bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of flat band voltage in thin film transistors: The case of amorphous-indium gallium zinc oxide
Authors: Migliorato Piero , Seok Manju , Jang Jin
Published: February 2012

Accurate knowledge of the gap density of states (DOS) is of paramount importance for process control and modelling of thin-film transistors (TFTs). We present here an approach for flat band determination, based on the combined analysis of transfer and capacitance-voltage characteristics. The method is independent from the DOS knowledge and requires no fitting parameters. Applied here to the case of amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide TFTs, our approach yields key device parameters, helping identification of the physical mechanisms responsible for device to device variations and degradation phenomena. It appears in particular capable to differentiate between interface and bulk effects.
A multi-walled carbon nanotube cantilever for interaction force sensing in liquid
Authors: Arie Takayuki , Sawano Shunichi , Akita Seiji
Published: February 2012

We demonstrated the measurement of interaction force between molecules using a multi-walled carbon nanotube cantilever under light microscopy. The deflection of the nanotube cantilever was monitored at the video frame rate during the force measurement. We also investigated the detection sensitivity and stability of our deflection detection system, and indicated that the measurement of “nm order” displacement can be achieved in water by our optical detection technique. The interaction force we measured using a cantilevered nanotube was 230 pN, possibly indicating the force required to rupture the weak bonds between the adsorbed polymers on the tungsten tip and proteins at the tip of the nanotube cantilever.
Plasmonic reflectors and high-Q nano-cavities based on coupled metal-insulator-metal waveguides
Authors: Chen Jing , Yang Jian , Chen Zhuo , Fang Yi-Jiao , Zhan Peng , Wang Zhen-Lin
Published: February 2012

Based on the contra-directional coupling, a composite structure consisting of two coupled metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguides is proposed to act as an attractive plasmonic reflector. By introducing a defect into one of the MIM waveguides, we show that such a composite structure can be operated as a plasmonic nanocavity with a high quality factor. Both symmetric and anti-symmetric cavity modes are supported in the plasmonic cavity, and their resonance frequencies can be tuned by controlling the defect width. The present structures could have a significant impact for potential applications such as surface plasmon mirrors, filters and solid-state cavity quantum electrodynamics.
Recovery response of optical stopping effect on P2As20S78 and Sn1As20S79 film waveguide
Authors: Zou L. E. , Yao S. T. , Chen B. X. , Shen Y. , Hamanaka H. , Iso M.
Published: February 2012

The recovery response characteristics of optical stopping effect on the low-impurity As20S80 system (P2As20S78 and Sn1As20S79) film waveguides are investigated in detail. Compared with As20S80, P2As20S78 film waveguide deteriorates the response behavior of recovery propagation and is mainly characterized by the slow recovery propagation process with the disappearance of the fast rising edge. On the contrary, Sn1As20S79 can improve evidently the earlier recovery stage by shortening response time of the rising edge to the milliseconds level, and also reduce the optical propagation loss. Experiments also show that the optical stopping effect can reach a saturated degree under He-Cd laser illumination for no less than 800 ms, and the addition of an assistant He-Ne laser may improve the recovery response slightly but not significantly.
Climate-driven variation in food availability between the core and range edge of the endangered northern bettong (Bettongia tropica)
Authors: Bateman Brooke L. , Abell-Davis Sandra E. , Johnson Christopher N.
Published: February 2012

The endangered northern bettong (Bettongia tropica) occurs in four disjunct populations in far north Queensland, Australia, at a high density only in its range core (RC). A recent study suggested that B. tropica populations are sparse at the northern and southern range edges (SRE) due to more severe droughts and variable climatic conditions causing fluctuations in the availability of their principal food resource, truffle-like fungi. Truffle availability in the Australian tropics is affected by climate, specifically seasonality of precipitation. We aimed to determine whether the differences in weather patterns between the RC and SRE could be translated to actual differences in truffle availability. Truffle density was consistently lower on the SRE although biomass was slightly higher there due to dominance by drought-tolerant truffle taxa that produce few but large truffles. Lower densities of truffles on the SRE could explain why B. tropica is also less abundant there and why they may be less resilient to competition from the more generalist rufous bettong (Aepyprymnus rufescens). Increasing temperatures and, more importantly, harsher droughts predicted for this region as a result of climate change, may have further detrimental impacts on truffle availability and thus population densities of B. tropica and other mycophagous species.
FLOWERING BHLH transcriptional activators control expression of the photoperiodic flowering regulatorCONSTANSinArabidopsis
Authors: Ito Shogo , Song Young Hun , Josephson-Day Anna R. , Miller Ryan J. , Breton Ghislain , Olmstead Richard G. , Imaizumi Takato
Published: February 2012

