bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pregnancy and Labour in the Dutch Maternity Care System: What Is Normal? The Role Division Between Midwives and Obstetricians
Authors: Amelink‐Verburg Marianne P. , Buitendijk Simone E.
Published: April 2010

Introduction: In the Dutch maternity care system, the role division between independently practising midwives (who take care of normal pregnancy and childbirth) and obstetricians (who care for pathologic pregnancy and childbirth) has been established in the so‐called “List of Obstetric Indications” (LOI). The LOI designates the most appropriate care provider for women with defined medical or obstetric conditions.

Methods: This descriptive study analysed the evolution of the concept of “normality” by comparing the development and the contents of the consecutive versions of the LOI from 1958 onwards. The results were related to data from available Dutch national databases concerning maternity care.

Results: The number of conditions defined in the successive lists increased from 39 in 1958 to 143 in 2003. In the course of time, the nature and the content of many indications changed, as did the assignment to the most appropriate care provider. The basic assumptions of the Dutch maternity care system remained stable: the conviction that pregnancy and childbirth fundamentally are physiologic processes, the strong position of the independently practising midwife, and the choice between home or hospital birth for low‐risk women. Nevertheless, the odds of the obstetrician being involved in the birth process increased from 24.7% in 1964 to 59.4% in 2002, whereas the role of the primary care provider decreased correspondingly.

Discussion: Multidisciplinary research is urgently needed to better determine the risk status and the optimal type of care and care provider for each individual woman in her specific situation, taking into account the risk of both under‐ and over‐treatment. Safely keeping women in primary care could be considered one of a midwife's interventions, just as a referral to secondary care may be. The art of midwifery and risk selection is to balance both interventions, in order to end up with the optimal result for mother and child.

J Midwifery Womens Health 2010;55:216–225 c̊ 2010 by the American College of Nurse‐Midwives.
Micro‐RNAs and breast cancer
Authors: Le Quesne John , Caldas Carlos
Published: April 2010

Micro‐RNAs (miRs) are a recently described class of genes, encoding small non‐coding RNA molecules, which primarily act by down‐regulating the translation of target mRNAs. miRs are involved in a range of normal physiological processes, notably differentiation and cell type determination. It has become apparent that they are also key factors in cancer, playing both oncogenic and tumour‐suppressing roles. We discuss here what is known of miR biology in the normal breast, and of their emerging roles in breast cancer.
Past imperfect: The construction of history in the school curriculum and mass media in post-communist Russia and Ukraine
Authors: Levintova Ekaterina
Published: April 2010

This introduction to the special section on the history education in contemporary Russia and Ukraine discusses selected articles in the context of comparative scholarship. It isolates important implications for the burgeoning field of political socialization in the post-communist societies.
Preliminary Study of Exercise Capacity in Post‐acute Stroke Survivors
Authors: Chen June‐Kai , Chen Tien‐Wen , Chen Chia‐Hsin , Huang Mao‐Hsiung
Published: April 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and exercise capacity of cycle ergometry exercise testing and exercise performance in patients with post‐acute stroke. Nineteen male patients (mean age, 62.7 ± 9.2 years) with a post stroke interval of 9.9 ± 2.0 days underwent symptom‐ limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Peak exercise capacity was measured by open‐circuit spirometry during standard upright ergometer cycling. The mean peak oxygen uptake was 11.8 mL/kg/min, peak heart rate with age‐predicted maximal heart rate was 67.9 ± 3.4%, and peak oxygen pulse was 7.5 mL/beat. The anaerobic threshold was achieved with a mean peak oxygen uptake of 73.4%. Mean peak minute ventilation was 42.1 L/min, and ventilatory reserve was 48.1 ± 16.8%. Our findings confirm that cycle ergometry exercise testing is feasible and exercise capacity is compromised in post‐acute stroke survivors within 2 weeks after stroke. Respiratory impairments do not appear to contribute to the reduced exercise capacity post stroke.
Relapsed Colon Cancer Patient Presenting With Hematuria 13 Years After Primary Tumor Resection: A Case Report
Authors: Huang Yu‐Ho , Tsai Hsiang‐Lin , Chai Chee‐Yin , Wang Jaw‐Yuan
Published: April 2010

We report a rare case of postoperative colon cancer recurrence who presented with hematuria 13 years after resection of the primary colonic cancer. The patient was 72 years of age and underwent surgical resection of sigmoid colon cancer at another regional hospital in 1994. Since June 2007, this patient has complained of hematuria and bloody stool. On physical examination, tenderness and a hard, indurated mass was palpable in the lower mid‐abdomen. Abdominal computed tomography showed a metastatic tumor at the lower midline peritoneum with invasion of the adjacent abdominal wall. Her serum carcinoembryonic antigen level was elevated to 32 ng/dL. Histopathology revealed metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma in the jejunum and abdominal wall.
Neurofibroma in the Left Mandible: A Case Report
Authors: Tao Qian , Wang Yi , Zheng Chaoqun
Published: April 2010

We report a rare case of isolated neurofibroma arising in the left mandible without family history of neurofibromatosis type 1. The tumor was histopathologically analyzed and an immunohistochemical panel comprising S‐100 protein was performed. Vim, HMB45, and HHF35 were negative. The tumor cells were fusiform in shape, arranged in a plexiform manner, and grew actively. Features typical of neurofibroma, including an enlarged nerve fascicle composed of elongated nuclei and scant cytoplasmic cells, were identified. Our study suggest that neurofibroma can occur in the jaw as an isolated benign tumor in patients without other features of neurofibromatosis type 1.
How to be an atheist and a sceptic too: response to McCreary
Authors: SCHELLENBERG J. L.
Published: April 2010

