bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Photoluminescence studies of HgCdTe epilayers
Authors: Robin I. C. , Taupin M. , Derone R. , Solignac A. , Ballet P. , Lusson A.
Published: March 2010

Photoluminescence spectra on Hg1‐xCdxTe (x∼0.3) layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy on CdZnTe substrates were studied. The investigations were carried out on non intentionally doped, In doped and As doped samples and the effect of different annealing procedures were investigated. Excitation‐power dependent and temperature dependent comparative studies were performed. The transition mechanisms are discussed. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A novel chrysanthemum‐like ZnO nanostructure synthesized by the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method
Authors: Guo Yun , Wei Xiaoyin , Wang Bin , Zhao Yue , Min Jiahua , Sang Wenbin
Published: March 2010

A novel ZnO nanostructure was synthesized by the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman Spectroscopy analyses reveal the hexagonal polycrystalline structure of wurtzite. Under the lower magnification image of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), ZnO film exhibits a chrysanthemum‐like configuration. Their petals are built up from numerous fine particles linking together under higher magnifications, with the uniform diameters of 100 nm. The strong peaks for Zn and O in the EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) spectrum indicate the main chemical composition. The reasonable growth process and formation mechanism of the unique ZnO nanostructure were proposed (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Transport properties of microstructured MF‐sputtered Zn0.98Al0.02O
Authors: Piechotka M. , Elm M. T. , Henning T. , Szyszka B. , Meyer B. K. , Klar P. J.
Published: March 2010

We studied the effect of microstructuring on the electric transport properties of Zn0.98Al0.02O thin films (AZO) grown by reactive mid‐frequency magnetron sputtering. A series of AZO wire arrays was prepared by photolithography followed by wet‐chemical etching. The nominal wire width b′ was varied between 8 and 32 j.m. The wire arrays were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and temperature‐dependent resistivity measurements. The extension z of the surface‐layer affected by the microfabrication process and its effect on the electronic transport through the wire were assessed. z is determined by the grain structure of the sputtered layer and is independent of wire thickness and degree of under‐etching (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Seebeck effect of as‐grown and micro‐structured metallic (Zn,Al)O
Authors: Homm G. , Teubert J. , Henning T. , Klar P. J. , Szyszka B.
Published: March 2010

We studied the Seebeck coefficient S of sputtered Zn0.98Al0.02O samples with free carrier concentrations varying from 1018 to 1021 cm–3. The temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient at low carrier concentrations exhibits typical semiconductor behavior (S < 0 and pronounced phonon drag below 80K) whereas the metallic as‐grown Zn0.98Al0.02O shows a sign reversal of the Seebeck coefficient with decreasing temperature which is related to the not square‐root‐like density of states of this degenerately doped metallic material. Furthermore, metallic specimens were microstructured by photolithography and wet‐chemical etching with a pattern based on a square grid with a unit cell consisting of a centered square‐hole. The Seebeck coefficient changed systematically with decreasing size of the unit cell. The change of S is caused by a shift of the Fermi energy due to the creation of additional surface traps at the sidewalls of the micro holes (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Hybrid resonant organic‐inorganic nanostructures for novel light emitting devices and solar cells
Authors: Agranovich Vladimir M. , Rupasov Valery I. , Silvestri Leonardo
Published: March 2010

The energy transfer from an inorganic layer to an organic component of resonant hybrid organic/inorganic nanos‐tructures can be used for creation of new type of LED. We mentioned the problem of electrical pumping which has to be solved. As was first suggested in 1979 by Dexter the transfer energy in opposite direction from organic part of nanostructure to semiconductor layer can be used for the creation of new type of solar cells.

In this note we stress the importance of the idea by Dexter for photovoltaics and solar cells. We argue that the organic part in such hybrid structures can play a role of an effective organic collector of the light energy (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A new insight on the role of Mg in calcite
Authors: Stashans Arvids , Chamba Gaston
Published: March 2010