Many plants monitor day-length changes throughout the year and use the information to precisely regulate the timing of seasonal flowering for maximum reproductive success. InArabidopsis thaliana, transcriptional regulation of theCONSTANS(CO) gene and posttranslational regulation of CO protein are crucial mechanisms for proper day-length measurement in photoperiodic flowering. Currently, the CYCLING DOF FACTOR proteins are the only transcription factors known to directly regulateCOgene expression, and the mechanisms that directly activateCOtranscription have remained unknown. Here we report the identification of fourCOtranscriptional activators, named FLOWERING BHLH 1 (FBH1), FBH2, FBH3, and FBH4. All FBH proteins are related basic helix–loop–helix-type transcription factors that preferentially bind to the E-boxcis-elements in theCOpromoter. Overexpression of allFBHgenes drastically elevatedCOlevels and caused early flowering regardless of photoperiod, whereasCOlevels were reduced in thefbhquadruple mutants. In addition, FBH1 is expressed in the vascular tissue and bound near the transcription start site of theCOpromoter in vivo. Furthermore,FBHhomologs in poplar and rice inducedCOexpression inArabidopsis. These results indicate that FBH proteins positively regulateCOtranscription for photoperiodic flowering and that this mechanism may be conserved in diverse plant species. Our results suggest that the diurnalCOexpression pattern is generated by a concert of redundant functions of positive and negative transcriptional regulators.
Assessing Red Drum Juvenile Stocking in a South Carolina Estuary Using Genetic Identification
Authors: Denson Michael R. , Brenkert Karl , Jenkins Wallace E. , Darden Tanya L.
Published: February 2012

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has been stocking red drum Sciaenops ocellatus since 1988 to evaluate parameters critical to their successful survival and recruitment in South Carolina estuaries. From 1999 to 2002, between 600,000 and 1,000,000 juvenile red drum were stocked each year in two tributaries of Charleston Harbor. The harbor and each tributary were partitioned into three independent strata and randomly sampled monthly for two decades, allowing population trends before, during, and after stocking to be evaluated. Using microsatellite-based parentage analysis, we examined the contribution of stocked age-0 juvenile red drum (15–60 mm total length) to the local population 1 year after release by using fishery-independent sampling. Analysis of these data showed that the highest contributions (88.9%) were close to the stocking site in years with low natural recruitment, whereas in years with high natural recruitment, contributions were lower and stocking was less effective in increasing catch per unit effort. The results of stocking 600,000 small juveniles/year from 1999 to 2001 in one of the study tributaries (Ashley River) indicated that stocked fish did not displace wild fish but had an additive effect on their abundance, supporting the hypothesis that trophic resources are not limiting for postlarval age-0 red drum within Charleston Harbor. The high observed variability in contribution among years of stocking similar-sized red drum suggests that (1) interpretation on a year-class-specific basis is necessary to fully understand the effects of stocking and (2) marine stock enhancement programs would benefit substantially from evaluation in the context of wild annual recruitment patterns.

Received June 3, 2010; accepted August 18, 2011
ShapePheno: unsupervised extraction of shape phenotypes from biological image collections
Authors: Karaletsos Theofanis , Stegle Oliver , Dreyer Christine , Winn John , Borgwardt Karsten M.
Published: February 2012

Motivation: Accurate large-scale phenotyping has recently gained considerable importance in biology. For example, in genome-wide association studies technological advances have rendered genotyping cheap, leaving phenotype acquisition as the major bottleneck. Automatic image analysis is one major strategy to phenotype individuals in large numbers. Current approaches for visual phenotyping focus predominantly on summarizing statistics and geometric measures, such as height and width of an individual, or color histograms and patterns. However, more subtle, but biologically informative phenotypes, such as the local deformation of the shape of an individual with respect to the population mean cannot be automatically extracted and quantified by current techniques.

Results: We propose a probabilistic machine learning model that allows for the extraction of deformation phenotypes from biological images, making them available as quantitative traits for downstream analysis. Our approach jointly models a collection of images using a learned common template that is mapped onto each image through a deformable smooth transformation. In a case study, we analyze the shape deformations of 388 guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata). We find that the flexible shape phenotypes our model extracts are complementary to basic geometric measures. Moreover, these quantitative traits assort the observations into distinct groups and can be mapped to polymorphic genetic loci of the sample set.

Availability: Code is available under: http://bioweb.me/GEBI

Contact:  theofanis.karaletsos@tuebingen.mpg.de; oliver.stegle@tuebingen.mpg.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Profile of microvolt T‐wave alternans testing in 1003 patients hospitalized with heart failure
Authors: Jackson Colette E. , Myles Rachel C. , Tsorlalis Ioannis K. , Dalzell Jonathan R. , Spooner Richard J. , Rodgers John R. , Bezlyak Vladimir , Greenlaw Nicola , Ford Ian , Cobbe Stuart M. , Petrie Mark C. , McMurray John J.V.
Published: February 2012

Aims

Observational studies in selected populations have suggested that microvolt T‐wave alternans (MTWA) testing may identify patients with heart failure (HF) at risk of sudden cardiac death. The aims of this study were to investigate the utility of MTWA testing in an unselected population of patients with HF and to evaluate the clinical characteristics associated with the MTWA results.

