bi fibers
Authors: Dong H. , Zhou J. Q. , Aditya S. , Gong Y. D. , Shum P.
Published: November 2009

For the microwave photonic filters constructed with two cascaded Hi‐Bi fibers, we demonstrate theoretically and experimentally a new technique that uses a dual‐ or tri‐wavelength spacing‐tunable laser source to greatly suppress the sensitivity of the filter response to environmental perturbations without the introduction of the phase‐induced intensity noise. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 207–212, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24844
A novel ultrawideband planar antenna with dual band‐notched performance
Authors: Zhang Meng , Zhou Xilang , Guo Jia , Yin Wenyan
Published: November 2009

In this article, a novel and compact ultrawideband (UWB) planar antenna is presented. This antenna consists of an annular patch and a 50 Ω microstrip feed line. The 3.5/5.5 GHz dual band‐notched characteristic gets achieved by etching a C‐shaped slot in the patch and complimentary split ring resonator (CSRR) structure in the ground. The measured results show that the proposed antenna can achieve the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) requirement of less than 2.0 in very UWB frequency range from 3.05 to 23.8 GHz with dual band‐rejection performance of 3.4 to 4.0 GHz and 4.92 to 6.0 GHz. Measured VSWR of the proposed antenna is in good agreement with the simulated result. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 90–92, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24856
A compact microstrip UWB BPF with nonuniformly short‐circuited CPW resonator
Authors: Chen H. , Zhang Y.‐X.
Published: November 2009

A novel and compact ultra‐wideband bandpass filter using hybrid microstrip/coplanar waveguide is presented. The proposed filter consists of a single coplanar waveguide with nonuniformly short‐circuited resonator, which is broadside‐coupled to two microstrip open‐circuited stubs on the other side of a common substrate. The measured results show that the filter has a good performance, including a low insertion loss, a group delay variation of less than 0.25 ns within the passband, stop‐band of up to 18.8 GHz at high frequencies, and an out‐of‐band rejection level of below −16.5 dB from 11.4 to 18.8 GHz. ©2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 216–218, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience. wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24859
Comments on electromagnetic scattering from inhomogeneous impedance periodic rough surfaces by transform technique
Authors: Yapar Ali , Akduman Ibrahim
Published: November 2009

In an recent article by Tezel (Microwave and Optical Technology Letters 51 (2009), 116–119) an electromagnetic scattering problem related to a periodic rough surface having an inhomogeneous standard impedance boundary condition is considered. The author proposes a solution method, which is based on the equivalent representation of the rough surface in terms of a planar one with higher order impedance boundary condition. We have already noticed that the mathematical formulation of the problem is completely incorrect and such a rough surface cannot be equivalently represented in terms of higher order impedance boundary condition. Therefore, the numerical results has no reliability, and they are fictitious. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 245, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24862
Dual band directive patch antenna based on the cut wire pairs structure
Authors: Huang Cheng , Zhao Zeyu , Luo Xiangang
Published: November 2009

In this letter, a dual band directive patch antenna with meta‐superstrate is presented. This meta‐superstrate is composed of cut wire pairs with two different lengths, which can make this antenna work at two frequency bands. It is found that the variation of distance h between the meta‐superstrate and ground would affect the radiation performance at every frequency band. Based on the F‐P theory, we discuss this influence process and make tradeoff between the gain of the antenna at the first and second frequency. The patch antenna with meta‐superstrate is then fabricated, and the measured results show that the designed antenna works at f1 = 14.7 GHz and f2 = 15.3 GHz, where the gain of the antenna can be both improved by about 8 dB with the introduction of meta‐superstrate. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 160–163, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience. wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24875
3.1–10.6 GHz ultra‐wideband RF receiver in 0.18 μm CMOS technology
Authors: Chiou Hwann‐Kaeo , Chen Hsien‐Jui
Published: November 2009

This article presents an ultra‐wideband (UWB). RF receiver that includes a low noise amplifier (LNA) and a single‐balanced mixer (SBM). The LNA uses an RC shunt feedback technique for broadening the bandwidth. Besides, an inductor is used as an interstage match at the cascode LNA that efficiently improves the flatness of the cascode LNA. The RC shunt feedback is also applied to the gm stage of mixer for the input impedance match. The low‐pass IF load is used to improve the LO/IF isolation of the SBM. The measured results of the UWB RF receiver are a conversion gain of 17.5–19.5 dB, a double side‐band noise figure of 5.25–6.89 dB at 100 MHz IF frequency under an LO power of 2 dBm, a minimal 1‐dB compression point (P1dB) of −31 dBm, an input third order intercept point of −12 dBm, the isolations among all ports of better than −40 dB. The total power consumption is 29.1 mW. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 232–236, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24879
Demonstration and analysis of dual‐wavelength clock recovery based on stimulated brillouin scattering
Authors: Chen Ming , Jian Shui‐sheng
Published: November 2009

