bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La Passio de san Vicente de Zaragoza según las prédicas de Agustín en el día de la fiesta (sermones 4; 274-277A; 359B)
Authors: Drobner Hubertos R. ,   Order of Augustinian Recollects
Published: April 2022

The article deals with St. Augustine’s sermons about the Passio Vincentii, underlining that none of the versions that we know nowadays, were the model followed by St. Augustine. Regarding the vocabulary, the coincidences between the sermons and the Passio make clear that St. Augustine either was using a common vocabulary to refer to martyrdom, or that he has based himself in the Passio’s narratives, that were read before the sermon. It also states that Augustine’s silence of some the Passio’s details and his theological interest in the event as such, do not allow any conclusion about the text used by S. Augustine.
Defensa y vindicación agustinianas del cuerpo
Authors: Arenson Kelly E. , Anoz José ,   Order of Augustinian Recollects
Published: April 2022

Contemporary critics of Augustine, including many feminists, have often charged him with debasing the body by considering it to be the seat of sin, worthy of enmity and neglect. I argue that in several texts Augustine displays a marked effort to liberate his readers from precisely that position. I attempt to show that in De doctrina christiana and City of God, Augustine defends the body by shifting the blame for sin from the flesh to the soul. I contend that this move does not amount to claiming that the body is inherently good, but only that it is not inherently worthy of contempt -or, at least, no more than is the soul. I go on to show that in the Enchiridion Augustine moves beyond a mere defense of the body: he argues for its inherent goodness. This claim results from his metaphysics of created being, in which all substances are good to some extent simply because they are creations of God. Thus Augustine both defends the body, by showing that it is not entirely responsible for sin, and redeems it, by showing that it is inherently good.
‘Videbit me nocte proxima, sed in somnis’. Uso retórico que Agustín hace de los relatos de sueños
Authors: Rose Paula J. , Eguiarte B. Enrique A. ,   Order of Augustinian Recollects
Published: April 2022

In De cura pro mortuis gerenda, Augustine addresses the issue as to whether burial ad sanctos contributes to the well-being of the spirits of the deceased. In this context, he also discusses the value of burial in general. Augustine not only uses logical and biblical arguments, but derives some essential arguments from narratives as well. Up to now, the rhetorical force of the narratives in De cura and in other works by Augustine has been underexposed. The approach to narratives proposed by Labov in Language in the Inner City (1972) may elucidate the argumentative function of Augustine’s narratives. The analysis by Labov of the global structure of oral narratives, which has been adapted for written narrative by, among others, Fleischman (1990: Tense and Narrativity), focuses on the alternation between the consecutive ‘phases’ or ‘episodes’ in a narrative, such as preparatory events, complicating acts, evaluating elements and the culmination or climax of the narrative. One of Augustine’s narratives in De cura deals with the hermit John of Lycopolis appearing to a woman in her dream. This story also occurs in the Historia monachorum, a writing which Augustine may have known in the Latin translation by Rufinus. A comparison between the version in Historia monachorum and that in De cura along the lines of the analysis proposed by Labov and Fleischman shows how Augustine shifts the culmination of the events to another point in the story, and in this way carefully moulds the story into a narrative that fits in with the argument of De cura. Contrary to the narrative in Historia monachorum, in Augustine’s version of the story the climax does not coincide with the dream, but occurs earlier in the narrative, when John of Lycopolis announces his appearance in the woman’s dream and, at the same time, interprets the nature of this appearance as a mere image. As I intend to demonstrate in this paper, Augustine’s rearrangement of the narrative is consistent with one of the important statements in De cura, viz. that a deceased appearing in a dream and asking to be buried does not coincide with the deceased in person, but is just an image.
La imagen como modelo hermenéutico en el libro décimo de ‘Confesiones’
Authors: Smalbrugge Matthias , Eguiarte B. Enrique A. ,   Order of Augustinian Recollects
Published: April 2022

In this article, the notion of image, as it appears in Confessions X, is analysed. Literature on this theme is lacking, though the word imago appears up to a forty-five times. Augustine, in his analysis of memory, widely uses the notion of image. Memory, he states, confronts us with the unknown in ourselves. Firstly, we can’t grasp its dimensions; secondly, it also bears in it what has been forgotten. But in fact, what has been forgotten but still lingers on in memory, otherwise we couldn’t remember what has been forgotten. So it appears that all we know and all we remember is based on images. Image therefore bridges the gap between the known and the unknown in our memory, i.e. in ourselves. Thus, he gives the notion of image a very important role and transforms it in a idea guaranteeing our inner unity and overcoming the split in ourselves between subject and object. In a second phase however, when he discovers God inside our memory, he refrains from using this notion and passes to the notion of confession. It appears that confession functions in a similar way as does image. It creates the unity between God and man, where image creates the unity of the human subject. Image and confession are used in comparable ways, both serving to create a unity. Image in this sense is used in a much more positive way than in the platonic tradition Augustine based himself on. Secondly, it allows him to prepare elements of his Trinitarian theology, especially the theme of unity of the son and the Father.
El alma (neo)platónica de Agustín y su espíritu antipelagiano
Authors: Stanciu Diana , Eguiarte B. Enrique A. ,   Order of Augustinian Recollects
Published: April 2022

