bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relief During the Great Depression in Australia and America
Authors: Fishback Price V.
Published: November 2012

I compare and contrast relief efforts by governments in response to the extraordinary unemployment of the Great Depression in the US and Australia. The effectiveness of relief spending in America at the local level is discussed using recent studies estimating the relationship between relief spending and various demographic measures. I develop a new panel data set for the Australian states from 1929 through 1939. Increased income in manufacturing and rural production were associated with lower infant mortality rates and death rates and higher fertility rates. In contrast to the US experience, however, higher per capita relief spending was associated with lower birth rates.
Social Dominance Orientation and Right‐Wing Authoritarianism: Additive and Interactive Effects on Political Conservatism
Authors: Wilson Marc Stewart , Sibley Chris G.
Published: November 2012

It is commonly accepted that social dominance orientation (SDO) and right‐wing authoritarianism (RWA) are potent unique predictors of a variety of prejudice and prejudice‐related constructs. However, contrary to some predictions, there has been little evidence that these constructs interact to produce this outcome—they appear to be additive but not interactive in their prediction of prejudice. We extend the interaction hypothesis to consideration of another broadly relevant construct—political ideology. Drawing from 14 independent New Zealand–based samples, we show, through meta‐analysis and multilevel random coefficient modelling, that SDO and RWA additively and interactively predict levels of political conservatism operationalised in a variety of ways. Specifically, both constructs are associated with increasing political conservatism, and the lowest levels of conservatism (or highest levels of political liberalism) are found in those lowest in both SDO and RWA.
Onset and Offset Deservingness: The Case of Home Foreclosures
Authors: Brandt Mark J.
Published: November 2012

An examination of the debate surrounding foreclosure assistance suggests that arguments vary in the extent that they suggest people facing foreclosure deserve assistance and whether the cause of the foreclosure is at the onset or offset of the foreclosure situation. Results from an experiment using a nationally representative sample suggest that people use the attributional evidence provided by onset‐ and offset‐deservingness scenarios to determine their support for governmental and personal foreclosure assistance. Consistent with attribution theory, path analysis suggested that attributions of controllability and the associated emotions of anger and sympathy mediated the relationship between deservingness arguments and support for foreclosure assistance. Additionally, people who endorse conservatism were more likely to oppose foreclosure assistance. Ideological differences in perceived controllability, anger, and sympathy mediated the relationship between ideology and personal assistance and partially mediated the relationship between ideology and government assistance.
Fruit aromas in mature fleshy fruits as signals of readiness for predation and seed dispersal
Authors: Rodríguez Ana , Alquézar Berta , Peña Leandro
Published: November 2012

The dispersal of seeds away from parent plants seems to be the underlying selective force in the evolution of fleshy fruits attractive to animals. Secondary metabolites, which are not essential compounds for plant survival, are involved in the interaction of fleshy fruits with seed dispersers and antagonists. Plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are secondary metabolites that play important roles in biotic interactions and in abiotic stress responses. They are usually accumulated at high levels in specific plant tissues and organs, such as fleshy fruits. The study ofVOCs emitted during fruit development and after different biotic challenges may help to determine the interactions of fleshy fruits not only with legitimate vertebrate dispersers, but also with insects and microorganisms. A knowledge of fruitVOCs could be used in agriculture to generate attraction or repellency to pests and resistance to pathogens in fruits. This review provides an examination of specific fruitVOCblends as signals for either seed dispersal or predation through simple or complex trophic chains, which may also have consequences for an understanding of the importance of biodiversity in wild areas.

ContentsSummary36I.Introduction36II.VOCs in plants37III.Fruit VOCs and interactions with vertebrates40IV.Fruit VOCs and interactions with insects41V.Fruit VOCs and interactions with microbes41VI.VOCs as mediators of indirect interactions42VII.VOCs in fruit crops and agriculture43VIII.Concluding remarks and future prospects44Acknowledgements45References45
Embryonic stem cell–derived M2‐like macrophages delay cutaneous wound healing
Authors: Dreymueller Daniela , Denecke Bernd , Ludwig Andreas , Jahnen‐Dechent Willi
Published: November 2012

In adults, repair of deeply injured skin wounds results in the formation of scar tissue, whereas in embryos wounds heal almost scar‐free. Macrophages are important mediators of wound healing and secrete cytokines and tissue remodeling enzymes. In contrast to host defense mediated by inflammatory M1 macrophages, wound healing and tissue repair involve regulatory M2/M2‐like macrophages. Embryonic/fetal macrophages are M2‐like, and this may promote scar‐free wound healing. In the present study, we asked whether atopical application of ex vivo generated, embryonic stem cell–derived macrophages (ESDM) improve wound healing in mice. ESDM were tested side by side with bone marrow–derived macrophages (BMDM). Compared to BMDM, ESDM resembled a less inflammatory and more M2‐like macrophage subtype as indicated by their reduced responsiveness to lipopolysaccharide, reduced expression of Toll‐like receptors, and reduced bacterial phagocytosis. Despite this anti‐inflammatory phenotype in cell culture, ESDM prolonged the healing of deep skin wounds even more than BMDM. Healed wounds had more scar formation compared to wounds receiving BMDM or cell‐free treatment. Our data indicate that atopical application of ex vivo generated macrophages is not a suitable cell therapy of dermal wounds.
Investigation of the skin repair and healing mechanism of N‐carboxymethyl chitosan in second‐degree burn wounds
Authors: Chang Jing , Liu Wanshun , Han Baoqin , Peng Sikai , He Bin , Gu Zhongwei
Published: November 2012