Dual‐wavelength clock recovery (CR) based on Stimulated Brillouin Scattering is realized. The maximum frequency spacing of two channels is theoretically analyzed and experimentally demonstrated. The total wavelength span of the CR scheme is investigated to be about 3.37 nm in experiment. Multiwavelength CR can be implemented within the span. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 204–207, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24888
Ionic organic/inorganic materials. III. Stimuli responsive hybrid hydrogels based on oligo(N,N‐dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate) and chloroalkyl‐functionalized siloxanes
Authors: Dragan Ecaterina Stela , Cazacu Maria , Nistor Alexandra
Published: November 2009

Ionic organic/siloxane networks containing quaternary ammonium salt (QAS) sequences in the cross‐linking bridges were obtained by the Menshutkin reaction of oligo(N,N‐dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate) (ODMAEM) with a telechelic chloroalkylated siloxane (CAS), such as 1,3‐bis‐(chloromethyl)‐1,1,3,3‐tetramethyldisiloxane, 1,3‐bis‐(chloropropyl)‐1,1,3,3‐tetramethyldisiloxane, and α,ω‐bis(chloromethyl) oligodimethylsiloxane. The resulted structures were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy emphasizing the presence of both organic and siloxane moieties. The thermogravimetric analysis under inert atmosphere of the networks, besides the thermal stability, gave also information on the composition of hybrid hydrogels. The morphology of the lyophilized networks was evidenced by environmental scanning electron microscopy, as a function of CAS structure and CAS: ODMAEM feed molar ratio. The swelling response of the ionic networks in water as a function of pH and counterion nature and concentration as well as the water vapors sorption capacity in dynamic regime were evaluated. The properties of the ionic hybrid hydrogels were correlated with the reactants feed molar ratio and concentration of the reaction mixture, CAS type, and the presence of a catalyst. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2009
Visible light‐induced living surface grafting polymerization for the potential biological applications
Authors: Bai Huadong , Huang Zhenhua , Yang Wantai
Published: November 2009

A novel visible light‐induced living surface grafting polymerization was developed by a strategy in which isopropyl thioxanthone (ITX) was first photoreduced under UV light and sequentially coupled onto the surface of polymeric substrates, and the produced isopropyl thioxanthone‐semipinacol (ITXSP) “dormant” groups were subsequently reactivated under visible light to initiate a surface grafting polymerization. By using glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) films as models, a “living” surface grafting polymerization initiated by ITXSP under visible light at room temperature was observed. Both the surface grafting chain length versus grafting conversion of monomer and the grafting polymerization rate versus monomer concentration demonstrated a linear dependence, which is in accord with the known characteristics of living polymerization. The livingness rendered it possible to accurately control the thickness of the grafted layer by simply altering the irradiation time. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Phys, 2009
Synthesis and characterization of fluid 1,3‐benzoxazine monomers and their thermally activated curing
Authors: Kiskan Baris , Koz Banu , Yagci Yusuf
Published: November 2009

Novel mono‐ and difunctional aliphatic oxyalcohol‐based benzoxazines have been synthesized and characterized in detail. Molecular structures of the monomers were investigated by spectral analysis. The obtained benzoxazine monomers exhibit fluidic behavior, which makes them particularly useful for many applications compared to other traditional benzoxazines. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to monitor the thermal crosslinking behavior of synthesized monomers. Mono‐ and bifunctional benzoxazine monomers exhibited low curing exhothermic peak with the onset around 173 and 180 °C, respectively. Relatively, low ring‐opening polymerization temperature was due to the hydroxyl groups present in the structure of the monomers. The hydrogen bonding of hydroxyl groups may cause alignment of the monomers in the liquid state. Thermal stabilty of the polybenzoxazines was studied by thermogravimetric analysis. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2009
De novo backbone scaffolds for protein design
Authors: MacDonald James T. , Maksimiak Katarzyna , Sadowski Michael I. , Taylor William R.
Published: November 2009

