bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Raman Scattering Studies on Ag Nanocluster Composites Formed by Ion Implantation into Silica
Authors: Ren Feng , Jiang Chang Zhong , Fu De Jun , Fu Qiang
Published: December 2005

Highly-pure amorphous silica slides were implanted by 200 keV Ag ions with doses ranged from 1×1016 to 2×1017 ions/cm2. Optical absorption spectra show that Ag nanoclusters with various sizes have been formed. Enhancement of surface enhanced Raman scattering signal by a factor up to about 103 was obtained by changing the Ag particle size. The silica was damaged by the implanted Ag ions, and the large compression stress on the silica leads to the shift of Raman peaks. New bands at 1368 and 1586 cm-1, which are attributed to the vibration of Ag–O bond and O2 molecules in silica, are observed in the samples with doses higher than 1×1017 ions/cm2.
Dependence of Ferroelectric Properties on Thickness of BiFeO3 Thin Films Fabricated by Chemical Solution Deposition
Authors: Singh Sushil K. , Ueno Risako , Funakubo Hiroshi , Uchida Hiroshi , Koda Seiichiro , Ishiwara Hiroshi
Published: December 2005

Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) thin films were fabricated by depositing sol–gel solutions on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si(100) structures. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that a polycrystalline phase and also a small fraction of a secondary phase, Bi2Fe4O9, were present in the film. The nonperovskite secondary phase decreased with increasing thickness, which showed the influence of volume effects on the film. Improved leakage current density and enhanced polarization in BiFeO3 films were observed. A 400-nm-thick film showed a leakage current on the order of 10-8 A/cm2 at room temperature. The remanent polarization was approximately 90 µC/cm2 at 80 K and the piezoelectric coefficient d
33 was approximately 50 pm/V.
Dielectric Properties of BaTiO3 Films Prepared by RF-Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Suzuki Keigo , Kijima Kazunori
Published: December 2005

The size dependence of the dielectric properties of BaTiO3 nano-grains was investigated using films prepared by RF-plasma chemical vapor deposition. BaTiO3 nanoparticles were directly deposited on Pt/Al2O3/SiO2/Si substrates; then they were annealed at temperatures between 600 and 900°C in order to control the grain size. The dielectric constants of BaTiO3 nano-grains smaller than 30 nm were measured to be 200–300, and reached approximately 1000 for grain sizes of 50–60 nm. According to capacitance–voltage (C–V) curves and hysteresis loops, the phase transformation from paraelectric to ferroelectric occurred at a grain size of approximately 40 nm. The dielectric constants of the films were considerably stable against the temperatures ranging from 5 to 160°C, even though the dielectric constants were approximately 1000. The breakdown electric fields of the films increased with decreasing grain sizes and a value of 649 kV/cm was achieved at a grain size of 27 nm.
Dielectric Properties of BaTiO3 Films with SiO Layers Formed by Direct Deposition on Si Substrates using Low-Energy Oxygen-Ion Beams
Authors: Yokota Katsuhiro , Takeda Akihiro , Kawasaki Yoshitomo , Nakamura Kazuhiro
Published: December 2005

BaTiO3 thin films (<200 nm) were directly deposited on Si wafers using an oxygen-ion-beam-assisted deposition technique. Si surfaces were oxidized during the deposition. The thicknesses of the formed SiO2 layers were proportional to the ion beam current and were almost independent of the ion beam energy and the N2 flux. The BaTiO3 films with thin SiO2 layers (20 nm) had larger remanent polarizations (∼2 µC/cm2) than the BaTiO3 films with thick SiO2 layers (25 nm). Many prepared films had a coercive field of about 50 kV/cm.
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Barrier-Height Imaging of Subsurface Dopants on GaAs(110)
Authors: Kobayashi Kengo , Kurokawa Shu , Sakai Akira
Published: December 2005

Subsurface dopant atoms are investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and barrier height (BH) imaging. The obtained BH image shows a local reduction in BH -(1–2) eV at positively charged donor sites while it shows a local increase in BH (1–5) eV at negatively charged surface Ga vacancies. Our results indicate that the charge-sensitive imaging can be accomplished by utilizing the STM–BH technique. A simple one-dimensional simulation of tunneling current through a STM junction on the GaAs(110) surface indicates that the results of BH imaging well reflect the charge state of the subsurface dopant or charged surface defects under appreciable electron accumulation conditions.
Investigation of Spatial Resolution in Current-Induced Magnetic Field Detection by Magnetic Force Microscopy
Authors: Saida Daisuke , Edura Tomohiko , Tsutsui Ken , Wada Yasuo , Takahashi Takuji
Published: December 2005

The magnetic field distribution around sub-µm-wide current paths was investigated by magnetic force microscopy (MFM) as a candidate for the current mapping in fine structures. In particular, an undesirable electrostatic force working between an MFM tip and the current path was dynamically eliminated utilizing an extra ac bias to observe the magnetic field correctly. We observed magnetic force signals around current paths consisting of branching or closely aligned metal wires, and the results were compared with results of the numerical simulation of the magnetic field. We found that spatial resolution of magnetic force detection by our method was better than 0.2 µm. The calculation results also indicate that the oscillatory motion of the MFM tip in tapping operation influences spatial resolution.
Calculation of Projected Range of Electrons in Some Elemental Solids and Gases
Authors: Gürler Orhan , Yalçin Sezai , Gültekin Ali , Kaynak Gökay
Published: December 2005