Mark McCreary has argued that I cannot consistently advance both the hiddenness argument and certain arguments for religious scepticism found in my book The Wisdom to Doubt (WD). This reaction was expected, and in WD I explained its shortsightedness in that context. First, I noted how in Part III of WD, where theism is addressed, my principal aim is not to prove atheism but to show theists that they are not immune from the scepticism defended in Parts I and II. To the success of this aim, McCreary's arguments are not so much as relevant, for a thoroughgoing scepticism embracing even the hiddenness argument is quite compatible with its success. But I also explained how someone convinced that the hiddenness argument does prove atheism escapes the grip of religious scepticism because of that argument's reliance on apparent conceptual truths. McCreary's critique obscures this point but does not defuse it.
L'importance des Principes fondamentaux pour assurer l'unité du Mouvement international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge
Authors: Hantos János
Published: April 2010

L'importance historique des principes et des idéaux qui influencent les activités humaines se mesure à l'ampleur de leur diffusion, à leur force de conviction et à la permanence de leur pouvoir d'attraction.

L'aptitude de l'humanité à assurer sa propre protection explique le développement du Mouvement international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge. La vitalité dont il fait preuve depuis des décennies et sa contribution déterminante à l'enrichissement des valeurs humaines sont illustrées par le fait que, 125 ans après sa fondation, le Mouvement a pu maintenir sa force d'attraction et étendre son influence, tandis que le nombre de ses membres ne cessait de s'accroître. Son rayonnement universel est indéniable, même s'il nous faut admettre que le chemin de son développement n'est pas exempt d'obstacles.
Philosophie du droit international: Suárez, Grotius et épigones
Authors: Villa Sergio Moratiel
Published: April 2010

Parce qu'il aura été le premier républicain convaincu et s'avouant tel, d'aucuns ont accusé Francisco Suárez, le «prince des juristes modernes», d'être un grand antimonarchiste, voire le premier régicide.
Avant-propos du juge Abdul G. Koroma
Authors: Koroma Abdul G.
Published: April 2010

La décision de la Revue internationale de la Croix-Rouge de commé-morer le 50e anniversaire de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme est à la fois logique et louable. Cela, étant donné, d'une part, la mission de la Revue, qui est de promouvoir et d'encourager le respect du droit international humanitaire en temps de conflit armé, et, d'autre part, la convergence croissante entre cette branche du droit et le droit des droits de l'homme. Ce dont témoigne le remplacement progressif du terme «droit de la guerre» par celui de «droit international humanitaire».
L'Ecole espagnole du nouveau droit des gens
Authors: Villa Sergio Moratiel
Published: April 2010

La douleur et l'ennui sont depuis que l'être humain existe. Mais aussi anciennes que l'être humain, la douleur et l'ennui, sont également la compassion et la clémence. Dans les mythologies le dieu des armées n'est pas toujours cruel, vindicatif et déchaîné. De tous temps il y a eu de bons samaritains; celui qui raconta la parabole parlait d'ailleurs au passé. L'histoire de l'humanitarisme va de pair avec celle de l'humanité. Et bien que cruauté et charité humaines ne soient pas concomitantes, elles n'en sont pas moins indissociables.
Evaluation des vulnérabilités et des capacités d'action des communautés en Europe
Authors: Sallin Lena
Published: April 2010

En avril 1994, un atelier a été organisé par la Croix-Rouge suédoise dans le but, d'une part, de permettre l'échange d'informations au sujet de l'expérience acquise dans le domaine de l'évaluation des vulnérabilités et des capacités d'action des communautés en Europe et, d'autre part, d'examiner la possibilité de réaliser cette évaluation selon une méthodologie commune. A l'origine de cette initiative se trouve le rapport du Groupe de travail sur la mise en œuvre du Plan de travail stratégique pour l'Europe, dont la création avait été décidée lors de la IVe Conférence régionale européenne (La Haye, mai 1992). Le rapport recommande en effet que les Sociétés nationales identifient les groupes vulnérables dans chacun de lews pays et engagent une discussion quant à une future coopération dans le domaine de l'évaluation des vulnérabilités et des capacités d'action des communautés.
Les plus pauvres, partenaires pour une société plus juste
Authors: De Muylder Régis
Published: April 2010

Au cours du siècle qui s'achève, l'humanité a certainement fait progresser les idées de paix, de solidarité, de droits de l'homme. C'est dans ce but qu'elle s'est dotée d'organismes qui dépassent les frontières et font naître la conscience que chaque homme est citoyen du monde. Paradoxalement, ce siècle a aussi atteint des sommets dans la violence et l'horreur. Mais le paradoxe n'est qu'apparent, car n'est-ce pas justement parce que les conflits ont pris une ampleur mondiale que cette conscience est née?
Poursuivant un but commun
Authors: McArthur Helen G.
Published: April 2010

Sous ce titre, nous publions ci-après un article de Mme W. E. Watson. C'est sous le nom de Helen G. McArthur, OC, B.Sc, MA, LL.D., qu'elle obtint la médaille Florence Nightingale que lui décerna le Comité international de la Croix-Rouge, en 1957, et qui lui fut remise, à Toronto, alors qu'elle était directrice nationale des Services des infirmières de la Croix-Rouge canadienne. Elle quitta ce poste en 1971, après l'avoir occupé durant un quart de siècle.