N‐carboxymethyl chitosan (NCMC) was synthesized with the modification of chitosan; the substitution degree was measured by titration. The biocompatibility and degradability of the NCMC were studied in vivo and the results showed that the NCMC was nontoxic and biocompatible. The in vivo degradation rate of NCMC in musculature was faster than that in subcutaneous tissue due to the relatively high lysozyme concentration. The NCMC was used as biomaterial to heal deep second‐degree burn wounds. The wound size reduction, histological examination, and the quantification of transforming growth factor‐β1, tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐8 protein levels, and Smad3 gene expression were measured to evaluate the healing effects. The results demonstrated that the NCMC was efficient in accelerating wound healing via activating transforming growth factor‐β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.
Prevalence of Migraine in Patients With Celiac Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Dimitrova Alexandra K. , Ungaro Ryan C. , Lebwohl Benjamin , Lewis Suzanne K. , Tennyson Christina A. , Green Mark W. , Babyatsky Mark W. , Green Peter H.
Published: November 2012

Objective.— To assess the prevalence of headache in clinic and support group patients with celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) compared with a sample of healthy controls.

Background.— European studies have demonstrated increased prevalence of headache of patients with celiac disease compared with controls.

Methods.— Subjects took a self‐administered survey containing clinical, demographic, and dietary data, as well as questions about headache type and frequency. The ID‐Migraine screening tool and the Headache Impact Test (HIT‐6) were also used.

Results.— Five hundred and two subjects who met exclusion criteria were analyzed – 188 with celiac disease, 111 with IBD, 25 with gluten sensitivity (GS), and 178 controls (C). Chronic headaches were reported by 30% of celiac disease, 56% of GS, 23% of IBD, and 14% of control subjects (P < .0001). On multivariate logistic regression, celiac disease (odds ratio [OR] 3.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.78‐8.10), GS (OR 9.53, 95%CI 3.24‐28.09), and IBD (OR 2.66, 95%CI 1.08‐6.54) subjects all had significantly higher prevalence of migraine headaches compared with controls. Female sex (P = .01), depression, and anxiety (P = .0059) were independent predictors of migraine headaches, whereas age >65 was protective (P = .0345). Seventy‐two percent of celiac disease subjects graded their migraine as severe in impact, compared with 30% of IBD, 60% of GS, and 50% of C subjects (P = .0919). There was no correlation between years on gluten‐free diet and migraine severity.

Conclusions.— Migraine was more prevalent in celiac disease and IBD subjects than in controls. Future studies should include screening migraine patients for celiac disease and assessing the effects of gluten‐free diet on migraines in celiac disease.
Headache Direction and Aura Predict Migraine Responsiveness to Rimabotulinumtoxin B
Authors: Grogan Patrick M. , Alvarez Maria Victoria , Jones Lyell
Published: November 2012

Objective

To report a retrospective analysis of patients with migraine headaches treated with rimabotulinumtoxin B as preventive treatment, investigating an association between clinical responsiveness with migraine directionality and migrainous aura.

Background

The Phase III Research Evaluating Migraine Prophylaxis Therapy studies demonstrated onabotulinumtoxin A is effective in the preventive management of chronic migraine headaches. Jakubowski et al reported greater response to onabotulinumtoxin A in migraine patients reporting inward‐directed head pain (imploding or ocular) compared with outward‐directed head pain (exploding), suggesting subpopulations of patients may be better candidates for its use. No correlation was found between those reporting migrainous aura and onabotulinumtoxin A responsiveness.

Methods

One hundred twenty‐eight migraine patients were identified who had received rimabotulinumtoxin B injections over an average of 22 months, or 7 injection cycles. Migraine directionality was reported as inward directed (imploding, n = 72), eye centered (ocular, n = 28), outward directed (exploding, n = 16), and mixed (n = 12).

Results

One hundred two out of one hundred twenty‐eight patients (80%) improved; of these, 58 (57%) demonstrated a >75% reduction in monthly headache frequency (“>75%‐responders”), 76% of which noted sustained benefits >12 months with repeated injections every 10‐12 weeks. Those reporting ocular‐ and imploding‐directed headaches were significantly more likely to be >75%‐responders, compared with exploding‐ and mixed‐directed headaches (P < .0025). Patients with ocular‐directed headaches were most likely to be sustained >75%‐responders. Patients reporting migrainous aura were more likely to be >75%‐responders (P = .0007). Those reporting exploding‐ and mixed‐directed headaches were more likely to be nonresponders (P < .0001).

