bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rivastigmine for the treatment of dementia in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy: Clinical observations as a basis for power calculations and safety analysis
Authors: Liepelt Iuga , Gaenslen Alexandra , Godau Jana , Di Santo Adriana , Schweitzer Katharine J. , Gasser Thomas , Berg Daniela
Published: January 2010

Cognitive decline and dementia are present in about 50% of patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Based on the known involvement of the cholinergic system in PSP patients, and because rivastigmine, in contrast to other cholinesterase inhibitors, inhibits both acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, we discuss clinical observations of five patients suffering from PSP and dementia who were all treated with rivastigmine over a period of 3 to 6 months. We found a slight improvement in specific cognitive function that may justify further controlled studies. A calculation of sample size revealed that a study on the effect of rivastigmine in PSP should include about 31 patients to detect a significant effect. In subtests, meaningful results can be obtained with even lower numbers (five patients for a verbal fluency test, and 14 patients for a logical memory task).
Outcome over seven years of healthy adults with and without subjective cognitive impairment
Authors: Reisberg Barry , Shulman Melanie B. , Torossian Carol , Leng Ling , Zhu Wei
Published: January 2010

Background

Subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) in older persons without manifest symptomatology is a common condition with a largely unclear prognosis. We hypothesized that (1) examining outcome for a sufficient period by using conversion to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia would clarify SCI prognosis, and (2) with the aforementioned procedures, the prognosis of SCI subjects would differ significantly from that of demographically matched healthy subjects, free of SCI, termed no cognitive impairment (NCI) subjects.

Methods

A consecutive series of healthy subjects, aged ≥40 years, presenting with NCI or SCI to a brain aging and dementia research center during a 14‐year interval, were studied and followed up during an 18‐year observation window. The study population (60 NCI, 200 SCI, 60% female) had a mean age of 67.2 ± 9.1 years, was well‐educated (mean, 15.5 ± 2.7 years), and cognitively normal (Mini‐Mental State Examination, 29.1 ± 1.2).

Results

A total of 213 subjects (81.9% of the study population) were followed up. Follow‐up occurred during a mean period of 6.8 ± 3.4 years, and subjects had a mean of 2.9 ± 1.6 follow‐up visits. Seven NCI (14.9%) and 90 SCI (54.2%) subjects declined (P < .0001). Of NCI decliners, five declined to MCI and two to probable Alzheimer's disease. Of SCI decliners, 71 declined to MCI and 19 to dementia diagnoses. Controlling for baseline demographic variables and follow‐up time, Weibull proportional hazards model revealed increased decline in SCI subjects (hazard ratio, 4.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.9–10.3), whereas the accelerated failure time model analysis with an underlying Weibull survival function showed that SCI subjects declined more rapidly, at 60% of the rate of NCI subjects (95% confidence interval, 0.45–0.80). Furthermore, mean time to decline was 3.5 years longer for NCI than for SCI subjects (P = .0003).

Conclusions

These results indicate that SCI in subjects with normal cognition is a harbinger of further decline in most subjects during a 7‐year mean follow‐up interval. Relevance for community populations should be investigated, and prevention studies in this at‐risk population should be explored.
Elaboration and numerical anchoring: Breadth, depth, and the role of (non‐)thoughtful processes in anchoring theories
Authors: Wegener Duane T. , Petty Richard E. , Blankenship Kevin L. , Detweiler‐Bedell Brian
Published: January 2010

Noted Judgment and Decision Making (JDM) researchers differ in their opinions of whether and how an attitudes and persuasion (A&P) view of anchoring might add to the existing anchoring literature. Epley and Gilovich (2010) and Russo (2010) supported the breadth of variables that an attitudinal view of brings to bear on anchoring phenomena and the potential operation of different psychological processes across different contexts. They also suggest extensions to other types of anchors (along with Frederick et al. 2010), to alternative paradigms, and to other classes of moderators, such as goals. Authors of all three commentaries wondered if the evidence we presented speaks to traditional issues related to processes underlying anchoring. Frederick et al. (2010) also took a different approach in suggesting that anchoring is always due to non‐thoughtful processes despite the fact that thoughtful processes can also influence judgments. This approach diverges from prominent reviews of the anchoring literature and implies that the presence of any simple, associative mechanism makes the overall process that involves that mechanism “non‐thoughtful.” We discuss how this approach differs from our own, and we discuss the implications of the other observations in each commentary.
Pterygodermatites (Multipectines) pluripectinata n. sp. (Spirurida: Rictulariidae), a nematode parasite of the crab-eating fox Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus, 1766) from Caatinga shrubland, Brazil
Authors: Lux Hoppe E.G. , Araújo de Lima R.C. , Tebaldi J.H. , Nascimento A.A.
Published: January 2010

In a parasitological survey of free-ranging Cerdocyon thous (Carnivora: Canidae) from Brazilian Caatinga shrubland, a new species of Pterygodermatites (Multipectines) was recovered from the small intestine of this host. Morphological analysis showed that P. (Multipectines) pluripectinata n. sp. is distinguished from all other congeneric species mainly by the numerous plate-like projections and male caudal morphology and spicular length. There are few records on the occurrence of this genus in Neotropical regions.
Large amplitude circularly polarized waves in quantum plasmas
Authors: STENFLO L. , BRODIN G.
Published: January 2010

Some previous dispersion relations for large amplitude waves in plasmas are generalized so that also quantum effects are included.
Temporal and right frontal lobe alterations in panic disorder: a quantitative volumetric and voxel-based morphometric MRI study
Authors: Sobanski T. , Wagner G. , Peikert G. , Gruhn U. , Schluttig K. , Sauer H. , Schlösser R.
Published: January 2010

Background

With regard to current neurobiological theories, the aim of our study was to examine possible alterations of temporal and frontal lobe volume in panic disorder (PD).