Magnesium is a key determinant in calcite (CaCO3) mineralization having a notable significance upon the carbonate growth. Magnesium is also present in CaCO3 mineral scale formation which is a persistent and expensive problem in oil and gas production. In the present work, we attempt to treat CaCO3 calcite mineral bulk inducing different concentrations of Mg impurity. The study is done using a quantum‐chemical computer code based on the Hartree–Fock method. It is found that small Mg impurity concentrations produce a significant distortion of the defect‐closest O atoms thus developing local microstructures being distinct to those of the original calcite structure. This structural alteration is accompanied by the electron density redistribution from the O 2pz atomic orbitals (AOs) toward the O 2px and 2py AOs for impurity nearest oxygens. On the other hand, the high Mg impurity concentrations make the chemical bonding in calcite more ionic. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Expansion of the π‐molecular orbitals of the C60 fullerene in spherical harmonics
Authors: Nikolaev A. V.
Published: March 2010

Starting with the Hückel model for the C60 fullerene, we discuss details of the expansion of the occupied π‐molecular orbitals in terms of spherical harmonics. Our calculation unambiguously indicates that the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO, 1hu) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO, 2t1u) have the largest contribution from the terms with ℓ = 5. This observation justifies the important “ℓ = 5 approximation” for HOMO and LUMO of the C60 fullerene. As a result, the angular dependence of HOMO and LUMO can be written in a simple analytical form. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Role of OH bonding in catalytic activity of Nb2O5 during the course of dehydrogenation of MgH2
Authors: Hirate H. , Sawai H. , Yukawa H. , Morinaga M.
Published: March 2010

The hydrogen desorption reaction of MgH2, MgH2 → Mg + H2, is accelerated by the addition of metal oxide catalysts (e.g., Nb2O5). From our theoretical calculation of electronic structure, it was predicted that the catalytic activities of metal oxides are related closely to the OH interaction operating at the interface between oxide catalyst and MgH2. In this study, the OH vibration on the Nb2O5‐catalyzed MgH2 was investigated experimentally using FTIR spectroscopy. The broad absorption band due to the OH stretching mode was observed in the region of 2,800–3,600 cm−1 in the FTIR spectra of the specimens when hydrogen desorption reaction was in progress. The absorbance of the band decreased monotonously with decreasing hydrogen content in the specimen during the course of dehydrogenation of MgH2. This experimental result was in agreement with our prediction for the existence of OH interaction in the hydrogen desorption process. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
H‐atom acceptor capacity of free radicals used in antioxidant measurements
Authors: Košinová Pavlína , Di Meo Florent , Anouar El Hassane , Duroux Jean‐Luc , Trouillas Patrick
Published: March 2010

Antioxidants are well‐known for their beneficial effects on human health. Their capacity to scavenge free radicals mainly depends on their capacity to transfer H atoms to free radicals (R•), and indirectly to labile H‐atoms of the R•‐parent molecule (RH). The aim of this study was to select an accurate method to estimate bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) of ROOH, LOOH and DPPHH. ROO• and LOO• are radicals involved in lipid peroxidation and DPPH is a free radical used to measure antioxidant activities. BDE(ROOH) was systematically calculated with more than 20 different methods (HF, post‐HF and DFT). This methodology was performed on three ROOH prototypes (HOOH, CH3OOH, and CH3CH2OOH) for which theoretical BDEs were compared to experimental BDEs. B3P86 and BHandH/6‐31+G(d,p) appeared as the best compromises. The influence of R chain length and conjugation degree on BDEs was studied with DFT. Both parameters did not significantly change BDE(ROOH), except when intra H bonding was formed. The DPPHH BDE was accurately calculated with B3P86. This functional could definitely be considered as a good compromise since it also gave a reliable estimation of OH BDE for polyphenols. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Inhibition of Notch Signaling in Human Embryonic Stem Cell–Derived Neural Stem Cells Delays G1/S Phase Transition and Accelerates Neuronal Differentiation In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Borghese Lodovica , Dolezalova Dasa , Opitz Thoralf , Haupt Simone , Leinhaas Anke , Steinfarz Barbara , Koch Philipp , Edenhofer Frank , Hampl Ales , Brüstle Oliver
Published: March 2010