Conclusions

Reported migraine directionality and presence of migrainous aura predict migraine headache responsiveness to rimabotulinumtoxin B injections.
Memory Deficit Associated with Worse Functional Trajectories in Older Adults in Low‐Vision Rehabilitation for Macular Disease
Authors: Whitson Heather E. , Whitaker Diane , Sanders Linda L. , Potter Guy G. , Cousins Scott W. , Ansah Deidra , McConnell Eleanor , Pieper Carl F. , Landerman Lawrence , Steffens David C. , Cohen Harvey J.
Published: November 2012

Objectives

To examine whether performance on a brief memory test is related to functional outcomes in older individuals undergoing low‐vision rehabilitation (LVR) for macular disease.

Design

Observational cohort study of individuals receiving outpatient LVR.

Setting

Academic center.

Participants

Ninety‐one individuals (average age 80.1) with macular disease.

Measurements

Memory was assessed at baseline using a 10‐word list; memory deficit was defined as immediate recall of two or fewer words. Vision‐related function was measured using the 25‐item Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ‐25) administered at baseline and during subsequent interviews (mean follow‐up, 115 days). Linear mixed models were constructed to compare average trajectories of four VFQ‐25 subscales: near activities, distance activities, dependency, and role difficulty.

Results

The 29.7% of participants with memory deficits tended to decline in ability to accomplish activities that involved near vision. Controlling for age, sex, and education, the functional trajectory of participants with memory deficit differed significantly from that of those with better memory (P = .002), who tended to report improvements in ability to accomplish near activities.

Conclusion

Of older adults receiving LVR for macular disease, those with memory deficits experienced worse functional trajectories in their ability to perform specific visually mediated tasks. A brief memory screen may help explain variability in rehabilitation outcomes and identify individuals who might require special accommodations.
Residential Proximity to Nearest Major Roadway and Cognitive Function in Community‐Dwelling Seniors: Results from the MOBILIZE Boston Study
Authors: Wellenius Gregory A. , Boyle Luke D. , Coull Brent A. , Milberg William P. , Gryparis Alexandros , Schwartz Joel , Mittleman Murray A. , Lipsitz Lewis A.
Published: November 2012

Objectives

To evaluate the association between residential distance to nearest major roadway, as a marker of long‐term exposure to traffic pollution, and cognitive function in older adults.

Design

Prospective cohort study with median follow‐up of 16.8 months.

Setting

Community.

Participants

Seven hundred sixty‐five community‐dwelling seniors.

Measurements

The Mini‐Mental State Examination, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test‐Revised (HVLT‐R), Trail Making Test (TMT), category and letter fluency tests, and Clock‐in‐the‐Box Test were administered during home visits on two occasions. The residential distance to the nearest major roadway was calculated, and generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the association between performance on each test and residential distance to nearest major roadway, adjusting for participant demographics, education, socioeconomic status, and past medical history.

Results

Shorter distance to major roadway was associated with statistically significantly poorer performance on the immediate and delayed recall components of the HVLT‐R, TMT Part B, TMT delta, and letter and category fluency tests. Generally, participants residing less than 100 m from a major roadway performed worst. Performance improved monotonically with increasing distance.

Conclusion

In this cohort of community‐dwelling older adults, residential proximity to a major roadway was associated with poorer performance on cognitive tests of verbal learning and memory, psychomotor speed, language, and executive functioning. If causal, these results add to the growing evidence that living near major roadways is associated with adverse health outcomes.
Influenza Immunization in Older Adults with and without Cancer
Authors: Locher Julie L. , Rucks Andrew C. , Spencer Sharon A. , Pettaway Gregory J. , Kilgore Meredith L.
Published: November 2012

Objectives

To compare the likelihood of receiving an influenza immunization in older adults before and immediately after a cancer diagnosis occurring in 2001 and for the same time periods with older adults not diagnosed with cancer.

Design

Retrospective analysis comparing influenza immunization rates of Medicare beneficiaries with and without a diagnosis of cancer.

Setting

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare Data.

Participants

Propensity score matching matched a group of 35,229 persons without cancer with 35,257 individuals diagnosed with cancer in 2001.

Measurements

Receipt of influenza vaccination based upon Medicare Claims Data.

Results

A difference‐of‐difference analysis revealed that influenza immunization rates increased over time for persons diagnosed with cancer (46.8% before to 50.8% after cancer diagnosis), but the increase was greater in beneficiaries without a cancer diagnosis (42.6% to 79.7%) (P < .001; 95% confidence interval = 0.320–0.324). Logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals without a cancer diagnosis were 7.25 times as likely to receive an influenza immunization.

Conclusion

Older adults who have been recently diagnosed with cancer receive influenza immunizations at much lower rates than older adults who have not been diagnosed with cancer despite interaction with healthcare providers. Opportunities exist to improve influenza immunization in this population, who are susceptible to influenza because of compromised immune systems.
Productivity and botanical composition of orchardgrass–white clover swards in a cool‐temperate hill land region of the eastern United States
Authors: Malinowski Dariusz P. , Belesky David P. , Ruckle Joyce M. , Fedders James M.
Published: November 2012