Projected ranges of electrons in some elemental solids and gases of atomic number between 4 and 18 (Be, C, N, Na, Al, Si and Ar) have been obtained by a method based on a discontinuous slowing down model in the slowing down of an electron from an certain energy E to a minimum energy E
min. The incident energies of electrons considered are from 0.06 to 3 MeV. The obtained projected ranges of electrons have been compared to the values in previous work.
Computational Studies of Voltage in RF Magnetron Discharge
Authors: Yamamoto Masahiro , Nakashima Seiji , Yamanishi Hitoshi , Ogata Shigenobu , Shibutani Yoji
Published: December 2005

Plasma processing is widely used in the mass production of industrial devices. A RF sputtering can be used for insulator and dielectric materials. When capacitive coupled plasma (CCP) is used for RF sputtering, the state of discharge has to be researched. The relationship between the ratio of areas of the electrodes and the ratio of DC bias voltages in magnetron sputtering was investigated, because it determines the acceleration voltage for ions, and may play an important role in sputtering. The imperfection of plasma control leads to problems in mass production. The relationship between the ratio of areas of the electrodes and the ratio of DC bias voltages in magnetron sputtering was investigated in this study. Moreover, the simulation results of some models that are different in chamber size or gas pressure were obtained. These results were compared with the experimental results and the difference was discussed. The results of simulations regarding the relationship between a bias voltage of a target (V
dc) and gas pressure with the same chamber, and between V
dc and chamber size correspond to the experimental results qualitatively. However, the changes are much less than in the experiments, especially with respect to chamber size. Considering distributions of neutral gases and radicals, the accuracy for V
dc may be improved.
An Atomic Scale Model of Multilayer Surface Reactions and the Feature Profile Evolution during Plasma Etching
Authors: Osano Yugo , Ono Kouichi
Published: December 2005

A phenomenological model has been developed to simulate the feature profile evolution for nanometer-scale control of the profile and critical dimension during plasma etching. Attention was focused on the feature profile evolution of infinitely long trenches etched in Si with chlorine chemistries. The model takes into account the transport of ions and neutrals in microstructures, multilayer surface reactions through ion-enhanced etching, and the resulting feature profile evolution, where the transport is analyzed by a two-dimensional particle simulation based on successively injected single-particle trajectories with three velocity components. To incorporate an atomistic picture into the model, the substrates are taken to consist of a large number of small cells or lattices in the entire computational domain of interest, and the evolving interfaces are modeled by using the cell removal method; the Si atoms are allocated in the respective two-dimensional square lattices of atomic scale. Moreover, the Monte Carlo calculation is employed for the trajectory of incident Cl+ ions that penetrate into substrates. The present model has a prominent feature to phenomenologically simulate the multilayer surface reaction, the surface roughness, and also the feature profile evolution during etching. The etching of planar Si substrates was simulated for a test of validity of the present model, showing the structure of surface reaction layers, the distribution of Cl atoms therein, and the surface roughness that depend on incident neutral-to-ion flux ratio and ion energy. The etch yield as a function of neutral-to-ion flux ratio for different ion energies gave a similar tendency to the known experimental data, indicating that the present model properly reflects synergistic effects between neutral reactants and energetic ions in the ion-enhanced etching. The feature profile evolution during etching was then simulated for sub-100 nm line-and-space patterns of Si, exhibiting the reactive ion etching (RIE) lag that occurs depending on neutral-to-ion flux ratio and ion energy. The degree of RIE lag was found to be more significant at higher flux ratios and higher energies, being associated with the difference in surface chlorination at the feature bottom; in effect, for narrow pattern features of the order of sub-100 nm, the bottom surfaces tend to starve for neutral reactants owing to severe effects of the geometrical shadowing.
Development of Laser Photodetachment Technique Using Heated Probe to Eliminate the Effect of Probe Surface Ablation Phenomena
Authors: Kajita Shin , Kado Shinichiro , Okamoto Atsushi , Tanaka Satoru
Published: December 2005

The characteristics of the phenomena caused by laser irradiation to an electrostatic probe in plasmas are studied to avoid the disturbance of the laser photodetachment signals for negative ion density measurement. In helium–hydrogen and hydrogen–methane plasmas, a probe surface ablation phenomenon was observed as an anomalous excess electron current in response to the laser irradiation to the electrostatic probe, while the phenomenon was not observed in pure hydrogen plasmas. Contaminations of the probe surface appear to be the mechanism causing the ablation phenomena. In order to clean the probe surface, a filament-type heated probe, which is the same type of conventional emissive probe, is applied to the laser photodetachment technique. When the surface is cleaned by heating the probe, the ablation phenomenon disappears, and the negative ion density can be evaluated at a sufficiently high laser pulse energy to saturate the photodetachment rate of negative ions. The method developed in this paper is useful for the measurement of negative ion density in plasmas where the probe surface is easily contaminated.
Novolak Resist Removal by Laser Irradiation (532 nm) and Adhesion between Resist and Substrate
Authors: Horibe Hideo , Fujita Masayuki , Nishiyama Itsuo , Yoshikado Akira
Published: December 2005

