bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blooming in Cocoa Butter Substitutes Based Compound Chocolate: Investigations on Composition, Morphology and Melting Behavior
Authors: Wang Fengyan , Liu Yuanfa , Shan Liang , Jin Qingzhe , Wang Xingguo , Li Lingling
Published: June 2010

To provide a comprehensive analysis on the development of bloom on cocoa butter substitutes based compound chocolate, the morphology, chemical composition and melting behavior were examined. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electric microscopy (SEM), and polarized light microscopy (PLM) measurements were carried out to study the morphological properties of chocolate. AFM analyses showed a crystal growth which was confirmed by using PLM. SEM revealed that the crystal network of fresh chocolate disappeared in the chocolate matrix but constituted a denser one in the bloom which indicating a phase separation. This was confirmed qualitatively by using high performance liquid chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry, where different contents of triacylglycerols and melting behavior were observed in the bloom and the chocolate matrix. Moreover, polymorphism translation from β′ form to β form appeared in the bloom but did not in the chocolate matrix, which suggesting that polymorphism translation is the result rather than the cause of bloom formation.
Psychological flexibility as a mediator of improvement in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for patients with chronic pain following whiplash
Authors: Wicksell Rikard K. , Olsson Gunnar L. , Hayes Steven C.
Published: June 2010

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has made important contributions to chronic pain management, but the process by which it is effective is not clear. Recently, strong arguments have been raised concerning the need for theory driven research to e.g. identify mechanisms of change in CBT and enhance the effectiveness of this type of treatment. However, the number of studies addressing these issues is still relatively scarce. Furthermore, the arrival of varieties of CBT with seemingly different process targets increases the need for such information. The present study explored the processes of change in a previously reported successful randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of an exposure‐based form of behavioral and cognitive therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), on improvement in pain‐related disability and life satisfaction for patients suffering from whiplash‐associated disorder (WAD). Several process variables relevant to theories underlying traditional CBT were included: pain, distress, kinesiophobia, self‐efficacy, and the process primarily targeted by ACT: psychological inflexibility. Mediation analyses were performed using a non‐parametric cross‐product of the coefficients approach. Results illustrated that pain intensity, anxiety, depression, kinesiophobia, and self‐efficacy did not have significant mediating effects on the dependent variables. In contrast, significant indirect effects were seen for psychological inflexibility on pain‐related disability (pre‐ to post‐change scores) and life satisfaction (pre‐ to post; pre‐ to 4‐month follow‐up change scores). Although tentative, these results support the mediating role of psychological inflexibility in ACT‐oriented interventions aimed at improving functioning and life satisfaction in people with chronic pain.
Early morning cortisol response and emotional processing in adults exposed to postnatal depression in infancy
Authors: Douglas J.-L. , Harmer C.-J.
Published: June 2010

Emotional processing and cortisol were investigated in non-depressed young adults whose mothers experienced PND. PND-exposed participants (n = 11) had higher waking salivary cortisol and slower performance on an emotional categorization task than controls (n = 15). This supports the hypothesis that early exposure to maternal depression is associated with characteristics reminiscent of vulnerability to depression.
Mental disorders and delivery motorcycle drivers (motoboys): A dangerous association
Authors: Kieling R.R. , Szobot C.M. , Matte B. , Coelho R.S. , Kieling C. , Pechansky F. , Rohde L.A.
Published: June 2010

Objective

Low and middle-income countries experience an expressive growth in the number of circulating motorcycles, paralleled by an increasing number of traffic accidents. Delivery motorcycles drivers (“motoboys”) are generally perceived as accountable for this scenario. Although traffic accidents have a multivariate etiology, mental disorders, such as substance use disorders (SUD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are often involved. This paper aims at investigating the prevalence of ADHD, SUD and other mental disorders in a sample of Brazilian motoboys, and additionally, to evaluate the association between psychiatric diagnoses, motorcycle accidents and traffic violation tickets.

Method

A convenient sample of subjects was invited to participate in a cross-sectional assessment including an inventory of traffic accidents and violations. Psychiatric diagnoses were based on semi-structured and clinical interviews.

Results

A sample of 101 motoboys was assessed. Overall, 75% of subjects had a positive lifetime history of at least one psychiatric disorder. SUD was the most frequent diagnosis (43.6% for alcohol, 39.6% for cannabis). ADHD was associated with a higher number of traffic accidents (p= 0.002), and antisocial personality disorder (APD) was associated with a greater number of traffic violations (p= 0.007).

Conclusions

The prevalence of mental disorders was much higher in our sample than in the general population. ADHD and APD, but not SUD, were associated with negative traffic outcomes. These findings have implications for public mental health planning since mental disorders can be both prevented and treated, improving driving behavior and increasing road safety.
Neurological soft signs in schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder spectrum
Authors: Tumkaya S. , Karadag F. , Oguzhanoglu N.K.
Published: June 2010