Understanding the growth dynamics of grass–legume swards is critical as pastoral management practices are adapted to varying economic constraints and emerging environmental considerations. Efficient management must synchronize the use of accumulated herbage with the needs of grazing livestock. This must be accomplished against the dynamic background of within and among year weather patterns interacting with herbage growth and grazing animal behavior. In the Appalachian region of the eastern United States, pastures often are dominated by orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.). We determined botanical composition and herbage productivity of orchardgrass and white clover swards during four consecutive years when managed as a function of canopy development and regrowth interval. Productivity was influenced by defoliation practices when mixtures were managed according to canopy development. Productivity was greatest when swards were managed as hay or when clipped to a 5‐cm residue each time mean canopy height reached 20 cm. White clover declined and orchardgrass increased in the sward irrespective of defoliation treatment. Botanical composition of mixtures with the erect growing orchardgrass tended to be more stable, whereas swards including the decumbent orchardgrass tended to be invaded by weeds. Some increase in productivity occurred during the first growing season when mixtures were clipped at either 2‐ or 4‐week intervals. Regardless of defoliation practice, white clover, and in some instances orchardgrass, presence declined during two consecutive growing seasons with various other volunteer grasses and forbs contributing to productivity. Productivity and persistence of sown sward components may be less dependent on management practices than on the expression of interactions responding to within and among year weather patterns.
Associative learning mechanisms underpinning the transition from recreational drug use to addiction
Authors: Hogarth Lee , Balleine Bernard W. , Corbit Laura H. , Killcross Simon
Published: November 2012

Learning theory proposes that drug seeking is a synthesis of multiple controllers. Whereas goal‐directed drug seeking is determined by the anticipated incentive value of the drug, habitual drug seeking is elicited by stimuli that have formed a direct association with the response. Moreover, drug‐paired stimuli can transfer control over separately trained drug seeking responses by retrieving an expectation of the drug's identity (specific transfer) or incentive value (general transfer). This review covers outcome devaluation and transfer of stimulus‐control procedures in humans and animals, which isolate the differential governance of drug seeking by these four controllers following various degrees of contingent and noncontingent drug exposure. The neural mechanisms underpinning these four controllers are also reviewed. These studies suggest that although initial drug seeking is goal‐directed, chronic drug exposure confers a progressive loss of control over action selection by specific outcome representations (impaired outcome devaluation and specific transfer), and a concomitant increase in control over action selection by antecedent stimuli (enhanced habit and general transfer). The prefrontal cortex and mediodorsal thalamus may play a role in this drug‐induced transition to behavioral autonomy.
Effect of Water on the Inert Strength of Silica Glass: Role of Water Penetration
Authors: Fett Theo , Rizzi Gabriele , Hoffmann Michael J. , Wagner Susanne , Wiederhorn Sheldon M.
Published: November 2012

The effect of water diffusion on the strength of silica glass is discussed. When silica glass is immersed in hot water and held there for an extended period, its strength increases over that of freshly damaged glass. We propose that this increase in strength is due to water diffusion into exposed surfaces of the test specimen, resulting in swelling of the glass and a fracture mechanics shielding of cracks present in the glass surface. In the present paper, we show that the shielding may be broken down into two parts, that associated with the crack itself and that associated with the free surface of the specimen. The explanation proposed here has been neglected in earlier studies. The approach allows us to obtain a reasonable quantitative explanation for the strengthening of silica glass by soaking in hot water.
Laboratory evaluation of sample collection methods (organs vs swabs) for Tasmanian salmon reovirus detection in farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.
Authors: Zainathan S C , Carson J , Crane M St J , Nowak B F
Published: November 2012

The use of swabs relative to organs as a sample collection method for the detection of Tasmanian salmon reovirus (TSRV) in farmed Tasmanian Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., was evaluated by RT‐qPCR. Evaluation of individual and pooled sample collection (organs vs swabs) was carried out to determine the sensitivity of the collection methods and the effect of pooling of samples for the detection of TSRV. Detection of TSRV in individual samples was as sensitive when organs were sampled compared to swabs, and in pooled samples, organs demonstrated a sensitivity of one 10‐fold dilution higher than sampling of pooled swabs. Storage of swabs at 4 °C for t = 24 h demonstrated results similar to those at t = 0. Advantages of using swabs as a preferred sample collection method for the detection of TSRV compared to organ samples are evident from these experimental trials.
Construction of gene regulatory networks mediated by vegetative and reproductive stage‐specific small RNAs in rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Meng Yijun , Shao Chaogang , Wang Huizhong , Ma Xiaoxia , Chen Ming
Published: November 2012

Although huge amounts of high‐throughput sequencing (HTS) data are available, limited systematic analyses have been performed by integrating these valuable resources. Based on small RNA (sRNA), RNA and degradome HTS data, the sRNAs specifically expressed at vegetative and reproductive stages were identified separately in rice.

Two distinct groups of sRNA HTS data, which were prepared during the vegetative and the reproductive stages, were utilized to extract stage‐specific sRNAs. Degradome sequencing data were employed for sRNA target validation. RNA sequencing data were used to construct expression‐based, sRNA‐mediated networks.

As a result, 26 microRNAs and 413 sRNAs were specifically expressed at the vegetative stage, and 79 microRNAs and 539 sRNAs were specifically expressed at the reproductive stage. In addition to the microRNAs, numerous stage‐specific sRNAs enriched in ARGONAUTE1 showed great potential to perform cleavage‐based repression on the targets. Several stage‐specific sRNAs were indicated to result from the wobble effect of Dicer‐like 1‐mediated processing of microRNA precursors. The expression patterns of the sRNA targets, and the stage‐specific cleavage signals strongly indicated the reliability of the constructed networks.