A diazonaphthoquinone/novolak resist on a 42-alloy substrate was irradiated by the second harmonic wave (532 nm) of a pulsed Nd3+YAG laser. The resist was removed, despite the existence of hexamethyldisilane (HMDS). There was no apparent damage to the substrate. In contrast, the resist on a Si wafer could not perfectly be removed. In some cases, there was damage to the substrate. The peeling strength of the resist with HMDS was about three times than that without HMDS. The width of the resist removed by laser irradiation without HMDS was 1.02–1.03 times larger than that with HMDS. The use of this process will benefit the environment, since expensive and toxic chemicals are not used.
Polarization-Sensitive Photodiodes Composed of Organic Multilayer Thin Films
Authors: Tanaka Hideyuki , Yasuda Takeshi , Fujita Katsuhiko , Tsutsui Tetsuo
Published: December 2005

Organic double-layer p–n junction photovoltaic devices using copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) as a p-type layer and 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic-bis-benzimidazole (PTCBI) as an n-type layer were prepared. Molecular orientation was introduced in the PTCBI layer by the rubbing method, whereas no orientation was introduced in the CuPc layer. The power conversion efficiency of the device under white polarized light illumination was 0.1%. Photocurrent anisotropy was observed at the spectral region of 400 to 750 nm. The photocurrent ratio when the light was parallel and perpendicularly polarized against the molecular orientation axis was as high as 1.57 at 540 nm. The observed photocurrent anisotropy, however, was much smaller than that expected from the anisotropy of optical absorption of the aligned PTCBI layer, that is 4.76, because of filtering effects.
Correction Method and Software for Image Distortion and Nonuniform Response in Charge-Coupled Device-Based X-ray Detectors Utilizing X-ray Image intensifier
Authors: Ito Kazuki , Kamikubo Hironari , Yagi Naoto , Amemiya Yoshiyuki
Published: December 2005

An on-site method of correcting the image distortion and nonuniform response of a charge-coupled device (CCD)-based X-ray detector was developed using the response of the imaging plate as a reference. The CCD-based X-ray detector consists of a beryllium-windowed X-ray image intensifier (Be-XRII) and a CCD as the image sensor. An image distortion of 29% was improved to less than 1% after the correction. In the correction of nonuniform response due to image distortion, subpixel approximation was performed for the redistribution of pixel values. The optimal number of subpixels was also discussed. In an experiment with polystyrene (PS) latex, it was verified that the correction of both image distortion and nonuniform response worked properly. The correction for the “contrast reduction” problem was also demonstrated for an isotropic X-ray scattering pattern from the PS latex.
Enhanced Carrier Densities in Indium Tin Oxide Films Covered with Nanoparticles of Fluorine-Doped Tin Oxide for Transparent Conducting Electrodes
Authors: Fukano Tatsuo , Motohiro Tomoyoshi , Hashizume Hiroo
Published: December 2005

The carrier density and Hall mobility of indium tin oxide (ITO) films uniformly deposited with single layers of monodispersive nanoparticles of fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) show intriguing variations as functions of the average size of FTO particles (D
av). For D
avs smaller than about 10 nm, the bilayer has conduction-electron densities lower than bare ITO films, accompanied by increased Hall mobilities. Surprisingly, for D
avs of a few tens of nanometers, the carrier density in the bilayer is higher by at least 30% than that of bare ITO films. A classical double-Schottky band model of an n-n isotype heterojunction can account for these behaviors. This model assumes high-density local states at the ITO-film/FTO-nanoparticle interface, which trap conduction electrons, while FTO nanoparticles act as electron injectors. It is pointed out that the ability to control the optoelectronic properties simply by optimizing the film structure is useful in applications to practical transparent conducting electrodes.
Electrical Characterization of Metal-Coated Carbon Nanotube Tips
Authors: Yoshimoto Shinya , Murata Yuya , Hobara Rei , Matsuda Iwao , Kishida Masaru , Konishi Hirofumi , Ikuno Takashi , Maeda Daisuke , Yasuda Tatsuro , Honda Shin-ichi , Okado Hideaki , Oura Kenjiro , Katayama Mitsuhiro , Hasegawa Shuji
Published: December 2005

Electrical characteristics of bare and metal-coated carbon nanotube (CNT) tips were investigated with an independently driven four-tip scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The CNT was glued on a W tip apex and wholly coated ex situ by metal thin layers. The resistance between the CNT-tip end and the W supporting tip scattered very widely from ca. 50 kΩ to infinity for the bare tips, while coating the tip with a 6-nm-thick PtIr film stably reduced the resistance to less than approximately 10 kΩ. The W coating was also effective for stabilizing the resistance, although they showed slightly larger resistance (ca. 50 kΩ). The metal-coated tips kept their low resistance and flexibility even after 100 repeated contacts to an object for conductivity measurements. They are expected to be useful for nanometer-scale transport measurements with multiprobe STM as well as for conventional single-tip STM.
DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN LYMPHOID CELLS
Authors: Blom Bianca , Spits Hergen
Published: December 2005

