bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research Review: Maternal prenatal distress and poor nutrition – mutually influencing risk factors affecting infant neurocognitive development
Authors: Monk Catherine , Georgieff Michael K. , Osterholm Erin A.
Published: October 2012

Background:  Accumulating data from animal and human studies indicate that the prenatal environment plays a significant role in shaping children’s neurocognitive development. Clinical, epidemiologic, and basic science research suggests that two experiences relatively common in pregnancy – an unhealthy maternal diet and psychosocial distress – significantly affect children’s future neurodevelopment. These prenatal experiences exert their influence in the context of one another and yet, almost uniformly, are studied independently.

Scope and Method of Review:  In this review, we suggest that studying neurocognitive development in children in relation to both prenatal exposures is ecologically most relevant, and methodologically most sound. To support this approach, we selectively review two research topics that demonstrate the need for dual exposure studies, including exemplar findings on (a) the associations between pregnant women’s inadequate maternal intake of key nutrients – protein, fat, iron, zinc, and choline – as well as distress in relation to overlapping effects on children’s neurocognitive development; and (b) cross‐talk between the biology of stress and nutrition that can amplify each experience for the mother and fetus,. We also consider obstacles to this kind of study design, such as questions of statistical methods for ‘disentangling’ the exposure effects, and aim to provide some answers.

Conclusion:  Studies that specifically include both exposures in their design can begin to determine the relative and/or synergistic impact of these prenatal experiences on developmental trajectories – and thereby contribute most fully to the understanding of the early origins of health and disease.
Crossing the threshold: gene flow, dominance and the critical level of standing genetic variation required for adaptation to novel environments
Authors: Nuismer S. L. , MacPherson A. , Rosenblum E. B.
Published: October 2012

Genetic architecture plays an important role in the process of adaptation to novel environments. One example is the role of allelic dominance, where advantageous recessive mutations have a lower probability of fixation than advantageous dominant mutations. This classic observation, termed ‘Haldane's sieve’, has been well explored theoretically for single isolated populations adapting to new selective regimes. However, the role of dominance is less well understood for peripheral populations adapting to novel environments in the face of recurrent and maladaptive gene flow. Here, we use a combination of analytical approximations and individual‐based simulations to explore how dominance influences the likelihood of adaptation to novel peripheral environments. We demonstrate that in the face of recurrent maladaptive gene flow, recessive alleles can fuel adaptation only when their frequency exceeds a critical threshold within the ancestral range.
Effects of ants on arthropod assemblages of a native timber tree in a tropical reforestation plantation
Authors: Riedel J. , Dorn S. , Brand G. , Barrios H. , Mody K.
Published: October 2012

Successful reforestation of tropical pastures can be facilitated or impeded depending on the interactions between native timber trees and arthropod communities. We assessed arthropod abundance on Tabebuia rosea (Bignoniaceae), a Central American extrafloral nectary‐bearing timber tree, in a plantation of native trees on former pasture in Panama, and we excluded ants from branches of T. rosea to determine ant impact on arthropod assemblages and on leaf damage. The trees' ant fauna was dominated by ground‐nesting species and ants were scarce in tree crowns, constituting only 2% of all arthropods collected by branch beating. Leaf damage was principally caused by caterpillars (mainly the pyralid Eulepte gastralis) and by beetles (mainly the chrysomelid Walterianella inscripta). Sugar baits at tree trunks revealed that rewarding food resources recruited high ant numbers to some tree individuals. Activity of the dominant ant, Ectatomma ruidum, at baits was negatively related to leaf damage by E. gastralis, suggesting that trees might be better protected from this herbivore when ant abundance is high. Exclusion of ants resulted in increased beetle diversity. The key herbivore W. inscripta was significantly more abundant on ant‐exclusion branches at the beginning, but not towards the end of the rainy season, when beetle density increased. Overall leaf damage and arthropod abundance were not significantly affected by ant exclusion. In conclusion, ant abundance on native timber trees in plantations recently established on former pasture can be low, and ant assemblages may be dominated by ground‐nesting generalist species, as shown in this study. This may explain the lacking protection of the timber trees from insect herbivory by ants. Increased protection of establishing timber trees by ants probably requires plantation management measures that increase the abundance of more specialized tree‐visiting and tree‐nesting ants.
Western corn rootworm adult captures as a tool for the larval damage prediction in continuous maize
Authors: Kos T. , Bažok R. , Gunjača J. , Igrc Barčić J.
Published: October 2012