Methods and results

A total of 1003 patients hospitalized with decompensated HF were enrolled. MTWA testing was planned 1 month post‐discharge; 648 patients returned for MTWA testing. Mean age was 70.8 ± 10.6 years and 58% were male. Of these patients who returned, 318 (49%) were ineligible for MTWA testing due to atrial fibrillation (AF), pacemaker dependency, or physical inability to undertake the test. Of the MTWA tests, 100 (30%) were positive, 78 (24%) were negative, and 152 (46%) were indeterminate; 112/152 indeterminate tests (74%) occurred because of failure to achieve target heart rate (HR) due to chronotropic incompetence or physical limitations. There were differences in patient characteristics according to MTWA result. Independent predictors of a negative result included younger age and higher left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Independent predictors of a positive result included higher HR during MTWA testing and lower LVEF. Independent predictors of an indeterminate result included older age and history of previous/paroxysmal AF.

Conclusions

Only half of patients with HF are eligible for MTWA testing and the most common result is an indeterminate test. Patients with positive and indeterminate tests have different clinical characteristics. MTWA treadmill testing is not widely applicable in typical HF patients and is unlikely to refine risk stratification for sudden death on a population level.
Spatial Patterns and Spread of Potato Zebra Chip Disease in the Texas Panhandle
Authors: Henne D. C. , Workneh F. , Rush C. M.
Published: February 2012

Zebra chip (ZC) is a disease that is affecting potato production in the southwestern United States and in other countries, and which has been linked to potato psyllids (Bactericera cockerelli) that harbor the bacterial plant pathogen ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’. Until recently, the epidemiology of ZC was unknown, motivating research to elucidate the spatial and temporal patterns of ZC infections in potato fields. Studies were performed in multiple commercial potato fields located in the Texas Panhandle, wherein locations of ZC-affected potato plants were georeferenced or counted within large plots and along belt transects consisting of contiguous 10-by-10-m quadrats. By employing distance- and area-based spatial statistical methods, it was determined that locations of ZC infections in potato fields departed from a completely spatially random pattern, instead appearing as clusters comprising infected plants situated in close proximity to one another, with clusters interspersed with numerous solitary infections. Disease progress curves of ZC clusters were generally well described by exponential growth and quadratic polynomial models. Numbers of ZC infections within disease clusters gradually increased over multiple weeks, with foliar disease symptoms first appearing during the tuber bulking stage. ZC infections were not found to be continuously present across fields, because many quadrats along belt transects contained zero or only a few infections while others had numerous infections. Consequently, the frequency of ZC infections within belt transect quadrats was well described by negative binomial and zero-inflated negative binomial distributions, in agreement with observed clustering of infections and distance-based spatial statistical results.
Techniques of Aortic Valve Repair
Authors: Rankin J. Scott , Gaca Jeffrey G.
Published: February 2012

Similar to mitral repair, newer methods of aortic valve reconstruction are achieving excellent outcomes with an 85% to 90% freedom from valve-related complications at 10 years. The goal of this review is to illustrate these newer and more stable techniques of aortic valve repair. Most patients with aortic insufficiency from either trileaflet or bicuspid aortic valves are candidates for repair, in addition to selected patients with mixed aortic stenosis/insufficiency and aortic root aneurysms. Initially, aggressive commissural annuloplasty is performed to reduce measured valve diameter to 19 to 21 mm. Leaflet prolapse is corrected with plication stitches placed in the free edge of each leaflet adjacent to the Nodulus Arantius. In this regard, the leaflet free edge functions as the chorda tendinea of the aortic valve, and shortening with plication stitches raises the leaflet to a proper “effective height.” Leaflet defects are augmented with gluteraldehyde-fixed autologous pericardium, and mild-to-moderate strategically placed spicules of calcium are removed with the cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator. Using these methods, most insufficient aortic valves, and many with mixed lesions, can be satisfactorily repaired. Six cases are illustrated in this review, spanning the spectrum of pathologies from annular dilatation without leaflet defects, to standard congenital bicuspid valve with prolapse, to trileaflet prolapse, to unusual bicuspid pathology with calcification, to a moderately calcified trileaflet valve with mixed lesions, and to aortic root aneurysms with severe aortic insufficiency. All valves were repaired using the techniques described above with trivial residual leak and minimal gradients. All repairs have been followed with yearly echocardiography, and valve reconstruction with these methods is now quite stable with excellent late outcomes. Most insufficient aortic valves now can undergo stable repair with minimal late valve-related complications. Greater application of aortic valve repair seems indicated.
Gastric Emptying in Children
Authors: Drubach Laura A. , Kourmouzi Vasiliki , Cao Xinhua , Zurakowski David , Fahey Frederic H.
Published: February 2012

Objectives:

The geometric mean is the recommended method for calculating gastric emptying in adults to correct for variable attenuation during the study. In children, it has been reported that a single posterior acquisition is sufficient. Our objective was to evaluate the relation between the values of gastric emptying in children obtained by posterior view only and by the geometric mean of conjugate anterior and posterior views.

Methods:

The gastric residual of a standard meal was calculated in 81 children of different ages. The calculation of the gastric residual was performed with different methods, posterior only and geometric mean of anterior and posterior acquisitions. The variation between these 2 methods was evaluated in different age groups and different body weights.

Results:

There was a high correlation (r = 0.942) between the values using posterior as compared with geometric mean for all of the patients. For children younger than 8 years and weighing <30 kg, there was no significant difference between the 2 methods for either liquid or solid meals (P = 0.89 and P = 0.11 for age; P = 0.95 and P = 0.80 for weight). For children older than 8 years and weighing >30 kg, there was no significant difference between the 2 methods for liquids (P = 0.57 for age; P = 0.69 for weight), but there was a significant difference with solids (P < 0.0001 for both age and weight).