The lymphocytes, T, B, and NK cells, and a proportion of dendritic cells (DCs) have a common developmental origin. Lymphocytes develop from hematopoietic stem cells via common lymphocyte and various lineage-restricted precursors. This review discusses the current knowledge of human lymphocyte development and the phenotypes and functions of the rare intermediate populations that together form the pathways of development into T, B, and NK cells and DCs. Clearly, development of hematopoietic cells is supported by cytokines. The studies of patients with genetic deficiencies in cytokine receptors that are discussed here have illuminated the importance of cytokines in lymphoid development. Lineage decisions are under control of transcription factors, and studies performed in the past decade have provided insight into transcriptional control of human lymphoid development, the results of which are summarized and discussed in this review.
Resistance to renal damage by chronic nitric oxide synthase inhibition in the Wistar-Furth rat
Authors: Erdely Aaron , Freshour Gary , Baylis Chris
Published: December 2005

Chronic nitric oxide synthase inhibition (NOSI) causes chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Sprague Dawley (SD) rat. We previously showed that the Wistar-Furth (WF) rats are resistant to several models of CKD and maintain renal nitric oxide (NO) production compared with SD rats, whereas low-dose NOSI caused progression of CKD in WF rats. Here, we evaluate the impact of high-dose chronic NOSI in WF and SD rats, as well as intrarenal responses to an acute pressor dose of NOSI in the normal WF. Rats were given NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) (150 and 300 mg/l for 6–10 wk) in the drinking water after an initial bolus tail vein injection. Both strains showed significant reductions in total NO production with chronic l-NAME. SD given 150 mg/l l-NAME for 6 wk developed proteinuria and renal injury, whereas WF rats receiving 150 mg/l l-NAME for 6–10 wk or 300 mg/l for 6 wk developed no proteinuria and minimal renal injury. Blood pressure was significantly elevated with chronic NOSI in both strains but was higher in the SD rat. There was little impact on renal nitric oxide synthase expression with l-NAME, except that cortical endothelial nitric oxide synthase abundance increased in WF after 6 wk (150 mg/l). Micropuncture experiments with acute pressor NOSI resulted in similar increases in systemic blood pressure in SD and WF rats, whereas WF rats showed a much smaller increment in glomerular blood pressure compared with SD rats. In conclusion, WF rats do not develop renal injury after chronic NOSI at, or above, a dose that causes significant injury in the SD rat. This protection may be associated with protection from glomerular hypertension.
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia
Authors: Dalal Darshan , Nasir Khurram , Bomma Chandra , Prakasa Kalpana , Tandri Harikrishna , Piccini Jonathan , Roguin Ariel , Tichnell Crystal , James Cynthia , Russell Stuart D. , Judge Daniel P. , Abraham Theodore , Spevak Philip J. , Bluemke David A. , Calkins Hugh
Published: December 2005

Background—

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is an inherited cardiomyopathy characterized by right ventricular dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias. The purpose of our study was to describe the presentation, clinical features, survival, and natural history of ARVD in a large cohort of patients from the United States.

Methods and Results—

The patient population included 100 ARVD patients (51 male; median age at presentation, 26 [interquartile range {IQR}, 18 to 38; range, 2 to 70] years). A familial pattern was observed in 32 patients. The most common presenting symptoms were palpitations, syncope, and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in 27%, 26%, and 23% of patients, respectively. Among those who were diagnosed while living (n=69), the median time between first presentation and diagnosis was 1 (range, 0 to 37) year. During a median follow-up of 6 (IQR, 2 to 13; range, 0 to 37) years, implantable cardioverter/defibrillators (ICD) were implanted in 47 patients, 29 of whom received an appropriate ICD discharge, including 3 patients who received the ICD for primary prevention. At follow-up, 66 patients were alive, of whom 44 had an ICD in place, 5 developed signs of heart failure, 2 had a heart transplant, and 18 were on drug therapy. Thirty-four patients died either at presentation (n=23: 21 SCD, 2 noncardiac deaths) or during follow-up (n=11: 10 SCD, 1 of biventricular heart failure), of whom only 3 were diagnosed while living and 1 had an ICD implanted. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, the median survival in the entire population was 60 years.

Conclusions—

ARVD patients present between the second and fifth decades of life either with symptoms of palpitations and syncope associated with ventricular tachycardia or with SCD. Diagnosis is often delayed. Once diagnosed and treated with an ICD, mortality is low. There is a wide variation in presentation and course of ARVD patients, which can likely be explained by the genetic heterogeneity of the disease.
Twenty-Year Trends in Serum Cholesterol, Hypercholesterolemia, and Cholesterol Medication Use
Authors: Arnett Donna K. , Jacobs David R. , Luepker Russell V. , Blackburn Henry , Armstrong Christopher , Claas Steven A.
Published: December 2005

Background—

Although US cholesterol concentrations have dropped, &50% of adults have total cholesterol concentrations ≥5.18 mmol/L, putting them at “borderline-high risk” for heart disease. Whether the decline has continued into the 21st century is unknown. We assessed 20-year trends in cholesterol, hypercholesterolemia, lipid-lowering drug use, and cholesterol awareness, treatment, and control from Minnesota Heart Survey (MHS) data.