In recent years, there have been significant advances in the field of computational protein design including the successful computational design of enzymes based on backbone scaffolds from experimentally solved structures. It is likely that large‐scale sampling of protein backbone conformations will become necessary as further progress is made on more complicated systems. Removing the constraint of having to use scaffolds based on known protein backbones is a potential method of solving the problem. With this application in mind, we describe a method to systematically construct a large number of de novo backbone structures from idealized topological forms in a top–down hierarchical approach. The structural properties of these novel backbone scaffolds were analyzed and compared with a set of high‐resolution experimental structures from the protein data bank (PDB). It was found that the Ramachandran plot distribution and relative γ‐ and β‐turn frequencies were similar to those found in the PDB. The de novo scaffolds were sequence designed with RosettaDesign, and the energy distributions and amino acid compositions were comparable with the results for redesigned experimentally solved backbones. Proteins 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Black‐box position and attitude tracking for underwater vehicles by second‐order sliding‐mode technique
Authors: Bartolini Giorgio , Pisano Alessandro
Published: November 2009

In this work we address the tracking control problems for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The proposed solution is based on the variable structure systems (VSS) theory and, in particular, on the second‐order sliding‐mode (2‐SM) methodology. The tuning of the controller is carried out via black‐box approach, dispensing with the knowledge of the actual AUV parameters, by simply progressively increasing a single gain parameter. The presented stability analysis includes explicitly the unmodelled actuator dynamics and the presence of external uncertain disturbances. The good performance of the proposed scheme is verified by means of simulations on a 6‐DOF AUV. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Colposcopy audit for improving quality of service in areas with a high incidence of cervical cancer
Authors: Manopunya Manatsawee , Suprasert Prapaporn , Srisomboon Jatupol , Kietpeerakool Chumnan
Published: November 2009

Objective

To audit routine colposcopy performance using 8 standard requirements of the National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP).

Methods

Records of women who underwent colposcopy for abnormal cervical cytology between January and December 2008 at Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand, were reviewed.

Results

The standard requirements were not achieved in 2 practices: (1) the proportion of women who had recordings of visibility of the transformation zone (96.6%) did not achieve the NHSCSP requirement of 100%; and (2) the rate of excisional biopsy (87.8%) was lower than the 95% minimum required.

Conclusion

Colposcopic performance at Chiang Mai University Hospital was generally favorable. However, re‐audit is necessary to ensure that unmet standards of performance are improved and achieved standards are maintained.
Use of prenatal corticosteroids for preterm birth in three Latin American countries
Authors: Riganti Alicia Aleman , Cafferata Maria Luisa , Althabe Fernando , Gibbons Luz , Segarra Jose Ortiz , Sandoval Xochitl , Belizán José M.
Published: November 2009

Objective

To determine the prevalence of the use of prenatal corticosteroids in women who delivered prematurely in 3 Latin American counties and to evaluate the maternal characteristics associated with use.

Methods

A multicenter, prospective, descriptive study was conducted in 4 hospitals in Ecuador, 5 in Uruguay, and 3 in El Salvador between 2004 and 2008. Women who had delivered between 24 and 34 weeks of pregnancy responded to a questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric history, prenatal care, women's attitudes to health services and knowledge of preterm risk factors, prenatal corticosteroid administration, and characteristics of the delivery and neonate. The association between the prenatal corticosteroid use and the study variables was evaluated through a logistic regression analysis based on a hierarchical model.

Results

A total of 1062 women who had a preterm birth were included in the study. Prenatal corticosteroid use was 34.8% (95% CI, 29.9%–39.9%) in Ecuador, 54.6% (95% CI, 49.6%–59.6%) in El Salvador, and 71.0% (95% CI, 65.3%–76.2%) in Uruguay. Hospital admission‐to‐delivery time was associated with the use of prenatal corticosteroids in all 3 countries.

Conclusion

The study revealed a varied pattern of use of prenatal corticosteroids across the 3 countries, and a diversity of influencing factors.
Retracted: Metformin versus laparoscopic ovarian drilling in clomiphene‐ and insulin‐resistant women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Hamed Hossam O. , Hasan Asmaa F. , Ahmed Omyma G. , Ahmed Marwa A.
Published: November 2009

Objective

To compare the hormonal‐metabolic profiles and reproductive outcomes in clomiphene‐resistant patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance between women receiving metformin and those undergoing laparoscopic ovarian drilling.

Methods

A total of 110 eligible participants were randomly allocated to diagnostic laparoscopy plus metformin therapy (group 1, n = 55) or laparoscopic ovarian drilling (group 2, n = 55). The t test was used for mean comparisons of hormonal‐metabolic parameters and OGTT values before and after treatment. The χ2 test was used for comparisons of ovulation, pregnancy, and abortion rates.