Elle a bien voulu évoquer quelques faits d'une existence vouée au service du prochain, et elle a tiré de son expérience des vues larges sur la Croix-Rouge et l'application pratique de ses principes. Sur le plan international, elle joua un rôle important et elle fut l'une de ces personnalités qui, en divers pays, firent mieux reconnaître la condition de l'infirmière et rendre plus efficace la formation dans le domaine des soins infirmiers,

Nous sommes particulièrement heureux de donner la parole à une lauréate de la médaille Florence Nightingale, dans ce numéro justement qui est consacré, pour une part, à la haute distinction qu'attribue, tous les deux ans, le CICR afin d'honorer le dévouement exceptionnel dont certaines infirmières ont fait preuve au cours de leur carrière. (Réd.)
La Croix-Rouge et les conflits non internationaux
Authors: Veuthey Michel
Published: April 2010

Alors qu'à son origine la Croix-Rouge a été fondlée essentiellement pour venir en aide aux victimes de conflits interétatiques et que les diverses Conventions de Genève, qui se sont succeédeé depuis 1863, ont porté sur ce type de conflits, il faut reconnaître que les conflits armeés de nature interne ont provoqué des centaines de milliers de victimes qui n'ont, trop souvent, pu être secourues efficacement du fait d'obstacles juridiques ou politiques mis à l'action de la Croix-Rouge.
L'évolution du droit de la guerre — Influences du christianisme et de la chevalerie
Authors: Draper G.I.A.D.
Published: April 2010

C'est la dernière d'une série de trois conférences faites à l'Institut universitaire des hautes études internationales, à Genève, en octobre et novembre 1963, qui a fourni la substance de l'article qu'on va lire. L'auteur voudrait saisir cette occasion pour exprimer sa gratitude à M. Jacques Freymond, directeur de cet Institut, qui avait organisé ces conférences et qui a bien voulu autoriser la publication du présent article dans cette Revue.
Le droit humanitaire dans les conflits armés selon la doctrine et la pratique des insurgés polonais au XIXe siècle
Authors: Bierzanek R.
Published: April 2010

La Pologne, dont la Prusse, la Russie et l'Autriche se partagèrent le territoire à la fin du XVIIIe siècle, et qui demeura privée de son indépendance jusqu'en 1918, pouvait-elle, au XIXe siècle, apporter une contribution au développement des idées qui sont à la base du droit humanitaire applicable dans les conflits armés ?
Can public communication protect victims?
Authors: Huguenin-Benjamin Roland
Published: April 2010

The phenomenon of 24-hour global coverage of world events has arguably made it more difficult for journalists to remain true to the deontology of their profession. At the same time, humanitarians are at pains to defend the concept of neutral independent action in armed conflicts that have global reverberations. Moral dilemma is often the order of the day for those who have to report on increasingly complex emergencies in war zones or to attempt to alleviate the suffering of victims. With examples from recent conflicts, this article asks whether there are ways in which journalists and humanitarians can contribute to saving lives.
Australian dust storms in 2002–2003 and their impact on Southern Ocean biogeochemistry
Authors: Gabric A. J. , Cropp R. A. , McTainsh G. H. , Johnston B. M. , Butler H. , Tilbrook B. , Keywood M.
Published: April 2010

During late 2002 and early 2003, southern Australia was in the grip of drought and experienced one of its most active dust storm seasons in the last 40 years with large dust plumes frequently advected over the adjacent Southern Ocean. We use meteorological records of dust activity, satellite ocean color, and aerosol optical depth data and dust transport modeling to investigate the transport and deposition of mineral dust from Australia over adjacent ocean regions and to correlate it with biological response in phytoplankton standing stock as measured by chlorophyll a concentration in 5 degree latitude bands from 40° to 60°S. Seasonal maxima in mean surface chlorophyll a of ∼0.5 mg m−3 were not achieved until late January 2003 or during February in the more southerly bands, which when compared with a 9 year satellite mean climatology suggests the phenology of the bloom in 2002–2003 was atypical. Contemporaneous field data on CO2 fugacity collected on transects between Tasmania and Antarctica show that significant atmospheric CO2 drawdown occurred as far south as 60°S during February 2003. Our results provide strong evidence for a large‐scale natural dust fertilization event in the Australian sector of the Southern Ocean and highlight the importance of dust‐derived nutrients in the marine carbon cycle of the Southern Ocean.
Turbulent times in the northern polar ionosphere?
Authors: Burston Robert , Astin Ivan , Mitchell Cathryn , Alfonsi Lucilla , Pedersen Todd , Skone Susan
Published: April 2010