Methods and Results—

Five independent, cross-sectional, population-based surveys of 2500 to 5000 adults were conducted in the Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minn, area from 1980 to 2002. Mean (nonfasting) total cholesterol concentrations have continued a 20-year decline, punctuated by an intervening lull. Age-adjusted mean total cholesterol concentrations in 2000 to 2002 were 5.16 and 5.09 mmol/L for men and women, respectively (in 1980 to 1982, 5.49 and 5.38 mmol/L for men and women, respectively) However, the decline has not been uniform across all age groups. Middle-aged to older people have shown substantial decreases, but younger people have shown little overall change and recently had increased total cholesterol values. The mean prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in 2000 to 2002 was 54.9% for men and 46.5% for women and has decreased significantly for both during the study. Age-adjusted mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in 2000 to 2002 were 1.09 and 1.40 mmol/L for men and women, respectively, and were not different from the prior survey. Lipid-lowering drug use rose significantly for both sexes aged 35 to 74 years. Awareness, treatment, and control of hypercholesterolemia have increased; however, more than half of those at borderline-high risk remain unaware of their condition.

Conclusions—

Although hypercholesterolemia prevalence continued to fall, significant population segments still have cholesterol concentrations near or at the level of increased risk.
Environmental Protection, Free Trade, and Democracy
Authors: Driesen David M.
Published: December 2005

This article explores the links between international environmental law and the law of free trade. Democratic countries have tended to favor both environmental law and free trade more so than other countries. The more interesting question is whether the converse is true, that is, do environmental law and free trade aid democracy and the development of the rule of law? This article addresses that question.
Global Business: Oversight without Inhibiting Enterprise
Authors: Jones John Philip
Published: December 2005

This article is focused on the role of international business in wealth creation. It discusses the issue of what regulations should be imposed, country by country, to encourage legal and ethical conduct by international firms. In a libertarian view, many excesses are selfcorrecting because businesses wish to operate in individual countries on a long-term basis. Serious abuses are rare but take place nonetheless, sometimes with disastrous consequences. The only effective way to control abuses is through tighter scrutiny of foreign direct investment (FDI) at a local level. Abuses affect individual countries and must therefore be policed in those countries, despite sometimes endemic corruption. Local politicians and bureaucrats—who issue FDI licenses—must be motivated by concern for public welfare and nothing else.
Overcoming Apartheid: Can Truth Reconcile a Divided Nation?
Authors: Gibson James L.
Published: December 2005

Throughout the world, truth commissions are being constructed under the hope that discovering the “truth” about a country's conflictual past will somehow contribute to “reconciliation.” Most such efforts point to South Africa's process as an exemplar of the powerful influence of truth finding. But has truth actually contributed to reconciliation in South Africa? No rigorous and systematic assessment of the truth and reconciliation process has ever been conducted. This article investigates the hypothesis that truth leads to reconciliation. Based on a survey of thirty-seven hundred South Africans in 2001, the author begins by giving both “truth” and “reconciliation” clear conceptual and operational meaning. The author reports empirical evidence that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's “truth” is fairly widely accepted by South Africans of all races, that some degree of reconciliation characterizes South Africa today, and that the collective memory produced by the process (“truth”) did indeed contribute to reconciliation. The author then considers whether other divided countries might be able to use a similar process to propel themselves toward a more peaceful and democratic future.
Military Service and (Dis)Continuity in the Life Course
Authors: London Andrew S. , Wilmoth Janet M.
Published: December 2005

This study uses a life-course framework and data from the Health and Retirement Study and the Study of Assets and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest-Old to examine three hypotheses related to (dis)continuity in the effects of early-life disadvantage (African American race and low paternal education) and military service on later-life mortality. Specifically, the authors consider whether military service (and age at enlistment) mediates or moderates the effects of early-life disadvantage on later-life mortality and whether mid- to late-life marital status, socioeconomic status, health status, and health behaviors mediate the effects of military service on mortality. The authors find very little evidence to support the notion that any mortality benefits accrue to men as a consequence of military service overall or enlistment at any particular age. Most of the evidence is consistent with life-course disruption and continuity of disadvantage interpretations.
When Nations Call
Authors: Settersten Richard A.
Published: December 2005

Most scholarship on aging is based on cohorts born early in the 20th century, and these cohorts have had significant experience with war. Wartime experiences may therefore be critical but largely hidden variables underlying current scientific knowledge about aging. Evidence marshaled in this article illustrates the powerful insights gained when research on this topic is guided by lifecourse propositions and data. It reveals how wartime military service, especially during World War II, affected the short- and long-ranging development of recruits. It also highlights the need to better account for the potential legacies of service for physical, psychological, and social functioning in late life. These matters will become increasingly important as sizable World War II and Korean veteran populations move through advanced old age, and as the Vietnam veteran population moves into old age. Systematic attention to the effects of wartime service is necessary to determine the degree to which contemporary knowledge about aging can be generalized to future cohorts.
News Consumption and the New Electronic Media
Authors: Ahlers Douglas
Published: December 2005