De natura et origine anima? (419/420), arguably Augustine’s most complex treatise on the soul, will be predominantly discussed here. It will be compared to another late treatise, De origine anima? hominis = ep. 166 to Jerome (415) and also to earlier ones: De inmortalitate anima? (387), De quantitate animae (387/388) and De duabus animabus (391/392). The new emphases in De natura et origine animas and in the ep. 166 will be highlighted while concentrating on the fact that spirit/Holy Spirit are discussed differently in relation to salvation and to creation, as illustrated by the distinction Augustine makes between the Greek terms pnoén and pnoé. The first defines the manifestation of divine spirit/grace at the creation of the human soul. The second defines wisdom/grace/prophetic inspiration coming upon humans prior to merit and also Holy Spirit/divine grace manifested in the sacrament of baptism. Augustine also discusses the differences between divine flatus (breathing, blowing) creating the human soul and divine spiritus (spirit), which is actually the Holy Spirit coming upon the apostles at the Pentecost. In this respect, Augustine explicitly compares the action of the Holy Spirit with that of grace, which operates gratuitously, necessarily and irresistibly. Thus, in De natura et origine animae and in the ep. 166 more than in other treatises on the soul, Augustine, beyond the Platonic/Neoplatonic inspiration in discussing human soul/spirit/body, seems to insist on the importance of divine grace and of baptism, issues related primarily to the Pelagian controversy.
San Agustín sobre la incomprensibilidad de Dios, la encarnación y la autoridad de san Juan
Authors: van Geest Paul , Eguiarte B. Enrique A. ,   Order of Augustinian Recollects
Published: April 2022

In this contribution it will be demonstrated, on the basis of two treatises in St Augustine’s In lohannis euangelium tractatus centum viginti quatuor, that Augustine, precursor of the later negative theology, sees the awareness of human consciousness as the prelude to the realisation that God is incomprehensible. His reflections on human consciousness as the seat of God, in their turn, form the prelude to reflections on two types of inadequacy of human intelligence. In Tractatus 1 he first reduces this inadequacy to the need people feel to see God as all too human, and exactly therefore refuse to appreciate Him as the Incomprehensible One. He regards this as reprehensible and he attributes this attempt to certain heresies. In addition the cognitive capacity of inspired men like St John is inadequate, because they too are caught in the limitations of the concrete dimensions of time and space inherent in their existence on earth. They are not reprehensible, however. Augustine also expands the awareness of God’s incomprehensibility by emphasizing that God cannot possibly be grasped conceptually by means of words. He takes great pains to evoke some kind of consciousness of God as the Word, by making use of comparisons, but these attempts are structurally embedded in reflections on the incomprehensibility of God, precisely as the Word, not to be compared with a human, spoken, transient word. Nevertheless, in accordance with a principle, already recognized in De ordine, Augustine emphasizes that, on the authority of St John however incomprehensible the Word that is God may be for him, the Word made flesh, Who dwelt among us, is very near indeed. Also in Tractatus I and II of In lohannis euangelium tractatus Augustine tries to find a language evoking God’s incomprehensibility by reminding us that the experience of God is an experience that is in perfect contrast with a sensual experience; it is a counter-experience that cannot possibly be grasped in concepts. At the same time he tries to see the Incarnation as an appeal to become as humble as God Himself.
La mistagogia en san Agustín
Authors: Vannier Marie-Anne , Eguiarte B. Enrique A. ,   Order of Augustinian Recollects
Published: April 2022

Although Augustine is rarely known as somebody who has written mystagogical catecheses (even if his Sermons for Easter are of that nature), one has to con elude that, indeed, for him mystagogy is far broader and that his entire oeuvre is mystagogical, his commentaries on Genesis as much as De Trinitate, the Confessions, the Homelies on the first Epistle of St. John... and the mystery which he suggests to discover is nothing but Christ, who invites the reader to walk on the Easter route of love.
Spanglerelmis, a new genus of Elmidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) from Brazil with new species and biological notes
Authors: Polizei Thiago Tadeu Silva , Costa Lucas de Souza Machado , Bispo Pitágoras da Conceição
Published: April 2022

In this study, the new genus Spanglerelmis Polizei & Bispo is described; Microcylloepus ochus Hinton, 1940 is synonymized with Microcylloepus femoralis Hinton, 1940, and transferred to the new genus; and two new species, S. xiririca gen. et sp. nov. and S. timburi gen. et sp. nov. are described. The new genus can be characterized by the combination of the following characters: 1) pronotum without transverse, longitudinal or oblique impressions, sulci or gibbosities on disc; 2) elytra with a carina on interval III and two sublateral carinae on intervals V and VI; 3) mesoventrite with sides strongly raised; and 4) femora with an oblique belt of tomentum dorsally and a transverse belt ventrally. The specimens of the two new species were collected mainly in riffles of unimpacted streams in the Atlantic Forest in São Paulo State, Brazil. Scanning electron microscope images, an identification key for the genus and habitat notes are also presented.
Comparing Machine Learning Algorithms in Land Use Land Cover Classification of Landsat 8 (OLI) Imagery
Authors: Aigbokhan O. J. , Pelemo O. J. , Ogoliegbune O. M. , Essien N. E. , Ekundayo A. A. , Adamu S. I.
Published: April 2022