A set of rice stage‐specific sRNAs along with the regulatory cascades, which have great potential in regulating specific developmental stages, were provided for further investigation.
Comparison of four routinely used methods for assessing root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Authors: Sun Xue-Guang , Tang Ming
Published: November 2012

Quantifying the proportion of roots colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is routine work for researchers conducting AMF studies. However, in practice, the methods are always misused, with their adaptability to different conditions neglected. In this study, four frequently used methods (root segment ±, root segment estimation, grid-line intersect, and magnified intersections) were evaluated and compared. Using the light microscopy based staining technique, we assessed AMF colonization of the roots of five plant species (Trifolium repens Linn., Zea mays Linn., Robinia pseudoacacia Linn., Populus simonii Carr., and Caragana korshinskii Kom.). The results revealed that a root length of at least 150 cm (rather than the usual 30 or 50 cm or 100 to 150 intersections generally used when following these four methods) should be examined to represent a single root sample whatever the method used. All four methods had good reproducibility, even though there was a high level of divergence among the results obtained using the different methods to assess the same root sample. We concluded that when assessing the AMF colonization of roots from the same species, all methods except the root segment ± method can be used; however, when assessing root samples from different species, the root segment estimation and magnified intersections methods give more reliable results. We suggest that the root segment ± method is an effective method for revealing the uniformity of AMF distributed in host roots of a certain length.
Cooler temperatures favour growth of wild leek (Allium tricoccum), a deciduous forest spring ephemeral
Authors: Bernatchez Antoine , Lapointe Line
Published: November 2012

Allium tricoccum Aiton is a common spring ephemeral of hardwood deciduous forests of northeastern North America. It takes advantage of the short period of high light conditions between snowmelt and canopy closure to complete its vegetative life cycle and accumulate carbohydrate reserves for the following year. Previous studies on other spring ephemerals have shown that growth of these species is enhanced when grown at low temperature, typical of very early spring. We thus quantified the effect of three growth temperature regimes, i.e., 18 °C day – 14 °C night, 12 °C day – 8 °C night, and 8 °C day – 6 °C night, which have previously been tested on Erythronium americanum, another spring ephemeral. Gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and plant biomass were measured repeatedly throughout the growth season. Growth was greatest under the 12 °C day – 8 °C night temperature regime, consistent with enhanced net photosynthetic rates (Pn), photochemical quenching (qP), and photochemical efficiency of photosynthesis (ΦPSII) at this temperature regime throughout the season. Pn was similar at 18 °C day – 14 °C night and 8 °C day – 6 °C night, but leaves had a greater duration at 8 °C day – 6 °C night; however, bulb biomass was not greater at 8 °C day – 6 °C night than at 18 °C day – 14 °C night. This study corroborates the general sensitivity of spring ephemerals to warmer temperatures. It also highlights species differences that might be caused by their specific carbon metabolism at the bulb level.
A proposal to measure the speed of gravity
Authors: Paranjape M.B.
Published: November 2012

We propose a simple experiment to measure the speed of gravity in the laboratory. A moving body induces changes in the gravitational field that travel to the detector with a finite time delay. Moving two bodies causes changes to the gravitational field. These changes can add or subtract, and observing this interference allows for the measurement of the speed of gravity.
OPTIMIZATION OF THE PRINCIPAL EIGENVALUE OF THE PSEUDO p-LAPLACIAN OPERATOR WITH ROBIN BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
Authors: EMAMIZADEH B. , ZIVARI-REZAPOUR M.
Published: November 2012

This paper is concerned with an optimization problem related to the pseudo p-Laplacian eigenproblem, with Robin boundary conditions. The principal eigenvalue is minimized over a rearrangement class generated by a fixed positive function. Existence and optimality condition are proved. The popular case where the generator is a characteristic function is also considered. In this case the method of domain derivative is used to capture qualitative features of the optimal solutions.
PREDICTION OF REACTION KINETIC IN MECHANICALLY ACTIVATED SELF-PROPAGATING HIGH-TEMPERATURE SYNTHESIS PROCESS
Authors: RAZAVI MANSOUR
Published: November 2012

In this paper we have tried to develop a semi-empirical formula for estimation of starting time of reactions during mechanical alloying process according to self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) mechanism. For this purpose, three SHS systems containing Ti – C , Mo – Si and Si – C were selected and their behaviors were observed. Aforementioned systems were milled in a planetary ball mill equipped with temperature sensor detector of cups. Samplings were done at different times of discontinuously milling. To change mills' energy, stainless steel and tungsten carbide balls were used. In order to detect the phases and characterizations of milled powder, XRD instrument was utilized. Results showed that all productions were synthesized after sudden increase in temperature. Maximum measured temperature and critical time had up and downtrends for production of TiC , MoSi 2 and SiC , respectively. Crystalline size of milled powder had nano-meter scale. By using experimental data along with theoretical equations, a semi-empirical formula between critical time for transformation of raw materials to productions, type of milled system and ball mill parameter can be presented with high accuracy. According to calculated formula, critical time was related to ball mill energy and Gibbs free energy of milled system with direct and inverse proportionality, respectively.
SEARCHING FOR THE PROPERTIES OF NUCLEAR MATTER USING PROTON–CARBON AND DEUTERON–CARBON COLLISIONS AT 4.2A GeV/c
Authors: AJAZ M. , SULEYMANOV M. K. , KHAN K. H. , ZAMAN A.
Published: November 2012