Continuous maize production in Croatia and Central Europe is at serious risk from western corn rootworm (WCR) (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, LeConte) activity. When alternatives to sowing continuous are not feasible, farmers will need a reliable tool that will allow them to choose fields for continuous cultivation. The decision could be based on assessing the adult populations in fields from the previous year. Non‐baited yellow sticky traps [Pherocon AM (PhAM)] could be utilized as a practical tool for sampling. The main objective of this study was to determine which WCR adult population data collected by PhAM traps could most reliably predict the subsequent WCR larval population and damage. Adult WCR population densities in 30 cornfields were determined weekly over a 74 day period each year (24th to 35th week) from 2006 to 2009. In addition to root damage and plant lodging measurements, soil and root sampling were conducted to measure the WCR larval population in continuous maize fields. Larval infestation is best predicted by maximal weekly capture (MWC) but, root damage is better predicted by capture of adults in the 31st week of previous year. For the prediction of plant lodging, MWC, average daily capture (ADC) and the capture of adults in 29th week were found to be equivalent. To save money and to shorten the sampling period, farmers should employ PhAM traps between the 29th and 32nd week. The estimated WCR adult capture that could cause significant larval infestation is ≥22 adults/trap in the 29th week. Significant future root damage is predicted if ≥41 adults/trap are captured in the 31st week. Plant lodging is predicted if ≥36 adults/trap (for 90% of upright plants) or ≥32 adults/trap (for 10% of partially lodged plants) are captured in 29th week. Findings will help to develop economic threshold models and improved decision‐making for WCR management.
EstimatingT‐year flood confidence intervals of rivers inÇoruh basin,Turkey
Authors: Can İ. , Tosunoğlu F.
Published: October 2012

The aim of this study is to determine the most suitable probability distribution for estimatingT‐year flood confidence intervals of the rivers inÇoruh basin,Turkey. For this purpose, 10 different distributions, which are widely used in hydrologic frequency analysis, were fitted to annual maximum flows of nine gauging stations located in critical parts of the basin, and parameters of these distributions were estimated using the method of maximum likelihood. In order to determine the most suitable distributions at each station,Akaike's information criterion, modifiedAkaike's information criterion,Bayesian information criterion,Kolmogorov–Smirnov and chi‐square goodness‐of‐fit tests were applied. According to evaluations of these tests, two‐parameter lognormal,Gumbel and generalised Pareto appeared to be the most suitable distributions. Then, these distributions were used for the estimation ofT‐year's flood confidence intervals (10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 years). Finally, the performances of the distributions were compared and discussed with regard to its application on the stations.
Category Divergence, Straddling, and Currency: Open Innovation and the Legitimation of Illegitimate Categories
Authors: Alexy Oliver , George Gerard
Published: October 2012

The organizational literature is increasingly interested in the origins and consequences of category emergence. We examine the effects of being affiliated with categories initially considered illegitimate (‘divergence’), and of organizational attempts to blur the boundaries between categories (‘straddling’), on capital market reactions to firm announcements. We develop arguments for how these effects likely vary with increasing legitimation (‘currency’) of the category. We apply event study methodology to the complete population of firms' announcements of open source activities, an open innovation model for software development that is novel and defies the extant dominant logic of software production and valorization. Over a ten‐year period, we find negative effects of divergence, positive effects of straddling, and that the magnitude of both these effects diminishes with increasing category currency. The implications for theories of organization and open innovation in the context of category emergence are discussed.
The prodomain of the Bordetella two‐partner secretion pathway protein FhaB remains intracellular yet affects the conformation of the mature C‐terminal domain
Authors: Noël Christopher R. , Mazar Joseph , Melvin Jeffrey A. , Sexton Jessica A. , Cotter Peggy A.
Published: October 2012

Two‐partner secretion (TPS) systems use β‐barrel proteins of the Omp85‐TpsB superfamily to transport large exoproteins across the outer membranes of Gram‐negative bacteria. The Bordetella FHA/FhaC proteins are prototypical of TPS systems in which the exoprotein contains a large C‐terminal prodomain that is removed during translocation. Although it is known that the FhaB prodomain is required for FHA function in vivo, its role in FHA maturation has remained mysterious. We show here that the FhaB prodomain is required for the extracellularly located mature C‐terminal domain (MCD) of FHA to achieve its proper conformation. We show that the C‐terminus of the prodomain is retained intracellularly and that sequences within the N‐terminus of the prodomain are required for this intracellular localization. We also identify sequences at the C‐terminus of the MCD that are required for release of mature FHA from the cell surface. Our data support a model in which the intracellularly located prodomain affects the final conformation of the extracellularly located MCD. We hypothesize that maturation triggers cleavage and degradation of the prodomain.
R134a/Al2O3 Nanolubricant Mixture Pool Boiling on a Rectangular Finned Surface
Authors: Kedzierski M. A.
Published: October 2012