Results

Groups 1 and 2 showed a significant decline in testosterone, insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (P < 0.001 vs P < 0.001), and luteinizing hormone (P < 0.05 vs P < 0.001), while the glucose to insulin ratio was significantly increased (P < 0.001 vs P < 0.05) compared with baseline. Group 2 patients had more regular cycles and higher rates of ovulation and pregnancy compared with group 1: 76.4% [42/55] vs 58.2% [32/55], P < 0.04; 50.8% [131/258] vs 33.5% [94/281], P < 0.001; and 38.2% [21/55] vs 20.0% [11/55], P < 0.03, respectively. The difference in the early abortion rate between the groups was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Although metformin results in a better attenuation of insulin resistance, laparoscopic ovarian drilling is associated with higher rates of ovulation and pregnancy.
Predictors of postpartum viral load rebound in a cohort of HIV‐infected Brazilian women
Authors: Cavallo Ines Katerina , Kakehasi Fabiana Maria , Andrade Beatriz Amélia , Lobato Ana Cristina , Aguiar Regina Amélia , Pinto Jorge Andrade , Melo Victor Hugo
Published: November 2009

Objective

To assess the postpartum viral load of HIV‐infected women treated with potent antiretrovirals (ARVs) during pregnancy, and look for predictors of viral load rebound.

Methods

Of 112 women who took potent ARVs during pregnancy, 60 took them as prophylaxis to prevent mother‐to‐child transmission of HIV. The remaining 52, who had AIDS, were treated continuously with ARVs before, during, and after pregnancy. Viral load was evaluated in the weeks before, just before, and after delivery. Viral load rebound was defined as a 0.5 log10 increase in viral RNA as measured 6 months after delivery.

Results

A viral load rebound affected women much more often in the prophylaxis than in the treatment group (84.7% vs 15.3%; P < 0.001), and was associated with ARV discontinuation. The women with a viral load rebound had a higher decline in CD4 lymphocyte percentage 6 months after delivery. On multivariate analysis, variables positively or negatively associated with a viral load rebound were a decline in CD4 lymphocyte count (P = 0.01), the therapeutic use of potent ARVs (P < 0.001), and the number of prenatal visits (P = 0.03).

Conclusion

Discontinuing the use of potent ARVs after delivery was associated with a decrease in CD4 lymphocyte count and a viral load rebound.
Active coating to prolong the shelf life of Fior di latte cheese
Authors: Alessandro Del Nobile Matteo , Gammariello Daniela , Di Giulio Stefania , Conte Amalia
Published: November 2009

This study explains how active coating can serve to prolong the shelf life of Fior di latte cheese. The active coating was prepared by dissolving, in two sodium alginic acid solutions (5 and 8% w/v), different concentrations of lysozyme (0·25, 0·50 and 1·00 mg ml−1)+50 mmof Ethylene-Diamine Tetraacetic Acid (EDTA). Samples of Fior di latte cheese packaged in brine and active brine (lysozyme+EDTA, at the above concentrations) were also used as controls. The quality decay of the Fior di latte cheese stored at 10°C was assessed by monitoring the viable cell concentration of the main spoilage microorganism, as well as its sensory quality (i.e., external appearance, consistency, colour and flavour). The concentration of rod-or coccus-shaped Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) was also monitored to assess the effect of the proposed packaging strategies on the flora type of Fior di latte cheese. The results show that an increase in the shelf life equal to 104% was recorded for the coated samples, compared with controls packaged in brine without active compounds. This shelf life increase is slightly lower than that recorded with samples packaged in the active brine (151%), as a result of a more pronounced microbial proliferation; however, the coating could be a better packaging solution for the reduced weight of tray.
On a phase field problem driven by interface area and interface curvature
Authors: REN XIAOFENG , WEI JUNCHENG
Published: November 2009

A two component system driven by both interface area and interface curvature is studied with a new phase field model. We show that if the curvature impact in the system is strong enough, there exist bubble profiles. A bubble profile describes a pattern of an inner core of one component surround by an outer membrane of the other component. It is a radial solution to a fourth-order nonlinear partial differential equation. We show the existence of such profiles in all dimensions, although the profile is unstable if the dimension is greater than 2.
(How) Can archaeology be useful to American Indian groups?
Authors: Watkins Joe
Published: November 2009