The present work reports the use of nuclear transparency effect of protons in proton– and deuteron–carbon interactions at 4.2A GeV /c to get information about the states of nuclear matter. The "half-angle" technique is used to extract the information on nuclear transparency. The results are compared with Dubna version of Cascade model. The average values of multiplicity, momentum and transverse momentum of protons are analyzed as a function of the number of identified protons in an event. We observed some evidence and trends in the data, which could be considered as transparency effect. Analysis of the results shows that the leading effect is the basis of the observed transparency. Some contribution to the observed effect could be the existing short range correlations and the scaling power law s-N, for exclusive two-body hard scattering.
QUASICLASSICAL TRAJECTORY STUDY OF STEREODYNAMICS FOR THE REACTIONSLi+HF/DF/TF
Authors: CHENG JIE , YUE XIAN-FANG
Published: November 2012

Stereodynamics of the reaction Li + HF (v = 0,j = 0) → LiF + H and its isotopic variants on the ground electronic state (12A′) potential energy surface (PES) are studied by employing the quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) method. At a collision energy of 2.2 kcal/mol, product rotational angular momentum distributions, P(θr) and P(ϕr), are calculated in the center-of-mass (CM) frame. The results demonstrate that the product rotational angular momentum j′is not only aligned along the direction perpendicular to the reagent relative velocity vector k, but also oriented along the negative y-axis. The four generalized polarization-dependent differential cross sections (PDDCSs) are also computed. The PDDCS00distribution shows a sideways scattering for the reaction Li + HF and a strongly backward scattering for the reaction Li + DF . However, it displays both the forward and backward scatterings for the reaction Li + TF . These features demonstrate that the Li + HF and Li + DF reactions proceed predominantly through the direct reaction mechanism. However, the Li + TF reaction undergoes both the direct and indirect reaction mechanisms. The PDDCS21-distribution indicates that the product angular distributions are anisotropic.
COMPUTATIONAL NICS AND 13C NMR ChARACTERIZATION OF SUBSTITUTION PATTERNS OF C60-nNn FULLERENES (n = 1–12)
Authors: ANAFCHEH MARYAM , GHAFOURI REZA , NADERI FERESHTEH
Published: November 2012

DFT calculations are applied to evaluate the effects of atomic arrangements of dopant atoms on electronic features of the most stable structures of C 60−n N n(n = 1–12) fullerenes. Our study reveals that 13 C isotropic chemical shifts (δiso) of the nuclei at C–N pentagon–hexagon (ph) junctions appear at downfield values while there are no tangible values of δiso for the nuclei at C–N hexagon–hexagon (hh) junctions; the carbon sites attached to the first neighbors of nitrogen at hh junctions (the second neighboring effect) yield upfield values of δiso. Moreover, compensation between diatropic and paratropic ring currents leads to slightly less negative NICS value in C59N heterofullerene (-3.6) compared to the parent fullerene C60 (-4.25). However, with incorporating more nitrogen atoms into the cage the aromaticity first increases, up to the 66π-system C54N6 and C53N7 , yielding the most negative NICS values of -26.3 and -26.8, respectively, and then decreases so that NICS finally reaches the value of -6.6 ppm for C48N12 heterofullerene. On the basis of distinct value predicted for each heterofullerene, one expects that NICS values may also be useful for identification of the molecules through their endohedral 3 He NMR chemical shifts.
DENSITY OF CRYSTALLINE POINTS ON UNITARY SHIMURA VARIETIES
Authors: CHOJECKI PRZEMYSLAW
Published: November 2012

We prove that crystalline points are dense in the spectrum of the completed Hecke algebra on unitary Shimura varieties.
QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF A STOCHASTIC PREDATOR–PREY SYSTEM WITH DISEASE IN THE PREDATOR
Authors: LI SHUANG , ZHANG XINAN
Published: November 2012

A stochastic predator–prey system with disease in the predator population is proposed, the existence of global positive solution is derived. When the white noise is small, there is a stationary distribution. In addition, conditions of global stability for the deterministic system are also established from the above result. By Lyapunov function, the long time behavior of solution around the disease-free equilibrium of deterministic system is derived. These results mean that stochastic system has the similar property with the corresponding deterministic system. When the white noise is small, however, large environmental noise makes the result different. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out to support our findings.
Hot-Electron-Induced Device Degradation during Gate-Induced Drain Leakage Stress
Authors: Kim Kwang-Soo , Han Chang-Hoon , Lee Jun-Ki , Kim Dong-Soo , Kim Hyong-Joon , Shin Joong-Shik , Lee Hea-Beoum , Choi Byoung-Deog
Published: November 2012