Conclusions:

In children younger than 8 years and weighing <30 kg, acquisition of a single posterior image is sufficient for calculating gastric emptying at 1 hour postingestion for either liquid or solid meals. In children older than 8 years and weighing >30 kg, acquisition of both anterior and posterior images with geometric mean calculation is recommended when a solid meal is used. If a liquid meal is used in patients older than 8 years, the posterior only may be adequate.
An invasive species reverses the roles in a host–parasite relationship between bitterling fish and unionid mussels
Authors: Reichard Martin , Vrtílek Milan , Douda Karel , Smith Carl
Published: February 2012

The impact of multiple invading species can be magnified owing to mutual facilitation—termed ‘invasional meltdown’—but invasive species can also be adversely affected by their interactions with other invaders. Using a unique reciprocal host–parasite relationship between a bitterling fish (
Rhodeus amarus
) and unionid mussels, we show that an invasive mussel reverses the roles in the relationship. Bitterling lay their eggs into mussel gills, and mussel larvae parasitize fish. Bitterling recently colonized Europe and parasitize all sympatric European mussels, but are unable to use a recently invasive mussel,
Anodonta woodiana
. The parasitic larvae of
A. woodiana
successfully develop on
R. amarus
, whereas larvae of European mussels are rejected by bitterling. This demonstrates that invading species may temporarily benefit from a coevolutionary lag by exploiting evolutionarily naive hosts, but the resulting relaxed selection may facilitate its exploitation by subsequent invading species, leading to unexpected consequences for established interspecific relationships.
Allan Rex Sandage. 18 June 1926 — 13 November 2010
Authors: Lynden-Bell Donald , Schweizer François
Published: February 2012

Allan Sandage was an observational astronomer who was happiest at a telescope. On the sudden death of Edwin Hubble, Sandage inherited the programmes using the world’s largest optical telescope at Palomar to determine the distances and number counts of galaxies. Over many years he greatly revised the distance scale and, on reworking Hubble’s analysis, discovered the error that had led Hubble to doubt the interpretation of the galaxies’ redshifts as an expansion of the Universe. Sandage showed that there was a consistent age of creation for the stars, the elements and the cosmos. Through work with Baade and Schwarzschild he discovered the key to the interpretation of the colour–magnitude diagrams of star clusters in terms of stellar evolution. With others he founded galactic archaeology, interpreting the motions and elemental abundances of the oldest stars in terms of a model for the Galaxy’s formation. He published several fine atlases and catalogues of galaxies and a definitive history of the Mount Wilson Observatory.
Less haste, less waste: on recycling and its limits in strand displacement systems
Authors: Condon Anne , Hu Alan J. , Maňuch Ján , Thachuk Chris
Published: February 2012

We study the potential for molecule recycling in chemical reaction systems and their DNA strand displacement realizations. Recycling happens when a product of one reaction is a reactant in a later reaction. Recycling has the benefits of reducing consumption, or waste, of molecules and of avoiding fuel depletion. We present a binary counter that recycles molecules efficiently while incurring just a moderate slowdown compared with alternative counters that do not recycle strands. This counter is an
n
-bit binary reflecting Gray code counter that advances through 2

n

states. In the strand displacement realization of this counter, the waste—total number of nucleotides of the DNA strands consumed—is polynomial in
n
, the number of bits of the counter, while the waste of alternative counters grows exponentially in
n
. We also show that our
n
-bit counter fails to work correctly when many (

Θ

(
n
)) copies of the species that represent the bits of the counter are present initially. The proof applies more generally to show that in chemical reaction systems where all but one reactant of each reaction are catalysts, computations longer than a polynomial function of the size of the system are not possible when there are polynomially many copies of the system present.
Culturomics meets random fractal theory: insights into long-range correlations of social and natural phenomena over the past two centuries
Authors: Gao Jianbo , Hu Jing , Mao Xiang , Perc Matjaž
Published: February 2012

Culturomics was recently introduced as the application of high-throughput data collection and analysis to the study of human culture. Here, we make use of these data by investigating fluctuations in yearly usage frequencies of specific words that describe social and natural phenomena, as derived from books that were published over the course of the past two centuries. We show that the determination of the Hurst parameter by means of fractal analysis provides fundamental insights into the nature of long-range correlations contained in the culturomic trajectories, and by doing so offers new interpretations as to what might be the main driving forces behind the examined phenomena. Quite remarkably, we find that social and natural phenomena are governed by fundamentally different processes. While natural phenomena have properties that are typical for processes with persistent long-range correlations, social phenomena are better described as non-stationary, on–off intermittent or Lévy walk processes.
Cytoplasmic streaming in plant cells: the role of wall slip
Authors: Wolff K. , Marenduzzo D. , Cates M. E.
Published: February 2012