Dawdy's keynote paper, rather than answering the question whether archaeology is useful, asks whether it should be useful. That is, she asks whether archaeology needs to be useful beyond archaeology for archaeology's sake. It is a valid question, because many people see archaeology as a non-essential option, of peripheral use if any. For others, archaeology's utility lies in its ability to provide the long-term view of human behaviour and humankind's reactions to situations of the past that, hopefully, we might use to help us deal with present and future events.
‘Fortuitous and wasteful mitigations . . .’
Authors: Pluciennik Mark
Published: November 2009

In this fin de siècle moment – or is it closer to a mood of Depression? – the Keynesian idea of expanded government spending is much in vogue. We have been here before. As Shannon Lee Dawdy notes, part of Roosevelt's New Deal in the USA was the famous Civilian Conservation Corps, who performed much archaeology and related work (Maher 2008; Paige 1985). It seems particularly appropriate, then, to repeat a famous quote of Keynes: after all, archaeology comes surprisingly close to that much-derided Keynesian remedy. It was in his General theory of employment, interest and money that he wrote, ‘“To dig holes in the ground,” paid for out of savings, will increase, not only employment, but the real national dividend of useful goods and services’ (Keynes 1936, 220). What is less often quoted, though, is the subsequent comment: ‘It is not reasonable, however, that a sensible community should be content to remain dependent on such fortuitous and often wasteful mitigations’.
Which crisis?
Authors: Sommer Ulrike
Published: November 2009

When I was asked to comment on Shannon Dawdy's position paper entitled ‘Millennial archaeology. Locating the discipline in the age of insecurity’ I must admit that I was, even with the give-away ‘millennium’ of the title, thinking of the current economic crisis, the ‘credit crunch’ as it is known in Britain. Shannon Dawdy seems to describe a much more specific American crisis – the realization that the United States are not somehow outside history, that they can be hit on their home ground and that their political and military hegemony is contested (and if you detect a certain European smugness there, you are probably right).
Eastern equatorial Pacific cold tongue during the Last Glacial Maximum as seen from alkenone paleothermometry
Authors: Dubois Nathalie , Kienast Markus , Normandeau Claire , Herbert Timothy D.
Published: November 2009

We present new alkenone‐based sea surface temperature (SST) estimates from the eastern equatorial Pacific (EEP) for the last 30 kyr. By combining these new results with recently published records from the region, we reconstruct the spatial pattern of changes in SST during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Alkenone‐based SST estimates show a greater glacial cooling in the upwelling environment of the cold tongue than in sites located further north in the equatorial front and eastern Pacific Warm Pool. This result agrees with the paradigm of stronger glacial winds, increased upwelling, steeper zonal thermocline tilt, and stronger advection of cold water in the Peru Current. Furthermore, we investigate possible changes in glacial surface hydrography by using the alkenone‐based SST reconstructions to correct planktonic foraminifera δ18O for the temperature effect. After additional correction for the global ice volume effect, the residual changes in seawater δ18O show a clear latitudinal pattern that would be consistent with a southward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. We thus suggest that changes in sea surface salinities could explain contrasting SST reconstructions based on planktonic foraminifera δ18O, which implied a weakening of the cold tongue. The controversial LGM dynamics of the EEP reconstructed by different proxies, i.e., a weakening or a strengthening of the cold tongue, highlight the necessity to better assess the influence of various biases on these proxies.
Single‐nucleotide Polymorphism of CD36 Locus and Obesity in European Adolescents
Authors: Bokor Szilvia , Legry Vanessa , Meirhaeghe Aline , Ruiz Jonatan R. , Mauro Beatrice , Widhalm Kurt , Manios Yannis , Amouyel Philippe , Moreno Luis A. , Molnàr Dènes , Dallongeville Jean ,   HELENA Study group
Published: November 2009