Obsessive compulsive symptoms are more frequent in patients with schizophrenia compared to normal population. Patients with obsessive compulsive disorder may also exhibit psychosis-like symptoms. Based on these findings, it has been suggested that there is a spectrum of disorders between OCD and schizophrenia. We compared two OCD groups (with good and poor insight) and two schizophrenia groups (with and without OCD) in this recommended spectrum especially in terms of neurological soft signs (NSSs) associated with sensory integration. The schizophrenia with OCD (schizo-obsessive) group exhibited worse performance than the schizophrenia group (p= 0.002) in only graphesthesia tasks. Moreover, schizo-obsessive patients exhibited worse performance compared to OCD patients in terms of graphesthesia (p= 0.001) and audiovisual integration (p= 0.001). Interestingly, OCD patients with poor insight tended to exhibit graphesthesia deficit in a similar manner to schizo-obsessive patients rather than OCD patients. According to our results, graphesthesia disorder is strongly associated both with OCD and schizophrenia. This suggests that neurodevelopmental disorders that lead to graphesthesia disorder overlap in comorbid OCD and schizophrenia patients.
Domain compatibility in Ire1 kinase is critical for the unfolded protein response
Authors: Poothong Juthakorn , Sopha Pattarawut , Kaufman Randal J. , Tirasophon Witoon
Published: June 2010

The unfolded protein response is a mechanism to cope with endoplasmic reticulum stress. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Ire1 senses the stress and mediates a signaling cascade to upregulate responsive genes through an unusual HAC1 mRNA splicing. The splicing requires interconnected activity (kinase and endoribonuclease (RNase)) of Ire1 to cleave HAC1 mRNA at the non‐canonical splice sites before translation into Hac1 transcription factor. Analysis of the truncated kinase domain from Ire1 homologs revealed that this domain is highly conserved. Characterization by domain swapping indicated that a functional ATP/ADP binding domain is minimally required. However the overall domain compatibility is critical for eliciting its full RNase function.
Aloe emodin glycosides stimulates glucose transport and glycogen storage through PI3K dependent mechanism in L6 myotubes and inhibits adipocyte differentiation in 3T3L1 adipocytes
Authors: Anand S. , Muthusamy V.S. , Sujatha S. , Sangeetha K.N. , Bharathi Raja R. , Sudhagar S. , Poornima Devi N. , Lakshmi B.S.
Published: June 2010

The present study discusses the efficacy of Aloe emodin‐8‐O‐glycoside (AEG), a plant derived anthroquinone, on alleviating insulin resistance and augmenting glycogen synthesis in L6 myotubes and 3T3L1 adipocytes. Dose‐dependent increase in glucose uptake activity (GUA) was observed in both cell lines. Immunoblot analysis revealed an insulin‐like glucose transporting mechanism of AEG by activating key markers involved in the insulin signaling cascade such as insulin receptor beta IRβ, insulin receptor substrate1, 85 phosphatidyl inositol 3′ kinase (PI3K) and PKB. Glucose transporter 4 translocation was confirmed by determining the uptake of glucose in the presence of insulin receptor tyrosine kinase and PI3K inhibitors. AEG was found to enhance glycogen synthesis through the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3β. In conclusion, AEG enhances glucose transport by modulating the proximal and distal markers involved in glucose uptake and its transformation into glycogen.
Activated endothelial cells induce neutrophil extracellular traps and are susceptible to NETosis‐mediated cell death
Authors: Gupta Anurag Kumar , Joshi Manjunath B. , Philippova Maria , Erne Paul , Hasler Paul , Hahn Sinuhe , Resink Therese J.
Published: June 2010

Neutrophil interaction with activated endothelial cells (EC) is required for transmigration. We examined consequences of this interaction on NETosis. Co‐culture of activated EC with neutrophils induced neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, which was partially dependent on production of IL‐8 by activated EC. Extended neutophil/EC co‐culture resulted in EC damage, which could be abrogated by inclusion of either diphenyleneiodonium to inhibit the NAPDH oxidase pathway required for NETosis, or DNAse to disrupt NETs. These findings offer new insight into mechanisms whereby NETs trigger damage to the endothelium in sepsis, small vessel vasculitis and possibly the villous trophoblast in preeclampsia.
B. H. Streeter and the Oxford Group
Authors: BOOBBYER PHILIP
Published: June 2010

This article examines the involvement of the prominent New Testament scholar, B. H. Streeter (1874–1937), in the Oxford Group, the movement founded by the American religious leader Frank Buchman. Streeter's mind was shaped by a liberal and modernist Anglicanism, while Buchman's ideas originated in a more Evangelical milieu; however, a common desire to do something about the international crisis of the 1930s brought them together. Streeter committed himself to Buchman's work in July 1934. In the next three years, influenced by Group teachings on the guidance of God, he concluded that his previous religious outlook had been too humanistic, and his faith became more experiential
Initial UK experience of patient satisfaction with the Meniett®device for Ménière's disease treatment
Authors: Buchanan M A , Rai A , Prinsley P R
Published: June 2010

Objectives:

To evaluate patient satisfaction and symptom improvement following treatment of Ménière's disease with the Meniett®device.

Methods:

Retrospective, questionnaire-based audit and analysis of unilateral Ménière's disease patients’ records, following on from a previous study from our departments on intra-tympanic gentamicin for Ménière's disease, using the Vertigo Symptom Scale and Glasgow Benefit Inventory as outcome measures.

Results:

Of 33 consecutive patients treated with the Meniett®device for four to six weeks, 30 responded to the questionnaires (90.9 per cent). Respondents’ mean Vertigo Symptom Scale score was 0.7 (range 0–2.1), and their mean Glasgow Benefit Inventory general subscale score was 24.1. Nineteen (63.3 per cent) patients felt that the device had alleviated their vertigo and tinnitus.