This paper quantifies the influence of Al2O3 nanoparticles on the pool boiling performance of R134a/polyolester mixtures on a rectangular finned surface. Nanolubricants having 10 nm diameter Al2O3 nanoparticles of various volume fractions (1.0%, 2.3%, and 3.6%, a.k.a., 1AlO, 2AlO, and 3AlO) in the base polyolester lubricant were mixed with R134a at two different mass fractions (0.5% and 1%). The study showed that nanolubricants can significantly improve R134a/lubricant boiling on a rectangular finned surface. For example, the R134a/1AlO (99/1), R134a/3AlO (99/1), and the R134a/2AlO (99/1) mixtures exhibited average enhancement of approximately 18%, 102%, and 113%, respectively. The nanoparticles had practically no effect on the heat transfer relative to that for R134a/polyolester mixtures without nanoparticles for R134a boiling with the 1AlO nanolubricant at a 0.5% mass fraction with the refrigerant. This confirms, what was shown in a previous publication for a smooth surface, that for a particular system, a critical loading of nanoparticles must be exceeded before an enhancement can be achieved. The present study suggests that passively enhanced surfaces are likely to require more nanoparticle loading than a smooth surface to achieve similar heat transfer enhancement. This is based on the finding that the boiling heat transfer enhancement was shown to be a strong function of the absolute nanoparticle surface density that resides on the heat transfer surface and not the nanoparticle concentration in the nanolubricant as previously believed. The enhancement was shown to increase for three different boiling surfaces (from three different studies) as more nanoparticles accumulate on the boiling surface. Accordingly, a previously developed model for predicting refrigerant/nanolubricant boiling on a smooth surface was corrected so as to be dependent on the nanoparticle surface density rather that the nanoparticle concentration. In addition, the model was modified in order to predict the refrigerant/nanolubricant boiling on the rectangular finned surface. The model and the measurements agreed to within 10% for all of the data with heat fluxes less than 100 kW m−2.
Dual applications of free-standing holographic nanopatterns for lift-off and stencil lithography
Authors: Du Ke , Liu Yuyang , Wathuthanthri Ishan , Choi Chang-Hwan
Published: October 2012

In this article, the authors report a new lift-off process to obtain nanoporous free-standing trilayer film of metal/photoresist/antireflective coating (ARC) stack and to reuse the thin and flexible membrane as a versatile stencil lithography mask for the dual purposes. For the initial lift-off process of metal nanostructures, nanoperiodic pore patterns of the photoresist/ARC bilayer were first defined by holographic lithography and reactive ion etching on a silicon substrate. Then a thin metal layer was deposited through the nanopores, forming the uniform array of metal nanostructures on the silicon substrate. Different from a traditional lift-off process, the by-product of the metal/photoresist/ARC trilayer was not dissolved away but released intact from the substrate as a free-standing membrane by using a specially designed solution (NH3/H2O2/H2O). It uniquely allows the use of the free-standing membrane as a novel stencil for direct bonding and continuous release onto/from various new substrates, including flexible substrates such as polydimethylsiloxane, due to good mechanical properties of the soft membrane. Such advantages also provide enhanced capability and accuracy of the pattern transfer in stencil lithography with greater simplicity.
Noncoding Flavivirus RNA Displays RNA Interference Suppressor Activity in Insect and Mammalian Cells
Authors: Schnettler Esther , Sterken Mark G. , Leung Jason Y. , Metz Stefan W. , Geertsema Corinne , Goldbach Rob W. , Vlak Just M. , Kohl Alain , Khromykh Alexander A. , Pijlman Gorben P.
Published: October 2012

West Nile virus (WNV) and dengue virus (DENV) are highly pathogenic, mosquito-borne flaviviruses (family
Flaviviridae
) that cause severe disease and death in humans. WNV and DENV actively replicate in mosquitoes and human hosts and thus encounter different host immune responses. RNA interference (RNAi) is the predominant antiviral response against invading RNA viruses in insects and plants. As a countermeasure, plant and insect RNA viruses encode RNA silencing suppressor (RSS) proteins to block the generation/activity of small interfering RNA (siRNA). Enhanced flavivirus replication in mosquitoes depleted for RNAi factors suggests an important biological role for RNAi in restricting virus replication, but it has remained unclear whether or not flaviviruses counteract RNAi via expression of an RSS. First, we established that flaviviral RNA replication suppressed siRNA-induced gene silencing in WNV and DENV replicon-expressing cells. Next, we showed that none of the WNV encoded proteins displayed RSS activity in mammalian and insect cells and in plants by using robust RNAi suppressor assays. In contrast, we found that the 3′-untranslated region-derived RNA molecule known as subgenomic flavivirus RNA (sfRNA) efficiently suppressed siRNA- and miRNA-induced RNAi pathways in both mammalian and insect cells. We also showed that WNV sfRNA inhibits
in vitro
cleavage of double-stranded RNA by Dicer. The results of the present study suggest a novel role for sfRNA, i.e., as a nucleic acid-based regulator of RNAi pathways, a strategy that may be conserved among flaviviruses.
Activation of the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt Signaling Pathway during Porcine Circovirus Type 2 Infection Facilitates Cell Survival and Viral Replication
Authors: Wei Li , Zhu Shanshan , Wang Jing , Liu Jue
Published: October 2012

Virus infection activates host cellular signaling pathways, including the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, which regulates diverse cellular activities related to cell growth, survival, and apoptosis. The present study demonstrated for the first time that porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), a major causative agent of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome, which is an emerging and important swine disease, can transiently induce the PI3K/Akt pathway in cultured cells at an early step during PCV2 infection. Activation of the PI3K/Akt signal was also induced by UV-irradiated PCV2, indicating that virus replication was not required for this induction. Inhibition of PI3K activation leads to reduced virus yield, which is associated with decreased viral DNA replication and lower virus protein expression. However, inhibition of PI3K activation greatly enhanced apoptotic responses as evidenced by the cleavage of poly-ADP ribose polymerase and caspase-3 as well as DNA fragmentation using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling staining during the early stage of PCV2 infection. Furthermore, the pancaspase inhibitor zVAD.fmk alleviated the reduction in Akt phosphorylation levels by inhibiting PI3K activation, indicating that the signaling promotes cell survival and thereby favors viral replication. These results reveal that an antiapoptotic role for the PI3K/Akt pathway induced by PCV2 infection to suppress premature apoptosis for improved virus growth after infection, extending our understanding of the molecular mechanism of PCV2 infection.
Incorporation of Antigens into Viral Capsids Augments Immunogenicity of Adeno-Associated Virus Vector-Based Vaccines
Authors: Rybniker Jan , Nowag Angela , Janicki Hanna , Demant Kai , Hartmann Pia , Büning Hildegard
Published: October 2012