CD36 is a membrane receptor with a wide variety of functions, including the regulation of energy metabolism, fat storage, and adipocyte differentiation. To assess the relationship between CD36 gene single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and obesity in adolescents, we evaluated the relationship between CD36 SNPs and the risk of obesity in a case–control study composed of 307 obese (age = 15.0 ± 1.1 years) and 339 normal‐weight adolescents (age = 14.6 ± 1.1 years). To validate the results, we assessed the relation between the same SNPs and percentage of body fat (BF%) and BMI in 1,151 European adolescents (age = 14.8 ± 1.4 years). SNPs with a minor allele frequency >0.10 were selected to tag CD36. Genotyping was performed on an Illumina system. Four SNPs (rs3211867, rs3211883, rs3211908, and rs1527483) were associated with increased risk of obesity in the case–control study (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval)): 1.96 (1.26–3.04], P = 0.003; 1.73 (1.16–2.59), P = 0.007; 2.42 (1.47–4.01), P = 0.0005 and 1.95 (1.25–3.05), P = 0.003, respectively). The same four SNPs were associated with higher BMI (P < 0.05) and BF% (P < 0.04) in the validation study. Further analyses identified a haplotype (frequency: 0.05) carrying the minor allele of these SNPs as being associated with obesity (OR: 2.28; P = 0.0008) in the case–control study and with excess adiposity (i.e., higher BF% (P = 0.03) and BMI (P = 0.04)) in the validation study. Our data suggest that genetic variability at the CD36 gene locus could be associated with body weight variability in European adolescents but these findings require replication.
Adsorbate-induced absorption redshift in an organic-inorganic cluster conjugate: Electronic effects of surfactants and organic adsorbates on the lowest excited states of a methanethiol-CdSe conjugate
Authors: Liu Christopher , Chung Sang-Yoon , Lee Sungyul , Weiss Shimon , Neuhauser Daniel
Published: November 2009

Bioconjugated CdSe quantum dots are promising reagents for bioimaging applications. Experimentally, the binding of a short peptide has been found to redshift the optical absorption of nanoclusters [J. Tsay et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 109, 1669 (2005)]. This study examines this issue by performing density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent-DFT calculations to study the ground state and low-lying excited states of (CdSe)6[SCH3]−, a transition metal complex built by binding methanethiolate to a CdSe molecular cluster. Natural bond orbital results show that the redshift is caused by ligand-inorganic cluster orbital interaction. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of (CdSe)6 is dominated by selenium 4p orbitals; in contrast, the HOMO of (CdSe)6[SCH3]− is dominated by sulfur 3p orbitals. This difference shows that [SCH3]− binding effectively introduces filled sulfur orbitals above the selenium 4p orbitals of (CdSe)6. The resulting smaller HOMO-LUMO gap of (CdSe)6[SCH3]− indeed leads to redshifts in its excitation energies compared to (CdSe)6. In contrast, binding of multiple NH3 destabilizes cadmium 5p orbitals, which contribute significantly to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of (CdSe)6, while leaving the selenium 4p orbitals near the HOMO relatively unaffected. This has the effect of widening the HOMO-LUMO gap of (CdSe)6⋅6NH3 compared to (CdSe)6. As expected, the excitation energies of the passivated (CdSe)6⋅6NH3 are also blueshifted compared to (CdSe)6. As far as NH3 is a faithful representation of a surfactant, the results clearly illustrate the differences between the electronic effects of an alkylthiolate versus those of surfactant molecules. Surface passivation of (CdSe)6[SCH3]− is then simulated by coating it with multiple NH3 molecules. The results suggest that the [SCH3]− adsorption induces a redshift in the excitation energies in a surfactant environment.
Initial growth process of carbon nanowalls synthesized by radical injection plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Kondo Shingo , Kawai Shinji , Takeuchi Wakana , Yamakawa Koji , Den Shoji , Kano Hiroyuki , Hiramatsu Mineo , Hori Masaru
Published: November 2009

We synthesized carbon nanowalls (CNWs) using radical injection plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The initial growth process of CNWs was investigated with and without O2 gas addition to a C2F6 capacitively coupled plasma with H radical injection. In the case of the CNW synthesis without the addition of O2 gas, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy revealed that a 10-nm-thick interface layer composed of nanoislands was formed on a Si substrate approximately 1 min prior to CNW formation. In contrast, with O2 gas addition, SEM and XPS revealed that an interface layer was not formed and that CNWs were grown directly from nanoislands. Moreover, Raman spectroscopy suggested that the interface layer was composed of amorphous carbon and that O2 gas addition during CNW growth is effective for achieving a high graphitization of CNWs. Therefore, O2 gas addition has the effect of reducing the amorphicity and disorder of CNWs and controlling CNW nucleation.
Femtosecond time resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy of H2–N2 mixtures in the Dicke regime: Experiments and modeling of velocity effects
Authors: Tran H. , Chaussard F. , Le Cong N. , Lavorel B. , Faucher O. , Joubert P.
Published: November 2009