Recently, the print and television news media have begun to question the future of their industries. From newspaper executives at the New York Times who have asked whether there will be a print version of their paper in ten years, to television news executives who openly speculate on whether there will be network nightly news, the stated cause for alarm is the competitive threat of the Internet. This article looks at the hypothesized shift of news consumption from the traditional media to the online news media. The hypothesized mass migration of news consumption behavior is not supported by the facts. Some migration from offline to online news consumption has occurred, but this number (12 percent direct substitution) is less than many believe. Another 22 percent of U.S. adults have substituted some online news for offline news, but for a substantial portion of this group, the online news media acts as a complement rather than as a substitute. Most significant is the fact that two-thirds of the U.S. adult population have not shifted to online news consumption and appear unlikely to do so. The author also examined the advertising markets for the traditional news media and for the online media and found that online advertising is an imperfect substitute for advertisers. Despite declining television viewership and newspaper circulation, advertising revenues are not only staying with the traditional news media but are also increasing, albeit slowly. The author has found no major impact on the economics of the news industry due to the online news media. This is not to say that pressures are not being felt, but they are not felt to an extent that warrants predictions of the demise of the traditional news media.
GPX-Macrophage Expression Atlas: A database for expression profiles of macrophages challenged with a variety of pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, benign and pathogen insults
Authors: Grimes Graeme R , Moodie Stuart , Beattie John S , Craigon Marie , Dickinson Paul , Forster Thorsten , Livingston Andrew D , Mewissen Muriel , Robertson Kevin A , Ross Alan J , Sing Garwin , Ghazal Peter
Published: December 2005

Background

Macrophages play an integral role in the host immune system, bridging innate and adaptive immunity. As such, they are finely attuned to extracellular and intracellular stimuli and respond by rapidly initiating multiple signalling cascades with diverse effector functions. The macrophage cell is therefore an experimentally and clinically amenable biological system for the mapping of biological pathways. The goal of the macrophage expression atlas is to systematically investigate the pathway biology and interaction network of macrophages challenged with a variety of insults, in particular via infection and activation with key inflammatory mediators. As an important first step towards this we present a single searchable database resource containing high-throughput macrophage gene expression studies.

Description

The GPX Macrophage Expression Atlas (GPX-MEA) is an online resource for gene expression based studies of a range of macrophage cell types following treatment with pathogens and immune modulators. GPX-MEA follows the MIAME standard and includes an objective quality score with each experiment. It places special emphasis on rigorously capturing the experimental design and enables the searching of expression data from different microarray experiments. Studies may be queried on the basis of experimental parameters, sample information and quality assessment score. The ability to compare the expression values of individual genes across multiple experiments is provided. In addition, the database offers access to experimental annotation and analysis files and includes experiments and raw data previously unavailable to the research community.

Conclusion

GPX-MEA is the first example of a quality scored gene expression database focussed on a macrophage cellular system that allows efficient identification of transcriptional patterns. The resource will provide novel insights into the phenotypic response of macrophages to a variety of benign, inflammatory, and pathogen insults. GPX-MEA is available through the GPX website at http://www.gti.ed.ac.uk/GPX.
Mönckeberg's sclerosis – is the artery the only target of calcification?
Authors: Couri Carlos Eduardo Barra , da Silva Geruza Alves , Martinez José Antônio Baddini , Pereira Francisco de Assis , de Paula Francisco José Albuquerque
Published: December 2005

Background

Since its first description, Mönckeberg's sclerosis has only been related to arterial media calcification, being listed among the primary diseases of the vessels.

Case presentation

We report here a clinically and histologically confirmed case of Mönckeberg's sclerosis in which the patient presented with massive areas of soft tissue calcifications in the pharynx and larynx. Polysomnographic parameters showed severe obstructive apnea refractory to nasal continuous positive airway pressure. Clinical and laboratory findings excluded concomitant endocrine or rheumatological diseases.

Conclusion

Our data provide a new insight about Mönckeberg's sclerosis, i.e., the fact that the etiopathogenic process involved in the phenomenon of calcification may not be restricted only to the arteries, but may occur in the entire organism. Further studies of the etiopathogenesis of this disease are needed.
Stimulation of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) suppresses microglial activation
Authors: Ehrhart Jared , Obregon Demian , Mori Takashi , Hou Huayan , Sun Nan , Bai Yun , Klein Thomas , Fernandez Francisco , Tan Jun , Shytle R Douglas
Published: December 2005

Background

Activated microglial cells have been implicated in a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and HIV dementia. It is well known that inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), cytokines, and chemokines play an important role in microglial cell-associated neuron cell damage. Our previous studies have shown that CD40 signaling is involved in pathological activation of microglial cells. Many data reveal that cannabinoids mediate suppression of inflammationin vitroandin vivothrough stimulation of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2).

Methods

In this study, we investigated the effects of a cannabinoid agonist on CD40 expression and function by cultured microglial cells activated by IFN-γ using RT-PCR, Western immunoblotting, flow cytometry, and anti-CB2small interfering RNA (siRNA) analyses. Furthermore, we examined if the stimulation of CB2could modulate the capacity of microglial cells to phagocytise Aβ1–42peptide using a phagocytosis assay.