Conclusions:

This is the first UK study of the effectiveness of the Meniett®device in treating Ménière's disease. It shows that the Meniett®device is a well tolerated, useful and minimally invasive means of treating Ménière's disease after medical treatment has failed, and before more potentially cochleo- and vestibulo-toxic therapies and invasive procedures are utilised.
KIT and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α gene expression in laryngeal small cell carcinoma
Authors: Kanazawa T , Nokubi M , Takizawa K , Matsuzawa S , Shinnabe A , Mineta H , Iino Y
Published: June 2010

Objective:

Small cell carcinoma has the worst prognosis of all laryngeal neoplasms. In order to further characterise this tumour, with a view to development of new therapeutic approaches, we report the results of KIT gene and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α gene expression analysis, for two extremely rare cases of primary small cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Method:

Case reports, including immunohistochemical study, and review of the literature.

Results:

We present two patients with laryngeal small cell carcinoma, who died from tumour metastasis to the lungs and brain despite aggressive treatment. Immunohistochemical studies revealed positive reactions for KIT gene expression and platelet-derived growth factor α gene expression in patient one, and for KIT gene expression in patient two. Molecular genetic analysis, using polymerase chain reaction direct sequencing, identified no mutations of the KIT or platelet-derived growth factor receptor α genes.

Conclusion:

Although further investigation is necessary regarding KIT gene expression and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α gene expression in laryngeal small cell carcinoma, the reported results suggest that these genes may be significant in the development of molecular targeted therapy.
Aerogel foil plasma: Forward scattering, back scattering, and transmission of laser radiation
Authors: Starodub A.N. , Borisenko N.G. , Fronya A.A. , Merkuliev Yu.A. , Osipov M.V. , Puzyrev V.N. , Sahakyan A.T. , Vasin B.L. , Yakushev O.F.
Published: June 2010

Experimental results obtained with “Kanal-2” facility under the study of powerful laser pulse interaction with the low density microstructure media are presented and discussed in this paper. Forward scattering, back scattering, and transmission of laser radiation by aerogel foil plasma have been investigated. The temporal, spectral, and energy characteristics of both the radiation scattering in the direction of heating radiation beam and the back scattering radiation were studied; the directional diagrams of forward and back scattering radiation were obtained for ω0 and 2ω0 frequencies. Analysis of intensity redistribution on the heating beam cross-section after passing through a polymer microstructure target was carried out.
Expression and modulation of connexin30.2, a novel gap junction protein in the mouse retina
Authors: PÉREZ DE SEVILLA MÜLLER LUIS , DEDEK KARIN , JANSSEN-BIENHOLD ULRIKE , MEYER ARNDT , KREUZBERG MARIA M. , LORENZ SUSANNE , WILLECKE KLAUS , WEILER RETO
Published: June 2010

Mammalian retinae express multiple connexins that mediate the metabolic and electrical coupling of various cell types. In retinal neurons, only connexin36, connexin45, connexin50, and connexin57 have been described so far. Here, we present an analysis of a novel retinal connexin, connexin30.2 (Cx30.2), and its regulation in the mouse retina. To analyze the expression of Cx30.2, we used a transgenic mouse line in which the coding region of Cx30.2 was replaced by lacZ reporter DNA. We detected the lacZ signal in the nuclei of neurons located in the inner nuclear layer and the ganglion cell layer (GCL). In this study, we focused on the GCL and characterized the morphology of the Cx30.2-expressing cells. Using immunocytochemistry and intracellular dye injections, we found six different types of Cx30.2-expressing ganglion cells: one type of ON-OFF, three types of OFF, and two types of ON ganglion cells; among the latter was the RGA1 type. We show that RGA1 cells were heterologously coupled to numerous displaced amacrine cells. Our results suggest that these gap junction channels may be heterotypic, involving Cx30.2 and a connexin yet unidentified in the mouse retina. Gap junction coupling can be modulated by protein kinases, a process that plays a major role in retinal adaptation. Therefore, we studied the protein kinase–induced modulation of coupling between RGA1 and displaced amacrine cells. Our data provide evidence that coupling of RGA1 cells to displaced amacrine cells is mediated by Cx30.2 and that the extent of this coupling is modulated by protein kinase C.
High frequency of psychopathology in subjects wishing to lose weight: an observational study in Italian subjects
Authors: Martinelli Valentina , Colombo Ottavia , Nichini Cristiano , Repossi Ilaria , Vinai Piergiuseppe , Tagliabue Anna
Published: June 2010

Objective

To investigate the frequency of psychiatric disorders in subjects wishing to lose weight categorized according to BMI.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

An academic outpatient clinical nutrition service in Italy.

Subjects

A total of 207 subjects (thirty-nine men and 168 women; mean age: 38·7 (sd 14·1) years) consecutively attending the study centre for the first time between January 2003 and December 2006.

Results

In the entire study group, eighty-three (40 %) subjects had a psychiatric disorder according to criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision. Eating disorders were the most prevalent psychiatric condition (thirty-six subjects, 17·4 %), followed by mood and anxiety disorders (9·7 % and 8·7 %, respectively). The frequency of psychiatric disorders among different BMI categories was as follows: 75·0 % in underweight, 50·0 % in normal weight, 33·3 % in overweight and 33·3 % in obese subjects.