Genetic modification of adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids has previously been exploited to redirect viral tropism. Here we demonstrate that engineering of AAV capsids as scaffolds for antigen display augments antigen-specific immunogenicity. Combining antigen display with vector-mediated overexpression resulted in a single-shot prime-boost vaccine. This new class of vaccines induced immune responses significantly faster and an IgG antibody pool of higher avidity than conventional vectors, highlighting the potency of capsid modification in vaccine development.
Critical Role for Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 (IRF-3) and IRF-7 in Type I Interferon-Mediated Control of Murine Norovirus Replication
Authors: Thackray Larissa B. , Duan Erning , Lazear Helen M. , Kambal Amal , Schreiber Robert D. , Diamond Michael S. , Virgin Herbert W.
Published: October 2012

Human noroviruses (HuNoV) are the major cause of epidemic, nonbacterial gastroenteritis in the world. The short course of HuNoV-induced symptoms has implicated innate immunity in control of norovirus (NoV) infection. Studies using murine norovirus (MNV) confirm the importance of innate immune responses during NoV infection. Type I alpha and beta interferons (IFN-α/β) limit HuNoV replicon function, restrict MNV replication in cultured cells, and control MNV replication
in vivo
. Therefore, the cell types and transcription factors involved in antiviral immune responses and IFN-α/β-mediated control of NoV infection are important to define. We used mice with floxed alleles of the IFNAR1 chain of the IFN-α/β receptor to identify cells expressing lysozyme M or CD11c as cells that respond to IFN-α/β to restrict MNV replication
in vivo
. Furthermore, we show that the transcription factors IRF-3 and IRF-7 work in concert to initiate unique and overlapping antiviral responses to restrict MNV replication
in vivo
. IRF-3 and IRF-7 restrict MNV replication in both cultured macrophages and dendritic cells, are required for induction of IFN-α/β in macrophages but not dendritic cells, and are dispensable for the antiviral effects of IFN-α/β that block MNV replication. These studies suggest that expression of the IFN-α/β receptor on macrophages/neutrophils and dendritic cells, as well as of IRF-3 and IRF-7, is critical for innate immune responses to NoV infection.
Hepatitis C Virus Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Primary Human Hepatocytes
Authors: Bose Sandip K. , Meyer Keith , Di Bisceglie Adrian M. , Ray Ratna B. , Ray Ranjit
Published: October 2012

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-mediated liver disease progression may reflect distinct molecular mechanisms for increased hepatocyte growth and hepatic stellate cell activation. In this study, we have observed that primary human hepatocytes, when infected
in vitro
with cell culture-grown HCV genotype 1a or 2a, display viral RNA and protein expression. Infected hepatocytes displayed a fibroblast-like shape and an extended life span. To understand the changes at the molecular level, we examined epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. Increased mRNA and protein expression levels of vimentin, snail, slug, and twist and a loss of the epithelial cell marker E-cadherin were observed. Snail and twist, when examined separately, were upregulated in chronically HCV-infected liver biopsy specimens, indicating an onset of an active EMT state in the infected liver. An increased expression level of fibroblast-specific protein 1 (FSP-1) in the infected hepatocytes was also evident, indicating a type 2 EMT state. Infected hepatocytes had significantly increased levels of phosphorylated β-catenin (Ser
552
) as an EMT mediator, which translocated into the nucleus and activated Akt. The phosphorylation level of β-catenin at Thr
41
/Ser
45
moieties was specifically higher in control than in HCV-infected hepatocytes, implicating an inactivation of β-catenin. Together, these results suggested that primary human hepatocytes infected with cell culture-grown HCV display EMT via the activation of the Akt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This observation may have implications for liver disease progression and therapeutic intervention strategies using inhibitory molecules.
A Novel Group of Avian Astroviruses in Wild Aquatic Birds
Authors: Chu Daniel K. W. , Leung Connie Y. H. , Perera Harsha K. K. , Ng Erica M. , Gilbert Martin , Joyner Priscilla H. , Grioni Alessandro , Ades Gary , Guan Yi , Peiris Joseph S. M. , Poon Leo L. M.
Published: October 2012

Using a pan-astrovirus reverse transcription-PCR assay, a great diversity of novel avastroviruses was detected from wild bird and poultry samples. Two groups of astroviruses detected from wild birds are genetically related or highly similar to previously known viruses in poultry. Most interestingly, a novel group of astroviruses was detected in wild aquatic birds. Our results also reveal that different groups of astroviruses might have difference host ranges. This study has expanded our understanding regarding avastrovirus ecology.
Baculoviruses Modulate a Proapoptotic DNA Damage Response To Promote Virus Multiplication
Authors: Mitchell Jonathan K. , Friesen Paul D.
Published: October 2012

