bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Firm as a Socialization Device
Authors: Ramalingam Abhijit , Rauh Michael T.
Published: October 2010

Why do firms exist? What is their function? What do managers do? What is the role, if any, of social motivation in the market? In this paper, we address these questions with a new theory of the firm, which unites some major themes in management, principal-agent theory, and economic sociology. We show that although the market is a superior incentive mechanism, the firm has a comparative advantage with respect to social motivation. We then show that the market is efficient in environments that favor the provision of incentives, such as when subjective risk is low and performance is easy to measure. The firm is efficient in other environments where incentives are costly and/or ineffective. We compare our model and results with the views of Durkheim (Durkheim, E. 1984. The Division of Labor in Society. Free Press, New York) and Granovetter (Granovetter, M. 1985. Economic action and social structure: The problem of embeddedness. Amer. J. Sociol. 91(3) 481–510).
Privacy Regulation and Online Advertising
Authors: Goldfarb Avi , Tucker Catherine E.
Published: October 2010

Advertisers use online customer data to target their marketing appeals. This has heightened consumers' privacy concerns, leading governments to pass laws designed to protect consumer privacy by restricting the use of data and by restricting online tracking techniques used by websites. We use the responses of 3.3 million survey takers who had been randomly exposed to 9,596 online display (banner) advertising campaigns to explore how privacy regulation in the European Union (EU) has influenced advertising effectiveness. This privacy regulation restricted advertisers' ability to collect data on Web users in order to target ad campaigns. We find that, on average, display advertising became far less effective at changing stated purchase intent after the EU laws were enacted, relative to display advertising in other countries. The loss in effectiveness was more pronounced for websites that had general content (such as news sites), where non-data-driven targeting is particularly hard to do. The loss of effectiveness was also more pronounced for ads with a smaller presence on the webpage and for ads that did not have additional interactive, video, or audio features.

This paper was accepted by Pradeep Chintagunta, marketing.
An Exact Algorithm for Finding Extreme Supported Nondominated Points of Multiobjective Mixed Integer Programs
Authors: Özpeynirci Özgür , Köksalan Murat
Published: October 2010

In this paper, we present an exact algorithm to find all extreme supported nondominated points of multiobjective mixed integer programs. The algorithm uses a composite linear objective function and finds all the desired points in a finite number of steps by changing the weights of the objective functions in a systematic way. We develop further variations of the algorithm to improve its computational performance and demonstrate our algorithm's performance on multiobjective assignment, knapsack, and traveling salesperson problems with three and four objectives.
Maximizing the Efficiency of the U.S. Liver Allocation System Through Region Design
Authors: Kong Nan , Schaefer Andrew J. , Hunsaker Brady , Roberts Mark S.
Published: October 2010

Cadaveric liver transplantation is the only viable therapy for end-stage liver disease patients without a living donor. However, this type of transplantation is hindered in the United States by donor scarcity and rapid viability decay. Given these difficulties, the current U.S. liver allocation policy balances allocation likelihood and geographic proximity by allocating cadaveric livers hierarchically. We consider the problem of maximizing the efficiency of intraregional transplants through the redesign of liver allocation regions. We formulate the problem as a set partitioning problem that clusters organ procurement organizations into regions. We develop an estimate of viability-adjusted intraregional transplants to capture the trade-off between large and small regions. We utilize branch and price because the set partitioning formulation includes too many potential regions to handle explicitly. We formulate the pricing problem as a mixed-integer program and design a geographic-decomposition heuristic to generate promising columns quickly. Because the optimal solution depends on the design of geographic decomposition, we develop an iterative procedure that integrates branch and price with local search to alleviate this dependency. Finally, we present computational studies that show the benefit of region redesign and the efficacy of our solution approach. Our carefully calibrated test instances can be solved within a reasonable amount of time, and the resulting region designs yield a noticeable improvement over the current configuration.
Reassessing Data Quality for Information Products
Authors: Dey Debabrata , Kumar Subodha
Published: October 2010

The quality profile of information retrieved from a database using a query is quite important in the context of managerial decision making. Parssian et al. (Parssian, A., S. Sarkar, V. S. Jacob. 2004. Assessing data quality for information products: Impact of selection, projection, and Cartesian product. Management Sci. 50(7) 967–982) propose a methodology to determine the quality profile of the result of a query from the quality profile of the source data. Although they consider an important problem, and the proposed methodology is quite useful in practice, some of their results for the selection operation are not correct in general. Here, we identify these errors and present appropriate corrections.
Core conflictual relationship theme – guided psychotherapy: Initial effectiveness study of a 16‐session manualized approach in a sample of six patients
Authors: Jarry Josée L.
Published: November 2010

Objective.

This study examined the effectiveness of a manualized, 16‐sessions, core conflictual relationship theme (CCRT)‐based treatment.

Design.

Treatment effects were assessed for statistical and clinical significance in a pre‐ and post‐therapy design.

Methods.

Six patients seeking help mostly for interpersonal difficulties received CCRT‐based psychotherapy. The therapists were six supervised doctoral students. An average of four assessment sessions and one goal‐setting session preceded 16 sessions of psychotherapy consisting mainly of interpretive work focused on one CCRT. Patients completed measures of general and treatment specific outcome indicators at the beginning and the end of therapy. Alliance measures were completed by patients after each session.