In recent times, there have been increased rates at which researchers are searching for advanced ways of carrying out land-use land-cover (LULC) mapping, especially in developing countries. Four machine-learning algorithms, namely Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbour (K-NN), and Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM) were examined. This study also attempted to validate the various models using the index-based validation method. Accuracy assessment was performed by using the Kappa coefficient. The results of the LULC showed that RF classified 23% of the study area as bare land, SVM has 24% of the study area classified as bare land, K-NN also allotted 24% to bare land, while that of GMM classifier was 30%. The overall accuracy of RF, SVM, K-NN and GMM were 0.9840, 0.9780, 0.9641 and 0.9421 respectively. The Kappa Coefficient of the various classifiers were RF (0.9695), SVM (0.9580), K-NN (0.9319) and GMM (0.8916). This study showed that though all the algorithms performed relatively very well, RF performed better than the other classifiers. It suffices to state that, there is a need for further studies since other extraneous environmental variables may be underpinning these conclusions.
Deranged Haematological Profile and Dyslipidaemiain Diabetes Induced Nephropathy
Authors: Mansoor Ghazal , Muhammad Tahir , Hadi Faheem , Maqbool Tahir , Abbasi Sana Qanber , Shakoori Tania Ahmed , Malik Arif
Published: April 2022

Background: Diabetic nephropathy caused by complication of diabetes mellitus and frequently increasing in the developed countries. It may be characterized by dyslipidaemia and deranged haematological indices that play a role in the development of late complications of diabetes. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop strategies to diagnose the patients of diabetic nephropathy during its acute phase.

Objective: To determine the haematological indices and the lipid profiles in diabetic nephropathy in comparison with diabetic controls

Methodology: The present study was performed on total of 300 patients where 150 DN patients and 150 control with age range from 30-50 years. The haematological profile was done via ABX Micros 60 haematology analyser, analysis of lipids, fats and fatty substances lipid panel was also performed in both groups. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS through t-test where p≥ 0.05.

Results: Current data indicated that the level of Haemoglobin A1c, Prothrombin time, White blood cells, platelet count, Low density lipoproteins and triglyceride is raised while significant reductions in red blood cell count and high-density lipoprotein levels have been noted in patients with diabetic nephropathy compared to diabetics.

Conclusion: Our research indicates that both haematological and lipid profiles are highly disturbed in DN patients which may serve as a hallmark for early diagnosis of nephropathy in diabetics.
Heme orientation affects holo‐myoglobin folding and unfolding kinetics1
Authors: Moczygemba Charmaine , Guidry Jesse , Wittung-Stafshede Pernilla
Published: July 2002

Native myoglobin (Mb) consists of two populations which differ in the orientation of the heme by 180° rotation (as verified by nuclear magnetic resonance) but have identical absorption spectra and equilibrium–thermodynamic stability. Here, we report that these two fractions of native oxidized Mb (from horse) both unfold and refold (chemical denaturant, pH 7, 20°C) in two parallel kinetic reactions with rate constants differing 10‐fold. In accord, the oxidized heme remains coordinated to unfolded horse Mb in up to 4 M guanidine hydrochloride (pH 7, 20°C).
Leucyl‐tRNA synthetase from the extreme thermophile Aquifex aeolicus has a heterodimeric quaternary structure
Authors: Gouda Masaki , Yokogawa Takashi , Asahara Haruichi , Nishikawa Kazuya
Published: July 2002

Class I aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetases have been thought to be single polypeptide enzymes. However, the complete genome sequence of a hyper thermophile Aquifex aeolicus suggests that the gene for leucyl‐tRNA synthetases (LeuRS) is probably split into two pieces (leuS and leuS′). In this research, each gene was separately cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli and the protein products were examined for LeuRS activity. Leucylation activity was detected only when both gene products coexisted. Gel filtration analysis showed that the active form of A. aeolicus LeuRS has a heterodimeric (α/β type) quaternary structure that is unique among class I aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetases.
L‐Asparaginase Release from Escherichia coli Cells with K2HPO4 and Triton X100
Authors: Zhao Fengsheng , Yu Jiaye
Published: July 2002

A method to release L‐asparaginase (EC 3.5.1.1) from ATCC Escherichia coli 11303 cells by chemical permeabilization was studied. It was found that a combination of K2HPO4 and Triton X100 was effective. The influences of K2HPO4 concentration, Triton concentration, E. coli cell concentration and pH on the release of enzyme and proteins were investigated in detail. Experimental results showed that 12.5% (w/v) K2HPO4, 2% (w/v) Triton X100 and 3 × 108 cells/mL made the amount of enzyme released over 70%. L‐Asparaginase in K2HPO4 and Triton solution could remain stable at least for 24 h. The release effect of K2HPO4 and Triton X100 used simultaneously was better than that of K2HPO4 and Triton X100 used separately in succession. Electron microscopy indicated that the chemical treatment altered the surface structure of E. coli cells but did not break them. As the method does not produce a large amount of cell fragments and the amount of enzyme released is relatively high, it can be thought to be an valuable and economic method to release intracellular enzyme.
Purification of Alcohol Dehydrogenase from Four Genotypes of the Olive Fruit Fly Bactrocera (Dacus)oleae
Authors: Mazi Vasiliki E. , Cosmidis Nikos , Clonis Yannis D. , Loukas Michalis
Published: July 2002