We studied the interface state generation and electron trapping by hot electrons under gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) stress in p-type metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (P-MOSFETs), which are used as the high-voltage core circuit of flash memory devices. When negative voltage was applied to a drain in the off-state, a GIDL current was generated, but when high voltage was applied to the drain, electrons had a high energy. The hot electrons produced the interface state and electron trapping. As a result, the threshold voltage shifted and the off-state leakage current (trap-assisted drain junction leakage current) increased. On the other hand, electron trapping mitigated the energy band bending near the drain and thus suppressed the GIDL current generation.
Unidirectional Light Beam Splitter Based on the Square-Lattice Photonic Crystal Heterojunctions
Authors: Feng Shuai , Wang Wenzhong , Wang Yiquan
Published: November 2012

The unidirectional light transmission characteristics of the two-dimensional square-lattice photonic crystal heterostructure consisting of air holes immersed in silicon are numerically studied by the finite-difference time-domain method. Through interlacing the air holes with different radiuses on the interface vertical to the light transmission direction, a new kind of unidirectional beam splitter is obtained. This kind of beam splitting device works well with a tolerance within 10% degree of radial disorder or 5% degree of positional disorder.
Matching-Circuit-Integrated InGaAsP Schottky Barrier Diode for Zero-Biased Operation in the Sub-Millimeter-Wave Range
Authors: Ito Hiroshi , Muramoto Yoshifumi , Yamamoto Hiroshi , Ishibashi Tadao
Published: November 2012

An InP/InGaAsP Schottky barrier diode (SBD) for zero-biased operation in the sub-millimeter-wave range has been designed and fabricated. The SBD is monolithically integrated with a short-stub resonant matching circuit to increase the detection sensitivity around the designated frequency as well as to provide a biasing circuit. The fabricated device exhibits a small Schottky barrier height of about 0.37 eV, which is suitable for zero-biased operation. The SBD chip is mounted in a compact J-band (WR-3) rectangular-waveguide-input module to evaluate the high-frequency characteristics. The module exhibits a peak sensitivity at around 350 GHz due to the characteristics of the matching circuit, and good linearity of the output voltage against the input sub-mm-wave power. A record sensitivity of 1460 V/W at 350 GHz is obtained for the InP-based zero-biased SBD.
A New Method for Negative Bias Temperature Instability Assessment in P-Channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor Transistors
Authors: Djezzar Boualem , Tahi Hakim , Benabdelmoumene Abdelmadjid , Chenouf Amel , Kribes Youcef
Published: November 2012

In this paper, we present a new method, named on the fly oxide trap (OTFOT), to extract the bias temperature instability (BTI) in MOS transistors. The OTFOT method is based on charge pumping technique (CP) at low and high frequencies. We emphasize on the theoretical-based concept, giving a clear insight on the easy-use of the OTFOT methodology and demonstrating its viability to characterize the negative BTI (NBTI). Using alternatively high and low frequencies, OTFOT method separates the interface-traps (ΔN
it) and border-trap (ΔN
bt) (switching oxide-trap) densities independently and also their contributions to the threshold voltage shift (ΔV
th), without needing additional methods. The experimental results, from two experimental scenarios, showing the extraction of NBTI-induced shifts caused by interface- and oxide-trap increases are also presented. In the first scenario, all stresses are performed on the same transistor. It exhibits an artifact value of exponent n. In the second scenario, each voltage stress is applied only on one transistor. Its results show an average n of 0.16, 0.05, and 0.11 for NBTI-induced ΔN
it, ΔN
bt, ΔV
th, respectively. Therefore, OTFOT method can contribute to further understand the behavior of the NBTI degradation, especially through the threshold voltage shift components such as ΔV
it and ΔV
ot caused by interface-trap and border-trap, respectively.
De NovoHistoid Leprosy in an Elderly: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Dimri Deepak , Sethi Bhawna , Kumar Yogesh
Published: November 2012

Histoid leprosy, an uncommon variant of lepromatous leprosy, develops usually as relapse in lepromatous patients who are on dapsone monotherapy, but uncommonly arisesde novo. This rare form of the disease, with unique clinical and histopathological features, may pose a diagnostic challenge even to astute clinicians. We report the case that occurredde novoin an elderly who presented with small to large lesions all over the body. A fresh focus on histoid leprosy is the primary objective of this paper, especially in the context of the postglobal leprosy elimination era.
Continuous and Long-Term Measurement of Reticuloruminal pH in Grazing Dairy Cows by an Indwelling and Wireless Data Transmitting Unit
Authors: Gasteiner J. , Guggenberger T. , Häusler J. , Steinwidder A.
Published: November 2012

The aim of the present study was the continuous measurement of ruminal pH in grazing dairy cows to monitor the diets effects on ruminal pH value. A novel indwelling pH-measurement and data transmitting system was given to 6 multiparous cows orally. Ruminal pH was measured every 600 sec over a 40 d period. After barn feeding and changeover to pasture, the following 3 treatments (2 cows/treatment) were included in the measurement period: continuous grazing (G), continuous grazing plus 4 kg/d of hay fed twice daily (GH), and continuous grazing plus 4 kg/d of concentrate (GC). Ruminal pH decreased significantly (P<0.05) from6.58±0.15to pH6.19±0.19during feed changeover to pasture. Mean ruminal pH for G, GH, and GC was 6.36, 6.56, and 6.01. Mean 24-h minimum pH was 5.95, 6.20 and, 5.58. The time pH was below 6.3, 6.0, 5.8, and 5.5, for G it was 583, 91, 26, and 3 min/d, for GH it was 97, 12, 0, and 0 min/d and for GC it was 1126, 621, 347, and 101 min/d, respectively. Results were significantly influenced by the diet. The indwelling pH-measurement and data transmitting system is a very useful and proper tool for long-term measurement of ruminal pH in cows.
A Parameterized Method for Air-Quality Diagnosis and Its Applications
Authors: Wang J. Z. , Gong S. L. , Zhang X. Y. , Yang Y. Q. , Hou Q. , Zhou C. H. , Wang Y. Q.
Published: November 2012