Results.

The alliance was strong and the treatment had high credibility. Parametric and non‐parametric tests showed that patients significantly improved on the general measures of self‐esteem, symptomatic distress, anxiety, and depression, as well as on the treatment specific measures of interpersonal functioning, use of immature defences, and CCRT‐associated subjective discomfort, with large effect sizes.

Conclusions.

These preliminary results suggest that this manualized, CCRT‐based, treatment produces general and approach specific improvements. Replication is needed to ascertain its effectiveness with a larger sample size and within a controlled design.
Common reference intervals for aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) in serum: results from an IFCC multicenter study
Authors: Ceriotti Ferruccio , Henny Joseph , Queraltó Josep , Ziyu Shen , Özarda Yeşim , Chen Baorong , Boyd James C. , Panteghini Mauro
Published: October 2010

Background: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) measurements are important for the assessment of liver damage. The aim of this study was to define the reference intervals (RIs) for these enzymes in adults, paying attention to standardization of the methods used and careful selection of the reference population.

Methods: AST, ALT and GGT were measured with commercial analytical systems standardized to the IFCC-recommended reference measurement systems. Three centers (two in Italy and one in China) measured their own freshly collected samples; one of these centers also measured frozen samples from the Nordic Countries RI Project and from a Turkish center. RIs were generated using non-parametric techniques from the results of 765 individuals (411 females and 354 males, 18–85 years old) selected on the basis of the results of other laboratory tests and a specific questionnaire.

Results: AST results from the four regions (Milan, Beijing, Bursa and Nordic Countries) were statistically different, but these differences were too small to be clinically relevant. Likewise, differences between the upper reference limits for genders was only 1.7 U/L (0.03 μkat/L), allowing a single RI of 11–34 U/L (0.18–0.57 μkat/L) to be defined. Interregional differences were not statistically significant for ALT, but partitioning was required due to significant gender differences. RIs for ALT were 8–41 U/L (0.13–0.68 μkat/L) for females and 9–59 U/L (0.15–0.99 μkat/L) for males, respectively. The upper reference limits for GGT from the Nordic Country population were higher than those from the other three regions and results from this group were excluded from final calculations. The GGT RIs were 6–40 U/L (0.11–0.66 μkat/L) for females and 12–68 U/L (0.20– 1.13 μkat/L) for males, respectively.

Conclusions: For AST and ALT, the implementation of common RIs appears to be possible, because no differences between regions were observed. However, a common RI for GGT that is applicable worldwide appears unlikely due to differences among populations.

Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:1593–601.
Towards the development of a certified reference material for hemoglobin A2
Authors: Paleari Renata , Muñoz Amalia , Mosca Andrea
Published: October 2010

Background: In 2004, a working group on the standardization of hemoglobin A2 (HbA2) was created within the IFCC, with the aim of developing a reference system for this analyte. One goal was to prepare a certified reference material in collaboration with the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM). This paper describes the properties of a first batch of this candidate study material.

Methods: Eighty millilitre of fresh whole blood, collected from a healthy blood donor, was treated by removing plasma, white blood cells and platelets. Red cells were hemolyzed to prepare 100 vials of lyophilized material (approximately 155 mg per vial). After reconstitution, the HbA2 content was measured with a total of seven HPLC methods, three electrophoretic techniques, and two capillary electrophoresis (CE) methods. Homogeneity was tested in a subset of five vials. Stability during storage at +4°C and –20°C was tested monthly over a period of 1 year. The commutability of this material was assessed by analysing the study material together with a set of 54 fresh blood samples, with a subgroup of the above mentioned methods, only by one routine HPLC (Bio-Rad Variant II, dual kit) and by a CE method (Beckman PA800, Analis kit), respectively.

Results: The chromatographic and electrophoretic patterns obtained by all the HPLC, electrophoretic and CE techniques did not show any difference between those obtained using the first study material and those obtained with fresh blood samples. The lot was found to be homogeneous on the basis of the content of lyophilized powder per vial. The HbA2 concentration in the lyophilized material remained stable at +4°C and –20°C, even after 1 year of storage. After reconstitution, the HbA2 concentration did not change for more than 2 weeks in the refrigerator at +4°C. The normalized residual of the study material, measuring the degree of its commutability was 0.9, similar to that obtained on other home prepared and some commercial controls.

Conclusions: Ideally, fresh whole blood is the best reference material in the meterological traceability chain for HbA2 analysis. However, for a number of reasons the preparation of large batches of fresh whole blood to be used as secondary reference material for HbA2 is not practical. In our work, we have proven that lyophilization does not appear to cause any matrix effect or inhomogeneity in the study material, which also confirmed to be commutable for the Bio-Rad Variant II (dual kit) and Beckman PA800 (Analis kit) methods. We conclude that a material similarly prepared as the current study material and value assigned with the candidate reference measurement procedure still under development will be suitable to calibrate various routine methods for HbA2. This will result in improvement of the inter-method variability for this important biochemical marker.

Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:1611–8.
First certified reference material for cystatin C in human serum ERM-DA471/IFCC
Authors: Grubb Anders , Blirup-Jensen Søren , Lindström Veronica , Schmidt Camilla , Althaus Harald , Zegers Ingrid
Published: October 2010

The IFCC Working Group for the Standardisation of Cystatin C (WG-SCC), in collaboration with the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), announces the availability of the new certified reference material ERM-DA471/IFCC. The material was characterised using a pure protein primary reference preparation (PRP) as calibrant. The PRP was prepared from recombinant cystatin C, and its concentration measured using dry mass determination. The characterisation of ERM-DA471/IFCC was performed by particle enhanced immuno-nephelometry, particle enhanced immuno-turbidimetry, and enzyme amplified single radial immuno-diffusion. The certified cystatin C mass concentration in ERM-DA471/IFCC, if reconstituted according to the specified procedure, is 5.48 mg/L, the expanded uncertainty (k=2) being 0.15 mg/L.

Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:1619–21.
Standardization activities in the field of thyroid function tests: a status report
Authors: Thienpont Linda M. , Van Uytfanghe Katleen , Van Houcke Sofie
Published: October 2010

Background:Laboratory testing is an essential tool for diagnosis and management of thyroid diseases. However, the current status of standardization hampers the interchangeability of results. To improve this situation, the Working Group for Standardization of Thyroid Function Tests was established.

Methods:Method comparisons were organized for measurement of human thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and free and total thyroid hormone in serum from apparently healthy donors. The aim was to assess the status of standardization and the quality of the performance of current routine assays. A second objective was to investigate the effect of mathematical recalibration of the results using their relationship to the overall mean (TSH) or the reference measurement procedure values (other thyroid hormones).

Results:The need for standardization was shown to be highest for free thyroid hormone and total triiodothyronine measurements, while the majority of TSH and total thyroxine assays agreed within 10% of the reference. Most assays showed good performance. However, some could benefit from improved precision, consistency of calibration, or within- and between-run stability. Recalibration eliminated assay-specific bias. Thus, the residual spread was due to within-method effects. Not withstanding, sample-related effects remained.

Conclusions:These studies confirmed the feasibility of standardization based on method comparison with native sera, but highlighted the need to resolve issues, such as sample-related effects. In view of the fact that in this phase the project worked with samples from individuals with euthyroid status, the next method comparison shall place emphasis on challenging the performance of the assays with clinical samples and expanding the covered measurement range.

Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:1577–83.
Toward standardization of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) measurements: II. Performance of a laboratory network running the HPLC candidate reference measurement procedure and evaluation of a candidate reference material
Authors: Helander Anders , Wielders Jos P.M. , Jeppsson Jan-Olof , Weykamp Cas , Siebelder Carla , Anton Raymond F. , Schellenberg François , Whitfield John B.
Published: October 2010

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is a descriptive term used for a temporary change in the transferrin glycosylation profile caused by alcohol, and used as a biomarker of chronic high alcohol consumption. The use of an array of methods for measurement of CDT in various absolute or relative amounts, and sometimes covering different transferrin glycoforms, has complicated the comparability of results and caused confusion among medical staff. This situation prompted initiation of an IFCC Working Group on CDT standardization. This second publication of the WG-CDT covers the establishment of a network of reference laboratories running a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) candidate reference measurement procedure, and evaluation of candidate secondary reference materials. The network laboratories demonstrated good and reproducible performance and thus can be used to assign target values for calibrators and controls. A candidate secondary reference material based on native human serum lyophilized with a cryo-/lyoprotectant to prevent protein denaturation was found to be commutable and stable during storage. A proposed strategy for calibration of different CDT methods is also presented. In an external quality assurance study involving 66 laboratories and covering the current routine CDT assays (HPLC, capillary electrophoresis and immunoassay), recalculation of observed results based on the nominal values for the candidate calibrator reduced the overall coefficient of variation from 18.9% to 5.5%. The logistics for distribution of reference materials and review of results were found to be functional, indicating that a full reference system for CDT may soon be available.

Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:1585–92.
Introduction of a new cobalamin (vitamin B12) assay: lessons from a flawed validation study
Authors: van Rossum André P. , Gunnewiek Jacqueline Klein , Verheijen François M. , Vlasveld L. Tom , Castel Ad , Fouraux Michael A.
Published: October 2010

Background: Plasma vitamin B12 [cobalamin (Cbl)] concentrations are usually measured as a screening marker for vitamin B12 deficiency. Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics has introduced Cbl assays for various platforms, i.e., the immulite (IML) 2000 and 2500. In our laboratories, regular validation studies for the IML 2500 were conducted and showed acceptable quality specifications. After the introduction of the IML 2500 Cbl assay, clinicians in the department of internal medicine reported an increased frequency of patients with Cbl-concentrations less than 148 pmol/L.

Methods: In order to investigate this claim from the clinicians, we retrospectively analyzed the internal and external quality control (QC) of the Cbl assay. In addition, the monthly patient means for the Cbl assay were analyzed both before and after the introduction of the new Cbl assay.