In this paper, we present measurements and modeling of femtosecond time resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) signal in H2–N2 mixtures at low densities. Three approaches have been used to model the CARS response. The first is the usual sum of Voigt profiles. In the second approach, the speed dependent Voigt profile is used. In the last approach, a model of the temporal CARS signal is developed, which takes into account the velocity changes induced by collisions and the speed dependence of the collisional parameters. The velocity changes are modeled using the Keilson and Storer memory function; the radiator speed dependences of the collisional parameters are determined from their temperature dependences. The results obtained are consistent with previous studies in the frequency domain, showing that the changes of the velocity have important effects for the H2/N2 system in the Dicke narrowing density regime.
Hydrogen bonding in acetone clusters probed by near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy in the carbon and oxygen K-edge regions
Authors: Tamenori Y. , Takahashi O. , Yamashita K. , Yamaguchi T. , Okada K. , Tabayashi K. , Gejo T. , Honma K.
Published: November 2009

Hydrogen bonding in acetone clusters was investigated using near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations in the carbon and oxygen K-edge regions. The partial-ion-yield (PIY) curves of the cluster ions were measured as the NEXAFS spectra of acetone clusters. In the carbon K-edge region, the first resonance peak, which was assigned to the CCO 1s→π∗(C=O) resonance transition, showed no substantial change in the PIY curves of the acetone clusters, while the CCH3 1s→3pπ(CH3) excitation feature was found to be strongly suppressed. The selective suppression of the CCH3 1s→3pπ(CH3) resonance transition can be explained by the change in the character of the 3pπ(CH3) orbital due to the C=O⋯H–C type of hydrogen-bonding interaction. On the other hand, the NEXAFS spectra of the acetone molecule and clusters were almost identical in the oxygen K-edge region, except for a small shift in the π∗(C=O) resonance of 0.13 eV, because the character of the π∗(C=O) orbital remained, regardless of the C=O⋯H–C hydrogen bonding interaction.
High frequency dielectric properties distribution of BiFeO3 thin film using near-field microwave microscopy
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Yu , Wang Xuan-Cong , Xu Feng , Ma Yun-Gui , Ong C. K.
Published: November 2009

A near-field scanning microwave microscopy (NSMM) is applied to investigate the local perpendicular dielectric information of single-phase multiferroic BiFeO3 thin film and single crystal LaAlO3 material. Our NSMM is composed of a vector network analyzer and a simple open-ended coaxial probe, which is quite different from the commercial probe with a λ/4 coaxial resonator. The local permittivity is calculated quantitatively according to resonance frequency shift under the quasistatic microwave perturbation theory. We make use of the magnitude of reflection loss S11 to construct an image reflecting the distribution of dielectric constant of a material. A homogeneous permittivity is observed in LaAlO3 material and the inhomogeneous permittivity ε=215–250 for BiFeO3 film is depicted from the change of feedback signal S11 over an area of 100×100 μm2.
Large electromechanical coupling factor film bulk acoustic resonator with X-cut LiNbO3 layer transfer
Authors: Pijolat M. , Loubriat S. , Queste S. , Mercier D. , Reinhardt A. , Defaÿ E. , Deguet C. , Clavelier L. , Moriceau H. , Aïd M. , Ballandras S.
Published: November 2009

As layer transfer techniques have been notably improved in the past years, lithium niobate (LiNbO3) appears as a candidate for the next generation of ultrawide band radio frequency (rf) filters. Depending on the crystalline orientation, LiNbO3 can achieve electromechanical coupling factors Kt2 more than six times larger than those of sputtered aluminum nitride films. In this letter, a process based on direct bonding, grinding, polishing, and deep reactive ion etching is proposed to fabricate a single crystal LiNbO3 film bulk acoustic resonator. From the fabricated test vehicles, Kt2 of 43% is measured confirming the values predicted by theoretical computations.
High throughput phenotyping of root growth dynamics, lateral root formation, root architecture and root hair development enabled by PlaRoM
Authors: Yazdanbakhsh Nima , Fisahn Joachim
Published: November 2009

Plant organ phenotyping by non-invasive video imaging techniques provides a powerful tool to assess physiological traits and biomass production. We describe here a range of applications of a recently developed plant root monitoring platform (PlaRoM). PlaRoM consists of an imaging platform and a root extension profiling software application. This platform has been developed for multi parallel recordings of root growth phenotypes of up to 50 individual seedlings over several days, with high spatial and temporal resolution. PlaRoM can investigate root extension profiles of different genotypes in various growth conditions (e.g. light protocol, temperature, growth media). In particular, we present primary root growth kinetics that was collected over several days. Furthermore, addition of 0.01% sucrose to the growth medium provided sufficient carbohydrates to maintain reduced growth rates in extended nights. Further analysis of records obtained from the imaging platform revealed that lateral root development exhibits similar growth kinetics to the primary root, but that root hairs develop in a faster rate. The compatibility of PlaRoM with currently accessible software packages for studying root architecture will be discussed. We are aiming for a global application of our collected root images to analytical tools provided in remote locations.
A new screening method for osmotic component of salinity tolerance in cereals using infrared thermography
Authors: Sirault Xavier R. R. , James Richard A. , Furbank Robert T.
Published: November 2009