The controlled in vitro differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and other pluripotent stem cells provides interesting prospects for generating large numbers of human neurons for a variety of biomedical applications. A major bottleneck associated with this approach is the long time required for hESC-derived neural cells to give rise to mature neuronal progeny. In the developing vertebrate nervous system, Notch signaling represents a key regulator of neural stem cell (NSC) maintenance. Here, we set out to explore whether this signaling pathway can be exploited to modulate the differentiation of hESC-derived NSCs (hESNSCs). We assessed the expression of Notch pathway components in hESNSCs and demonstrate that Notch signaling is active under self-renewing culture conditions. Inhibition of Notch activity by the γ-secretase inhibitor N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-L-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester (DAPT) in hESNSCs affects the expression of human homologues of known targets of Notch and of several cell cycle regulators. Furthermore, DAPT-mediated Notch inhibition delays G1/S-phase transition and commits hESNSCs to neurogenesis. Combined with growth factor withdrawal, inhibition of Notch signaling results in a marked acceleration of differentiation, thereby shortening the time required for the generation of electrophysiologically active hESNSC-derived neurons. This effect can be exploited for neural cell transplantation, where transient Notch inhibition before grafting suffices to promote the onset of neuronal differentiation of hESNSCs in the host tissue. Thus, interference with Notch signaling provides a tool for controlling human NSC differentiation both in vitro and in vivo.
Epidemiology of Small Bowel Carcinoids in a Defined Population
Authors: Landerholm Kalle , Falkmer Sture , Järhult Johannes
Published: March 2010

Background

This retrospective study describes the epidemiology of small bowel carcinoids in a geographically defined population, with no other selection bias.

Methods

All patients (n = 145) resident in Jönköping County when diagnosed with carcinoid in the jejunum or ileum from 1960 to 2005 were included. Medical records were reviewed in detail, and tumor specimens were histopathologically and immunohistochemically reexamined when required (n = 44).

Results

The annual age‐adjusted incidence of small bowel carcinoids was 1.12 (95% confidence interval 0.95–1.31) per 100,000 persons. Median age at diagnosis was 69 years. The predominating presenting symptom was uncharacteristic abdominal pain (50%), whereas a smaller number suffered from typical flushes (13%). Surprisingly, 14% presented with overt gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Most of the patients diagnosed based on their symptoms had metastases at diagnosis (44% regional, 40% distant). Metastasized tumors by definition belong to World Health Organization (WHO) histopathologic group 2; and when reexamined, most (83%) of the localized tumors were also found to belong to WHO group 2.

Conclusions

In comparison to previous reports, a higher age‐adjusted incidence of small bowel carcinoids was observed, and the patients were clearly older at the time of diagnosis. Even with metastatic disease, the presenting symptoms were usually uncharacteristic, and the carcinoid syndrome was infrequently seen.
Synthesis of High Purity Mono‐Alkyl Phosphate Using Cyclic Polyphosphoric Acid
Authors: Ye Qingguo , Yan Shuyun
Published: March 2010

The uniform design method was used to study the synthesis of high purity mono‐alkyl phosphate (MAP) by cyclic polyphosphoric acid. The main factors influencing the content of mono‐alkyl phosphate were investigated. The experimental results were analyzed by regression, and the optimum conditions were found to be as follows: mass pentoxide/mass 85 wt% phosphoric acid/mass octanol = 14.2/5.62/48.5, reaction temperature: 115°C, reaction time: 8 h. Under the optimized conditions, a high purity mono‐alkyl phosphate with 98.6 wt% MAP yield was obtained.
The Conversion of Low Grade Tallow into Biodiesel‐Grade Methyl Ester
Authors: Fröhlich András , Rice Bernard , Vicente Gemma
Published: March 2010

The conversion of low grade tallow with free fatty acid contents of 11.0–26.0% into biodiesel‐grade methyl ester was investigated on a laboratory scale. Methanolysis of low grade tallow could not be carried out by the standard base‐catalysed process, because the high free fatty acid content of low grade tallow caused incomplete methanolysis and prevented phase separation. The problem was able to be partly overcome by adding more potassium hydroxide to neutralise the free fatty acids, 50–100% more methanol and some water to promote phase separation. However, even with the modified method only about 55% of the starting material could be recovered as methyl ester and this fell to 35 and 14% when the free fatty acid content of tallow increased to 20 and 26%, respectively. It was shown that yield losses were caused mainly by the dissolution of methyl ester in the glycerol phase, and to a lesser extent to hydrolysis of the triglycerides. In order to prevent yield losses caused by the dissolution of methyl ester in the glycerol phase the possibility of esterifying free fatty acids either before or after base catalysed methanolysis was investigated. Both methods involving methanolysis and esterification gave good conversions of low grade tallow to methyl ester, and in each case yields above 90% were obtained by relatively simple processes.
Activity rating of Pliocene–Quaternary faults: a formalized approach (example of the Baikal rift system)
Authors: Lunina O.V.
Published: March 2010