Conclusions

Psychiatric disorders may be frequently found in subjects wishing to lose weight. Our results highlight the importance of psychiatric assessment especially in underweight and normal-weight subjects.
Texas nutrition environment assessment of retail food stores (TxNEA-S): development and evaluation
Authors: Gloria Christian T , Steinhardt Mary A
Published: June 2010

Objective

Current nutrition environment instruments are typically designed to measure a small number of healthy foods based on national trends. They lack the depth to accurately measure the unique dietary choices of subpopulations, such as Texas consumers whose food preferences are influenced by Hispanic/Latino culture. Thus the purposes of the present study were to: (i) develop a comprehensive observational tool to measure the availability of healthy foods from retail stores in Texas; and (ii) conduct a pilot test to examine the tool’s reliability, as well as differences in the availability of healthy foods in stores between high- and low-income neighbourhoods.

Design

Grocery and convenience stores were assessed for availability of healthy foods. Reliability was calculated using percentage agreement, and differences in availability were examined using 2 (store type) × 2 (neighbourhood income) ANOVA.

Setting

One high-income and one low-income neighbourhood in Austin, Texas.

Subjects

A sample of thirty-eight stores comprising twenty-five convenience stores and thirteen grocery stores.

Results

The low-income neighbourhood had 324 % more convenience stores and 56 % fewer grocery stores than the high-income neighbourhood. High inter-rater (mean = 0·95) and test–retest reliability (mean = 0·92) and a significant interaction (P = 0·028) between store type and neighbourhood income were found.

Conclusions

The TxNEA-S tool includes 106 healthy food items, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, proteins and grains. The tool is reliable and face validity is affirmed by the Texas Department of Health. Grocery stores have more healthy foods than convenience stores, and high-income grocery stores offer more healthy foods than low-income grocery stores.
Validity and reproducibility of the FFQ (FFQW82) for dietary assessment in female adolescents
Authors: Watanabe Mariko , Yamaoka Kazue , Yokotsuka Masako , Adachi Misa , Tango Toshiro
Published: June 2010

Objective

To assess the validity and reproducibility of a self-administered FFQ with eighty-two food items (FFQW82) for assessing the habitual diet in female adolescents.

Design

The validity of the FFQW82 for assessment of nutrient intake was evaluated by comparison with a 7 d weighed food record (7d-FRRI) reported as ‘gold standard’. Reproducibility of the FFQW82 was assessed at an interval of 1 month (test–retest method). The first survey (FFQW82 and 7d-FRRI) was conducted in April 2007 and the second FFQW82 survey was conducted in May 2007. Daily consumption of energy from eleven food groups and nine nutrients were calculated from both instruments for breakfast, lunch, dinner and the whole day. Crude and energy-adjusted Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated using log-transformed data.

Setting

Middle school, Tokyo, Japan.

Subjects

Female adolescents aged 12–13 years.

Results

Sixty-three female adolescents completed both surveys. The relative difference between the energy intake calculated by the FFQW82 and the 7d-FRRI for the whole day, breakfast, lunch and dinner was 8 %, 10 %, 15 % and 10 %, respectively. As for validity, the correlation coefficient of total energy intake for the whole day was 0·31. The result for breakfast was relatively higher (0·59) compared with that for lunch (0·40) and dinner (0·32). For macronutrients, the energy-adjusted correlation coefficient ranged from 0·28 (carbohydrates) to 0·53 (protein). Reproducibility of total energy intake was 0·62 and ranged from 0·46 (fat) to 0·69 (carbohydrate) for macronutrients.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the FFQW82 has proved to have some potential with regard to reproducibility among our study population.
NONDECREASING FUNCTIONS, EXCEPTIONAL SETS AND GENERALIZED BOREL LEMMAS
Authors: HALBURD R. G. , KORHONEN R. J.
Published: June 2010

According to the classical Borel lemma, any positive nondecreasing continuous function T satisfiesT(r+1/T(r))≤2T(r) outside a possible exceptional set of finite linear measure. This lemma plays an important role in the theory of entire and meromorphic functions, where the increasing function T is either the logarithm of the maximum modulus function, or the Nevanlinna characteristic. As a result, exceptional sets appear throughout Nevanlinna theory, in particular in Nevanlinna’s second main theorem. In this paper, we consider generalizations of Borel’s lemma. Conversely, we consider ways in which certain inequalities can be modified so as to remove exceptional sets. All results discussed are presented from the point of view of real analysis.
THE SKITOVICH–DARMOIS THEOREM FOR LOCALLY COMPACT ABELIAN GROUPS
Authors: FELDMAN GENNADIY , GRACZYK PIOTR
Published: June 2010

According to the Skitovich–Darmois theorem, the independence of two linear forms of n independent random variables implies that the random variables are Gaussian. We consider the case where independent random variables take values in a second countable locally compact abelian group X, and coefficients of the forms are topological automorphisms of X. We describe a wide class of groups X for which a group-theoretic analogue of the Skitovich–Darmois theorem holds true when n=2.
Educating for Citizenship? Re-Assessing the Role of Islamic Instruction in German Schools
Authors: Mushaben Joyce Marie
Published: June 2010

Positing a “clash of cultures,” many European politicians oppose Muslim headscarves as well as Islamic instruction in public schools; the real source of “failed integration” lies not with the religiosity of young Muslims but rather with an arcane definition of “state neutrality” that sustains the dominance of some religions at the expense of others. Focusing on Germany, this study reviews educational statistics pertaining to youth of migrant origin, showing that conflicts over Islamic instruction mirror deeper patterns of minority discrimination. It outlines the legal hurdles new faith communities must overcome to secure recognition as “corporate entities under public law” (Körperschaftsstatus), entitling them to accredited teacher training, tax-funded salaries, construction subsidies, and other institutional privileges. It describes divergent curricular models utilized by the Länder, followed by a closer look at Islamic instruction in Berlin, where a court ruling compelled authorities to take a pro-active approach. It concludes with a review of dilemmas inherent in Germany's approach to “value education” against the backdrop of the new European Union anti-discrimination directives.