A parameterized method is developed to diagnose the air quality in Beijing and other cities with an index termed (parameters linking air-quality to meteorological elements PLAM) derived from a correlation between PM10and relevant weather elements based on the data between 2000 and 2007. Key weather factors for diagnosing the air pollution intensity are identified and included in PLAM that include atmospheric condensation of water vapour, wet potential equivalent temperature, and wind velocity. It is found that the poor air quality days with elevated PM10are usually associated with higher PLAM values, featuring higher temperature, humidity, lower wind velocity, and higher stability compared to the averaged values in the same period. Both 24 h and 72 h forecasts provided useful services for the day of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games and subsequent sport events. A correlation coefficient of 0.82 was achieved between the forecasts and (air pollution index API) and 0.59 between the forecasts and observed PM10, all reaching the significant level of 0.001, for the summer period. A correction factor was also introduced to enable the PLAM to diagnose the observed PM10concentrations all year round.
Elevated CPW-Fed Slotted Microstrip Antenna for Ultra-Wideband Application
Authors: Ghosh Chandan Kumar , Roy Arabinda , Parui Susanta Kumar
Published: November 2012

Elevated-coplanar-waveguide- (ECPW-) fed microstrip antenna with inverted “G” slots in the back conductor is presented. It is modeled and analyzed for the application of multiple frequency bands. The changes in radiation and the transmission characteristics are investigated by the introduction of the slots in two different positions at the ground plane (back conductor). The proposed antenna without slots exhibits a stop band from 2.55 GHz to 4.25 GHz while introducing two slots on the back conductor, two adjacent poles appear at central frequencies of 3.0 GHz and 3.9 GHz, respectively, and the antenna shows the ultra-wideband (UWB) characteristics. The first pole appears at the central frequency of 3.0 GHz and covers the band width of 950 MHz, and the second pole exists at a central frequency of 3.90 GHz covering a bandwidth of 750 MHz. Experimental result shows that impedance bandwidth of 129% (S11<-10 dB) is well achieved when the antenna is excited with both slots. Compared to most of the previously reported ECPW structures, the impedance bandwidth of this antenna is increased and also the size of the antenna becomes smaller and more suitable for many wireless applications like PCS (1850–1990 MHz), WLAN (2.4–2.484 GHz), WiMAX (2.5–2.69 GHz and 5.15–5.85 GHz), and also X-band communication.
Patterns of Synonymous Codon Usage on Human Metapneumovirus and Its Influencing Factors
Authors: Zhong Qiao , Xu Weidong , Wu Yuanjian , Xu Hongxing
Published: November 2012

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is an important agent of acute respiratory tract infection in children, while its pathogenicity and molecular evolution are lacking. Herein, we firstly report the synonymous codon usage patterns of HMPV genome. The relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) values, effective number of codon (ENC) values, nucleotide contents, and correlation analysis were performed among 17 available whole genome of HMPV, including different genotypes. All preferred codons in HMPV are ended with A/U nucleotide and exhibited a great association with its high proportion of these two nucleotides in their genomes. Mutation pressure rather than natural selection is the main influence factor that determines the bias of synonymous codon usage in HMPV. The complementary pattern of codon usage bias between HMPV and human cell was observed, and this phenomenon suggests that host cells might be also act as an important factor to affect the codon usage bias. Moreover, the codon usage biases in each HMPV genotypes are separated into different clades, which suggest that phylogenetic distance might involve in codon usage bias formation as well. These analyses of synonymous codon usage bias in HMPV provide more information for better understanding its evolution and pathogenicity.
Mineral Phase and Physical Properties of Red Mud Calcined at Different Temperatures
Authors: Wu Chuan-sheng , Liu Dong-yan
Published: November 2012

Different characterizations were carried out on red mud uncalcined and samples calcined in the range of 100°C–1400°C. In the present paper, the phase composition and structural transition of red mud heated from room temperature are indicated by XRD, TG‐DTA, and SEM techniques. The mean particle diameter, density, and bond strength of these samples also have been investigated. The results indicate the decomposition of gibbsite into Al2O3 and H2O between 300°C and 550°C and calcite into CaO and CO2 in the interval of 600–800°C. Tricalcium aluminate and gehlenite are formed in the range of 800–900°C. Combined with the SEM images, the results of physical property testing show that the particle size and the strength each has a continuous rise during the heat treatment from 150°C to 1350°C. But the value of density will undergo a little drop before 450°C and then increases to a higher value at the temperature of 1200°C. These obtained results provide an important base for the further studies of comprehensive utilization of red mud.