A model is presented of the growth rate of turbulently generated irregularities in the electron concentration of northern polar cap plasma patches. The turbulence is generated by the short‐term fluctuations in the electric field imposed on the polar cap ionosphere by electric field mapping from the magnetosphere. The model uses an ionospheric imaging algorithm to specify the state of the ionosphere throughout. The growth rates are used to estimate mean amplitudes for the irregularities, and these mean amplitudes are compared with observations of the scintillation indices S4 and σϕ by calculating the linear correlation coefficients between them. The scintillation data are recorded by GPS L1 band receivers stationed at high northern latitudes. A total of 13 days are analyzed, covering four separate magnetic storm periods. These results are compared with those from a similar model of the gradient drift instability (GDI) growth rate. Overall, the results show better correlation between the GDI process and the scintillation indices than for the turbulence process and the scintillation indices. Two storms, however, show approximately equally good correlations for both processes, indicating that there might be times when the turbulence process of irregularity formation on plasma patches may be the controlling one.
Are all leading shocks driven by magnetic clouds?
Authors: Feng H. Q. , Wu D. J. , Chao J. K. , Lee L. C. , Lyu L. H.
Published: April 2010

Magnetic clouds (MCs) are commonly observed in association with shocks at 1 AU, and many authors have claimed that the leading shocks are driven by MCs, without any direct evidence. In this work we surveyed the relations between MCs and their associated shocks. Using the interplanetary plasma and magnetic field data measured by Wind, we have identified 97 MCs near Earth during 1995 to 2007. Sixty‐two (64%) of the MCs were associated with leading shocks. As Lepping et al. have pointed out, if a leading shock is driven by an MC, the axis of the driver should be approximately perpendicular to the shock normal. We calculated the angle θ between the axis of the MC and its leading shock normal and found that the angle θ for 21 of the 62 MCs deviates from 90° by more than 25°. Seventeen of the 21 MCs also have the following signatures: (1) The MC leading edge moves more slowly than the preceding shock; and (2) the time interval between the preceding shock and the front boundary of the MC is always long, with an average period of 15.4 h. The speed profiles of the other four events revealed that the leading shock was driven not directly by the MC but by the immediately subsequent flow, and their sheath durations are shorter than the time interval between the preceding shocks and the MC front boundaries. Therefore, at least 21 (34%) of 62 leading shocks were not directly driven by MCs.
Joint inversion of receiver functions, surface wave dispersion, and magnetotelluric data
Authors: Moorkamp M. , Jones A. G. , Fishwick S.
Published: April 2010

We present joint inversion of magnetotelluric, receiver function, and Raleigh wave dispersion data for a one‐dimensional Earth using a multiobjective genetic algorithm (GA). The chosen GA produces not only a family of models that fit the data sets but also the trade‐off between fitting the different data sets. The analysis of this trade‐off gives insight into the compatibility between the seismic data sets and the magnetotelluric data and also the appropriate noise level to assume for the seismic data. This additional information helps to assess the validity of the joint model, and we demonstrate the use of our approach with synthetic data under realistic conditions. We apply our method to one site from the Slave Craton and one site from the Kaapvaal Craton. For the Slave Craton we obtain similar results to our previously published models from joint inversion of receiver functions and magnetotelluric data but with improved resolution and control on absolute velocities. We find a conductive layer at the bottom of the crust, just above the Moho; a low‐velocity, low‐resistivity zone in the lithospheric mantle, previously termed the Central Slave Mantle Conductor; and indications of the lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary in terms of a decrease in seismic velocity and resistivity. For the Kaapvaal Craton both the seismic and the MT data are of lesser quality, which prevents as detailed and robust an interpretation; nevertheless, we find an indication of a low‐velocity low‐resistivity zone in the mantle lithosphere. These two examples demonstrate the potential of joint inversion, particularly in combination with nonlinear optimization methods.
Conduit flow experiments help constraining the regime of explosive eruptions
Authors: Dellino P. , Dioguardi F. , Zimanowski B. , Büttner R. , Mele D. , La Volpe L. , Sulpizio R. , Doronzo D. M. , Sonder I. , Bonasia R. , Calvari S. , Marotta E.
Published: April 2010

It is currently impractical to measure what happens in a volcano during an explosive eruption, and up to now much of our knowledge depends on theoretical models. Here we show, by means of large‐scale experiments, that the regime of explosive events can be constrained on the basis of the characteristics of magma at the point of fragmentation and conduit geometry. Our model, whose results are consistent with the literature, is a simple tool for defining the conditions at conduit exit that control the most hazardous volcanic regimes. Besides the well‐known convective plume regime, which generates pyroclastic fallout, and the vertically collapsing column regime, which leads to pyroclastic flows, we introduce an additional regime of radially expanding columns, which form when the eruptive gas‐particle mixture exits from the vent at overpressure with respect to atmosphere. As a consequence of the radial expansion, a dilute collapse occurs, which favors the formation of density currents resembling natural base surges. We conclude that a quantitative knowledge of magma fragmentation, i.e., particle size, fragmentation energy, and fragmentation speed, is critical for determining the eruption regime.
Antarctic Bottom Water from the Adélie and George V Land coast, East Antarctica (140–149°E)
Authors: Williams G. D. , Aoki S. , Jacobs S. S. , Rintoul S. R. , Tamura T. , Bindoff N. L.
Published: April 2010