Results: No abnormalities were found in the internal and external QCs. However, the monthly patient means for the Cbl assay showed a statistically significant decrease in cobalamin concentrations. Siemens acknowledged the problems and formulated a new Cbl assay, which was subsequently validated in our laboratories and showed equivocal Cbl results when compared to the IML 2000 Cbl assay.

Conclusions: We report a flawed validation study conducted by the manufacturer that resulted in an undetected analytical problem in the IML 2500 Cbl assay, its subsequent introduction on the market, the final recognition of the poor performance of the assay by our clinicians, and the eventual resolution by the manufacturer. Hence, it emphasizes the utmost importance for thorough comparison between assays over the entire measurement range, even when both assays are produced by the same manufacturer.
Interlaboratory study of free monoclonal immunoglobulin light chain quantification
Authors: Vávrová Jaroslava , Maisnar Vladimír , Tichý Miloš , Friedecký Bedřich , Čermáková Zdeňka , Dastych Milan , Gottwaldová Jana , Kučera Petr , Krotká Jarmila , Racek Jaroslav , Ženková Jana , Schneiderka Petr , Lochman Pavel , Zima Tomáš , Benáková Hana , Büchler Tomáš , Spáčilová Jana , Hájek Roman , Palička Vladimír
Published: October 2010

Background: Quantification of monoclonal immunoglobulin free light chains (FLCs) in serum is used increasingly in clinical practice for the diagnosis, prognostic assessment, and treatment monitoring of monoclonal gammopathies. It is used as an adjunct to standard serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation. However, methods for FLC quantification need further standardization and validation.

Methods: The Czech Myeloma Group and the Czech Society of Clinical Biochemistry have initiated an interlaboratory study where six laboratories collaborating with the primary myeloma treatment centres measured FLC concentrations in 12 serum samples from patients with monoclonal gammopathies.

Results: Repeatability of the measurements in five laboratories was calculated based on differences between the results of duplicate measurements. We found that repeatability depended more on the laboratory than on the device used for measurement.

Conclusions: The study revealed several weak points in the methodology, including the need for a uniform sample dilution procedure. Interlaboratory reproducibility was comparable with values achieved in the NEQAS programme. Because the κ/λ ratio cannot be measured with high precision, κ and λ FLC concentrations should be used where possible. Due to its impact on the clinical management of patients with gammopathy, FLC quantification needs to become a part of the regular quality control cycle in myeloma centres.
Comparison of the cortisol responses to testing with two doses of ACTH in patients with suspected adrenal insufficiency
Authors: Dekkers O M , Timmermans J M , Smit J W A , Romijn J A , Pereira A M
Published: October 2010

Objectives

To compare the cortisol response of the 1 μg and the 250 μg ACTH test in a large study of patients with suspected adrenal insufficiency.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Single center study assessing patients tested for primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency between January 2004 and December 2007, who had both ACTH tests (1 μg and 250 μg; n=207) within a time interval of 6 weeks. Test results were compared with a Bland–Altman plot and McNemar's test.

Results

The mean difference between the cortisol responses in the two ACTH tests was 26 nmol/l (95% confidence interval (CI) 13, 40), showing a marginally higher response for the 250 μg test. The diagnostic performances of the two tests were similar (P=0.49) using a cut-off value for cortisol of 550 nmol/l. A normal cortisol response to the 1 μg ACTH test could be accompanied by an abnormal response to the 250 μg ACTH test, and vice versa.

Conclusion

This study shows that the 1 μg and the 250 μg ACTH tests have comparable cortisol responses in patients with suspected adrenal insufficiency. However, in individual patients, the difference in cortisol response to the two tests can be substantial, and the response in the 250 μg test is not invariably higher than the response in a 1 μg test.
Defining Genetic Factors That Modulate Intergenerational CAG Repeat Instability inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Jung Joonil , van Jaarsveld Marijn T M , Shieh Shin-Yi , Xu Kexiang , Bonini Nancy M
Published: November 2010

Trinucleotide repeat instability underlies >20 human hereditary disorders. These diseases include many neurological and neurodegenerative situations, such as those caused by pathogenic polyglutamine (polyQ) domains encoded by expanded CAG repeats. Although mechanisms of instability have been intensely studied, our knowledge remains limited in part due to the lack of unbiased genome-wide screens in multicellular eukaryotes. Drosophila melanogaster displays triplet repeat instability with features that recapitulate repeat instability seen in patients with disease. Here we report an enhanced fly model with substantial instability based on a noncoding 270 CAG (UAS–CAG270) repeat construct under control of a germline-specific promoter. We find that expression of pathogenic polyQ protein modulates repeat instability of CAG270 in trans, indicating that pathogenic-length polyQ proteins may globally modulate repeat instability in the genome in vivo. We further performed an unbiased genetic screen for novel modifiers of instability. These studies indicate that different aspects of repeat instability are under independent genetic control, and identify CG15262, a protein with a NOT2/3/5 conserved domain, as a modifier of CAG repeat instability in vivo.
Delayed Puberty Due to a Novel Mutation in CHD7 Causing CHARGE Syndrome
Authors: Dauber Andrew , Hirschhorn Joel N. , Picker Jonathan , Maher Thomas A. , Milunsky Aubrey
Published: November 2010