A high-throughput, automated image analysis protocol for the capture, identification and analysis of thermal images acquired with a long-wave infrared (IR) camera was developed to quantify the osmotic stress response of wheat and barley to salinity. There was a strong curvilinear relationship between direct measurements of stomatal conductance and leaf temperature of barley grown in a range of salt concentrations. This indicated that thermography accurately reflected the physiological status of salt-stressed barley seedlings. Leaf temperature differences between barley grown at 200 mM NaCl and 0 mM NaCl reached 1.6°C – the sensitivity of the IR signal increasing at higher salt concentrations. Seventeen durum wheat genotypes and one barley genotype, known to vary for osmotic stress tolerance, were grown in control (no salt) and 150 mM NaCl treatments to validate the newly-developed automated thermal imaging protocol. The ranking of the 18 genotypes based on both a growth study and the IR measurements was consistent with previous reports in the literature for these genotypes. This study shows the potential of IR thermal imaging for the screening of large numbers of genotypes varying for stomatal traits, specifically those related to salt tolerance.
Structure of Escherichia coli Hfq bound to polyriboadenylate RNA
Authors: Link Todd M. , Valentin-Hansen Poul , Brennan Richard G.
Published: November 2009

Hfq is a small, highly abundant hexameric protein that is found in many bacteria and plays a critical role in mRNA expression and RNA stability. As an “RNA chaperone,” Hfq binds AU-rich sequences and facilitates the
trans
annealing of small RNAs (sRNAs) to their target mRNAs, typically resulting in the down-regulation of gene expression. Hfq also plays a key role in bacterial RNA decay by binding tightly to polyadenylate [poly(A)] tracts. The structural mechanism by which Hfq recognizes and binds poly(A) is unknown. Here, we report the crystal structure of
Escherichia coli
Hfq bound to the poly(A) RNA, A
15
. The structure reveals a unique RNA binding mechanism. Unlike uridine-containing sequences, which bind to the “proximal” face, the poly(A) tract binds to the “distal” face of Hfq using 6 tripartite binding motifs. Each motif consists of an adenosine specificity site (A site), which is effected by peptide backbone hydrogen bonds, a purine nucleotide selectivity site (R site), and a sequence-nondiscriminating RNA entrance/exit site (E site). The resulting implication that Hfq can bind poly(A-R-N) triplets, where R is a purine nucleotide and N is any nucleotide, was confirmed by binding studies. Indeed, Hfq bound to the oligoribonucleotides (AGG)
8
, (AGC)
8
, and the shorter (A-R-N)
4
sequence, AACAACAAGAAG, with nanomolar affinities. The abundance of (A-R-N)
4
and (A-R-N)
5
triplet repeats in the
E. coli
genome suggests additional RNA targets for Hfq. Further, the structure provides insight into Hfq-mediated sRNA-mRNA annealing and the role of Hfq in RNA decay.
Growth-limiting Intracellular Metabolites in Yeast Growing under Diverse Nutrient Limitations
Authors: Boer Viktor M. , Crutchfield Christopher A. , Bradley Patrick H. , Botstein David , Rabinowitz Joshua D.
Published: November 2009

Microbes tailor their growth rate to nutrient availability. Here, we measured, using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, >100 intracellular metabolites in steady-state cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae growing at five different rates and in each of five different limiting nutrients. In contrast to gene transcripts, where ∼25% correlated with growth rate irrespective of the nature of the limiting nutrient, metabolite concentrations were highly sensitive to the limiting nutrient's identity. Nitrogen (ammonium) and carbon (glucose) limitation were characterized by low intracellular amino acid and high nucleotide levels, whereas phosphorus (phosphate) limitation resulted in the converse. Low adenylate energy charge was found selectively in phosphorus limitation, suggesting the energy charge may actually measure phosphorus availability. Particularly strong concentration responses occurred in metabolites closely linked to the limiting nutrient, e.g., glutamine in nitrogen limitation, ATP in phosphorus limitation, and pyruvate in carbon limitation. A simple but physically realistic model involving the availability of these metabolites was adequate to account for cellular growth rate. The complete data can be accessed at the interactive website http://growthrate.princeton.edu/metabolome .