Show me any mischief produced by the madness or wickedness of theologians, and I will show you a hundred resulting from the ambition and villany of conquerors and statesmen. Show me an absurdity in religion, and I will undertake to show you a hundred for one in political laws and institutions

Edmund Burke, 1756
Growth rates, stable oxygen isotopes (δ18O), and strontium (Sr/Ca) composition in two species of Pacific sclerosponges (Acanthocheatetes wellsi and Astrosclera willeyana) with δ18O calibration and application to paleoceanography
Authors: Grottoli Andréa G. , Adkins Jess F. , Panero Wendy R. , Reaman Daniel M. , Moots Kate
Published: June 2010

The isotopic and elemental composition of sclerosponge skeletons is used to reconstruct paleoceanographic records. Yet few studies have systematically examined the natural variability in sclerosponge skeletal δ18O, growth, and Sr/Ca, and how that may influence the interpretation of sclerosponge proxy records. Here, we analyzed short records in seven specimens of Acanthocheatetes wellsi (high‐Mg calcite, 21 mol% Mg) from Palau, four A. wellsi (high‐Mg calcite, 21 mol% Mg) from Saipan, and three Astrosclera willeyana (aragonite) sclerosponges from Saipan, as well as one long record in an A. wellsi specimen from Palau spanning 1945–2001.5. In Saipan, species‐specific and mineralogical effects appear to have a negligible effect on sclerosponge δ18O, facilitating the direct comparison of δ18O records between species at a given location. At both sites, A. wellsi δ18O and growth rates were sensitive to environmental conditions, but Sr/Ca was not sensitive to the same conditions. High‐resolution δ18O analyses confirmed this finding as both A. wellsi and A. willeyana deposited their skeleton in accordance with the trends in isotopic equilibrium with seawater, though with a 0.27‰ offset in the case of A. willeyana. In the high‐Mg‐calcite species A. wellsi, Mg may be interfering with Sr incorporation into the skeleton. On multidecadal timescales, A. wellsi sclerosponge δ18O in Palau tracked the Southern Oscillation Index variability post‐1977, but not pre‐1977, coincident with the switch in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) at ∼1976. This suggests that water mass circulation in the region is influenced by El Niño— Southern Oscillation variability during positive PDO phases, but not during negative ones.
Fractal dynamics analysis of the VHF radiation pulses during initial breakdown process of lightning
Authors: Gou Xueqiang , Chen Mingli , Du Yaping , Dong Wansheng
Published: June 2010

This paper presents the first analysis of fractal dynamics of lightning initiation process with a coherent approach. Using experimental data obtained from a broadband interferometer system operating at a bandwidth of 25‐100 MHz, the sequences of inter‐pulse time interval of the VHF radiation pulses emitted during the lightning initial breakdown process were analyzed with the multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF‐DFA) method. For 63 lightning flashes analyzed, it was found that there is an apparent long‐range time correlated and nonlinear cascade behavior within the initiation breakdown process of the lightning. This result suggests that the initiation of lightning may be associated with progressively building up of correlated strong electrical field regions by self‐similar scaling up (inverse cascading) of discharges across scales from small to large. The result may be promising toward our understanding of lightning initiation.
Breaking up the hanging wall of a rift‐border fault: The 2009 Karonga earthquakes, Malawi
Authors: Biggs J. , Nissen E. , Craig T. , Jackson J. , Robinson D. P.
Published: June 2010

The southern East African Rift has an unusually large seismogenic thickness (35–40 km), which is responsible for wide tilted basins and extremely long faults with the potential for M7‐8 normal‐faulting earthquakes. From 6–19 December 2009, a shallow earthquake sequence (four of Mw > 5.5) hit the Karonga region of northern Lake Malawi. The location is 50 km west of the rift‐bounding Livingstone Fault, within the hanging‐wall. We used seismology and InSAR to obtain source parameters and combined this with information on rift structure from geomorphology and seismic profiles. The deformation is consistent with rupture of a shallow, west‐dipping fault, with no evidence for the involvement of magmatic fluids. Although the Livingstone Fault dominates local geomorphology, the Karonga earthquakes demonstrate that the hanging‐wall block is actively breaking up, reflecting temporal and spatial migration of activity or the release of stresses within it.
Self‐reversal of magnetization in oceanic submarine basalts studied with XMCD
Authors: Carvallo C. , Sainctavit P. , Arrio M.‐A. , Guyodo Y. , Penn R. L. , Forsberg B. , Rogalev A. , Wilhelm F. , Smekhova A.
Published: June 2010