This is the first report describing the purification of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) from four genotypes of the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae, the most important pest of olives in the Mediterranean region. The purified enzyme shows a single band after SDS‐PAGE analysis, corresponding to subunit mass of 26 kDa. The native ADH shows a molecular mass of 48 kDa, after gel filtration HPLC analysis. The purification method incorporated a preliminary ammonium sulphate precipitation step, followed by an anion‐exchange DEAE chromatography step, a dye affinity chromatography step on Cibacron blue 3GA, and an anion‐exchange DEAE chromatography step employing the same column of the first step. The present method offers good overall recovery (40%) and high enzyme purity, and it is applicable to different genotypes. Furthermore, the method is rapid and economical, as it employs two cheap, widely used, and commercially available chromatography materials.
Acantholytic dyskeratotic epidermal nevus: a rare histopathologic feature
Authors: Mazereeuw‐Hautier J. , Thibaut I. , Bonafé J. L.
Published: July 2002

Background: Epidermal nevus is a congenital malformation of the epidermis consisting of verrucoid scaly plaques on the skin, often in a linear fashion. Different histologic features have been seen and, at times, acantholytic dyskeratosis has been observed. We report a new case of acantholytic dyskeratotic epidermal nevus.

Case report: A 3‐year‐old girl presented, since birth, asymptomatic keratotic scaly lesions on the left hemithorax and left arm that followed Blaschko's lines.

Histology: Biopsies revealed acanthosis, papillomatosis, hyperkeratosis and focal areas of suprabasal clefting with acantholysis, as well as individual dyskeratotic cells (corps ronds et grains) in the upper layers of the epidermis. In the literature, this histologic feature has been reported twice. Generalized or localized Darier's disease are well‐established clinical entities with characteristic histologic features of acantholytic dyskeratosis. Because of the linear clinical appearance and the onset at birth or early chilhood, the lesions should be regarded as epidermal nevi and not linear Darier's disease.

Conclusion: We report here an additional case of dyskeratotic epidermal nevus, which is a rare histopathologic feature.
An integrated relay/nitrate reductase field-effect transistor for the sensing of nitrate (NO3−)
Authors: Zayats Maya , Kharitonov Andrei B. , Katz Eugenii , Willner Itamar
Published: July 2002

An integrated enzyme-functionalized field-effect transistor (ENFET) device for the sensing of nitrate ions is described. An aminosiloxane-functionalized gate interface is modified with N-methyl-N′-(carboxyalkyl)-4,4′-bipyridinium relay units. The complex formed between nitrate reductase and the bipyridinium units on the gate surface is crosslinked with glutaric dialdehyde to yield a stable relay–enzyme layer on the gate interface. In the presence of sodium dithionite as electron donor, the biocatalyzed reduction of nitrate to nitrite ion is stimulated. The ratio between the oxidized and reduced states of the bipyridinium sites regulates the gate potential, and is controlled by the concentration of NO3− ions in the system. The effect of the chain length tethering the N-methyl-N′-(carboxyalkyl)-4,4′-bipyridinium units to the gate surface on the biocatalyzed reduction of NO3−
ions, and on the NO3− FET sensor performance is discussed. The devices that include the bipyridinium units tethered to the gate interface with methylene chain length, –(CH2)n, where n
⩾ 7, reveal a detection limit of 7 × 10−5 M for nitrate and a sensitivity of 52 ± 2 mV dec−1. The response time of the device is as low as 50 s, and the operational time of the system is ca. 85 s. We estimate the surface coverage of nitrate reductase on the gate surface to be ca. 1.2 × 10−12 mol cm−2.
Catalytic reaction profile for NADH-dependent reduction of aromatic aldehydes by xylose reductase from Candida tenuis
Authors: MAYR Peter , NIDETZKY Bernd
Published: July 2002

Kinetic substituent effects have been used to examine the catalytic reaction profile of xylose reductase from the yeast Candida tenuis, a representative aldo/keto reductase of primary carbohydrate metabolism. Michaelis—Menten parameters (kcat and Km) for NADH-dependent enzymic aldehyde reductions have been determined using a homologous series of benzaldehyde derivatives in which substituents in meta and para positions were employed to systematically perturb the properties of the reactive carbonyl group. Kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) on kcat and kcat/Km for enzymic reactions with meta-substituted benzaldehydes have been obtained by using NADH 2H-labelled in the pro-R C4-H position, and equilibrium constants for the conversion of these aldehydes into the corresponding alcohols (Keq) have been measured in the presence of NAD(H) and enzyme. Aldehyde dissociation constants (Kd) and the hydride transfer rate constant (k7) have been calculated from steady-state rate and KIE data. Quantitative structure—activity relationship analysis was used to factor the observed substituent dependence of kcat/Km into a major electronic effect and a productive positional effect of the para substituent. kcat/Km (after correction for substituent position) and Keq obeyed log-linear correlations over the substituent parameter, Hammett sigma, giving identical slope values (ρ) of +1.4 to +1.7, whereas the same Hammett plot for logKd yielded ρ =-1.5. This leads to the conclusion that electron-withdrawing substituents facilitate the reaction and increase binding to about the same extent. KIE values for kcat (1.8) and kcat/Km (2.7), and likewise k7, showed no substituent dependence. Therefore, irrespective of the observed changes in reactivity over the substrate series studied no shift in the character of the rate-limiting transition state of hydride transfer occurred. The signs and magnitudes of ρ values suggest this transition state to be product-like in terms of charge development at the reactive carbon. Structure—reactivity correlations reveal active-site homologies among NADPH-specific and dual NADPH/NADH-specific yeast xylose reductases and across two aldo/keto reductase families in spite of the phylogenetic separation of the host organisms producing xylose reductase (family 2B) and aldehyde reductase (family 1A).
Polyclonal expansion of CD3+/CD4+/CD56+ large granular lymphocytes and autoimmunity associated with dysregulation of Fas/FasL apoptotic pathway
Authors: Camagna Antonio , Cedrone Letizia , Caré Alessandra , Samoggia Paola , De Marco Maria Civita , Del Duca Pietro , De Martinis Carlo , Testa Ugo
Published: July 2002