Method

Seventeen in-patients with PD and a group of healthy control subjects (HC) matched for age and gender were investigated by quantitative volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Structures of interest were: the temporal lobe, the amygdala–hippocampus complex (AHC) and the frontal lobe. In addition, a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis implemented in Statistical Parametric Mapping 5 (SPM5) was used for a more detailed assessment of possible volume alterations. Modulated grey matter (GM) images were used to test our a priori hypotheses and to present the volumetric results.

Results

Quantitative volumetric MRI revealed a bilateral reduction in temporal lobe volume in patients with PD compared to HC subjects. The AHC was normal. The right frontal lobe volume was also decreased. Using VBM we detected a significant GM volume reduction in the right middle temporal gyrus [Brodmann area (BA) 21] in patients with PD. In addition, there was a reduction in GM volume in the medial part of the orbitofrontal cortex (BA 11).

Conclusions

Our results of reduced temporal and frontal lobe volume in PD are in agreement with prior studies. By using a recent VBM approach we were able to assess the abnormalities more precisely. The location of GM volume reduction in the right middle temporal gyrus and medial orbitofrontal cortex lends further support to recent aetiological models of PD.
Impairment, disability, social support and depression among older parents in rural Thailand
Authors: Suttajit S. , Punpuing S. , Jirapramukpitak T. , Tangchonlatip K. , Darawuttimaprakorn N. , Stewart R. , Dewey M. E. , Prince M. , Abas M. A.
Published: January 2010

Background

It is not known whether social support modifies the association between depression and impairment or disability in older people from developing countries in Asia.

Method

We used a Thai version of the EURO-D scale to measure depression in 1104 Thai rural community-dwelling parents aged ⩾60 years. These were all those providing data on depression who were recruited as part of a study of older adults with at least one living child (biological, stepchild or adopted child). Logistic regression modelling was used to determine: (a) whether impairment, disability and social support deficits were associated with depression; (b) whether social support modified this association.

Results

There were strong graded relationships between impairment, disability, social support deficits and EURO-D caseness. Level of impairment, but not disability, interacted with poor social support in that depression was especially likely in those who had more physical impairments as well as one or more social support deficits (pvalue for interaction=0.018), even after full adjustment.

Conclusions

Social support is important in reducing the association between physical impairment and depression in Thai older adults, especially for those with a large number of impairments. Enhancing social support as well as improving healthcare and disability facilities should be emphasized in interventions to prevent depression in older adults.
Many lessons from a school: What classroom discourse analysis reveals
Authors: Zuengler Jane
Published: January 2010

In my talk, I foreground what I and my colleagues have learned about discourse in the numerous classrooms we observed in a four-year research study at an urban high school. While Jefferson High had a student body that was linguistically and culturally diverse, it was homogeneous socioeconomically, being labeled ‘low income’. Some of the research I address reveals how the classroom discourse both co-constructed and was influenced by these phenomena. Additionally, my survey of the research reveals that theoretical frameworks shape the research process and, ultimately, what we learn about classroom discourse.
Using clinical databases to evaluate healthcare interventions
Authors: Harvey Sheila , Rowan Kathy , Harrison David , Black Nick
Published: January 2010

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of conducting rigorous, nonrandomized studies (NRSs) of healthcare interventions using existing clinical databases in terms of the following: recruiting a large representative sample of hospitals, identifying eligible cases, matching cases to controls to achieve similar baseline characteristics, making meaningful comparisons of outcomes, and carrying out subgroup analyses.

Methods: Data were extracted from the Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre's Case Mix Programme Database to investigate the impact of management with a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Participating ICUs were invited to collect additional data for the analysis. Patients managed with a PAC were matched to control patients on their propensity score. Hospital mortality was then compared between the two groups.

Results: Of 117 eligible ICUs, 68 (58 percent) agreed to participate, of which 57 (84 percent) collected additional data. Although a slightly higher proportion of larger ICUs in university hospitals participated, the patient case-mix was similar to that in nonparticipating ICUs. Almost all patients managed with a PAC (98 percent) were successfully matched to patients managed without a PAC. The two groups were similar for baseline characteristics. However, hospital mortality was worse for PAC patients than for non-PAC patients (odds ratio, 1.28; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.06–1.55). Subgroup analysis suggested that the impact of management with a PAC was modified by severity of illness.