We report the case of a 15-year-old girl who presented to a pediatric endocrinology clinic for delayed puberty with no signs of secondary sexual development. Her past medical history was significant for bilateral colobomas, inner-ear anomalies, hearing loss, and anosmia. Genetic testing revealed a novel de novo mutation in the CHD7 gene, one of the causative genes in CHARGE syndrome (coloboma, heart disease, choanal atresia, retarded growth and development and/or central nervous system anomalies, genital anomalies and/or hypogonadism, and ear anomalies and/or deafness). We review the distinction between hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism and discuss the availability of molecular genetic testing for idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. CHD7 mutations have also been found in some patients with Kallmann syndrome, hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, and anosmia, and we discuss the overlap between this syndrome and CHARGE syndrome. With the increased availability of genetic testing for a variety of disorders, it is important for pediatricians to become familiar with interpreting genetic test results. Finally, we illustrate that Bayes' theorem is a useful statistical tool for interpreting novel missense mutations of unknown significance.
Evaluation of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item for Detecting Major Depression Among Adolescents
Authors: Richardson Laura P. , McCauley Elizabeth , Grossman David C. , McCarty Carolyn A. , Richards Julie , Russo Joan E. , Rockhill Carol , Katon Wayne
Published: November 2010

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study was to examine the performance characteristics and validity of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item (PHQ-9) as a screening tool for depression among adolescents.

METHODS:

The PHQ-9 was completed by 442 youth (aged 13–17 years) who were enrolled in a large health care–delivery system and participated in a study on depression outcomes. Criterion validity and performance characteristics were assessed against an independent structured mental health interview (the Child Diagnostic Interview Schedule [DISC-IV]). Construct validity was tested by examining associations between the PHQ-9 and a self-report measure of functional impairment, as well as parental reports of child psychosocial impairment and internalizing symptoms.

RESULTS:

A PHQ-9 score of 11 or more had a sensitivity of 89.5% and a specificity of 77.5% for detecting youth who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria for major depression on the DISC-IV. Receiver-operator-curve analysis revealed that the PHQ-9 had an area under the curve of 0.88 (95% confidence interval: 0.82–0.94), and the cut point of 11 was optimal for maximizing sensitivity without loss of specificity. Increasing PHQ-9 scores were significantly correlated with increasing levels of functional impairment, as well as parental report of internalizing symptoms and psychosocial problems.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although the optimal cut point is higher among adolescents, the sensitivity and specificity of the PHQ-9 are similar to those of adult populations. The brief nature and ease of scoring of this instrument make this tool an excellent choice for providers and researchers seeking to implement depression screening in primary care settings.
Incidence of Morbidity From Penetrating Palate Trauma
Authors: Hennelly Kara , Kimia Amir , Lee Lois , Jones Dwight , Porter Stephen C.
Published: November 2010

BACKGROUND:

The true rate of neurologic sequelae and infection from penetrating palatal trauma in children is unknown, which leads to significant variation in testing and treatment.

OBJECTIVES:

To (1) determine the incidence of stroke and infection in well-appearing children with penetrating palatal trauma and (2) describe patterns of testing and treatment for uncomplicated palatal trauma.

METHODS:

We assembled a retrospective cohort of children aged 9 months to 18 years with palatal trauma seen in the emergency department (ED) at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Patients met the following definition: well-appearing with normal neurologic examination and a palate laceration but no findings requiring immediate operative care. Stroke was defined as any abnormal neurologic examination secondary to palatal trauma. Infection was defined as cellulitis or abscess secondary to palatal injury. All abnormal computed tomographic angiography (CTA) findings, except for free air, were considered positive and potentially significant.

RESULTS:

We identified 1656 potential subjects. A total of 995 of 1656 subjects were screened, and 205 of 995 met the case definition. A total of 122 of 205 had follow-up through at least 1 week after injury. The incidence of stroke in our study population was 0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0–2.5). One of 116 patients developed infection, for an incidence of 0.9% (95% CI: 0–5.3). A total of 90 of 205 (44%) subjects had CTA scans; the results of 9 (10%) were positive. No patients with positive CTA findings required operative care. No patients received anticoagulant medications.

CONCLUSIONS:

The incidence of morbidity from penetrating palatal trauma in the well-appearing child is extremely low. Diagnostic evaluation in the ED did not prompt clinical interventions other than antibiotics.
Nanocomposite of Bi2Te3 with Metal Inclusions for Advanced Thermoelectric Applications
Authors: Santhanam Sumithra , Takas Nathan J. , Misra Dinesh , Poudeu Pierre F. P. , Stokes Kevin L.
Published: October 2010

Recent experimental and theoretical studies have shown that the thermal to electrical power conversion efficiency (as measured by the thermoelectric figure of merit) can be enhanced in nanocomposite materials. Primarily, these efforts to improve the thermoelectric efficiency rely on reducing the lattice thermal conductivity through nanostructuring of the materials or the introduction of a second nanometer-scale phase into the composite material. Here, we show that the inclusion of semimetal nanoparticles into bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) can result in both an increase in the electronic transport properties (so called "power factor") as well as a decrease in lattice thermal conductivity. The effect of different volume fractions of Bi nanoinclusions (3% and 5%) on the thermal and electrical properties of the composite are reported. A marginal increase in the thermoelectric figure of merit is achieved for 3% metal nanoinclusion, whereas a significant improvement in the figure of merit could be achieved for 5% nanoinclusions in the Bi2Te3 thermoelectric matrix.
Estimate of Hydrogen Density at Starting Point for Crevice Corrosion and Cracking of Cold Rolled Type 304 Stainless Steel
Authors: Kajikawa Shunji , Isobe Yasuaki , Kuromiya Akio , Okido Masazumi
Published: October 2010