In oceanic basalts, self‐reversal of magnetization can be produced during extreme low‐temperature oxidation of titanomagnetite by ionic reordering, which leads to Néel N‐type magnetism. Titanomaghemites showing N‐type reversal below room temperature were found in submarine basalts recovered during Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 197. In order to better understand the mechanism of self‐reversal, we carried out X‐ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) at Fe K‐edge at room temperature and low‐temperature on such a titanomaghemite sample as well as on pure magnetite and maghemite samples. We found that the XMCD spectrum of the N‐type titanomaghemite at 20 K is a mirror image of the XMCD spectrum at 300 K, which shows that the octahedral and tetrahedral subnetworks reverse in this process. Ligand‐field multiplet calculations of XMCD at Fe K‐edge help identify the contributions of the different elements in the measured XMCD spectra. This mechanism could also cause self‐reversal above room temperature, which has important consequences for the reliability of paleomagnetic measurements.
Crystal structure and ligand binding of the MID domain of a eukaryotic Argonaute protein
Authors: Boland Andreas , Tritschler Felix , Heimstädt Susanne , Izaurralde Elisa , Weichenrieder Oliver
Published: June 2010

Argonaute (AGO) proteins are core components of RNA‐induced silencing complexes and have essential roles in RNA‐mediated gene silencing. They are characterized by a bilobal architecture, consisting of one lobe containing the amino‐terminal and PAZ domains and another containing the MID and PIWI domains. Except for the PAZ domain, structural information on eukaryotic AGO domains is not yet available. In this study, we report the crystal structure of the MID domain of the eukaryotic AGO protein QDE‐2 from Neurospora crassa. This domain adopts a Rossmann‐like fold and recognizes the 5′‐terminal nucleotide of a guide RNA in a manner similar to its prokaryotic counterparts. The 5′‐nucleotide‐binding site shares common residues with a second, adjacent ligand‐binding site, suggesting a mechanism for the cooperative binding of ligands to the MID domain of eukaryotic AGOs.
Conspiracy theories in science
Authors: Goertzel Ted
Published: June 2010

Although few conspiracy theories target the natural sciences, they can have severe effects on public health or environmental policies. Ted Goertzel explains how scientists could help to prevent and mitigate potentially harmful conspiracy theories.
Stability properties of periodically driven overdamped pendula and their implications to physics of semiconductor superlattices and Josephson junctions
Authors: Isohätälä Jukka , Alekseev Kirill N.
Published: June 2010

We consider the first order differential equation with a sinusoidal nonlinearity and periodic time dependence, that is, the periodically driven overdamped pendulum. The problem is studied in the case that the explicit time dependence has symmetries common to pure ac-driven systems. The only bifurcation that exists in the system is a degenerate pitchfork bifurcation, which describes an exchange of stability between two symmetric nonlinear modes. Using a type of Prüfer transform to a pair of linear differential equations, we derive an approximate condition of the bifurcation. This approximation is in very good agreement with our numerical data. In particular, it works well in the limit of large drive amplitudes and low external frequencies. We demonstrate the usefulness of the theory applying it to the models of pure ac-driven semiconductor superlattices and Josephson junctions. We show how the knowledge of bifurcations in the overdamped pendulum model can be utilized to describe the effects of rectification and amplification of electric fields in these microstructures.
Identification of electron and hole traps in lithium tetraborate (Li2B4O7) crystals: Oxygen vacancies and lithium vacancies
Authors: Swinney M. W. , McClory J. W. , Petrosky J. C. , Yang Shan , Brant A. T. , Adamiv V. T. , Burak Ya. V. , Dowben P. A. , Halliburton L. E.
Published: June 2010

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) are used to identify and characterize electrons trapped by oxygen vacancies and holes trapped by lithium vacancies in lithium tetraborate (Li2B4O7) crystals. Our study includes a crystal with the natural abundances of B10 and B11 and a crystal highly enriched with B10. The as-grown crystals contain isolated oxygen vacancies, lithium vacancies, and copper impurities, all in nonparamagnetic charge states. During an irradiation at 77 K with 60 kV x-rays, doubly ionized oxygen vacancies trap electrons while singly ionized lithium vacancies and monovalent copper impurities trap holes. The vacancies return to their preirradiation charge states when the temperature of the sample is increased to approximately 90 K. Hyperfine interactions with B10 and B11 nuclei, observed between 13 and 40 K in the radiation-induced EPR and ENDOR spectra, provide models for the two vacancy-related defects. The electron trapped by an oxygen vacancy is localized primarily on only one of the two neighboring boron ions while the hole stabilized by a lithium vacancy is localized on a neighboring oxygen ion with nearly equal interactions with the two boron ions adjacent to the oxygen ion.
Considerations on the hyperbolic complex Klein–Gordon equation
Authors: Ulrych S.
Published: June 2010

This article summarizes and consolidates investigations on hyperbolic complex numbers with respect to the Klein–Gordon equation for fermions and bosons. The hyperbolic complex numbers are applied in the sense that complex extensions of groups and algebras are performed not with the complex unit, but with the product of complex and hyperbolic unit. The modified complexification is the key ingredient for the theory. The Klein–Gordon equation is represented in this framework in the form of the first invariant of the Poincaré group, the mass operator, in order to emphasize its geometric origin. The possibility of new interactions arising from hyperbolic complex gauge transformations is discussed.
The effect of hot captured electrons on dust particle charge in a dusty plasma
Authors: Ashbourn J. M. A.
Published: June 2010