Conclusions: Rigorous NRSs are feasible if they are based on data from high-quality clinical databases. However, the reliability of estimated treatment effects from such studies requires further investigation.
Usefulness of a short-term register for health technology assessment where the evidence base is poor
Authors: Patrick Hannah , Gallaugher Sally , Czoski-Murray Carolyn , Wheeler Robert , Chattle Marc , Marlow Mirella , Lyratzopoulos Georgios , Campbell Bruce
Published: January 2010

Objectives: This study reviews the coverage and usefulness of a short-term register, established specifically for health technology assessment of a novel interventional procedure (minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum, or the Nuss procedure).

Methods: Coverage of the register during 2004–07 was assessed by comparison with Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) for England. Its usefulness was assessed by comparing safety and efficacy data with the published literature and by feedback from committee members who in 2009 were involved in reviewing NICE's original guidance from 2003.

Results: The register reported 260 cases from thirteen UK hospitals during nearly 9 years. During a coverage evaluation period of 3 years, there were 152 registered Nuss procedures. An additional 246 repairs of pectus excavatum were undertaken in twenty-six previously unidentified hospitals. Of the 246, 23 were Nuss procedures (from two hospitals), 140 were open procedures (from eleven hospitals), and 3 were coding errors. No details were available for eighty cases undertaken at ten hospitals. The quantity of published literature had increased substantially since publication of original guidance in 2003. It related mostly to technical and safety outcomes, whereas the register included patient reported outcomes. The literature and the register reported similar rates of major adverse events such as bar displacement (2–10 percent). Committee members considered that the Register made a useful contribution to guidance development.

Conclusions: This study shows that a register set up to support a health technology assessment process can produce useful data both about safety and about patient-reported outcomes. Coverage may be improved by active follow-up based on routine hospital statistics. Improvement in coding for new procedures is needed in the United Kingdom.
Comparison of the assessment of five new interventional procedures in different countries
Authors: Plumb Jonathan , Lyratzopoulos Georgios , Gallo Helen , Campbell Bruce
Published: January 2010

Objectives:The aim of this study was to identify and compare health technology assessments of the same new interventional procedures produced in different countries.

Methods:We selected five new interventional procedures and studied related assessments produced in different countries.

Results:There were twenty assessments (range, 3–5 per procedure) from nine countries—fourteen from Australia, Canada, and United Kingdom. The number of primary RCTs cited by the assessments ranged from 0 to 13. In the assessment reports, “headline” statements about the strength of evidence for efficacy (73 percent) were made more frequently than for safety (53 percent). These statements were scored for their apparent judgment of the strength of the evidence—1 (poor) to 5 (strong)—and received scores of 3 or less in all but four cases. Recommendations about additional research were included in 55 percent of the assessments. Statements in assessments about other aspects of use of the procedures were included more infrequently—in 35 percent for patient selection, in 20 percent for consent issues, and in 15 percent for types of clinical teams. Recommendations about appropriate healthcare settings, or about operator training, were included only in assessments produced by a single organization.

Conclusion:There was a only small number of assessments world-wide, for a range of new procedures with potentially high impact. Where available, assessments were produced on a relatively poor evidence base. International collaboration in evidence appraisal and review, and in the gathering of new data through research or registers, could improve the advice available to healthcare systems worldwide about the adoption of new interventional procedures.
Cost-effectiveness of screening for colorectal cancer in France using a guaiac test versus an immunochemical test
Authors: Lejeune Catherine , Dancourt Vincent , Arveux Patrick , Bonithon-Kopp Claire , Faivre Jean
Published: January 2010

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the cost and the effectiveness of two biennial fecal occult blood screening tests for colorectal cancer: a guaiac nonrehydrated test (G-FOBT) and an immunochemical test (I-FOBT) with the absence of screening.

Methods: A Markov model was developed to compare these strategies in a general population of subjects aged 50 to 74 over a 20-year period.

Results: Compared with the absence of screening, G-FOBT and I-FOBT were associated with a decrease in colorectal cancer mortality of 17.4 percent and 25.2 percent, respectively. With regard to cost-effectiveness, expressed as cost per life-year gained, I-FOBT was the most effective and most costly alternative. Compared with no screening, G-FOBT and I-FOBT presented similar discounted incremental cost-effectiveness ratios: €2,739 and €2,819 respectively per life-year gained. When compared with G-FOBT, I-FOBT presented an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of €2,988 per life-year gained. Sensitivity analyses showed the strong influence of the I-FOBT lead time, of the participation rate to screening for I-FOBT, and of the purchase price of the I-FOBT on the discounted incremental cost-effectiveness ratios.

Conclusions: Compared with the absence of screening and with G-FOBT, the biennial two-stool immunochemical test can be considered a promising method for mass screening for colorectal cancer.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of the optimal threshold of an automated immunochemical test for colorectal cancer screening: Performances of immunochemical colorectal cancer screening
Authors: Berchi Célia , Guittet Lydia , Bouvier Véronique , Launoy Guy
Published: January 2010

Background: Most industrialized countries, including France, have undertaken to generalize colorectal cancer screening using guaiac fecal occult blood tests (G-FOBT). However, recent researches demonstrate that immunochemical fecal occult blood tests (I-FOBT) are more effective than G-FOBT. Moreover, new generation I-FOBT benefits from a quantitative reading technique allowing the positivity threshold to be chosen, hence offering the best balance between effectiveness and cost. We aimed at comparing the cost and the clinical performance of one round of screening using I-FOBT at different positivity thresholds to those obtained with G-FOBT to determine the optimal cut-off for I-FOBT.