We report on observations of dense shelf water overflows and Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) formation along the continental margin of the Adélie and George V Land coast between 140°E and 149°E. Vertical sections and bottom layer water mass properties sampled during two RVIB Nathaniel B Palmer hydrographic surveys (NBP00–08, December 2000/January 2001 and NBP04–08, October 2004) describe the spreading of cold, dense shelf water on the continental slope and rise from two independent source regions. The primary source region is the Adélie Depression, exporting high‐salinity dense shelf water through the Adélie Sill at 143°E. An additional eastern source region of lower‐salinity dense shelf water from the Mertz Depression is identified for the first time from bottom layer properties northwest of the Mertz Sill and Mertz Bank (146°E–148°E) that extend as far as the Buffon Channel (144.75°E) in summer. Regional analysis of satellite‐derived ice production estimates over the entire region from 1992 to 2005 suggests that up to 40% of the total ice production for the region occurs over the Mertz Depression and therefore this area is likely to make a significant contribution to the total dense shelf water export. Concurrent time series from bottom‐mounted Microcats and ADCP instruments from the Mertz Polynya Experiment (April 1998 to May 1999) near the Adélie Sill and on the upper continental slope (1150 m) and lower continental rise (3250 m) to the north describe the seasonal variability in downslope events and their interaction with the ambient water masses. The critical density for shelf water to produce AABW is examined and found to be 27.85 kg m−3 from the Adélie Depression and as low as 27.80 kg m−3 from the Mertz Depression. This study suggests previous dense shelf water export estimates based on the flow through the Adélie Sill alone are conservative and that other regions around East Antarctica with similar ice production to the Mertz Depression could be contributing to the total AABW in the Australian‐Antarctic Basin.
Postlaunch calibration of the NOAA‐19 Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit‐A
Authors: Mo Tsan
Published: April 2010

The Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit‐A (AMSU‐A) on the NOAA‐19 was successfully launched on 6 February 2009. The AMSU‐A Instruments are a generation of total‐power microwave radiometers which have been flown on the NOAA‐15 to NOAA‐18 satellites since May 1998. A systematic postlaunch calibration and validation of the instrument performance was conducted with on‐orbit data. A brief report of the postlaunch assessment of the instrument performance is presented in this study. Scan‐by‐scan examination of the radiometric calibration counts is employed to confirm nominal functioning of the instrument and to detect any anomalous events, such as lunar contamination in the space radiometric counts. The long‐term trends of the space and warm calibration counts, channel gains, and housekeeping temperature sensors are monitored. The noise equivalent delta temperature (NEΔT) values of individual channels are also examined. The monthly mean angular distributions of brightness temperatures from the NOAA‐18 and NOAA‐19 AMSU‐A over the tropical ocean region of 20°S to 20°N are obtained and compared to demonstrate the close similarity between the two measurements. Similarly, the monthly mean angular distributions of brightness temperatures over the Amazon Rain Forest are also compared and theoretically modeled. The results in this study will provide a useful guide for future calibration and validation of microwave instruments.
Mars ultraviolet dayglow variability: SPICAM observations and comparison with airglow model
Authors: Cox C. , Gérard J.‐C. , Hubert B. , Bertaux J.‐L. , Bougher S. W.
Published: April 2010

Dayglow ultraviolet emissions of the CO Cameron bands and the CO2+ doublet in the Martian atmosphere have been observed with the Spectroscopy for Investigation of Characteristics of the Atmosphere of Mars on board the Mars Express spacecraft. A large amount of limb profiles has been obtained which makes it possible to analyze variability of the brightness as well as of the altitude of the emission peak. Focusing on one specific season (Ls = [90,180] °), we find that the average CO peak brightness is equal to 118 ± 33 kR, with an average peak altitude of 121.1 ± 6.5 km. Similarly, the CO2+ emission shows a mean brightness of 21.6 ± 7.2 kR with a peak located at 119.1 ± 7.0 km. We show that the brightness intensity of the airglows is mainly controlled by the solar zenith angle and by solar activity. Moreover, during Martian summer of year 2005, an increase of the airglow peak altitude has been observed between Ls = 120° and 180°. We demonstrate that this variation is due to a change in the thermospheric local CO2 density, in agreement with observations performed by stellar occultation. Using a Monte Carlo one‐dimensional model, we also show that the main features of the emission profiles can be reproduced for the considered set of data. However, we find it necessary to scale the calculated intensities by a fixed factor.
Energetic, ∼5–90 keV neutral atom imaging of a weak substorm with STEREO/STE
Authors: Wang Linghua , Lin R. P. , Parks G. K. , Brandt P. C. , Roelof E. C. , Sample J. G. , Eastwood J. P. , Larson D. E. , Curtis D. W. , Luhmann J. G.
Published: April 2010

We present imaging and high resolution energy spectra of energetic ∼5–90 keV neutral atoms (ENA) of a weak geomagnetic substorm (Dst > −8 nT and AE ≲ 200 nT), made by the Suprathermal Electron (STE) instrument on the STEREO B spacecraft. Enhanced ENA emissions were observed coming from around local midnight near the equator with different spatial distribution and/or temporal behavior at ∼5–20keV compared to ∼20–90 keV. By forward modeling using a parameterized ring‐current model, we show that the ENA images imply the parent equatorial protons have pitch‐angle distributions peaked at 90°, an energy spectrum consistent with in situ proton measurements at geosynchronous orbit, and a spatial asymmetry with the maximum flux at midnight for 5–20 keV and at 2240 MLT for 20–90 keV. These are the first ENA measurements at ∼5 to 26 keV from low altitude, and the first for such weak activity.
Comparison of multiple metagenomes using phylogenetic networks based on ecological indices
Authors: Mitra Suparna , Gilbert Jack A , Field Dawn , Huson Daniel H
Published: April 2010