We present a computer simulation study, via lattice Boltzmann simulations, of a microscopic model for cytoplasmic streaming in algal cells such as those ofChara corallina. We modelled myosin motors tracking along actin lanes as spheres undergoing directed motion along fixed lines. The sphere dimension takes into account the fact that motors drag vesicles or other organelles, and, unlike previous work, we model the boundary close to which the motors move as walls with a finite slip layer. By using realistic parameter values for actin lane and myosin density, as well as for endoplasmic and vacuole viscosity and the slip layer close to the wall, we find that this simplified view, which does not rely on any coupling between motors, cytoplasm and vacuole other than that provided by viscous Stokes flow, is enough to account for the observed magnitude of streaming velocities in intracellular fluid in living plant cells.
Leg stiffness of sprinters using running-specific prostheses
Authors: McGowan Craig P. , Grabowski Alena M. , McDermott William J. , Herr Hugh M. , Kram Rodger
Published: February 2012

Running-specific prostheses (RSF) are designed to replicate the spring-like nature of biological legs (bioL) during running. However, it is not clear how these devices affect whole leg stiffness characteristics or running dynamics over a range of speeds. We used a simple spring–mass model to examine running mechanics across a range of speeds, in unilateral and bilateral transtibial amputees and performance-matched controls. We found significant differences between the affected leg (AL) of unilateral amputees and both ALs of bilateral amputees compared with the bioL of non-amputees for nearly every variable measured. Leg stiffness remained constant or increased with speed in bioL, but decreased with speed in legs with RSPs. The decrease in leg stiffness in legs with RSPs was mainly owing to a combination of lower peak ground reaction forces and increased leg compression with increasing speeds. Leg stiffness is an important parameter affecting contact time and the force exerted on the ground. It is likely that the fixed stiffness of the prosthesis coupled with differences in the limb posture required to run with the prosthesis limits the ability to modulate whole leg stiffness and the ability to apply high vertical ground reaction forces during sprinting.
Multi-layered bird beaks: a finite-element approach towards the role of keratin in stress dissipation
Authors: Soons Joris , Herrel Anthony , Genbrugge Annelies , Adriaens Dominique , Aerts Peter , Dirckx Joris
Published: February 2012

Bird beaks are layered structures, which contain a bony core and an outer keratin layer. The elastic moduli of this bone and keratin were obtained in a previous study. However, the mechanical role and interaction of both materials in stress dissipation during seed crushing remain unknown. In this paper, a multi-layered finite-element (FE) model of the Java finch's upper beak (Padda oryzivora) is established. Validation measurements are conducted usingin vivobite forces and by comparing the displacements with those obtained by digital speckle pattern interferometry. Next, the Young modulus of bone and keratin in this FE model was optimized in order to obtain the smallest peak von Mises stress in the upper beak. To do so, we created a surrogate model, which also allows us to study the impact of changing material properties of both tissues on the peak stresses. The theoretically best values for both moduli in the Java finch are retrieved and correspond well with previous experimentally obtained values, suggesting that material properties are tuned to the mechanical demands imposed during seed crushing.
In vitro
and
in silico
investigations of disc nucleus replacement
Authors: Reitmaier Sandra , Shirazi-Adl Aboulfazl , Bashkuev Maxim , Wilke Hans-Joachim , Gloria Antonio , Schmidt Hendrik
Published: February 2012

Currently, numerous hydrogels are under examination as potential nucleus replacements. The clinical success, however, depends on how well the mechanical function of the host structure is restored. This study aimed to evaluate the extent to and mechanisms by which surgery for nucleus replacements influence the mechanical behaviour of the disc. The effects of an annulus defect with and without nucleus replacement on disc height and nucleus pressure were measured using 24 ovine motion segments. The following cases were considered: intact; annulus incision repaired by suture and glue; annulus incision with removal and re-implantation of nucleus tissue repaired by suture and glue or plug. To identify the likely mechanisms observed
in vitro
, a finite-element model of a human disc (L4–L5) was employed. Both studies were subjected to physiological cycles of compression and recovery. A repaired annulus defect did not influence the disc behaviour
in vitro
, whereas additional nucleus removal and replacement substantially decreased disc stiffness and nucleus pressure. Model predictions demonstrated the substantial effects of reductions in replaced nucleus water content, bulk modulus and osmotic potential on disc height loss and pressure, similar to measurements. In these events, the compression load transfer in the disc markedly altered by substantially increasing the load on the annulus when compared with the nucleus. The success of hydrogels for nucleus replacements is not only dependent on the implant material itself but also on the restoration of the environment perturbed during surgery. The substantial effects on the disc response of disruptions owing to nucleus replacements can be simulated by reduced nucleus water content, elastic modulus and osmotic potential.
Acceleration and heating of metal particles in condensed matter detonation
Authors: Ripley Robert C. , Zhang Fan , Lien Fue-Sang
Published: February 2012