Methods: Data were derived from an experiment conducted from June 2004 to December 2005 in Calvados (France) where 20,322 inhabitants aged 50–74 years performed both I-FOBT and G-FOBT. Clinical performance was assessed by the number of advanced tumors screened, including large adenomas and cancers. Costs were assessed by the French Social Security Board and included only direct costs.

Results: Screening using I-FOBT resulted in better health outcomes and lower costs than screening using G-FOBT for thresholds comprised between 75 and 93 ng/ml. I-FOBT at 55 ng/ml also offers a satisfactory alternative to G-FOBT, because it is 1.8-fold more effective than G-FOBT, without increasing the number of unnecessary colonoscopies, and at an extra cost of €2,519 per advanced tumor screened.

Conclusions: The use of an automated I-FOBT at 75 ng/ml would guarantee more efficient screening than currently used G-FOBT. Health authorities in industrialized countries should consider the replacement of G-FOBT by an automated I-FOBT test in the near future.
Willingness to pay for allergy-vaccination among Danish patients with respiratory allergy
Authors: Petersen Karin Dam , Gyrd-Hansen Dorte , Linneberg Allan , Dahl Ronald , Larsen Jørgen Nedergaard , Løwenstein Henning , Kronborg Christian
Published: January 2010

Objective: The aim of this study was to elicit willingness to pay (WTP) for allergen-specific subcutaneous injection immunotherapy (SCIT) in a cohort of respondents suffering from allergic-rhinoconjunctivitis (a-RC)/asthma, and to investigate how patients self-select to SCIT according to need.

Methods: A random sample of the general population was screened for a-RC/asthma and asked if they were willing to consider SCIT. They were asked to state their WTP for SCIT by way of a discrete choice question (DC-q), an open-ended WTP question (o-WTP-q), and questions relating to their sociodemographic background and the severity of their a-RC/asthma. The characteristics of respondents demanding SCIT were compared with the characteristics of respondents who have actually received SCIT to establish possible barriers to demand.

Results: Our results suggest that respondents do well in self-selecting themselves to SCIT on the basis of need according to disease burden measured in terms of a-RC classification, number of contacts with a general practitioner, number of sick days, and potential quality-adjusted life-year loss. Mean WTP for SCIT was estimated at €655 (median, €267) (o-WTP-q) and €903 (95 percent confidence limit, 348–1,459) (DC-q).

Conclusion: Characteristics of respondents, who consider SCIT and are willing to pay for SCIT, suggest that allergy sufferers select themselves appropriately according to need and not according to other characteristics, such as income or education. There is a significant discrepancy between those who hypothetically consider SCIT and those demanding SCIT in real life. This study suggests that there are barriers to entry related to age and education, but not to income.
Are Key Principles for improved health technology assessment supported and used by health technology assessment organizations?
Authors:   The International Working Group for HTA Advancement, Neumann Peter J. , Drummond Michael F. , Jönsson Bengt , Luce Bryan R. , Schwartz J. Sanford , Siebert Uwe , Sullivan Sean D.
Published: January 2010

Previously, our group—the International Working Group for HTA Advancement—proposed a set of fifteen Key Principles that could be applied to health technology assessment (HTA) programs in different jurisdictions and across a range of organizations and perspectives. In this commentary, we investigate the extent to which these principles are supported and used by fourteen selected HTA organizations worldwide. We find that some principles are broadly supported: examples include being explicit about HTA goals and scope; considering a wide range of evidence and outcomes; and being unbiased and transparent. Other principles receive less widespread support: examples are addressing issues of generalizability and transferability; being transparent on the link between HTA findings and decision-making processes; considering a full societal perspective; and monitoring the implementation of HTA findings. The analysis also suggests a lack of consensus in the field about some principles—for example, considering a societal perspective. Our study highlights differences in the uptake of key principles for HTA and indicates considerable room for improvement for HTA organizations to adopt principles identified to reflect good HTA practices. Most HTA organizations espouse certain general concepts of good practice—for example, assessments should be unbiased and transparent. However, principles that require more intensive follow-up—for example, monitoring the implementation of HTA findings—have received little support and execution.
Do the 15D scores and time trade-off (TTO) values of hospital patients' own health agree?
Authors: Honkalampi Tarja , Sintonen Harri
Published: January 2010

Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate an empirical relationship and degree of agreement between the TTO values of patients’ own health and their 15D scores.

Methods: A total of 863 hospital patients aged 18–93 years filled in the 15D questionnaire to establish their 15D score and valued their present health with TTO. Wilcoxon signed rank test, the Spearman rank correlation coefficient and Tobit models were used to analyze the relation between the 15D and TTO scores.

Results: The null hypothesis of no tendency for one set of scores to be higher or lower than the other set could not be rejected. Apart from dummies for few patients groups, no additional information to the 15D score was found that would have explained significantly the variance in the TTO valuations of patients’ own health. The agreement between these to sets of scores turned out quite good at the aggregate level.