Second-generation sequencing technologies are fueling a vast increase in the number and scope of metagenome projects. There is a great need for the development of new methods for visualizing the relationships between multiple metagenomic data sets. To address this, a novel approach is presented that combines the use of taxonomic analysis, ecological indices and non-hierarchical clustering to provide a network representation of the relationships between different metagenome data sets. The approach is illustrated using several published data sets of different types, including metagenomes, metatranscriptomes and 16S ribosomal profiles. Application of the approach to the same data summarized at different taxonomical levels gives rise to remarkably similar networks, indicating that the analysis is very robust. Importantly, the networks provide the both visual definition and metric quantification for the non-rooted relationship between samples, combining the desirable characteristics of other tools into one.
DNA-SIP identifies sulfate-reducing Clostridia as important toluene degraders in tar-oil-contaminated aquifer sediment
Authors: Winderl Christian , Penning Holger , von Netzer Frederick , Meckenstock Rainer U , Lueders Tillmann
Published: April 2010

Global groundwater resources are constantly challenged by a multitude of contaminants such as aromatic hydrocarbons. Especially in anaerobic habitats, a large diversity of unrecognized microbial populations may be responsible for their degradation. Still, our present understanding of the respective microbiota and their ecophysiology is almost exclusively based on a small number of cultured organisms, mostly within the Proteobacteria. Here, by DNA-based stable isotope probing (SIP), we directly identified the most active sulfate-reducing toluene degraders in a diverse sedimentary microbial community originating from a tar-oil-contaminated aquifer at a former coal gasification plant. On incubation of fresh sediments with 13C7-toluene, the production of both sulfide and 13CO2 was clearly coupled to the 13C-labeling of DNA of microbes related to Desulfosporosinus spp. within the Peptococcaceae (Clostridia). The screening of labeled DNA fractions also suggested a novel benzylsuccinate synthase alpha-subunit (bssA) sequence type previously only detected in the environment to be tentatively affiliated with these degraders. However, carbon flow from the contaminant into degrader DNA was only ∼50%, pointing toward high ratios of heterotrophic CO2-fixation during assimilation of acetyl-CoA originating from the contaminant by these degraders. These findings demonstrate that the importance of non-proteobacterial populations in anaerobic aromatics degradation, as well as their specific ecophysiology in the subsurface may still be largely ungrasped.
Biotechnology-Derived Medicines: What are They? A Pharmacological and a Historical Perspective
Authors: de Mora Fernando , Torres Rosa
Published: April 2010

Biologicals, that is, medicines obtained from living organisms, are not new. History provides many examples of animal or human extracts being used to prevent or treat human diseases. Physicians have thus been aware for centuries of the therapeutic value of our own molecules. The difficulty laid many times in how to obtain these self or self-like compounds. Biotechnology - a technology by which manipulated living organisms are utilized to generate useful products such as drugs - provided a revolutionary answer. We know how to genetically engineer bacteria, yeast, insect or mammalian cells to synthesize human molecules, the so-called human recombinant therapeutic proteins. Murine and humanized monoclonal antibodies against human antigens are also biotechnological products. The number of biotechnological drugs being marketed, and those in clinical trials or awaiting authorization, is growing exponentially. We are now still on the beginnings of a new era in pharmacotherapy of which it is impossible to see the end. Pharmacologists need to keep pace with these changes and develop new skills. They may even have to challenge old assumptions in order to investigate new molecules. Using an easy and comprehensible approach, this review article revisits ‘bio-concepts’, and underlines the real dimension of the challenge.
SMARThiv3TestsMobileLab: ‘The Mobile Life Box’, A Mobile Diagnostic Laboratory Model for Monitoring HIV Patients in Resource-Poor Settings
Authors: Yari Aboubakar , Yari Venus
Published: April 2010

We design a mobile diagnostic laboratory model that overcomes cost and complexity barriers to implementing ‘individual-centered three tests’ in monitoring HIV patients in resource-poor settings: the ‘Mobile Life Box’. We previously described a ‘three-test’ combo kit model for improving HIV patient monitoring standards in resource-poor settings: SMARThivPack. SMARThivPack model overcomes primary barriers such as technology cost and complexity. However, SMARThivPack model does not address secondary barriers such as refrigerators, power supply, internet connection and waste management systems. Previously developed mobile laboratory systems overcome the secondary barriers, and Partec mobile CD4 counting laboratory demonstrated the feasibility of mobile HIV patient monitoring in resource-poor settings. Here we describe a model diagnostic laboratory system that extends mobile HIV patient monitoring, from a ‘single’ CD4 test, to ‘three’ CD4, viral load and pharmacoresistance tests.
Terahertz electrical response of nanoscale three-branch junctions
Authors: Irie H. , Sobolewski Roman
Published: April 2010