We consider the effect of allowing the capture of hot electrons by a dust particle in a dusty plasma by considering the temperature gradient created between these and the ambient plasma and by calculating the contribution to the electron current which results. A graph of the curve for the contribution from the temperature gradient to the electron current at the dust particle and the curve for the function without the temperature gradient included for a variety of values of the effective reduced potential of the dust particle shows a significant reduction in the charge on the dust particle when the temperature gradient is included. We present results for the percentage differences between the function with and without the temperature gradient included for a range of values of the reduced potential. These show that the effect of hot electrons can reduce the electron current contribution to the dust charge by up to 38% when the ion temperature is equal to the ambient electron temperature and that it can increase the electron current contribution to the dust charge by up to 33% when the ion temperature is a tenth of the ambient electron temperature.
Surface photovoltage in undoped n-type GaN
Authors: Reshchikov M. A. , Foussekis M. , Baski A. A.
Published: June 2010

Steady-state and transient surface photovoltage (SPV) in undoped GaN is studied in vacuum and air ambient at room temperature and 400 K with a Kelvin probe. The results are explained within a phenomenological model accounting for the accumulation of photogenerated holes at the surface, capture of free electrons from the bulk over the near-surface potential barrier, and emission of electrons from surface states into the bulk. Simple analytical expressions are obtained and compared with experimental results. In particular, the proposed model explains the logarithmic decay of the SPV after stopping illumination. Internal and external mechanisms of the SPV are discussed in detail. It is shown that an internal mechanism dominates at low illumination intensity and/or small photon energies, while external mechanisms such as charging of a surface oxide layer and photoinduced processes play a significant role for above-bandgap illumination with sufficient intensity.
Electrostatic ion-acoustic-like instabilities in the solar wind with a backstreaming alpha particle beam
Authors: Gomberoff L. , Gomberoff K. , Deutsch A.
Published: June 2010

Nonlinear electrostatic instabilities have been shown to occur frequently and under very different conditions in plasma with two ion beams such as the fast solar wind. These instabilities can be triggered when the phase velocity of electrostatic ion-acoustic waves propagating forward and backward relative to the interplanetary magnetic field overlaps due to the presence of a finite amplitude of circularly polarized wave. The instabilities can be triggered by waves supported by the same ion component, or by waves supported by different ion components. By assuming a beam of alpha particles moving backward relative to the external magnetic field, as observed in some events in the fast solar wind, it is shown that a very small negative drift velocity of the alpha particle beam relative to the core plasma—a few percent of the local Alfvén velocity—can trigger a very rich variety of nonlinear electrostatic acousticlike instabilities. Their growth rates can be rather large and they persist for larger negative alpha particles drift velocities and temperatures.
Numerical simulations of high power microwave dielectric interface breakdown involving outgassing
Authors: Wang Jianguo , Cai Libing , Zhu Xiangqin , Wang Yue , Xuan Chun
Published: June 2010

With the development of high power microwave (HPM) technology, the power and pulse duration of the HPM source increase substantially, the breakdown of the dielectric window of the HPM source feed has been becoming the major factor of limiting the transmission and radiation of HPM. This paper presents an electrostatic particle-in-cell and Monte Carlo collisions method for simulating the breakdown on HPM dielectric surface and establishes a physical model of HPM dielectric surface breakdown involving outgassing. The breakdown process including the main physical mechanisms, such as the field emission, multipactor, outgassing, and collision of gas ionization, is simulated. The influence of outgassing on the dielectric window breakdown is studied by simulating the breakdown with different outgassing speeds. The similarity between the dc and HPM dielectric surface breakdown is discussed.
A drift-magnetohydrodynamical fluid model of helical magnetic island equilibria in the pedestals of H-mode tokamak plasmas
Authors: Fitzpatrick R. , Waelbroeck F. L.
Published: June 2010

A drift-magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) fluid model is developed for an isolated, steady-state, helical magnetic island chain, embedded in the pedestal of a large aspect ratio, low-β, circular cross section, H-mode tokamak plasma, to which an externally generated, multiharmonic, static magnetic perturbation whose amplitude is sufficiently large to fully relax the pedestal toroidal ion flow is applied. The model is based on a set of single helicity, reduced, drift-MHD fluid equations which take into account neoclassical poloidal and toroidal flow damping, the perturbed bootstrap current, diamagnetic flows, anomalous cross-field diffusion, average magnetic-field line curvature, and coupling to drift-acoustic waves. These equations are solved analytically in a number of different ordering regimes by means of a systematic expansion in small quantities. For the case of a freely rotating island chain, the main aims of the calculation are to determine the chain’s phase velocity, and the sign and magnitude of the ion polarization term appearing in its Rutherford radial width evolution equation. For the case of a locked island chain, the main aims of the calculation are to determine the sign and magnitude of the polarization term.
A saddle-node bifurcation model of magnetic reconnection onset
Authors: Cassak P. A. , Shay M. A. , Drake J. F.
Published: June 2010

It was recently shown that magnetic reconnection exhibits bistability, where the Sweet–Parker (collisional) and Hall (collisionless) reconnection solutions are both attainable for the same set of system parameters. Here, a dynamical model based on saddle-node bifurcations is presented which reproduces the slow to fast transition. It is argued that the properties of the dynamical model are a result of the Hall effect and the dispersive physics associated with it. Evidence from resistive two-fluid and Hall magnetohydrodynamics simulations are presented that show that the time evolution agrees with the dynamical model, the outflow speed is correlated with the dispersive physics due to the Hall effect, and bistability persists in the absence of electron inertia.
Extended magnetohydrodynamic simulations of field reversed configuration formation and sustainment with rotating magnetic field current drive
Authors: Milroy R. D. , Kim C. C. , Sovinec C. R.
Published: June 2010