Evidence is accumulating regarding CD95/CD95 ligand (Fas/FasL) pathway dysregulation in clonal diseases of the lymphohaemopoietic lineages. According to these observations, it has been proposed that this defect may represent one of the mechanisms of tumour progression. In large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukaemia, dysregulated apoptosis may represent a key event in the development of malignancy and autoimmunity. This case report describes dysregulation of the Fas/FasL pathway in a chronic polyclonal expansion of CD3+ LGLs associated with numerous serological immune abnormalities.
T‐large granular lymphocyte leukaemia with natural killer cell‐like cytotoxicity and expression of two different α‐ and β‐T‐cell receptor chains
Authors: Boehrer Simone , Hinz Thomas , Schui Daniela K. , Harder Svetlana , Chow Kai U. , Schneider Bernd , Hoelzer Dieter , Mitrou Paris S. , Weidmann Eckhart
Published: July 2002

We describe a case of cytotoxic T‐large granular lymphocyte leukaemia showing typical morphological features, expressing antigens characteristic for cytotoxic T cells and exhibiting marked natural killer‐like cytotoxicity towards different target cells. Moreover, characterization of the T‐cell receptors revealed simultaneous expression of two different types of β‐chains as well as α‐chains by the malignant cell clone. The patient had an 8 year history of indolent disease, before progressing to an aggressive clinical course hardly responsive to chemotherapeutic treatment. This is the first description of a peripheral T‐cell neoplasm expressing four distinct types of T‐cell receptor molecules.
ATP hydrolysis induces an intermediate conformational state in GroEL
Authors: Galán Asier , Llorca Oscar , Valpuesta Jose M. , Pérez‐Pérez Julian , Carrascosa Jose L. , Menéndez Margarita , Bañuelos Sonia , Muga Arturo
Published: July 2002

The conformational properties of the molecular chaperone GroEL in the presence of ATP, its non‐hydrolyzable analog 5′‐adenylimidodiphosphate (AMP‐PNP), and ADP have been analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier‐transform infra‐red (FT‐IR) and fluorescence spectroscopy. Nucleotide binding to one ring promotes a decrease in the Tm value of the GroEL thermal transition that is reversed when both rings are filled with nucleotide, indicating that the sequential occupation of the two protein rings by these nucleotides has different effects on the GroEL thermal denaturation process. In addition, ATP induces a conformational change in GroEL characterized by (a) the appearance of a reversible low temperature endotherm in the DSC profiles of the protein, and (b) an enhanced binding of the hydrophobic probe 8‐anilino‐naphthalene‐1‐sulfonate (ANS), which strictly depends on ATP hydrolysis. The similar sensitivity to K+ of the temperature range where activation of the GroEL ATPase activity, the low temperature endotherm, and the increase of the ANS fluorescence are abserved strongly indicates the existence of a conformational state of GroEL during ATP hydrolysis, different from that generated on ADP or AMP‐PNP binding. To achieve this intermediate conformation, GroEL mainly modifies its tertiary and quaternary structures, leading to an increased exposure of hydrophobic surfaces, with minor rearrangements of its secondary structure.
Effect of eradicating Helicobacter pylori on the development and reversion of atrophic gastritis in an animal study
Authors: Pinjin Hu , Zhirong Zeng , Hanliang Lin , Minhu Chen , Wei Chen , Xiaozhong Peng
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of eradicating Helicobacter pylori on the development and reversion of atrophic gastritis in an animal study.

METHODS: One hundred and ten grade II C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into experimental (60 mice) and control (50 mice) groups. The mice in the experimental group were infected with the SS1 H. pylori strain, then randomly subdivided into group A and group B (30 mice in each group). Group A and group B received a dose of standard bismuth triple therapy 6 and 12 months after infection, respectively. Ten mice in each group were killed before the therapy, then at 3 and 6 months after completion of the therapy (a total of 30 mice). The histopathological features of the glandular stomach were graded using a method analogous to the Sydney system and kinetic changes in the mucosal epithelial cells of the glandular stomach were examined using anti‐BrdU immunohistochemical staining and flow cytometry.