Ultrafast time-domain electro-optical characterization of the ballistic three-branch junctions (TBJs) has been performed to investigate their electrical response at terahertz (THz) frequencies. A TBJ rectifier consisting of two TBJs in parallel was placed in a coplanar waveguide (CPW) in which subpicosecond electrical pulses were generated by a photoconductive switch. A LiTaO3-based electro-optic transducer measured the waveform of the incident and transmitted voltage signals with a subpicosecond temporal resolution. This experimental configuration allowed the rectifier’s electrical response to be studied with a bandwidth of up to 1 THz. Detailed analysis of the TBJ rectifier and the photoconductive switch was performed in both the time domain and frequency domain. This analysis revealed poor coupling of the excitation signal into the rectifier because of a severe impedance mismatch between the rectifier and CPW as well as a parasitic capacitive coupling between the input and output ports of the rectifier. The poor coupling limited our ability to observe any substantial nonlinear response of the rectifier at THz frequencies. Possible solutions for enhancing the system bandwidth and efficient THz rectification are presented.
A crossover in the mechanical response of silicon carbide due to the accumulation of chemical disorder
Authors: Xue Kun , Niu Li-Sha
Published: April 2010

Molecular dynamics simulations of nanoindentation of silicon carbide (SiC) with varying chemical disorder are carried out to investigate the variations in mechanical responses and mechanisms due to the accumulation of chemical disorder. A crossover of deformation mechanisms with increasing chemical disorder is revealed in light of the transition of indentation response (pressure-depth curves) changing from a series of equally spaced load drops to irregularly spaced and less pronounced fluctuations, then to numerous small oscillations. This crossover arises from the interplay between dislocation motions confined to ordered atomic layer fragments and atomic rearrangements localized in embedded chemical and/or topological disordered clusters. At the presence of chemical disorder, the outburst and complete propagation of dislocations dominating in 3C-SiC evolve into discontinuous motions of multiple branched dislocations which are likely to be prematurely trapped by chemical disordered clusters. The extension of amorphous network as a result of elevated chemical disorder significantly inactivates the dislocation activities, initiating increasingly compelling localized plastic flow in the form of atomic rearrangements. Likewise, the changes in hardness due to the accumulation of chemical disorder, which is observed to decreases about ∼50% in amorphous SiC with highest imposed level of chemical disorder, can also be attributed to the switch of deformation mechanisms.
Measurement of the air gap width between double-deck metal layers based on surface plasmon resonance
Authors: Wu Pao-Tung , Wu Meng-Chyi , Wu Chien-Ming
Published: April 2010

In this article, we verify that the traditional Kretschmann–Raether configuration of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) could be used to measure the air gap width between a gold-plated prism and another gold-plated glass slide. Due to the presence of double-deck metal layers, the Fabry–Perot resonance and surface plasmon tunnel-coupled effects could occur, which would cause the SPR angle to begin to shift at a larger air gap width of about 700 nm as compared to the case of single metal layer with an air gap width of about 350 nm. The simulated results reveal that the SPR angle begins monotonically to shift initially from 44.5° to 46° when the air gap width between double-deck metal layers decreases from 700 to 500 nm. The smallest air gap width is measured to be 539 nm, in which the SPR angle is 45.5°, by fitting the simulated curves to the experimental results.
Thermodynamic study of the temperature memory effects in Cu–Al–Ni shape memory alloys
Authors: Rodríguez-Aseguinolaza J. , Ruiz-Larrea I. , Nó M. L. , López-Echarri A. , San Juan J.
Published: April 2010

This work presents careful adiabatic calorimetry measurements of the temperature memory effects on a Cu–Al–Ni shape memory alloy single crystal. These effects, which appear after partial martensitic transformations, have been systematically studied. The subsequent delay of the transformation as a function of the thermal history is described by means of a straightforward model, which makes full use of the phase transformation thermodynamic functions, carefully determined from the specific heat results. This model predicts on quantitative grounds, the decrease in the transformed mass in the successive thermal cycles. It also provides information about the distribution of the elastic energy among the martensitic plates in the low temperature phase, which is a characteristic feature of these alloys. The knowledge of the elastic states is not only required to analyze the properties of the martensitic phase but also to describe the kinetics of any physical quantity in the reverse transformation.
Particle number and probability density functional theory and A-representability
Authors: Pan Xiao-Yin , Sahni Viraht
Published: April 2010

In Hohenberg–Kohn density functional theory, the energy E is expressed as a unique functional of the ground state density ρ(r): E=E[ρ] with the internal energy component FHK[ρ] being universal. Knowledge of the functional FHK[ρ] by itself, however, is insufficient to obtain the energy: the particle number N is primary. By emphasizing this primacy, the energy E is written as a nonuniversal functional of N and probability density p(r): E=E[N,p]. The set of functions p(r) satisfies the constraints of normalization to unity and non-negativity, exists for each N;N=1,…,∞, and defines the probability density or p-space. A particle number N and probability density p(r) functional theory is constructed. Two examples for which the exact energy functionals E[N,p] are known are provided. The concept of A-representability is introduced, by which it is meant the set of functions Ψp that leads to probability densities p(r) obtained as the quantum-mechanical expectation of the probability density operator, and which satisfies the above constraints. We show that the set of functions p(r) of p-space is equivalent to the A-representable probability density set. We also show via the Harriman and Gilbert constructions that the A-representable and N-representable probability density p(r) sets are equivalent.
Exploring the discrepancies between experiment, theory, and simulation for the homogeneous gas-to-liquid nucleation of 1-pentanol
Authors: Nellas Ricky B. , Keasler Samuel J. , Siepmann J. Ilja , Chen Bin
Published: April 2010