For condensed explosives, containing metal particle additives, interaction of the detonation shock and reaction zone with solid inclusions leads to high rates of momentum and heat transfer that consequently introduce non-ideal detonation phenomena. During the time scale of the leading detonation shock crossing a particle, the acceleration and heating of metal particles are shown to depend on the volume fraction of particles, dense packing configuration, material density ratio of explosive to solid particles and ratio of particle diameter to detonation reaction-zone length. Dimensional analysis and physical parameter evaluation are used to formalize the factors affecting particle acceleration and heating. Three-dimensional mesoscale calculations are conducted for matrices of spherical metal particles immersed in a liquid explosive for various particle diameter and solid loading conditions, to determine the velocity and temperature transmission factors resulting from shock compression. Results are incorporated as interphase exchange source terms for macroscopic continuum models that can be applied to practical detonation problems involving multi-phase explosives or shock propagation in dense particle-fluid systems.
Conservation of Nucleosome Positions in Duplicated and Orthologous Gene Pairs
Authors: Nishida Hiromi
Published: February 2012

Although nucleosome positions tend to be conserved in gene promoters, whether they are conserved in duplicated and orthologous genes is unknown. In order to elucidate how nucleosome positions are conserved between duplicated and orthologous gene pairs, I performed 2 comparative studies. First, I compared the nucleosome position profiles of duplicated genes in the filamentous ascomyceteAspergillus fumigatus. After identifying 63 duplicated gene pairs among 9630 protein-encoding genes, I compared the nucleosome position profiles of the paired genes. Although nucleosome positions are conserved more in gene promoters than in gene bodies, their profiles were diverse, suggesting evolutionary changes after gene duplication. Next, I examined the conservation of nucleosome position profiles in 347A. fumigatusorthologs ofS. cerevisiaegenes that showed notably high conservation of nucleosome positions between the parent strain and 2 deletion mutants. In only 11 (3.2%) of the 347 gene pairs, the nucleosome position profile was highly conserved (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient > 0.7). The absence of nucleosome position conservation in promoters of orthologous genes suggests organismal specificity of nucleosome arrangements.
A Meta-Analysis of Tea Drinking and Risk of Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Li Feng-Jiao , Ji Hong-Fang , Shen Liang
Published: February 2012

Background. Many studies have reported an association between tea drinking and Parkinson's disease (PD). Our purpose is to summarize the available information and evaluate the risk of PD associated with tea drinking.Methods. We searched all publications in English language on the association of tea drinking and PD risk published up to December 2010. The pooled analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.0.Results. In total, eight articles including 1418 cases and 4250 controls were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled odds ratio (95% CI) was 0.85 (0.74–0.98), which suggests the protective effect of tea drinking in PD risks. Moreover, the summary OR (OR: 0.83, 95% CI = 0.69–0.99) for drinkers of ≤1 cup of tea per day versus nonconsumers and that (OR: 0.96, 95% CI = 0.73–1.27) for drinkers of >1 cups of tea per day versus nonconsumers showed that there was not an apparent dose-response relationship. No indication for publication bias was found.Conclusions. This meta-analysis showed that tea drinking can lower the risk of PD, while no apparent dose-response relationship was found. Further effort is needed to fully understand the mechanism underlying the beneficial effect of tea consumption in lowering PD risk.
CpG‐enriched plasmid enhances the efficacy of the traditional foot‐and‐mouth disease killed vaccine
Authors: Guo Xiaoyu , Jia Hong , Zhang Quan , Yuan Weifeng , Zhu Gang , Xin Ting , Zhu Hongfei , Manuel Sánchez‐Vizcaíno José
Published: February 2012

A CpG‐enriched recombinant plasmid (pUC18‐CpG) as an adjuvant of FMD killed vaccine was tested for immunization and vaccination challenge in a porcine model. Our preliminary results had indicated that the recombinant plasmid could enhance the humoral immune response triggered by the traditional oil‐adjuvant vaccine after the initial inoculation. A subsequent vaccination‐challenge test showed an increased PD50 value. Thus, coadministration of the recombinant plasmid with the oil‐adjuvant vaccine helped illicit an immune response earlier than that elicited by giving the vaccine alone. Our results showed that pUC18‐CpG can be a potent immunoadjuvant for the traditional FMD killed vaccine and can greatly enhance the traditional vaccine's efficacy when given in combination with it.
Phase I study of anti‐CD22 immunoconjugate inotuzumab ozogamicin plus rituximab in relapsed/refractory B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Ogura Michinori , Hatake Kiyohiko , Ando Kiyoshi , Tobinai Kensei , Tokushige Kota , Ono Chiho , Ishibashi Taro , Vandendries Erik
Published: February 2012

Inotuzumab ozogamicin (CMC‐544), a humanized anti‐CD22 antibody conjugated to the potent cytotoxic antibiotic calicheamicin, targets the CD22 antigen expressed on the majority of B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphomas. This phase I study assessed the tolerability, safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of inotuzumab ozogamicin administered intravenously in combination with rituximab in Japanese patients with relapsed or refractory B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. Ten patients were administered rituximab 375 mg/m2 followed by inotuzumab ozogamicin at the maximum tolerated dose (1.8 mg/m2). Treatment was repeated every 28 days up to eight cycles, or until occurrence of disease progression or intolerable toxicity. The safety profile was similar to that of inotuzumab ozogamicin monotherapy, with hematologic adverse events occurring most frequently. The most common grade three or higher adverse events were thrombocytopenia (70%), neutropenia (50%), leukopenia (30%), and lymphopenia (30%). The overall response rate was 80% (8/10; 95% CI, 44–98%). Drug exposure increased with successive doses, similar to the pharmacokinetic profiles observed in previous phase I monotherapy studies. Efficacy results suggested promising antitumor activity, and the overall findings support the continued clinical development of this therapeutic regimen in patients with relapsed or refractory B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT00724971. (Cancer Sci 2012; 103: 933–938)
Identification of novel genetic variants in phosphodiesterase 8B (PDE8B), a cAMP‐specific phosphodiesterase highly expressed in the adrenal cortex, in a cohort of patients with adrenal tumours
Authors: Rothenbuhler Anya , Horvath Anelia , Libé Rossella , Faucz Fabio R. , Fratticci Amato , Raffin Sanson Marie L. , Vezzosi Delphine , Azevedo Monalisa , Levy Isaak , Almeida Madson Q. , Lodish Maya , Nesterova Maria , Bertherat Jérôme , Stratakis Constantine A.
Published: February 2012