It is suggested to estimate the Pliocene–Quaternary fault activity in a formalized way from synthesis of different data. The respective database consists of two main sections: (i) general information and basic fault parameters and (ii) geomorphic, structural, paleoseismic, seismological, geophysical, geodetic, engineering-geological, hydrological, and meteorological data. The fault characteristics are scored according to their significance, and the cumulative score measures the fault activity. With this approach, the faults in the Barguzin and Tunka rift basins and in the northeastern flank of the Baikal rift system have been divided into five activity classes (low, medium, relatively high, high, and very high activity) and mapped correspondingly. It has been recommended that the concept of an hazardous fault, as updated with regard to the activity rating, refers to faults of relatively high, high, and very high activity. Thus identified hazardous faults within the study area are quite few (4–8%), though this percent may increase slightly as more input data become available. The underestimation cannot be dramatic because all known seismological and structural characteristics of faults essential for the activity rating have been already taken into account. The new approach may be useful in seismic risk assessment and in choice of sites for instrumental monitoring of seismicity.
Effect of multicoil electromagnetic tool eccentricity on measured signals
Authors: Onegova E.V.
Published: March 2010

The article discusses the effect on the measured signals of a multicoil electromagnetic tool offset with respect to the borehole axis. The tool is a non-conductive cylindrical body with several coaxial coils. It is assumed that the borehole is vertical and the medium is axisymmetric with respect to the borehole axis.

A number of computations based on the finite element method were carried out. Simulations took into account the tool body and finite sizes of coils. A wide range of transmitter-receiver spacings (0.18–1.0 m) was studied. The operating frequency was 1.75 MHz. Different drilling muds and values of the tool offset were examined. It was shown that, for highly conductive drilling muds, the type of dependence between apparent resistivity and eccentricity varies greatly with the array length. It was discovered that increasing the contrast between invaded zone resistivity and mud resistivity also increases the eccentricity effect. The eccentricity effect increases with the decrease in mud resistivity and decreases as the array length increases. Also analyzed was the effect of the tool offset on electromagnetic field pattern.
Oral bioavailability of quercetin from different quercetin glycosides in dogs
Authors: Reinboth Marianne , Wolffram Siegfried , Abraham Getu , Ungemach Fritz R. , Cermak Rainer
Published: March 2010

Although the flavonol quercetin is used as a supplement in commercial dog food, data on quercetin bioavailability in dogs are not available. Thus, we investigated quercetin bioavailability (measured as area under the concentration–time curve) in nine adult beagle dogs at an oral dose of 10 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). The major fraction (>80 %) of flavonols circulating in blood plasma were conjugated metabolites of quercetin. The absolute bioavailability of quercetin (i.e. the fraction that reaches the systemic circulation) was only about 4 %. We also compared the oral bioavailability between the aglycone quercetin and its more often used glucorhamnoside (rutin) and 3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin) at an equimolar dose of 30 μmol/kg b.w. (corresponding to 10 mg quercetin/kg). Quercetin and isoquercitrin were mainly absorbed in the small intestine with isoquercitrin being one and a half times more bioavailable than quercetin. Maximal plasma concentration after isoquercitrin treatment was 0·89 (sem0·07) μmol/l. Although quercetin absorption from rutin was delayed, relative bioavailability was not lower than from the aglycone itself. The latter observation is in clear contrast to findings in human subjects, pigs or rats and might indicate that rutin is a better source of quercetin in dogs than in other species. However, potentialin vivoquercetin effects beyond the gastrointestinal tract are limited by the intensive metabolism as well as by the rather low bioavailability of this flavonol.
Incorrect sequencing and taxon misidentification: an example in the Trichinella genus
Authors: Marucci G. , La Rosa G. , Pozio E.
Published: March 2010