Results

We found that the selective stimulation of cannabinoid receptor CB2by JWH-015 suppressed IFN-γ-induced CD40 expression. In addition, this CB2agonist markedly inhibited IFN-γ-induced phosphorylation of JAK/STAT1. Further, this stimulation was also able to suppress microglial TNF-α and nitric oxide production induced either by IFN-γ or Aβ peptide challenge in the presence of CD40 ligation. Finally, we showed that CB2activation by JWH-015 markedly attenuated CD40-mediated inhibition of microglial phagocytosis of Aβ1–42peptide. Taken together, these results provide mechanistic insight into beneficial effects provided by cannabinoid receptor CB2modulation in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly AD.
Additive growth inhibitory effects of ibandronate and antiestrogens in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cell lines
Authors: Journe Fabrice , Chaboteaux Carole , Magne Nicolas , Duvillier Hugues , Laurent Guy , Body Jean-Jacques
Published: December 2005

Introduction

Bisphosphonates are inhibitors of osteoclast-mediated tumor-stimulated osteolysis, and they have become standard therapy for the management of bone metastases from breast cancer. These drugs can also directly induce growth inhibition and apoptosis of osteotropic cancer cells, including estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer cells.

Methods

We examined the anti-proliferative properties of ibandronate on two ER+ breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and IBEP-2), and on one ER negative (ER-) cell line (MDA-MB-231). Experiments were performed in steroid-free medium to assess ER regulation and the effect of ibandronate in combination with estrogen or antiestrogens.

Results

Ibandronate inhibited cancer cell growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner (approximate IC50: 10-4 M for MCF-7 and IBEP-2 cells; 3 × 10-4 M for MDA-MB-231 cells), partly through apoptosis induction. It completely abolished the mitogenic effect induced by 17β-estradiol in ER+ breast cancer cells, but affected neither ER regulation nor estrogen-induced progesterone receptor expression, as documented in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, ibandronate enhanced the growth inhibitory action of partial (4-hydroxytamoxifen) and pure (ICI 182,780, now called fluvestrant or Faslodex™) antiestrogens in estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells. Combination analysis identified additive interactions between ibandronate and ER antagonists.

Conclusion

These data constitute the first in vitro evidence for additive effects between ibandronate and antiestrogens, supporting their combined use for the treatment of bone metastases from breast cancer.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation predictions using the BOADICEA and BRCAPRO models and penetrance estimation in high-risk French-Canadian families
Authors: Antoniou Antonis C , Durocher Francine , Smith Paula , Simard Jacques ,   INHERIT BRCAs program members, Easton Douglas F
Published: December 2005

Introduction

Several genetic risk models for breast and ovarian cancer have been developed, but their applicability to specific populations has not been evaluated. We used data from French-Canadian families to evaluate the mutation predictions given by the BRCAPRO and BOADICEA models. We also used this data set to estimate the age-specific risks for breast and ovarian cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.

Methods

A total of 195 families with multiple affected individuals with breast or ovarian cancer were recruited through the INHERIT (INterdisciplinary HEalth Research International Team on BReast CAncer susceptibility) BRCAs research program. Observed BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation status was compared with predicted carrier probabilities under the BOADICEA and BRCAPRO models. The models were assessed using Brier scores, attributes diagrams and receiver operating characteristic curves. Log relative risks for breast and ovarian cancer in mutation carriers versus population risks were estimated by maximum likelihood, using a modified segregation analysis implemented in the computer program MENDEL. Twenty-five families were eligible for inclusion in the BRCA1 penetrance analysis and 27 families were eligible for the BRCA2 penetrance analysis.

Results

The BOADICEA model predicted accurately the number of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations for the various groups of families, and was found to discriminate well at the individual level between carriers and noncarriers. BRCAPRO over-predicted the number of mutations in almost all groups of families, in particular the number of BRCA1 mutations. It significantly overestimated the carrier frequency for high predicted probabilities. However, it discriminated well between carriers and noncarriers. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves indicate similar sensitivity and specificity for BRCAPRO and BOADICEA. The estimated risks for breast and ovarian cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers were consistent with previously published estimates.

Conclusion

The BOADICEA model predicts accurately the carrier probabilities in French-Canadian families and may be used for counselling in this population. None of the penetrance estimates was significantly different from previous estimates, suggesting that previous estimates may be appropriate for counselling in this population.
CD24 staining of mouse mammary gland cells defines luminal epithelial, myoepithelial/basal and non-epithelial cells
Authors: Sleeman Katherine E , Kendrick Howard , Ashworth Alan , Isacke Clare M , Smalley Matthew J
Published: December 2005

Introduction

Breast cancer is thought to arise in mammary epithelial stem cells. There is, therefore, a large amount of interest in identifying these cells. The breast is a complex tissue consisting of two epithelial layers (an outer myoepithelial/basal layer and an inner luminal epithelial layer) as well as a large non-epithelial component (fibroblasts, endothelial cells, lymphocytes, adipocytes, neurons and myocytes). The definitive identification of a mammary epithelial stem cell population is critically dependent on its purity. To date, this has been hampered by the lack of suitable markers to separate out the two epithelial layers, and to remove contaminating non-epithelial cells.