The baculovirus
Autographa californica
multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) initiates apoptosis in diverse insects through events triggered by virus DNA (vDNA) replication. To define the proapoptotic pathway and its role in antivirus defense, we investigated the link between the host's DNA damage response (DDR) and apoptosis. We report here that AcMNPV elicits a DDR in the model insect
Drosophila melanogaster
. Replication of vDNA activated DDR kinases, as evidenced by ATM-driven phosphorylation of the
Drosophila
histone H2AX homolog (H2Av), a critical regulator of the DDR. Ablation or inhibition of ATM repressed H2Av phosphorylation and blocked virus-induced apoptosis. The DDR kinase inhibitors caffeine and KU55933 also prevented virus-induced apoptosis in cells derived from the permissive AcMNPV host,
Spodoptera frugiperda
. This block occurred at a step upstream of virus-mediated depletion of the cellular inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein, an event that initiates apoptosis in
Spodoptera
and
Drosophila
. Thus, the DDR is a conserved, proapoptotic response to baculovirus infection. DDR inhibition also repressed vDNA replication and reduced virus yields 100,000-fold, demonstrating that the DDR contributes to virus production, despite its recognized antivirus role. In contrast to virus-induced phosphorylation of
Drosophila
H2Av, AcMNPV blocked phosphorylation of the
Spodoptera
H2AX homolog (SfH2AX). Remarkably, AcMNPV also suppressed SfH2AX phosphorylation following pharmacologically induced DNA damage. These findings indicate that AcMNPV alters canonical DDR signaling in permissive cells. We conclude that AcMNPV triggers a proapoptotic DDR that is subsequently modified, presumably to stimulate vDNA replication. Thus, manipulation of the DDR to facilitate multiplication is an evolutionarily conserved strategy among DNA viruses of insects and mammals.
A survey of state medical licensing boards: can the travelling team physician practice in your state?
Authors: Viola Tracey , Carlson Chad , Trojian Thomas H , Anderson Jeffrey
Published: October 2012

This was a study that surveyed state medical licensing boards in the USA, to see if they have laws or exemptions for travelling team physicians to practice medicine on their own team, while travelling to that state. Surveys were sent to 58 medical boards, with legislative data being obtained for 54. Eighteen states (33%) allow team physicians travelling with their team to practice medicine with their home-state license. Thirty-six states (67%) do not have a legal pathway to allow the practice of medicine without a license: 27 (50%) do not allow the practice of medicine without a license from their state, 6 (11%) have an exemption for a ‘consultant’ to act in concert with a home-state physician (though this is not applicable to the team physician) and 3 (6%) do not have an exemption, but recognise that it happens without their involvement. A second survey was sent to 20 malpractice carriers, identified by an internet search to represent a diverse sample, to see if these companies offered policies that would cover the team physician, and if they also had licensure requirements. Of the 11 that responded, only 2 companies would provide coverage regardless of individual state licensing requirements, 5 companies would provide coverage to a provider who travels, but would require the provider to be licensed in any state they travel to and 4 companies would not provide coverage out of the home state, regardless of licensure. The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine is working on a Federal patch for this problem.
Comparison of traditional trigger tool to data warehouse based screening for identifying hospital adverse events
Authors: O'Leary Kevin J , Devisetty Vikram K , Patel Amitkumar R , Malkenson David , Sama Pradeep , Thompson William K , Landler Matthew P , Barnard Cynthia , Williams Mark V
Published: October 2012

Background

Research supports medical record review using screening triggers as the optimal method to detect hospital adverse events (AE), yet the method is labour-intensive.

Method

This study compared a traditional trigger tool with an enterprise data warehouse (EDW) based screening method to detect AEs. We created 51 automated queries based on 33 traditional triggers from prior research, and then applied them to 250 randomly selected medical patients hospitalised between 1 September 2009 and 31 August 2010. Two physicians each abstracted records from half the patients using a traditional trigger tool and then performed targeted abstractions for patients with positive EDW queries in the complementary half of the sample. A third physician confirmed presence of AEs and assessed preventability and severity.

Results

Traditional trigger tool and EDW based screening identified 54 (22%) and 53 (21%) patients with one or more AE. Overall, 140 (56%) patients had one or more positive EDW screens (total 366 positive screens). Of the 137 AEs detected by at least one method, 86 (63%) were detected by a traditional trigger tool, 97 (71%) by EDW based screening and 46 (34%) by both methods. Of the 11 total preventable AEs, 6 (55%) were detected by traditional trigger tool, 7 (64%) by EDW based screening and 2 (18%) by both methods. Of the 43 total serious AEs, 28 (65%) were detected by traditional trigger tool, 29 (67%) by EDW based screening and 14 (33%) by both.

Conclusions

We found relatively poor agreement between traditional trigger tool and EDW based screening with only approximately a third of all AEs detected by both methods. A combination of complementary methods is the optimal approach to detecting AEs among hospitalised patients.
Paediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Melbourne, Australia: improved reporting by adding coronial data to a cardiac arrest registry
Authors: Deasy Conor , Hall David , Bray Janet E , Smith Karen , Bernard Stephen A , Cameron Peter ,   on behalf of the VACAR Steering Committee
Published: October 2012

Aim

We describe improved reporting of paediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) by adding coronial findings to a cardiac arrest registry.