Molecular analyses such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing are very useful for taxon identification, especially when morphological characters useful for identifying taxa are lacking. However, the use of molecular tools can be the source of taxon misidentification if they are not correctly applied and the results are not critically evaluated and compared with the literature and GenBank data. We describe a case of misidentification of a taxon of the genus Trichinella due to sequencing mistakes, lack of reference material and selection of a single molecular marker. A Trichinella sp. isolate from an Iranian wild boar (Sus scrofa) was identified as belonging to the Nearctic species Trichinella murrelli, through the molecular analysis of the 5S rRNA intergenic spacer region. A successive molecular identification of the same isolate was performed by the International Trichinella Reference Centre in Rome, Italy, using the 5S rRNA intergenic spacer region, the LSU rDNA expansion segment five, and the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2. According to these analyses, the Iranian isolate belonged to Trichinella britovi, a Palaearctic species already described in Iran.
Changing expectations of care among older Tibetans living in India and Switzerland
Authors: WANGMO TENZIN
Published: March 2010

Using interview data from 30 Tibetan elders living in India and Switzerland, the paper explores the support they received, their perception of intergenerational relationships, and their acceptance of different levels of intergenerational exchange. All of the sample had aged in either India or Switzerland and so provide excellent comparison groups, from respectively a developing and a developed country, by which to study changing filial piety with time, context and socio-economic conditions. With limited resources in old age, most of the participants in India needed financial support. Among them, parents with many children and children in developed countries received better financial support and collective care than those with one child or all children living in India. In contrast, the participants in Switzerland were entitled to state old-age benefits, and so required mainly affirmation and emotional support. A consequence of living in a developed nation was dissatisfaction when the children adopted western values and the family's cultural continuity was threatened. The findings support two recommendations: in developing countries, the provision of old-age benefits to ensure a minimum level of financial security and independence among older adults; and in developed countries, the promotion of a mutual understanding of filial piety among different generations of older refugees and immigrants to help ameliorate intergenerational differences.
Why do older adult volunteers stop volunteering?
Authors: TANG FENGYAN , MORROW-HOWELL NANCY , CHOI EUNHEE
Published: March 2010

This paper reports a United States study of the factors that influence the turnover of older adult volunteers. Based on a parent study of programmes that use older adult volunteers, the follow-up study examined the experience for 207 older volunteers who served in ten programmes in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Telephone interviews and mail surveys were used to collect programme and personal information. The findings indicated that aspects of the volunteer experience, like duration of involvement, volunteering in other programme(s), type of activity, the adequacy of on-going support, and the availability of stipends influenced volunteering retention and turnover. Respondents who volunteered for a longer period were committed in other programmes, felt better supported, and received a stipend were less likely to quit volunteering in a designated programme. Also those volunteering in public safety programmes were least likely to quit. As reported by older adult volunteers themselves, the primary reasons for volunteer withdrawal included a higher priority of another productive activity or commitment, declining health, and problems with the programme administration. Volunteers with extensive experience were least likely to withdraw. The findings suggest that organisations with volunteer programmes can promote older adults' long-term engagement as volunteers by providing on-going support and stipends. Changes in programme characteristics would impact positively on volunteer retention, especially among low-income older Americans.
E-scaping the ageing body? Computer technologies and embodiment in later life
Authors: BUSE CHRISTINA E.
Published: March 2010

This paper explores the embodied dimensions of computer and internet use in later life, and examines how technology use relates to constructions and experiences of the ageing body. It is argued that previous research on technology use and embodiment has neglected older bodies, in contrast to research on gender and disability. Furthermore, while earlier theorisations presented internet use as disembodied, it is argued that the experience of using such technologies is grounded in our embodiment. In the light of these limitations and arguments for more complete theories of the body, this paper explores how technology use relates to various aspects of embodiment. These issues are examined in the light of data from qualitative interviews and time-use diaries completed by retirees in 17 households in the United Kingdom. By examining the ‘technobiographies’ of these older computer users, it is shown that changes in body techniques are prompted and in some cases required by broader cultural and technological change. The findings evince the process of acquiring computing skills as an embodied competency, and as a form of ‘practical knowledge’ that can only be ‘learned by doing’. These experiences of technology use were embedded within constructions and experiences of ageing bodies. Although the participants drew on discourses of ageing in complex ways, their coding of computer technologies in terms of the competences of youth often reproduced hierarchies between young and old bodies.
Elder abuse in long-term care residences and the risk indicators
Authors: COHEN MIRI , HALEVY-LEVIN SARAH , GAGIN RONI , PRILTUZKY DANA , FRIEDMAN GIDEON
Published: March 2010