Background

Genetic aberrations in various components of cAMP signalling pathway predispose to endocrine tumours. Mutations in the phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are involved in the predisposition to adrenocortical neoplastic conditions.

Objective

To screen for genetic variations in
PDE8B
among patients with different types of adrenocortical tumours.

Design and subjects

This is a case–control study followed by functional analyses. Two hundred and sixteen unrelated patients with different types of adrenocortical tumours and 192 healthy control individuals participated in the study.

Methods

Bidirectional Sanger sequencing, in vitro cell line transfection and in silico modelling are used in this study.

Results

Nine different
PDE8B
sequence changes, six novel and three previously reported, were identified in our patients and controls. Two of the variations, seen only in the patient group, showed significant potential to impair protein function, both in vitro and in silico.

Conclusion

PDE8B
is another PDE gene in which variations may contribute to predisposition of adrenocortical tumours.
Exhaled nitric oxide and atherosclerosis
Authors: Salonen Iiris , Huttunen Kati , Hirvonen Maija‐Riitta , Dufva Juhani , Groundstroem Kaj , Dufva Hilkka , Salonen Raimo O.
Published: February 2012

Eur J Clin Invest 2012

Background  Fractional exhaled nitric oxide concentration (FENO) measurement has been proposed to be an important adjunct in the diagnosis and management of asthma, pulmonary hypertension and cystic fibrosis. But do we understand how other diseases influence the FENO values? In particular, atherosclerosis is one of the pathological conditions, in which nitric oxide (NO) production is inhibited and its degradation enhanced. Therefore, hypothesis of the current study was that FENO is inversely associated with risk markers of atherosclerosis and with diseases leading secondarily to the progression of atherosclerosis.

Materials and methods  A long‐term FENO value (median of biweekly measurements over a 24‐week period) of 53 patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) was compared with the results of clinical and biochemical analyses.

Results  Fractional exhaled NO was inversely associated with the plasma concentration of triglycerides (P = 0·01) and with the blood concentration of glycated haemoglobin A1c (P = 0·03). It also tended to be inversely associated with the plasma glucose concentration (P = 0·10). However, there were no statistically significant associations with inflammatory or other biochemical markers, health status, lifestyle or other personal determinants.

Conclusions  In accordance with the hypothesis, FENO is inversely associated with some of risk markers of atherosclerosis in patients with stable IHD (triglycerides and haemoglobin A1c, a marker of hyperglycaemic metabolism). A potential explanation is that, at hyperglycaemia and with higher triglyceride concentrations, atherosclerosis leads to endothelial dysfunction and, subsequently, to decreased production and increased degradation of NO.
Discovered on gastrointestinal stromal tumour 1 (DOG1): a useful immunohistochemical marker for diagnosing chondroblastoma
Authors: Akpalo Hana , Lange Claudia , Zustin Jozef
Published: February 2012

Akpalo H, Lange C & Zustin J  (2012) Histopathology 60, 1099–1106

Discovered on gastrointestinal stromal tumour 1 (DOG1): a useful immunohistochemical marker for diagnosing chondroblastoma

Aims:  Cellular areas of chondroblastoma are composed of polygonal chondroblasts with indented nuclei and scattered osteoclast‐type multinucleated cells. To learn more about the phenotype of chondroblasts, we investigated the expression of several established immunohistochemical markers in chondroblastomas.

Methods and results:  Nine chondroblastomas were analysed using immunohistochemical antibodies [CD34, α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), DOG1, CD117, AE1/AE3 and CD163]. Ten chondromyxoid fibromas, seven giant cell tumours of bone and four foetal proximal femurs were also analysed. The cellular areas of each chondroblastoma contained nests of DOG1+αSMA+ CD117− CD34− chondroblasts, a phenotype that was not detected in chondromyxoid fibroma cases or in giant cell tumours. Although AE1/AE3 was expressed in all chondroblastomas, the staining intensity and proportion of the positive cells varied widely. Intra‐lesional CD163+ macrophages were detected in all cases of chondroblastoma, chondromyxoid fibroma and giant cell tumours.