Methods

Non-traumatic OHCA occurring in paediatric patients aged less than 16 years were identified using the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry and available coronial findings reviewed.

Results

Between the years 2001 and 2009, emergency medical services (EMS) attended 26 974 non-traumatic OHCA of which 390 (1.4%) occurred in children less than 16 years of age. We successfully linked 301 patients with the coronial registry; excluding patients discharged alive from hospital (n=22) and patients with terminal illness (n=16), this represents 86% of OHCA attended by the ambulance. Agreement between the paramedic cause of OHCA and the coronial cause of death was 66.5% (κ 0.16) for presumed cardiac, 74.4% (κ 0.43) for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), 81.1% (κ 0.17) for respiratory, 92.7% (κ 0.18) for neurological and 98.3% (κ 0.27) for drug overdose precipitants to OHCA. Undiagnosed congenital heart disease was a rare cause of OHCA (n=3, 1%). Intentional injury was found on autopsy in 13 cases; six cases were clinically thought to be SIDS and two cases presumed cardiac. Co-sleeping was found in 35 cases (39%) of SIDS.

Conclusions

This study highlights the limitations associated with ascribing the cause of OHCA on the basis of clinical details. Improved reporting is possible by linkage with coronial data. Such robust data inform EMS service providers but also the wider healthcare system where preventive, diagnostic and treatment strategies can be maximised.
Pulmonary embolism rule-out criteria (PERC) in pulmonary embolism—revisited: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Singh Balwinder , Mommer Shannon K , Erwin Patricia J , Mascarenhas Soniya S , Parsaik Ajay K
Published: October 2012

Objectives

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis including all the current studies to assess the accuracy of pulmonary embolism rule-out criteria (PERC) in ruling out pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search of the major databases (Ovid Medline In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, Ovid PsycInfo, Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Scopus) and references of potentially eligible articles and conference proceedings of major emergency medicine organisations through May 2012. We included all original research studies conducted in emergency departments on diagnostic performance of PERC. Two reviewers independently identified the eligible studies and extracted data. Sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios were calculated using contingency tables.

Results

12 studies including 13 cohorts (three retrospective, 10 prospective) were included, comprising of 14 844 patients from six countries. 12 cohorts were urban and one was rural. Pooled (95% CI) sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio were 0.97 (0.96 to 0.98), 0.22 (0.22 to 0.23), 1.22 (1.16 to 1.29) and 0.17 (0.13 to 0.23), respectively. The pooled (95% CI) diagnostic OR was 7.4 (5.5–9.8). On meta-regression analysis, there was no significant difference between PE prevalence and PERC diagnostic performance (coefficient (SE) of −0.032 (0.022), p=0.173) or on relative diagnostic OR (0.97, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.02). Significant heterogeneity was observed in specificity (I2=97.4%) and positive likelihood ratio (I2=89.1%).

Conclusions

Because of the high sensitivity and low negative likelihood ratio, PERC rule can be used confidently in clinically low probability population settings.
How likely is environmental or patient cross-contamination ofChlamydia trachomatisDNA to lead to false positive results in patients attending our clinic?
Authors: Chan Sum Yee , Jose Sophie , King Rebecca , Pakianathan Mark R , Sabin Caroline , Sadiq S Tariq , Hay Phillip E , Planche Tim
Published: October 2012

Objectives

Environmental contamination with DNA fromChlamydia trachomatis(CT) has previously been found in Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinics. There are no known cases of cross-contamination of clinical samples and no known nosocomial infections. We investigated whether diagnostic samples could become contaminated from the environment by running dummy sample and carrying out a patient-throughput analysis. A total of 29 748 patients attended clinics over a year. Of these, 2860 (9.6%) had a positive Chlamydia test result.

Method

(1) A run of dummy samples (60 urine samples and 10 swabs) were processed as normal clinic specimens. (2) Patient-throughput analysis: Patient numbers attending the GUM clinic on a given day was categorised as low, moderate or high. χ2Tests were used to look for associations between categorical variables and Chlamydia test positivity. A Poisson regression model was fitted to look at the effect of the number of people in the clinic on the number of positive results in a given day. As some clinics were only run on certain days of the week, a sensitivity analysis was later performed with attendances at non-daily clinics removed.

Results

All dummy samples tested negative and we did not find evidence of an association between daily Chlamydia positivity and clinic attendance.