Methods

Mouse mammary glands were dissociated and stained with CD24. Cells were sorted into separate populations based on CD24 expression and assessed for luminal epithelial and myoepithelial/basal markers by direct fluorescent microscopy and real time PCR. The stem/progenitor potential of these cell populations was assessed in vivo by cleared mammary fat pad transplantation.

Results

Three populations of CD24 expressing cells were identified: CD24Negative, CD24Low and CD24High. Staining of these cells with cytokeratin markers revealed that these populations correspond to non-epithelial, myoepithelial/basal and luminal epithelial cells, respectively. Cell identities were confirmed by quantitative PCR. Cleared mammary fat pad transplantation of these cell populations revealed that extensive mammary fat pad repopulation capacity segregates with the CD24Low cells, whilst CD24High cells have limited repopulation capacity.

Conclusion

Differential staining of mammary epithelial cells for CD24 can be used to simultaneously isolate pure populations of non-epithelial, myoepithelial/basal and luminal epithelial cells. Furthermore, mammary fat pad repopulation capacity is enriched in the CD24Low population. As separation is achieved using a single marker, it will be possible to incorporate additional markers to further subdivide these populations. This will considerably facilitate the further analysis of mammary epithelial subpopulations, whilst ensuring high purity, which is key for understanding mammary epithelial stem cells in normal tissue biology and carcinogenesis.
In Fear of War: The First World War and the State of Siege in the Neutral Netherlands, 1914-1918
Authors: Abbenhuis Maartje M.
Published: December 2005

To supervise its international neutrality commitments during the First World War, the Dutch government invoked the emergency powers of the 1899 War Law, imposing a ‘state of war’ or ‘siege’ in 75% of the country’s municipalities, which subsequently witnessed extraordinary military interference in their daily affairs. Implementing the War Law proved confusing, controversial and complex. To impose uniformity, the government and judiciary repeatedly limited its application, ultimately altering the legislation’s ‘need breaks law’ justification. That the War Law was used for a protracted length of time illustrated that, even though neutral, the Netherlands remained a nation in fear of war.
The Road to Dunkirk: British Intelligence and the Spanish Civil War
Authors: Cerdá Néstor
Published: December 2005

This article will explain to what use the British military establishment put military intelligence coming from the Spanish civil war, and whether or not this intelligence had any effect on British defence plans during the late 1930s. Rather than focusing only on what the British armed forces should or should not have learned from the Spanish battlefields, this paper will attempt to explain why these lessons were never learned. An analysis of the ways in which this intelligence was read demonstrates how stereotypes and inter-service struggles over strategy rendered any lessons that could have been learnt from Spain completely worthless.
Treachery, Disgrace and Death: Han Fuju and China’s Resistance to Japan
Authors: Lary Diana
Published: December 2005

Han Fuju was the most senior military figure to be executed for treason during the wars that engulfed the world between 1937 and 1945. His crime was to withdraw his troops in the face of the invading Japanese armies. His execution helped to strengthen Chinese resolve to resist Japan. This paper looks at Han’s career, and at his end. It compares him to other failed commanders of the Second World War, Vlasov, Percival and Kimmel. The paper also notes the strange twist of history that has left Han celebrated for his humour as much as for his treachery.
Select High-Risk Genetic Features Predict Earlier Progression Following Chemoimmunotherapy With Fludarabine and Rituximab in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Justification for Risk-Adapted Therapy
Authors: Byrd John C. , Gribben John G. , Peterson Bercedis L. , Grever Michael R. , Lozanski Gerard , Lucas David M. , Lampson Ben , Larson Richard A. , Caligiuri Michael A. , Heerema Nyla A.
Published: December 2005

Purpose

Several new prognostic factors predicting rapid disease progression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have been identified, including unmutated Ig VH mutational status, del(11)(q23), del(17)(p13.1), and p53 mutations. To date, the impact of these same prognostic factors have not been examined relative to treatment outcome with chemoimmunotherapy.

Methods

We examined the impact of these new prognostic factors on predicting treatment outcome in symptomatic, untreated CLL patients who received chemoimmunotherapy with fludarabine and rituximab as part of a completed, randomized phase II study, Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 9712.

Results

Eighty-eight patients treated as part of CALGB 9712 had detailed prognostic factor assessment performed. Using Ig VH mutational status to classify risk, there was no association between complete response rate with either unmutated Ig VH mutational status or high-risk interphase cytogenetics. However, the median progression-free survival (PFS; P = .048) and overall survival (OS; P = .01) were shorter among the Ig VH unmutated patients as compared with the Ig VH mutated patients. Using the hierarchical classification of Döhner, PFS (P = .005) and OS (P = .004) were significantly longer as the classification moved from high risk [del (11)(q22.3) or del (17)(p13.1)] to low risk.

Conclusion

These data demonstrate that high-risk CLL patients characterized by Ig VH unmutated (≥ 98%) or high-risk interphase cytogenetics, including either del(17p) or del(11q), appear to have a shorter PFS and OS with chemoimmunotherapy. Larger prospective studies will be required to determine the independent influence of Ig VH mutational status and interphase cytogenetics on treatment outcome.