In the past work of authors, a cold rolled type304 stainless steel pipe with shot peening was prepared. A crevice was created between the outside of the pipe and an O-ring, and the pipe was applied stress by press fitting another part. Cracking from a crevice corrosion pit was observed in a chloride environment, and it was presumed to be Hydrogen Embrittlement-Stress Corrosion Cracking（HE-SCC）. Provided that the crack is caused by HE-SCC､it is thought that hydrogen is generated by corrosion reaction and the SUS304 pipe absorbs it more than its critical level. Generally, the hydrogen distribution in the steel is analyzed in the condition that the hydrogen concentration of the environment is constant as the high-pressure hydrogen gas environment etc. In the case of HE-SCC described above, however, the hydrogen concentration is presumed to change with pitting growth, and there is no example of analysis in such condition.
In this work, cyclic corrosion tests were conducted using the samples with no press-fitting part. The hydrogen density at the initiation point of crevice corrosion and cracking was estimated by following technique. First, the amount of hydrogen diffused from the corrosion pit was measured using Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy（TDS ）, and the number of pits was measured. Then, the average hydrogen quantity in a pit was derived.
On the other hand, it is thought that hydrogen is generated by the hydrolysis of a metallic salt and the cathode reaction of the hydrogen ion in the pit. Therefore, the amount of the hydrogen is proportional to the quantity of corrosion amount. Then, assuming that pitting corrosion takes the form of half sphere shape and grows with time, the simulation model was made that the hydrogen absorbed and diffused from the pit surface with the development of corrosion. The profile of the hydrogen density in SUS304 from pit initiation till crack initiation was calculated based on this model. The calculated profile of the hydrogen density was compared with the amount of hydrogen measured by cyclic corrosion test. As a result, the hydrogen concentration at the crack starting point was derived 0.3ppm. At this density level, He-SCC can occur in high strength SUS304.
Electrical Conductivity Relaxation Study of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathodes using Epitaxial (001)-Oriented Strontium-Doped Lanthanum Manganite Thin Films
Authors: Yan Lu , Kavaipatti Balasubramaniam , Wang Shanling , Du Hui , Salvador Paul
Published: October 2010

Epitaxial single-crystal films of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (100) having smooth surface morphology were deposited on SrTiO3 (100) substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Electrical conductivity relaxation (ECR) measurements were carried out at elevated temperatures over a range of absolute oxygen pressures to determine the oxygen surface exchange coefficient. Steady-state conductivity data of the thin films show good agreement with the bulk material's properties. The values of the oxygen exchange coefficients (Kchem) are found to be similar for both oxidation and reduction process between 50 and 500 mTorr O2. The activation energy (Ea) of Kchem is 1.00±0.27 eV at temperatures above 600 °C and Kchem (T=612°C)≈1.2×10-6 cm/s.
(100) Oriented Sputter-deposited Pt Thin Films on MgO/Fe Composite Bilayers using SiO2/Si substrates With Addition of O2 During Pt Sputtering
Authors: Nakagawa Shigeki , Nakano Hiroshi , Murashima Yuji , Komaki Kazuki , Matsumoto Tatsuro , Wang ChongE
Published: October 2010

Perovskite type oxide thin films have attracted a lot of attention, because they are essential materials which will be used for various electric devices such as ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) and tunable filter devices. When the materials are used for such capacitive devices, bottom electrode layers for oxide films are very important, since they significantly affect the crystallinity of the oxide films. Platinum (Pt) is one of the well known bottom electrode materials used for the oxide thin films. Pt provides also better nucleation sites for such perovskite materials due to small lattice misfit. Since dielectric properties of ferroelectric films are originated from the displacement of ions in a crystal along the c-axis direction, c-axis oriented ferroelectric thin films are required to attain better dielectric properties. (100) oriented Pt layers are required to attain c-axis oriented perovskite type ferroelectric films. In our previous report, we succeeded in preparing (100)-oriented Pt thin films with thickness of 20 nm on SiO2/Si substrate at substrate temperature Ts above 400 °C using MgO (100) buffer layers which deposited on Fe (100) seed layers. However, the growth of Pt(111) texture appeared when the thickness was increased from 20 nm to 100 nm, since (100) texture has relatively higher surface energy than (111) closely packed texture for Pt surface. It suggested that surface energy of the films changed during the deposition. In order to keep the surface energy, addition of O2 gas was performed during Pt deposition. Pt thin films with (100) preferred orientation with thickness above 100 nm were deposited on the (100) oriented MgO layer prepared on very thin seed Fe layers deposited on SiO2/Si substrates at Ts of 500 °C by facing-targets sputtering. It was also succeeded to attain (100) oriented perovskite oxide layer when they were deposited on the Pt(100)/Mg(100)/Fe/SiO2/Si underlayer.
Structure and Transport Properties of Sr0.75-xCaxY0.25Co0.25Mn0.75O3-δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.6)
Authors: Galeeva Alexandra , Napolsky Philipp , Istomin Sergey , Gippius Andrey , Khokhlov Dmitry
Published: October 2010