RESULTS: All mice that received eradication therapy tested negative for Helicobacter pylori. Significant improvement in chronic active gastritis was observed after the eradication of H. pylori in both groups A and B. Atrophic changes were not seen at any time interval in group A, whereas in group B, atrophic changes were seen 12 months after H. pylori infection and no significant changes in the degree of atrophy were observed 3 and 6 months after the eradication of H. pylori. The cell kinetic indices (S‐phase cell percentage, proliferation index and labeling index) in the experimental group before the eradication of H. pylori were significantly higher than those in the control group at any time (P < 0.01), and significantly decreased 3 months after the eradication of H. pylori compared with those before therapy (P < 0.01). The cell kinetic indices showed no significant difference 6 months after the eradication of H. pylori compared with those in the control group at the same time intervals (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that the eradication of H. pylori can reduce gastric mucosal inflammation and change the epithelial cell kinetics of the stomach. It was found that early treatment can prevent the formation of mucosal atrophy. When atrophy has established, eradication of H. pylori can no longer reverse the change but may prevent its progress.
Bound-free intraband absorption in GaAs-AlxGa1−xAs semiconductor quantum wells
Authors: Ikonić Z. , Milanović V. , Tjapkin D.
Published: July 2002

The spectral characteristics of intraband absorption on bound-free transitions in semiconductor quantum wells are analyzed. Numerical results indicate that both comparatively narrowband (∼30 meV) and broadband (≳200 meV) absorption may occur, which may be important in infrared detector design.
Intersubband absorption in highly strained InGaAs/InAlAs multiquantum wells
Authors: Asai Hiromitsu , Kawamura Yuichi
Published: July 2002

Highly strained In0.66 Ga0.34 As/In0.30 Al0.70 As multiquantum wells (MQWs) are successfully grown on (001)InP substrates by moleular beam epitaxy. Good crystal quality in the strained MQWs is confirmed by clear excitonic peaks and sharp photoluminescence spectra. Intersubband absorption at a wavelength as short as 3.1 μm was obtained for the first time in uniformly Si-doped strained MQWs.
Coherent infrared fiber image bundle
Authors: Nishii Junji , Yamashita Toshiharu , Yamagishi Takashi , Tanaka Chinari , Sone Hiroshi
Published: July 2002

Coherent infrared (IR) image bundle was developed for the delivery of the IR thermal image. The fiber employed was the As2S3 glass core of 65 μm diam and Teflon (perfluoronated ethylene propylene) cladding of 75 μm diam, which has the transmission range in the wavelength region between 1 and 7 μm. Two kinds of bundles of 100 cm long were prepared, which consisted of 1550 fibers (NPB75-1550) and of 8400 fibers (NPB75-8400). The IR imaging system was constructed by coupling the bundle to an IR television camera. The performance of the system was investigated by detecting the thermal image of an operating LSI package.
Direct evidence of Er atoms occupying an interstitial site in metalorganic chemical vapor deposition-grown GaAs:Er
Authors: Nakata Jyoji , Taniguchi Moriyuki , Takahei Kenichiro
Published: July 2002

Er doped GaAs grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition is studied by the Rutherford backscattering channeling method. We directly confirmed, for the first time, that Er ions occupy a somewhat displaced tetrahedral interstitial site, rather than a substitutional site, in the GaAs host. This is concluded from the observation of a remarkable peak of the doped Er ions caused by the flux peaking effect in the 〈110〉 channeling direction. Also leading to this conclusion is the fact that the ratios of the 〈111〉 and 〈100〉 channeling yields to the random yields for Er ions were larger than those for the GaAs host. Moreover, we observe peak shifts towards the higher energy region in the 〈110〉 spectra compared to the random spectra. This is due to the lower stopping power of He ions in the GaAs host in the channeling direction than in the random direction. We deduce the strikingly small stopping power ratio of the 〈110〉 to the random incidence is also discussed.
Optical properties of gold nanocluster composites formed by deep ion implantation in silica
Authors: Magruder R. H. , Yang Li , Haglund R. F. , White C. W. , Yang Lina , Dorsinville R. , Alfano R. R.
Published: July 2002

Planar layers of Au clusters with diameters between 5 and 30 nm were synthesized by implanting 2.75-MeV Au+ ions in fused silica. The metal-glass composite layer was 0.85 μm below the surface and had a width of 0.5 μm. Thermal annealing enhanced the optical absorption of the annealed samples near 2.4 eV. The third-order nonlinear optical response time is ≤35 ps; the magnitude of the effective nonlinear susceptibility is 200 times that of similar clusters embedded in ruby-gold melt glass.
Formation of AlCuFe quasicrystalline thin films by solid state diffusion
Authors: Klein T. , Symko O. G.
Published: July 2002

We show that thin films 3000 Å in thickness of the icosahedral AlCuFe phase can be formed by solid state diffusion of sputtered Al, Cu, and Fe layers. As for bulk materials, we propose that the icosahedral phase grows by diffusion of the Cu in the Al3Fe layer previously formed by interdiffusion of the Al and Fe layers. These films present high resistivity values comparable to those obtained in bulk samples of high structural quality.
Enhanced critical currents by CeO2 additions in directionally solidified YBa2Cu3O7
Authors: Piñol S. , Sandiumenge F. , Martínez B. , Gomis V. , Fontcuberta J. , Obradors X. , Snoeck E. , Roucau Ch.
Published: July 2002