Using an efficient Monte Carlo approach known as Aggregation-Volume-bias Monte Carlo with self-adaptive Umbrella Sampling and Histogram Reweighting (AVUS-HR), we obtained the nucleation free energy profile of 1-pentanol at various temperatures from 220 to 360 K. From these profiles, differences between the free energy barrier heights obtained from our simulations and those predicted by the classical nucleation theory (CNT) were calculated. Our results strongly support that the logarithm of the nucleation rate ratio between simulation (or experiment) and CNT increases almost linearly with the inverse temperature. Among the various factors that contribute to the discrepancy between simulation and CNT nucleation rates, the nonzero surface free energy of the monomer included in the CNT makes the largest contribution. On the molecular level, the simulations indicate that a gas-phase cluster of 1-pentanol molecules is relatively compact and can contain multiple hydrogen bonded aggregates of various sizes and that this aggregate size distribution depends strongly on temperature and also on the overall size of the cluster system.
Stability of an ion-ring distribution in a multi-ion component plasma
Authors: Mithaiwala Manish , Rudakov Leonid , Ganguli Gurudas
Published: April 2010

The stability of a cold ion-ring velocity distribution in a thermal plasma is analyzed. In particular, the effect of plasma temperature and density on the instability is considered. A high ring density (compared to the background plasma) neutralizes the stabilizing effect of the warm background plasma and the ring is unstable to the generation of waves below the lower-hybrid frequency even for a very high temperature plasma. For ring densities lower than the background plasma density, there is a slow instability where the growth rate is less than the background-ion cyclotron frequency and, consequently, the background-ion response is magnetized. This is in addition to the widely discussed fast instability where the wave growth rate exceeds the background-ion cyclotron frequency and hence the background ions are effectively unmagnetized. Thus, even a low density ring is unstable to waves around the lower-hybrid frequency range for any ring speed. This implies that effectively there is no velocity threshold for a sufficiently cold ring.
Ion-acoustic solitary waves in a plasma with a q-nonextensive electron velocity distribution
Authors: Tribeche Mouloud , Djebarni Lyes , Amour Rabia
Published: April 2010

Arbitrary amplitude ion-acoustic solitary waves are addressed in a two-component plasma with a q-nonextensive electron velocity distribution. Our results show that in such a plasma solitary waves, the amplitude and nature of which depend sensitively on the q-nonextensive parameter can exist. Due to the electron nonextensivity, our plasma model can admit compressive as well as rarefactive ion-acoustic solitons. For q>1 (−1<q<1), the lower limit of the allowable Mach numbers is smaller (greater) than its Boltzmannian counterpart, allowing therefore the possibility of the existence of subsonic ion-acoustic solitons. As the nonextensive character of the plasma becomes important, the potential pulse amplitude increases while its width is narrowed. For −1<q<0, our plasma model can admit only rarefactive ion-acoustic solitary waves involving relatively high Mach numbers. Due to the flexibility provided by the nonextensive q-parameter, our results should help in providing a good fit between theoretical and experimental results.
Analysis of the intermittent behavior in a low-temperature discharge plasma by recurrence plot quantification
Authors: Stan Cristina , Cristescu C. P. , Dimitriu D. G.
Published: April 2010

The paper presents applications of the recurrence plot quantification to the analysis of type 1 intermittency observed in a discharge plasma. The main measures of recurrence plot analysis considered are the laminarity and the determinism. First, it is demonstrated that the laminarity measure can be related to the average time between chaotic bursts in this type of intermittency. Second, it is shown that the determinism measure introduced by the recurrence plot quantification depends on the control parameter as a decreasing exponential. The test of the results is performed by analyzing the determinism measure for type 1 intermittency observed in the logistic map. It is also shown that the role of the intrinsic noise of the plasma can easily be identified by this technique.
P
b
(
)
centers at the Si-nanocrystal/SiO2 interface as the dominant photoluminescence quenching defect
Authors: Hiller Daniel , Jivanescu Mihaela , Stesmans Andre , Zacharias Margit
Published: April 2010

The correlation of paramagnetic defects and photoluminescence (PL) of size controlled Si nanocrystals (NCs) has been studied as a function of annealing ambient (Ar or N2) and subsequent H2 treatment. The dominant defects measured by electron spin resonance are interfacial Pb(0) and Pb1 centers. Whereas the latter appears to play only a minor role in PL quenching, a pronounced correlation between Pb(0) density and PL intensity is demonstrated. Annealing in N2 is found to be superior over Ar both in terms of PL performance and defect densities. The origin of the PL blueshift found for N2 annealing compared to Ar was previously interpreted as a growth suppression of the Si clusters due to incorporation of N atoms or a silicon consuming nitridation at the NC/SiO2 interface. The results presented here, demonstrate the blueshift to be more pronounced for small NCs (∼2 nm) than for larger ones (∼4.5 nm). Therefore, we suggest an alternative interpretation that is based on the influence of the polarity of surface terminating groups on the electronic properties of the NCs.
Self-modulation of linearly polarized electromagnetic waves in non-Maxwellian plasmas
Authors: Rios L. A. , Galvão R. M. O.
Published: April 2010

The self-modulation of a linearly polarized electromagnetic wave propagating in a non-Maxwellian plasma is investigated. The plasma electrons (ions) obey a κ distribution function, which has been proved to be appropriate for modeling nonthermal distributions. The fluid model is used to describe the plasma dynamics, and a multiscale perturbation analysis is carried out to obtain the nonlinear Schrödinger equation governing the modulation of the high-frequency field. The effect of superthermal particles on the modulation of the wave and soliton formation is discussed.