Conclusions: To the extent that mean TTO valuations of patients own health are valid for QALY calculations as they at least theoretically should be, and if experience of health states to be valued counts, the 15D scores are also valid without any transformation in a large group of heterogeneous patients. However, in certain patient groups, the agreement was not as good as overall.
Coverage with Evidence Development: Applications and issues
Authors: Trueman Paul , Grainger David L. , Downs Kristen E.
Published: January 2010

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the current issues surrounding Coverage with Evidence Development (CED). CED is characterized by restricted coverage for a new technology in parallel with targeted research when the stated goal of the research or data collection is to provide definitive evidence for the clinical or cost-effectiveness impact of the new technology.

Methods: Presented here is information summarized and interpreted from presentations and discussions at the 2008 Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi) meeting and additional information from the medical literature. This study describes the differences between CED and other conditional coverage agreements, provides a brief history of CED, describes real-world examples of CED, describes the areas of consensus between the stakeholders, discusses the areas for future negotiation between stakeholders, and proposes criteria to assist stakeholders in determining when CED could be appropriate.

Results: Payers could interpret the evidence obtained from a CED program either positively or negatively, and a range of possible changes to the reimbursement status of the new technology may result. Striking an appropriate balance between the demands for prompt access to new technology and acknowledging that some degree of uncertainty will always exist is a critical challenge to the uptake of this innovative form of conditional coverage.

Conclusions: When used selectively for innovative procedures, pharmaceuticals, or devices in the appropriate disease areas, CED may provide patients access to promising medicines or technologies while data to minimize uncertainty are collected.
Epidemiology of nosocomial candidaemia in a university hospital: a 12-year study
Authors: GÜRCÜOĞLU E. , ENER B. , AKALIN H. , SINIRTAŞ M. , EVCI C. , AKÇAĞLAR S. , YILMAZ E. , HEPER Y.
Published: January 2010

The incidence of nosocomial candidaemia was evaluated in a retrospective study in a Turkish tertiary-care hospital. Over a 12-year period (1996–2007), a total of 743 episodes of candidaemia occurred in 743 patients, accounting for an average incidence of 1·9 episodes/1000 admissions and 2·9 episodes/10 000 patient-days per year. The annual incidence was almost constant during the study period except for 1996 when it was significantly higher in comparison with other years (P<0·05). The most common species isolated was Candida albicans (45%), followed by C. parapsilosis (26%), C. tropicalis (7%), C. krusei (7%), and C. glabrata (3·5%). A significant increase in C. albicans isolates causing candidaemia linked to a decrease in C. parapsilosis isolates in adult patients and C. krusei isolates in children was found between the two 6-year study periods. This trend reflects improved infection control at Uludağ University Hospital. Ninety percent of isolates were susceptible to fluconazole (⩽8 μg/ml) and resistance was found only in C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis isolates. Regular local surveillance of Candida spp. is important in order to develop empirical treatment protocols to reduce the incidence and mortality of candidaemia.
Suicidality and suicide in older people
Authors: Bonnewyn Anke , Shah Ajit , Demyttenaere Koen
Published: January 2010

Suicide is accepted as a major health problem worldwide, especially in the young and middle aged. It is, however, a significant health problem in older people as well, and those aged 65 years and over generally have the highest suicide rates compared with all other age groups. In research literature from the last decade, there has been an increased interest in disentangling the phenomenon of suicide in later life. This paper aims to critically review the literature on suicide and suicidality in later life published from 2000 to 2009. Prevalence rates as well as risk and protective factors are mapped and correlates reviewed. The association between suicidality and help-seeking behaviour is considered. Finally, potential prevention strategies are reviewed.
Rate of Agreement Between Clinicians on the Content of a Cognitive Formulation of Delusional Beliefs: The Effect of Qualifications and Experience
Authors: Dudley Robert , Park Isabelle , James Ian , Dodgson Guy
Published: January 2010

Background:A key process in Cognitive Therapy (CT) is the development and sharing of a formulation. How clinicians develop formulations is under-researched, particularly in working with people with psychosis.Aims:This study investigated agreement between clinicians, when conceptualizing an individual's psychotic beliefs. It also explored whether agreement was dependent on qualifications and experience.Method:Eighty-two clinicians watched a video of an individual with delusional beliefs, and were asked to provide formulations using a CT template. These were compared with a “benchmark” formulation provided by three experts.Results:There was good agreement for overt behaviours, emotions, and some aspects of early experience. However, identification of theory driven components such as core beliefs or assumptions was poorer. Greater clinical experience improved the agreement with the benchmark formulation overall, and greater CT specific experience improved formulation of the theory driven items. The more experience a clinician had of working with people with psychosis the lower the rate of agreement with the expert formulation.Conclusions:Formulation of delusional beliefs from a cognitive perspective is dependant on overall experience in cognitive therapy and not knowledge of psychosis, which may hinder performance. The implications for training in CT and psycho-social interventions are considered.
Buoyant dispersal of CO2during geological storage
Authors: Hesse M. A. , Woods A. W.
Published: January 2010