The microstructure and critical currents of superconducting YBa2Cu3O7-Y2BaCuO5 composites with small CeO2 additions prepared using a directional solidification procedure have been investigated. The small CeO2 additions cause the decomposition of the Y2BaCuO5 phase leading to the formation of Y2O3 and BaCeO3. Experimental evidence is given for the subsequent nucleation of the Y2BaCuO5 phase on the Y2O3 particles. This new decomposition-nucleation mechanism leads to textured YBa2Cu3O7 having enhanced critical currents. An addition of 0.3 wt % CeO2 can increase Jabc by a factor of 2 in samples having similar concentration of Y2BaCuO5 precipitates. Critical currents above 105 A/cm2 at 77 K and zero field are obtained by this method.
Design of the pole pieces of an electromagnet according to the Garber–Henry–Hoeve model
Authors: Groń T. , Krok J. , Warczewski J.
Published: July 2002

A design of the pole pieces of an electromagnet giving a constant value of the product BdB/dz along the z axis for a distance of 25 mm for different values of current is presented. The Garber–Henry–Hoeve model served as a starting point for this design. However, modified boundary conditions were used and a different shape of the pole pieces was obtained.
Simulation of bent crystal spectrometers
Authors: Kyrala George A.
Published: July 2002

In crystal spectrometers one traditionally labels each position in the dispersion/recording plane by a single wavelength value. A simple examination of the crystal spectrometers shows that different areas of the crystal contribute different wavelengths at the same position in the recording plane. Using collimators and apertures one may reduce these effects, as well as reduce the collected signal. Convolving the system response, in that case, may not allow simple analytic estimates of the sensitivity/responsivity of the system. A Monte-Carlo ray-trace program was written in order to study and simulate the real geometry including finite-source size effects. The results of the code are presented, demonstrating the contributions to the resolution and absolute responsivity, for a particular parabolically bent crystal spectrometer.
Advanced neutron diagnostics for the Nova laser facility (invited; abstract)
Authors: Lane S. M.
Published: July 2002

We will report on recent work addressing advanced neutron diagnostics to be implemented on the Nova laser facility. The goals of these instruments are to measure the following properties of laser fusion targets: compressed fuel areal-density (Rho-R), time-duration, and spatial extent of the neutron emission. We will discuss the use of a novel time-of-flight system, radiochemical techniques, and the use of plastic track detectors to measure the compressed Rho-R. We will present the design of two proposed instruments to measure the burn time; one uses a sandwich of thin layers of plastic scintillator and uranium coupled to a streak camera while the other design makes use of a neutron sensitive transmission line. Finally, we will discuss methods capable of obtaining neutron images of the compressed pellet core.
Hot-electron plasma density and temperature measurements by the injected internal target technique, (IT)2 (abstract)
Authors: Moses K. G. , Quon B. H. , DiVergilio W. F.
Published: July 2002

Tandem mirror confinement properties are strongly influenced by the spatial distributions of density and temperature of the hot electrons in the thermal barrier and MHD anchor regions. The (IT)2 diagnostic system can provide time-resolved localized measurements of the x-ray emission profiles produced as a heavy energetic atomic beam passes through the hot-electron plasma. X rays are generated by collisions of the beam atoms and plasma electrons through the processes of bremsstrahlung and K-shell ionization. Analysis of the data from an array of collimated x-ray detectors viewing the path of the beam perpendicularly, coupled with a pulse-height energy analyzer, can yield the electron temperature profiles. Absolute calibration of the spectral response of the detectors to K-shell radiation permits the determination of the electron density distributions. Applications of the (IT)2 system to tandem mirrors and EBT will be discussed, as well as other applications of the intense atom beam.
Improved performance for large area triple layer microchannel-plate detector for a neutral particle spectrometer in Doublet III
Authors: Armentrout C. J.
Published: July 2002

A 2 × 30-cm three-layer, microchannel-plate (MCP) assembly has been constructed with 120 anodes to collect electrons. It has a gain of up to 5 × 108 in the pulse counting mode. The device displays an unexpectedly high per-anode count rate. The original device had major problems: 5 × gain variation along its length and 150% FWHM/gain ratio. It is shown through a model distribution function that both effects can be due to the space charge limiting of pulses that cross the interstage gaps. One detector was rebuilt with greatly reduced interstage gaps and now displays 60% FWHM/gain and a 30% gain variation. This has significantly improved the pulse counting capability of the spectrometer.
Magnetic field pitch angle diagnostic using the motional Stark effect (invited)
Authors: Levinton F. M. , Gammel G. M. , Kaita R. , Kugel H. W. , Roberts D. W.
Published: July 2002

The Stark effect has been employed in a novel technique for obtaining the pitch angle profile and q(r) using polarimetry measurements of the Doppler shifted Hα emission from a hydrogen diagnostic neutral beam. As a neutral beam propagates through a plasma, collisions of the beam particles with the background ions and electrons will excite beam atoms, leading to emission of radiation. The motional Stark effect, which arises from the electric field induced in the atom’s rest frame due to the beam motion across the magnetic field (E=Vbeam×B), causes a wavelength splitting of several angstroms and polarization of the emitted radiation. The Δm=±1 transitions, or σ components, from the beam fluorescence are linearly polarized parallel to the direction of the local magnetic field when viewed transverse to the fields. Since the hydrogen beam provides good spatial localization and penetration, the pitch angle can be obtained anywhere in the plasma. A photoelastic modulator (PEM) is used to modulate the linearly polarized light. Depending on the orientation of the PEM, it can measure the sine or cosine of the angle of polarization. Two PEM’s are used to measure both components simultaneously. Results of q(r) for both Ohmic and NBI heated discharges have been obtained in the Princeton Beta Experiment (PBX-M) tokamak, with an uncertainty of ∼6% for q(0).
Optimizing the energy resolution of planar retarding potential analyzers
Authors: Enloe C. L. , Shell J. R.
Published: July 2002