New complex oxide Sr0.75-xCaxY0.25Co0.25Mn0.75O3-δ with a perovskite-like structure has been synthesized and characterized. DC and AC transport properties of ceramic samples have been studied in the temperature range 4.2K – 1173K. DC conductivity data at T > 300K are discussed in terms of the small polaron hopping model. Dependence of the polaron activation energy on the calcium content is found to correlate with the change of structural distortion parameters. Both the temperature dependence of DC conductivity and the frequency dependence of the real part of the admittance reveal hopping transport at low temperatures.
Synthesis of Biocompatible Magnetic Iron Oxide (γ-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4) Nanoparticles by a Modified Polyol Process for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Basina Georgia , Panagiotopoulos Ioannis , Devlin Eamonn , Hadjipanayis George , Colak Levent , Hadjipanayis Constantinos , Mao Hui , Diamantopoulos Georgios , Fardis Michael , Papavasileiou Georgios , Niarchos Dimitrios , Tzitzios Vasilis
Published: October 2010

Highly crystalline superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated by poly-vinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were prepared by simultaneous thermal decomposition of ferrous and ferric inorganic salts in polyethylene glycol (PEG) with molecular weight 200. The magnetic particles have a diameter in the range of 8-15 nm, and after exchange with citric acid diammonium salt, they transform into very stable super hydrophilic colloidal solutions. The presence of magnetite phase was confirmed using powder X-rays diffraction (XRD) and Mössbauer spectroscopy, while thermogravimetric analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of PVP or citrate anions on the nanoparticles surface. The magnetic properties revealed superparamagnetic behavior, with the composite material showing a saturation magnetization up to 57 emu/g. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles prepared by this modified polyol process are suitable for biomedical applications because of the biocompatibility of citrate anions. Magnetic hyperthermia experiments in neutral water solutions shows that the particles induce fast heating rates with specific absorption rate (SAR) values which reached 57.53 W/gFe, when the concentration of iron is 11.2 mgFe/ml.
Effects of He-irradiation on the Metal-to-insulator Transition of Vanadium Dioxide Nanoclusters
Authors: Karl Helmut , Peng Jing , Stritzker Bernd
Published: October 2010

In this work nanoclusters of vanadium dioxide (VO2) buried in 200 nm thick SiO2 on silicon have been irradiated with increasing fluences of He ions. The projected range of He was chosen to be 650 nm in order to avoid residual He in the VO2 nanoclusters and the surrounding SiO2. The VO2 nanoclusters have been synthesized by sequential ion implantation of the elements vanadium and oxygen followed by a rapid thermal annealing step. Irradiation with He ions leads to the generation of reversible lattice point defects in the nanocrystalline VO2 precipitates. Simultaneously there is no electronic doping by He incorporation. The effect of the local- and long-range structural disorder on the metal-to-insulator phase transition has been investigated as a function of He fluence by μ-Raman spectroscopy and temperature dependent spectral ellipsometry. The disappearance of a low-frequency Raman mode indicates increasing disorder in the long-range crystal structure due to He irradiation. At the same time the thermal hysteresis of the metal-to-insulator transition narrows.
ZnO-CdZnS Core-Shell Nanocable Arrays for Highly Efficient Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Generation
Authors: Myung Yoon , Jang Dong Myung , Sohn Yong Jei , Sung Tae Kwang , Jung Gyeong Bok , Cho Yong Jae , Kim Han Sung , Park Jeunghee
Published: October 2010

High-density TiO2-CdS and ZnO-CdS core-shell nanocable arrays were synthesized on large-area Ti substrates. The CdS layers were deposited on the pre-grown vertically-aligned TiO2 (rutile) and ZnO nanowire arrays, with a controlled thickness (10~50 nm), using the vapor transport method. The ZnO-CdS nanocables consisted of single-crystalline wurtzite CdS shells whose [001] direction was aligned along the [001] wire axis of the wurtzite ZnO core, which is distinctive from the polycrystalline shell of the TiO2-CdS nanocables. We fabricated the photoelectrochemical cell using the ZnO-CdS photoelectrode exhibits much more efficient hydrogen generation than that using the TiO2-CdS one.
Antimony Doped ZnO Nanorods - A Change From n to p Type?
Authors: Briscoe Joe , Gallardo Diego E. , Dunn Steve
Published: October 2010

The in-situ aqueous synthesis of ZnO nanorods doped with Sb is presented. To control the inclusion of Sb into the ZnO nanorods structure ethylene glycol (EG) is added to the reaction solution. The addition of EG reduces the rate at which Sb is included in the ZnO rods and produces nanorods with a morphology that is similar to the undoped rods. This is contrary to the rods produced with Sb in the absence of EG which produce a less well ordered structure. An I/V curve taken from individual rods indicates a change in the diode behaviour. The change in I/V behaviour is associated with a change from the natural n-type behaviour of ZnO to a p-type behaviour due to the Sb doping.
Weed Hosts of Root-Knot Nematodes and Their Distribution in Fiji
Authors: Singh Sunil K. , Khurma Uma R. , Lockhart Peter J.
Published: November 2010