Carbon capture and storage is currently the only technology that may allow significant reductions in CO2emissions from large point sources. Seismic images of geological CO2storage show the rise of CO2is influenced by horizontal shales. The buoyant CO2spreads beneath impermeable barriers until a gap allows its upward migration. The large number and small scale of these barriers makes the prediction of the CO2migration path and hence the magnitude of CO2trapping very challenging. We show that steady buoyancy dominated flows in complex geometries can be modeled as a cascade of flux partitioning events. This approach allows the analysis of two‐dimensional plume dispersal from a horizontal injection well. We show that the plume spreads laterally with heightyabove the source according to (y/h)1/2L, whereLis the width of the shales andhis their vertical separation. The fluid volume below successive shale layers, and therefore the magnitude of trapped CO2, increase as (y/h)5/4above the source, so that every additional layer of barriers traps more CO2than the one below. Upscaling small scale flow barriers by reducing the vertical permeability, common in numerical simulations of CO2storage, does not capture the dispersion and trapping of the CO2plume by the flow barriers.
Fabrication and characterization of metal-insulator-semiconductor structures by direct nitridation of InP surfaces
Authors: Haimoto T. , Hoshii T. , Nakagawa S. , Takenaka M. , Takagi S.
Published: January 2010

We have fabricated InP metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) structures with direct nitridation of InP surfaces. The nitridation is performed by exposing InP surfaces to electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) N2 plasma. The formation of InP oxynitride layers with the thickness of around 1.5 nm is confirmed by transmission electron microscope images and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. It is found that the surface nitridation drastically reduces the hysteresis of the C-V curves of SiO2/oxynitride/InP MIS capacitors, compared with the MIS capacitors without oxynitrides, indicating the reduction of slow traps inside InP native oxides. The nitridation under the rf power of 500 W can lead to the hysteresis down to 10 mV and the VFB shift down to −0.36 V. These results provide the experimental evidences for the effectiveness of ECR N2 plasma nitridation of InP and the insertion of the oxynitrided InP interfacial layers in terms of the InP MIS interface control.
Design and development of indirectly heated solid cathode for strip type electron gun
Authors: Maiti Namita , Mukherjee S. , Kumar Bhunesh , Barve U. D. , Suryawanshi V. B. , Das A. K.
Published: January 2010

Design analysis of a high power indirectly heated solid cathode (for a 200 kW, 45 kV, and 270° bent strip type electron gun) has been presented. The design approach consists of simulation followed by extensive experimentation with different cathode configurations. The preferred cathode is of trapezoidal section (8×4×2 mm3) with an emitting area of 110×4 mm2 made up of tantalum operating at about 2500 K. The solid cathode at the operating temperature of 2500 K generated a well defined electron beam. Electromagnetic and thermomechanical simulation is used to optimize the shape of the beam. Thermal modeling has also been used to analyze the temperature and stress distribution on the electrodes. The simulation results are validated by experimental measurement.
Tension thickening, molecular shape, and flow birefringence of an H-shaped polymer melt in steady shear and planar extension
Authors: Baig Chunggi , Mavrantzas Vlasis G.
Published: January 2010

Despite recent advances in the design of extensional rheometers optimized for strain and stress controlled operation in steady, dynamic, and transient modes, obtaining reliable steady-state elongational data for macromolecular systems is still a formidable task, limiting today’s approach to trial-and-error efforts rather than based on a deep understanding of the deformation processes occurring under elongation. Guided, in particular, by the need to understand the special rheology of branched polymers, we studied a model, unentangled H-shaped polyethylene melt using nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations based on a recently developed rigorous statistical mechanics algorithm. The melt has been simulated under steady shear and steady planar extension, over a wide range of deformation rates. In shear, the steady-state shear viscosity is observed to decrease monotonically as the shear rate increases; furthermore, the degree of shear thinning of the viscosity and of the first- and second-normal stress coefficients is observed to be similar to that of a linear analog of the same total chain length. By contrast, in planar extension, the primary steady-state elongational viscosity η1 is observed to exhibit a tension-thickening behavior as the elongation rate ε̇ increases, which we analyze here in terms of (a) perturbations in the instantaneous intrinsic chain shape and (b) differences in the stress distribution along chain contour. The maximum in the plot of η1 with ε̇ occurs when the arm-stretching mode becomes active and is followed by a rather abrupt tension-thinning behavior. In contrast, the second elongational viscosity η2 shows only a tension-thinning behavior. As an interesting point, the simulations predict the same value for the stress optical coefficient in the two flows, revealing an important rheo-optical characteristic. In agreement with experimental indications on significantly longer systems, our results confirm the importance of chain branching on the unique rheological properties of polymer melts in extension.
Noncontact interface trap determination of SiO2–4H–SiC structures
Authors: Oborina E. I. , Hoff A. M.
Published: January 2010