The energy resolution of a planar retarding potential analyzer can be optimized by using multiple retarding grids and varying the potential applied to the outermost grids. When properly biased, such an analyzer configuration can closely approach the energy resolution of an ideal device. As an added benefit, such an analyzer can be made highly transparent without sacrificing energy resolution. Experimental results verify the solutions of particle-tracking codes for multiple-grid configurations.
Flexible, automatic test system for characterizing superconducting junctions and devices
Authors: Dart D. L. , Macfarlane J. C. , Andrikidis C. , Binks R. A. , Foley C. P.
Published: July 2002

A system has been designed for the characterizing of both low and high Tc junctions and devices. Fully automated measurements of resistance versus temperature, current versus voltage, and critical current versus applied field can be carried out on up to eight devices in one cooldown cycle. The system has been proven to reduce the repetitive nature and time involved in characterizing many junctions and devices, and greatly speeds up the analysis of changes in their parameters. Connections are made to the sample using spring contacts which eliminate the need for soldering to contact pads. One or two substrates with ten connections per substrate can be placed in the probe at the one time. A microcomputer with an IEEE488 interface, four standard instruments (two constant current sources, one digital multimeter, and one voltmeter), and a specially designed probe and software has been incorporated to provide a system which is very flexible and yet very simple to operate.
Digital analyzer for point processes based on first-in-first-out memories
Authors: Basano Lorenzo , Ottonello Pasquale , Schiavi Enore
Published: July 2002

We present an entirely new version of a multipurpose instrument designed for the statistical analysis of point processes, especially those characterized by high bunching. A long sequence of pulses can be recorded in the RAM bank of a personal computer via a suitably designed front end which employs a pair of first-in-first-out (FIFO) memories; these allow one to build an analyzer that, besides being simpler from the electronic point of view, is capable of sustaining much higher intensity fluctuations of the point process. The overflow risk of the device is evaluated by treating the FIFO pair as a queueing system. The apparatus was tested using both a deterministic signal and a sequence of photoelectrons obtained from laser light scattered by random surfaces.
Design and fabrication of a computer-controlled rapid-isothermal-processing-assisted metalorganic chemical-vapor-deposition system for high-temperature superconducting thin films and related materials
Authors: Singh R. , Ng J. T. C. , Sinha S. , Dhall V.
Published: July 2002

Metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) is an ideal technique for the development of several high-temperature superconducting products. For the development of certain electronic products, reduced thermal budget (product of processing time and temperature) processing is a necessity. Rapid isothermal processing (RIP) based on incoherent light as the source of energy is emerging as a key reduced thermal budget processing technique. Driven by potential applications a RIP-assisted MOCVD system has been designed and fabricated for the deposition of high-temperature superconducting thin films and related materials. Experimental details of the RIP-assisted MOCVD system are described. The results of Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO) films deposited on yttrium-stabilized zirconia, SrTiO3, and MgO substrates are also presented. In the case of SrTiO3 substrates, YBCO films were deposited at a substrate temperature of 640 °C. The onset temperature is 91 K and the transition temperature Tc is observed at 89 K. The value of zero-magnetic-field current density Jc at 77 K is 1.5×106 A/cm2. The results presented represent the best values of transition temperature Tc, c-axis orientation, and zero magnetic-field critical current density Jc values for the thermal budget used in the growth of the superconducting thin films by MOCVD.
Phase-locked optical choppers
Authors: Jaffe S. M. , Yen W. M.
Published: July 2002

We have developed a circuit for maintaining a fixed phase relationship between two optical choppers. The basis of this circuit employs a phase-locked loop using both proportional and integral terms in the feedback control voltage. Using additional circuitry, the electronics can compensate for drifts in the phase as well as frequency of both choppers in the frequency range from 200 Hz to 3 kHz. These phased optical choppers have been used to block background light simultaneous with a chopped cw laser in experiments that measure long lived fluorescence.
PC-based spinning rotor gage controller
Authors: Looney J. P. , Long F. G. , Browning D. F. , Tilford C. R.
Published: July 2002

The spinning rotor gage (SRG) is a molecular drag vacuum gage. Commercial versions are available that operate between about 10−4 and 1 Pa. In this paper we describe the design, and present performance data for a new SRG controller that uses a plug-in peripheral board and a personal computer (PC) to perform all control, signal processing, and data analysis functions. This controller offers several advantages over those presently available, including the simultaneous operation of multiple SRGs (at least four SRGs with a single PC), complete software control of all operating parameters, and significantly improved low-pressure performance.
Inexpensive digital image acquisition for scanning electron microscopes
Authors: Ang W. M. , McMahon Terry , Schulte Don , Ungier Leon
Published: July 2002

An inexpensive acquisition system for high-quality digital images from electron microscopes using standard PC and off-the-shelf components is presented. The major limitation of DOS-based PCs, the inability to access large array of memory at sufficiently high speed, has been overcome by taking advantage of 386 microprocessor protected mode of operation.