Conclusions

It is unlikely that environmental or cross-contamination of CT has lead to significant numbers of false positive results. Laboratories check for possible cross-contamination routinely. The extension of this simple routine practice to all clinical areas could provide quality assurance, improving confidence in the results in clinics.
ON DIVERSITY OF CONFIGURATIONS GENERATED BY EXCITABLE CELLULAR AUTOMATA WITH DYNAMICAL EXCITATION INTERVALS
Authors: ADAMATZKY ANDREW
Published: October 2012

Excitable cellular automata with dynamical excitation interval exhibit a wide range of space-time dynamics based on an interplay between propagating excitation patterns which modify excitability of the automaton cells. Such interactions leads to formation of standing domains of excitation, stationary waves and localized excitations. We analyzed morphological and generative diversities of the functions studied and characterized the functions with highest values of the diversities. Amongst other intriguing discoveries we found that upper boundary of excitation interval more significantly affects morphological diversity of configurations generated than lower boundary of the interval does and there is no match between functions which produce configurations of excitation with highest morphological diversity and configurations of interval boundaries with highest morphological diversity. Potential directions of future studies of excitable media with dynamically changing excitability may focus on relations of the automaton model with living excitable media, e.g. neural tissue and muscles, novel materials with memristive properties and networks of conductive polymers.
STEADY-STATE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR HARMONIC OSCILLATOR WITH VERY FAST FREQUENCY FLUCTUATIONS
Authors: DUBKOV ALEXANDER
Published: October 2012

The moment and probability steady-state characteristics of harmonic oscillator with frequency fluctuations in the form of white noise are investigated. Based on well-known functional approach, we derive integro-differential Kolmogorov equation for the joint probability density function of oscillator coordinate and velocity. For white Gaussian noise, using a set of equations for joint moments, we reconstruct the approximate form of coordinate and velocity distributions in the limit of small friction. As shown, these probability density functions do not exist for zero friction because they cannot be normalized.
ON THE DYNAMICS AND THE GEOMETRY OF THE ISHII SYSTEM
Authors: TUDORAN RAMONA A.
Published: October 2012

In this paper, we analyze from the Poisson dynamics and geometry point of view the Ishii dynamical system.
FABRICATION OF GaN HOMO-JUNCTION ON Si (111) SUBSTRATE FOR SENSOR APPLICATIONS
Authors: MOHD YUSOFF M. Z. , HASSAN Z. , CHIN C. W. , ABU HASSAN H. , ABDULLAH M. J. , AHMAD M. A. , YUSOF Y.
Published: October 2012

In this paper, we investigated growth of GaN pn-homo junction layers on silicon (111) by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PA-MBE) system and its application for photo-sensors. Silicon (Si) and magnesium (Mg) were used in this study as n- and p-dopants, respectively. Structural and optical analysis of the GaN homo-junction samples were performed by using reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) to analyze the crystalline quality of the samples. Surprisingly, the Raman analysis has revealed that there is no quenching of the A1 (LO) peak, with the presence of Si - and Mg -dopants in sample. The pn-junctions sample has good optical quality as measured by the PL system. Electrical characterization of the photo-sensors was carried out by using current–voltage (I–V) measurements.
New AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors Employing Charge Accumulation in Multiple Al2O3/Ga2O3Stacks
Authors: Seok Ogyun , Ahn Woojin , Han Min-Koo , Ha Min-Woo
Published: October 2012

We have proposed and fabricated new AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) employing charge accumulation in multiple Al2O3/Ga2O3stacks by rf-sputtering in order to increase the breakdown voltage and the threshold voltage (VTH). 10-nm-thick rf-sputtered Al2O3/Ga2O3stacks on the GaN cap, which consist of 2-nm-thick Al2O3and 2-nm-thick Ga2O3, would induce accumulation of electrons and holes in the stacks on AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. The proposed device achieves the high breakdown voltage of 1104 V while the unpassivated one shows the low breakdown voltage of 380 V. The drain leakage current is considerably suppressed from 654 µA/mm to 33 nA/mm. TheVTHof the proposed device is -1.4 V while that of the conventional device is -2 V due to the accumulated electrons in the multiple Al2O3/Ga2O3stacks. We have also investigated the charge accumulation phenomena by applying the negative DC stress to the proposed device with and without final SiO2passivation, respectively.
Spin Pumping without Three-Magnon Splitting in Polycrystalline Bi1Y2Fe5O12/Pt Bilayer Structure
Authors: Iguchi Ryo , Ando Kazuya , Takahashi Ryo , An Toshu , Saitoh Eiji , Sato Tetsuya
Published: October 2012

Spin pumping at various precession frequencies has been investigated in a polycrystalline Bi-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Bi:YIG)/Pt bilayer structure by means of inverse spin Hall effect (ISHE) with comparison to a single crystal La-substituted yttrium iron garnet (La:YIG)/Pt bilayer structure which shows three-magnon splitting. As precession frequency decreases, the magnitude of pumped spin currents in the polycrystalline sample continuously increases to high magnitude comparable to the highest magnitude in the single crystal sample while that in the single crystal sample decreases below a threshold frequency of three-magnon splitting. By comparing ISHE voltage with microwave absorption intensity in the polycrystalline sample, we verify that the large magnitude of the pumped spin currents is maintained at low frequencies through the suppression of three-magnon splitting.
Variation of Surface Roughness on Ge Substrate by Cleaning in Deionized Water and its Influence on Electrical Properties in Ge Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors
Authors: Lee Choong Hyun , Nishimura Tomonori , Tabata Toshiyuki , Nagashio Kosuke , Kita Koji , Toriumi Akira
Published: October 2012