A sequence of noncontact corona-Kelvin metrology is introduced that enables the determination and monitoring of interface properties in dielectric/wide band gap semiconductor structures. The technique involves the incremental application of precise and measured quantities of corona charge, QC, onto the dielectric surface followed by determination of the contact potential difference, VCPD, as the material structure response. The V-Q characteristics obtained are used to extract the surface barrier, VSB, response related to the applied corona charge. The described approach differs from the common noncontact method applied in the case of dielectric/silicon structures where for each quanta of applied charge the value of surface barrier voltage, VSB, is obtained. Materials with wide band gaps and high concentrations of deep levels, as suggested for silicon carbide, do not permit quick determination of VSB by modulation of the band bending in the semiconductor with light. Light exposure in the case of SiC results in a long recovery time required to approach the nominal value of the preillumination VCPD value. The metrology approach presented determines an intersection of the VCPD-QC characteristic obtained in the dark with the Vox-QC characteristic representing the dielectric response. The specific VSB-QC dependence surrounding the reference VFB value is obtained from this approach and enables the noncontact determination of the dielectric interface trap density and its spectrum. Application of the modified metrology method to thermal oxide on n-type 4H-SiC demonstrates the modification of the Dit distribution by Fowler–Nordheim stress. In addition, an ability to quantify and separate trapped charge components is shown.
Characteristic measurements of silicon dioxide aerogel plasmas generated in a Planckian radiation environment
Authors: Dong Quan-Li , Wang Shou-Jun , Li Yu-Tong , Zhang Yi , Zhao Jing , Wei Hui-Gang , Shi Jian-Rong , Zhao Gang , Zhang Ji-Yan , Gu Yu-Qiu , Ding Yong-Kun , Wen Tian-Shu , Zhang Wen-Hai , Hu Xin , Liu Shen-Ye , Zhang Lin , Tang Yong-Jian , Zhang Bao-Han , Zheng Zhi-Jian , Nishimura Hiroaki , Fujioka Shinsuke , Wang Fei-Lu , Takabe Hideaki , Zhang Jie
Published: January 2010

The temporally and spatially resolved characteristics of silicon dioxide aerogel plasmas were studied using x-ray spectroscopy. The plasma was generated in the near-Planckian radiation environment within gold hohlraum targets irradiated by laser pulses with a total energy of 2.4 kJ in 1 ns. The contributions of silicon ions at different charge states to the specific components of the measured absorption spectra were also investigated. It was found that each main feature in the absorption spectra of the measured silicon dioxide aerogel plasmas was contributed by two neighboring silicon ionic species.
Generation of whistler waves by a rotating magnetic field source
Authors: Karavaev A. V. , Gumerov N. A. , Papadopoulos K. , Shao Xi , Sharma A. S. , Gekelman W. , Gigliotti A. , Pribyl P. , Vincena S.
Published: January 2010

The paper discusses the generation of polarized whistler waves radiated from a rotating magnetic field source created via a novel phased orthogonal two loop antenna. The results of linear three-dimensional electron magnetohydrodynamics simulations along with experiments on the generation whistler waves by the rotating magnetic field source performed in the large plasma device are presented. Comparison of the experimental results with the simulations and linear wave properties shows good agreement. The whistler wave dispersion relation with nonzero transverse wave number and the wave structure generated by the rotating magnetic field source are also discussed. The phase velocity of the whistler waves was found to be in good agreement with the theoretical dispersion relation. The exponential decay rate of the whistler wave propagating along the ambient magnetic field is determined by Coulomb collisions. In collisionless case the rotating magnetic field source was found to be a very efficient radiation source for transferring energy along the ambient magnetic field lines.
Metamaterials on parylene thin film substrates: Design, fabrication, and characterization at terahertz frequency
Authors: Liu X. , MacNaughton S. , Shrekenhamer D. B. , Tao H. , Selvarasah S. , Totachawattana A. , Averitt R. D. , Dokmeci M. R. , Sonkusale S. , Padilla W. J.
Published: January 2010

We design, fabricate, and characterize terahertz (THz) resonant metamaterials on parylene free-standing thin film substrates. Several different metamaterials are investigated and our results show strong electromagnetic responses at THz frequencies ranging from 500 GHz to 2.5 THz. The complex frequency dependent dielectric properties of parylene are determined from inversion of reflection and transmission data, thus indicating that parylene is an ideal low loss substrate or coating material. The biostable and biocompatible properties of parylene coupled with the multifunctional exotic properties of metamaterials indicate great potential for medical purposes such as THz imaging for skin cancer detection.
Structural and vibrational properties of Co nanoparticles formed by ion implantation
Authors: Sprouster D. J. , Giulian R. , Araujo L. L. , Kluth P. , Johannessen B. , Cookson D. J. , Foran G. J. , Ridgway M. C.
Published: January 2010