Three-dimensional simulations of field reversed configuration (FRC) formation and sustainment with rotating magnetic field (RMF) current drive have been performed with the NIMROD code [C. R. Sovinec et al., J. Comput. Phys. 195, 355 (2004)]. The Hall term is a zeroth order effect with strong coupling between Fourier components, and recent enhancements to the NIMROD preconditioner allow much larger time steps than was previously possible. Boundary conditions to capture the effects of a finite length RMF antenna have been added, and simulations of FRC formation from a uniform background plasma have been performed with parameters relevant to the translation, confinement, and sustainment-upgrade experiment at the University of Washington [H. Y. Guo, A. L. Hoffman, and R. D. Milroy, Phys. Plasmas 14, 112502 (2007)]. The effects of both even-parity and odd-parity antennas have been investigated, and there is no evidence of a disruptive instability for either antenna type. It has been found that RMF effects extend considerably beyond the ends of the antenna, and that a large n=0 Bθ can develop in the open-field line region, producing a back torque opposing the RMF.
A compact electroencephalogram recording device with integrated audio stimulation system
Authors: Paukkunen Antti K. O. , Kurttio Anttu A. , Leminen Miika M. , Sepponen Raimo E.
Published: June 2010

A compact (96×128×32 mm3, 374 g), battery-powered, eight-channel electroencephalogram recording device with an integrated audio stimulation system and a wireless interface is presented. The recording device is capable of producing high-quality data, while the operating time is also reasonable for evoked potential studies. The effective measurement resolution is about 4 nV at 200 Hz sample rate, typical noise level is below 0.7 μVrms at 0.16–70 Hz, and the estimated operating time is 1.5 h. An embedded audio decoder circuit reads and plays wave sound files stored on a memory card. The activities are controlled by an 8 bit main control unit which allows accurate timing of the stimuli. The interstimulus interval jitter measured is less than 1 ms. Wireless communication is made through bluetooth and the data recorded are transmitted to an external personal computer (PC) interface in real time. The PC interface is implemented with LABVIEW® and in addition to data acquisition it also allows online signal processing, data storage, and control of measurement activities such as contact impedance measurement, for example. The practical application of the device is demonstrated in mismatch negativity experiment with three test subjects.
Sc-coated Si@Al12 as high-capacity hydrogen storage medium
Authors: Lu Q. L. , Wan J. G.
Published: June 2010

Hydrogen molecules adsorption and storage in Sc coated Si@Al12 cluster were investigated using density functional theory methods. Scandium atoms can bind strongly to the surfaces of Si@Al12 due to the charge transfer between Sc and Si@Al12, and do not suffer from clustering on the substrate. Si@Al12 cluster coated with three and four Sc atoms can adsorb 16 and 18 H2 molecules with a binding energy of 0.28–0.63 eV/H2, corresponding to hydrogen storage capacity of 6.0 and 6.3 wt %, respectively. The stable Si@Al12 can be applied as one of candidates for hydrogen storage materials at ambient conditions.
Effect of an interface charge density wave on surface plasmon resonance in ZnO/Ag/ZnO thin films
Authors: Zhang Dongyan , Wang Pangpang , Murakami Ri-ichi , Song Xiaoping
Published: June 2010

The optical transmission spectra of ZnO/Ag/ZnO films showed a broad range of transmission enhancement due to a harmonic generated by surface plasmon resonance. This resonance was correlated with interface electrons between metallic Ag and dielectric ZnO layer. The interface charge density wave was calculated and compared with experimental results using Maxwell’s equations with a modified boundary condition. Finally, an observed redshift in the transmission enhancement is discussed using both the Ohmic contact model and the Drude free electron model.
Experimental study of the hydrodynamic trajectory of an x-ray-heated gold plasma
Authors: Yang Jiamin , Meng Guangwei , Zhu Tuo , Zhang Jiyan , Li Jinhong , He Xiaoan , Yi Rongqing , Xu Yan , Hu Zhiming , Ding Yaonan , Liu Shenye , Ding Yongkun
Published: June 2010

Hydrodynamic processes of radiation-ablated high-Z plasmas have great influence on the x-ray radiation transport both in a high-Z tube with low-Z foam filling and in a low-Z filling indirect drive cavity. Using the intense x-ray radiation to heat a low-Z foam-tamped high-Z gold plate from a half cavity, the hydrodynamic moving process of the x-ray-ablated gold plasma has been studied by an imaging method with Ti He-α line emission as the backlighter source. The hydrodynamic trajectory of the x-ray-heated gold plasma was obtained and the average trajectory velocity of (36.5±1.2) km/s was derived. The experimental trajectory was compared with the simulations using the one-dimensional (1D) RDMG [P. Gu et al., Sci. China, Ser. G 48, 345 (2005)] and two-dimensional (2D) LARED-R [K. Lan et al., Laser Part. Beams 23, 275 (2005)] codes separately. It is shown that the 2D LARED-R code simulated the measured plasma trajectory much better than the 1D RDMG code due to the fact that the lateral x-ray radiation loss was taken into account in the 2D LARED-R but not in the 1D RDMG simulations.