Conclusions:  Our results demonstrated nests of membranous DOG1+ chondroblasts located within cellular portions of chondroblastoma containing diffuse heterogeneous infiltrates of mostly DOG1− chondroblasts, CD163+ macrophages and multinucleated osteoclastic giant cells. Thus, chondroblastoma can be added to the tumours that are usually positive for DOG1, alongside gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), rare solid‐pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas and exceptional mesenchymal tumours including uterine type retroperitoneal leiomyoma, peritoneal leiomyomatosis and synovial sarcoma.
Lysyl oxidase from jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) muscle: purification and partial characterization
Authors: Torres‐Arreola Wilfrido , Ezquerra‐Brauer Josafat Marina , Pacheco‐Aguilar Ramón , Valenzuela‐Soto Elisa M. , Rouzaud‐Sandez Ofelia , Lugo‐Sanchez Maria E. , Carvallo‐Ruiz Gisela
Published: February 2012

Lysyl oxidase (LOX; E.C.1.4.3.13) was purified from jumbo squid muscle (Dosidicus gigas) with 1900‐fold and yield 1.9%, and characterized for the first time. The purification procedure consisted of fractionation with urea and a combination of size‐exclusion and anion‐exchange chromatography. The enzyme had a molecular weight of 32 kDa, as estimated by SDS‐PAGE. Using a specific LOX substrate (1,5‐diaminopentane), its optimum activity was determined at pH 8.2 and 65 °C. Activation energy (Ea) of the enzyme was 69.94 kJ K−1 mol−1. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by β‐aminopropionitrile fumarate (BAPN), a specific LOX inhibitor. Moreover, purified LOX was able to work at different temperatures (20–90 °C) at pH 8.2. Although further research is needed, the results from this work suggest that based on LOX activity, this enzyme may be of practical use in preventing textural changes in jumbo squid during storage or processing.
Forensic and non‐forensic psychiatric nursing skills and competencies for psychopathic and personality disordered patients
Authors: Bowen Matt , Mason Tom
Published: February 2012

Aim and objective.  To understand better the skills and competencies for forensic and non‐forensic nursing of psychopathic and personality disordered patients.

Background.  In the UK, there has been growing interest in service provision for this client group, but with little research to support the nursing skills required.

Design.  A non‐experimental design, using a postal survey to 990 forensic and 500 non‐forensic nurses.

Method.  An information gathering schedule was used to generate data about the most desirable skills and competencies and least desirable weaknesses and nursing attributes to nurse this group.

Results.  The results for the forensic nurses. Main strengths and skills: being firm, setting limits and defining boundaries. Main weaknesses: inability to engage, inability to resolve conflict and impatience. Main skills and competencies: being non‐threatening, non‐judgemental and able to expect anything. Least desirable qualities: over‐reacting, being judgemental and over‐confrontational. The results for the non‐forensic nurses. Main strengths and skills: being non‐judgemental, listening skills and good risk assessment. Main weaknesses: frustration with the system, a fear of aggression and no skills to engage. Main skills and competencies: being open‐minded, non‐judgemental and forming relationships. Least desirable qualities: a supercilious attitude, cynicism and being judgemental.

Conclusion.  The results highlight the importance of forming therapeutic relationships as the bedrock of both forensic and non‐forensic nursing, and they also highlight the important differences with regard to the significance of therapeutic action and therapeutic verbal interaction.

Relevance to clinical practice.  The provision of better care for this client group will rely on appropriate training for nurses. This research highlights the need for training that supports the development of engagement skills, communication skills and an ability to use reflection in action as a means of providing therapeutic care. It also highlights the different emphasis on the use of these skills by forensic and non‐forensic nurses.
Nurses’ perceptions of the barriers in effective communication with inpatient cancer adults in Singapore
Authors: Tay Li Hui , Ang Emily , Hegney Desley
Published: February 2012

Aim.  This study investigated the factors affecting effective communication between Singaporean registered nurses and inpatient oncology adults.

Background.  In oncology nursing, where conversations entail emotionally loaded topics and patients’ receptivity is greatly affected by their life‐threatening disease and its trajectory, effective communication is crucial.

Design.  This is a qualitative study situated within the interpretivism paradigm.

Method.  Ten registered nurses from the oncology wards of a major teaching hospital in Singapore were interviewed. Data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.

Conclusion.  Factors that influenced effective nurse–patient communication were found in the characteristics of the patient, the nurse and the environment. While there are common factors influencing communication in all contexts of practice, this study has suggested that a multicultural community such as Singapore presents special challenges in the oncology inpatient setting. Language barriers are significant, particularly between overseas trained nurses and patients who cannot converse in English. Cultural taboos also increase nurses’ discomfort when discussing sensitive topics. Additionally, the government’s promotion of Singapore as a medical ‘hub’ increases the cultural and ethnic mix of inpatients. A particular concerning finding is Singapore society’s poor perception of and lack of respect for nurses, which is partly contributed by Singapore’s ‘user‐pays’ health system and lowly‐paid foreign nurses.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Nurses should be mindful of how patients’ disease trajectory and psychological state affect communication. Nurses should also take patients’ cultural background into consideration when approaching sensitive topics. Language and cultural induction classes should also be made available, especially for overseas trained nurses working in Singapore. Nursing Associations in Singapore need to work on programmes that will increase the prestige of nursing. Further research involving a more representative sample is warranted to understand how Singapore’s ‘user‐pays’ health care system affects effective nurse–patient communication.