We report on the structural and vibrational properties of Co nanoparticles formed by ion implantation and thermal annealing in amorphous silica. The evolution of the nanoparticle size, phase, and structural parameters were determined as a function of the formation conditions using transmission electron microscopy, small-angle x-ray scattering, and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. The implantation fluence and annealing temperature governed the spherical nanoparticle size and phase. To determine the latter, x-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis was used to quantify the hexagonal close packed, face-centered cubic and oxide fractions. The structural properties were characterized by extended x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) and finite-size effects were readily apparent. With a decrease in nanoparticle size, an increase in structural disorder and a decrease in both coordination number and bondlength were observed as consistent with the non-negligible surface-area-to-volume ratio characteristic of nanoparticles. The surface tension of Co nanoparticles calculated using a liquid drop model was more than twice that of bulk material. The size-dependent vibrational properties were probed with temperature-dependent EXAFS measurements. Using a correlated anharmonic Einstein model and thermodynamic perturbation theory, Einstein temperatures for both nanoparticles and bulk material were determined. Compared to bulk Co, the mean vibrational frequency of the smallest nanoparticles was reduced as attributed to a greater influence of loosely bonded, undercoordinated surface atoms relative to the effect of capillary pressure generated by surface curvature.
Effect of combined addition of nano-SiC and nano-Ho2O3 on the in-field critical current density of MgB2 superconductor
Authors: Varghese Neson , Vinod K. , Chattopadhyay M. K. , Roy S. B. , Syamaprasad U.
Published: January 2010

MgB 2 superconducting samples added with nano-Ho2O3 (n-Ho2O3) and/or nano-SiC (n-SiC) have been prepared by an in situ solid state reaction method to investigate and compare the combined and individual effects of n-SiC and n-Ho2O3 on a crystal structure, critical temperature (TC), and critical current density (JC) of MgB2. All the doped samples exhibit significantly enhanced in-field JC and the codoped sample with 2.5 wt % n-Ho2O3 and 5 wt % n-SiC gives the best performance in in-field JC, and the enhancement is around 100 times and 2 times greater than the undoped and monodoped n-SiC samples, respectively, at 5 K and 8 T. For the n-SiC added sample, lattice distortions due to C substitution on the B site and the formation of reacted phase Mg2Si as flux pinners cause enhanced JC up to the maximum field studied (8 T). While in the n-Ho2O3 added sample, a reacted phase HoB4 having a strong magnetic moment forms, without any substitution at the Mg or B site, which acts as a flux pinner in order to enhance the in-field JC. Accordingly the best codoped sample exhibits these combined benefits of n-SiC and n-Ho2O3 in MgB2 superconductor.
Metal-organic chemical vapor deposition of high-dielectric-constant praseodymium oxide films using a cyclopentadienyl precursor
Authors: Kondo Hiroki , Sakurai Shinnya , Sakashita Mitsuo , Sakai Akira , Ogawa Masaki , Zaima Shigeaki
Published: January 2010

Praseodymium (Pr) oxide films were grown by metal-organic chemical-vapor-deposition (CVD) using Pr(EtCp)3. Using H2O as an oxidant, Pr2O3 films with columnar structures are formed and its C concentration can be reduced to about one-tenth compared with the case using O2. Activation energy of 0.37 eV is derived for this CVD using H2O. This CVD-Pr oxide film deposited at 300 °C has a dielectric constant of 26±3. Furthermore, conduction band offset of 1.0±0.1 eV and trap levels of 0.40±0.02 and 0.22±0.02 eV in the CVD-Pr2O3/Si structure were also determined by current conduction characteristics.
Ion drifts in a snowflake divertor
Authors: Ryutov D. D. , Umansky M. V.
Published: January 2010

Prompt losses of ions having turning points in the vicinity of the poloidal field null of a snowflake divertor are analyzed. Classification of the ion trajectories is presented. It is concluded that prompt losses in a snowflake affect a broader zone than in the standard X-point divertor. The size of the phase-space “hole” produced by prompt losses is evaluated.
A complete set of material properties of single domain 0.26Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3–0.46Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.28PbTiO3 single crystals
Authors: Liu Xiaozhou , Zhang Shujun , Luo Jun , Shrout Thomas R. , Cao Wenwu
Published: January 2010

Pb ( In 1 / 2 Nb 1 / 2 ) O 3 – Pb ( Mg 1 / 3 Nb 2 / 3 ) O 3 – PbTiO 3 (PIN-PMN-PT) single crystals have been developed recently, which can increase the operating temperature by at least 20 °C compared to PMN-PT crystals. We have measured a complete set of material properties of single domain PIN-PMN-PT crystal, which is urgently needed in theoretical studies and electromechanical device designs using this crystal. Because the rotated values of d33∗=1122 pC/N and k33∗=89% along [001]c calculated using the single domain data obtained here are in good agreement with the [001]c poled multidomain PIN-PMN-PT crystals, one may conclude that the physical origin of the ultrahigh piezoelectric properties mainly come from orientation effect.
Ferromagnetic metamaterial with tunable negative index of refraction
Authors: Zou Da-yong , Jiang Ai-min , Wu Rui-xin
Published: January 2010

We investigate the index of refraction of the ferromagnetic metamaterial, which consists of periodic layered ferrite and semiconductor or metallic mesh. We find that the metamaterial has the negative index; the frequency range and magnitude of the negative index are tunable in applied magnetic fields. The frequency range of the negative index shifts to higher frequencies as the applied magnetic fields increase. The permeability and permittivity of the ferrite and other component materials, as well as their thickness ratios, influence the tunable range of the negative index. It is demonstrated that ferrite-mesh structure has a much lower loss than that of a ferrite-semiconductor structure.