The control of Ge surface roughness using deionized water (DIW) was systematically investigated. It was found that a very flat surface was obtained by pure-DIW dipping at room temperature, while quite a rough surface was observed at high temperature. The surface reaction model of Ge with H2O is proposed to explain the correlation of surface roughness (SR) formation with the etching process of Ge in DIW. In addition, the effects of SR on electrical properties in Ge/GeO2 stack such as capacitance–voltage (C–V) curves, interface state density, and electron mobility are presented.
Conduction Band Model of [110]/(001) Uniaxially Strained Si
Authors: Jian-Jun Song , Chao Yang , Guan-Yu Wang , Chun-Yu Zhou , Bing Wang , Hui-Yong Hu , He-Ming Zhang
Published: October 2012

The conduction band structure of [110]/(001) uniaxially strained Si changes owing to the coupling effect between Δ1and Δ2'conduction subbands. Consequently, its corresponding physical property will be changed. Because of the lack of reported papers about this change, we establish the analyticE–krelationship, considering the coupling effects between conduction subbands, near the extreme point of the energy valley in [110]/(001) uniaxially strained Si within the framework of thek·pperturbation theory. Then, the parameters of the conduction band of [110]/(001) uniaxially strained Si, including band degeneracy, energy level, splitting energy, and effective mass, as a function of the magnitude of stress were obtained. Our analytic models and quantized results will provide significant theoretical references for the design of a uniaxially strained Si metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET).
Effect of Pressure on the Electrical Resistance of Individual Boron-Doped Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Watanabe Tohru , Tomioka Fumiaki , Ishii Satoshi , Tsuda Shunsuke , Yamaguchi Takahide , Takano Yoshihiko
Published: October 2012

The electrical resistance of an individual boron-doped multi-walled carbon nanotube was measured under high pressure up to 1.73 GPa. The resistance decreased drastically when pressure was applied. The temperature dependence of the resistance was explained by a variable range hopping transport model, and the dimensionality was observed to change from one to three dimensions with increasing pressure.
Characterization of Aluminum Laser Produced Plasma by Target Current Measurements
Authors: Nica Petru-Edward , Agop Maricel , Gurlui Silviu , Bejinariu Costica , Focsa Cristian
Published: October 2012

The transient target current is used to characterize the aluminum laser produced plasma for various fluences and target external polarizations. A double peak structure of the electronic part was experimentally observed, as consequence of the existence of non-Maxwellian electron distribution through the hot and cold electrons. Applying an external voltage on the target, the ionic part becomes oscillatory, with plasma ion frequency. Assuming that particle motions take place on continuous and non-differentiable curves, a fractal hydrodynamic model of plasma expansion is built. In such conjecture, the analytical solutions and numerical simulations allow a reasonable interpretation of our experimental results.
Performance Improvement of Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon Thin-Film Transistors with Fluorinated Silicate Glass Drive-In Masking Layer
Authors: Fan Ching-Lin , Lin Yi-Yan , Wang Shou-Kuan , Shang Min-Chi , Lin Wei-Chun
Published: October 2012

This study investigated a low-temperature polycrystalline silicon thin-film transistor (LTPS TFT) with a fluorinated silicate glass (FSG) drive-in masking layer on the channel layer to improve the device's performance. The FSG layer can also be patterned as a masking layer to define the source and drain (S/D) regions, and the activation of S/D regions and fluorine passivation treatment can be accomplished simultaneously. Fluorine atoms can diffuse from the FSG drive-in masking layer into the bulk channel to passivate the trap states, resulting in a considerable improvement of the electrical characteristics of the device. This demonstrated that the field-effect mobility increased from 10.9 to 30.4 cm2V-1s-1, and the on/off current ratio increased from 8.9 ×104to 10.4 ×105. The proposed scheme is simple, economical, and suitable for mass production of large-sized displays.
Effects of Hydrogen Passivation on Near-Infrared Photodetection of n-Type β-FeSi2/p-Type Si Heterojunction Photodiodes
Authors: Promros Nathaporn , Yamashita Kyohei , Iwasaki Ryūhei , Yoshitake Tsuyoshi
Published: October 2012

Hydrogen passivation was applied to the initial epitaxial growth of n-type β-FeSi2 thin films on p-type Si(111) substrates. Such passivation was applied at different gas inflow H2/Ar ratios ranging from 0 to 1.0. The photodetection performance of the photodiode fabricated at the optimum ratio of 0.2 was markedly improved as compared with those of the other samples. The quantum efficiency and detectivity were 2.08% and 5.40×109 cm·Hz1/2·W-1, respectively. The enhanced photodetective performance should be mainly because dangling bonds that act as trap centers for photocarriers are effectively inactivated by the passivation.
Packet-voice communication on an ethernet local computer network
Authors: Gonsalves Timothy A
Published: October 2012

Local computer networks have been used successfully for data applications such as file transfers for several years. Recently, there have been several proposals for using these networks for voice applications also. We describe a simple voice protocol for use on a packet-switching local network. This protocol is used in an experimental study of the feasibility of using a 3 Mbps experimental Ethernet network for packet-voice communications. The effect of various parameters on performance is examined. The study shows that with appropriately chosen parameters the experimental Ethernet is capable of supporting about 40 simultaneous 64-Kbps two-way voice conversations with acceptable quality. This corresponds to a utilization of 95% of the network capacity.