Weeds can act as reservoir hosts of a range of pests and diseases. Information and knowledge on the host status of weeds to common pests and diseases can be used to develop integrated weed and pest management strategies. As part of a survey on the distribution and diversity of root-knot nematodes on crops in Fiji, the root-knot nematode host status of weeds was also studied. Weeds growing in root-knot nematode infested farms (n= 189) and bioassay pot soil samples (n= 277) were identified, and their host status was determined on the basis of a root gall and egg-mass index scale from 0 to 5. A total of 45 weed species were recorded as potential weed hosts of root-knot nematodes with a gall index from 1 to 5. Using the weed and tomato bioassay method, a total of 11 nonhost weed species were recorded with a gall index of 0, relative to infected tomato growing in pot soil samples. Common weeds infected by root-knot nematodes on farms and in bioassay pot soil included slender amaranth, old world diamond-flower, tropic ageratum, sicklepod, mimbra, balsamapple, purple bushbean, little ironweed, ivy gourd, and cutleaf groundcherry. The presence of egg masses on the weed hosts indicated their ability to sustain root-knot nematode populations and, thus, their potential to act as reservoir hosts.
Distribution, Growth, and Seed Germination Ability of Lead Tree (Leucaena leucocephala) Plants in Penghu Islands, Taiwan
Authors: Hwang Chen-Yu , Hsu Ling-Ming , Liou Yow-Jang , Wang Ching-Yuh
Published: November 2010

The distribution, growth, and seed germination ability of the exotic lead tree in Penghu Islands, Taiwan, were studied. Survey results have shown that all lead tree plants existing throughout these islands belonged to the Hawaii type. Subsequently a comparison of germination requirements between this and the rare Salvador type, which distributes only in the island of Taiwan, was carried out. The objective of this research was to compare the germination requirements of the Salvador- and Hawaii-type lead tree plants. Lead trees in Penghu Islands have formed a pure forest with a height ranging from 2 to 4 m. All growth stages of the lead tree, i.e., vegetative, flowering, podding, and depodding stages, were found simultaneously in fall, but only vegetative and podding stages were observed in summer. Germination of both the Hawaii- and Salvador-type lead tree was evaluated under different environmental conditions, including temperature, pH, osmotic potential, burial depth, and lighting condition. The Salvador-type exhibited more than 60% seed germination after 14 d at temperatures between 20 and 35 C, whereas the seed germination of the Hawaii type increased from 20 to 60% with temperature increases from 20 to 35 C. The optimal temperature for seed germination of these two types of lead tree was 35 C. Increasing burial depth beneath the soil surface and darkness, as well as an osmotic potential below −0.4 MPa, also reduced seed germination. However, the germination of both types was not affected by pH ranging from 4.0 to 9.0. On the basis of the climatic and soil environment conditions in Penghu Islands, it is reasonable to predict that the summer season, in which lead tree seeds readily germinate on the ground or in shallow soils, is the optimal time for controlling this plant.
Integrated Weed Management Systems Identified for Jointed Goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica) in the Pacific Northwest
Authors: Young Frank L. , Ball Daniel A. , Thill Donn C. , Alldredge J. Richard , Ogg Alex G. , Seefeldt Steven S.
Published: November 2010

Jointed goatgrass is an invasive winter annual grass weed that is a particular problem in the low to intermediate rainfall zones of the Pacific Northwest (PNW). For the most part, single-component research has been the focus of previous jointed goatgrass studies. In 1996, an integrated cropping systems study for the management of jointed goatgrass was initiated in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon in the traditional winter wheat (WW)–fallow (F) region of the PNW. The study evaluated eight integrated weed management (IWM) systems that included combinations of either a one-time stubble burn (B) or a no-burn (NB) treatment, a rotation of either WW–F–WW or spring wheat (SW)–F–WW, and either a standard (S) or an integrated (I) practice of planting winter wheat. This study is the first, to our knowledge, to evaluate and identify complete IWM systems for jointed goatgrass control in winter wheat. At the Idaho location, in a very low weed density, no IWM system was identified that consistently had the highest yield, reduced grain dockage, and reduced weed densities. However, successful IWM systems for jointed goatgrass management were identified as weed populations increased. At the Washington location, in a moderate population of jointed goatgrass, the best IWM system based on the above responses was the B:SW–F–WW:S system. At the Washington site, this system was better than the integrated planting system because the competitive winter wheat variety did not perform well in drought conditions during the second year of winter wheat. At the Oregon site, a location with a high weed density, the system B:SW–F–WW:I produced consistently higher grain yields, reduced grain dockage, and reduced jointed goatgrass densities. These integrated systems, if adopted by PNW growers in the wheat–fallow area, would increase farm profits by decreasing dockage, decreasing farm inputs, and reducing herbicide resistance in jointed goatgrass.