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of abuse among the residents of long-term care facilities in Israel, and its associations with risk indicators. Seventy-one such residents aged 70 or more years were assessed in the internal and orthopaedic departments of two university medical centres for possible abuse by carers at the long-term facilities from which they were admitted. The study collected socio-demographic and health profiles and a list of maltreatment or abusive acts, and administered the Signs of Abuse Inventory and the Expanded Indicators of Abuse Questionnaire. Among the 71 residents, 31 per cent reported some form of maltreatment, most being instances of disrespectful behaviour. Signs of abuse, mostly of neglect, were detected in 22.5 per cent of the sample. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that higher scores on risk indicators and higher dependence on others for the activities of daily living significantly associated with reported abuse, while age, gender, risk indicators and lower blood albumin level (being an indicator of worse nutritional and health status) significantly associated with identified signs of abuse. It is concluded that direct questioning mainly discloses instances of disrespectful behaviours and humiliation, while the assessment of signs of abuse is more sensitive to cases of neglect. Risk indicators were found to be reliable indicators of abuse. Routine screening for these indicators is recommended to improve detection and thereby to prevent abuse in long-term care facilities.
Extension of polynomials defined on subspaces
Authors: FERNÁNDEZ-UNZUETA MAITE , PRIETO ÁNGELES
Published: March 2010

Let k ∈ ℕ and let E be a Banach space such that every k-homogeneous polynomial defined on a subspace of E has an extension to E. We prove that every norm one k-homogeneous polynomial, defined on a subspace, has an extension with a uniformly bounded norm. The analogous result for holomorphic functions of bounded type is obtained. We also prove that given an arbitrary subspace F ⊂ E, there exists a continuous morphism φk, F: (kF) → (kE) satisfying φk, F(P)|F = P, if and only E is isomorphic to a Hilbert space.
Trade Unions and the Quadripartite Interactions in Strike Settlement in China
Authors: Chen Feng
Published: March 2010

Although the Chinese government has claimed to be pursuing tripartism for labour relations, the non-judicial resolution of interest conflict in enterprises is largely a process of quadripartite interaction. In addition to the government and employers, the trade unions and workers are separate players: labour strikes in China are always launched by unorganized workers rather than by trade unions, whose task is to defuse the situation. Such a quadripartite process is dominated by the government, with the trade union playing a mediating role, not only between workers and the government but also between workers and employers. The process involves certain explicit and implicit rules, as well as distinct dynamics. This research examines the institutional and social basis of quadripartite interaction and how it led to the settlement of strikes. It demonstrates that although it can effectively defuse workers' collective action, a quadripartite process of conflict resolution reflects a low degree of institutionalization of industrial relations in China.
Dealing with Responsibility for the Great Leap Famine in the People's Republic of China
Authors: Wemheuer Felix
Published: March 2010

In the aftermath of the famine in 1962, Mao Zedong took formal responsibility for the failure of the Great Leap Forward in the name of the central government. Thousands of local cadres were made scapegoats and were legally punished. This article focuses on the question of how the different levels of the Chinese state, such as the central government, the province and the county, have dealt with the question of responsibility for the famine. The official explanation for the failure of the Great Leap will be compared to unofficial memories of intellectuals, local cadres and villagers. The case study of Henan province shows that local cadres are highly dissatisfied with the official evaluation of responsibility. Villagers bring suffering, starvation and terror into the discourse, but these memories are constructed in a way to preserve village harmony. This article explains why these different discourses about responsibility of the famine are unlinked against the background of the “dual society”; the separation between urban and rural China. Finally, it will be shown that the Communist Party was unable to convince parts of society and the Party to accept the official interpretation.
Missing or Killed
Authors: Powell Steve , Butollo Willi , Hagl Maria
Published: March 2010

Many people go missing during war and acts of terrorism. Do their families suffer an additional or different kind of mental health burden than families of people who are known to have been killed? Two groups of respondents, each comprising 56 women living in Bosnia and Herzegovina, were included in the study. These were women whose husbands were either confirmed as having been killed during the 1992–1995 war or who were at the time of the study officially still listed as missing as a result of the war. These two groups filled in questionnaires on war events, postwar stressors, and mental health status. The results showed that the group with unconfirmed losses had higher levels of traumatic grief (measured on a version of the UCLA Grief Inventory) as well as severe depression (measured on the General Health Questionnaire), even when traumatic events and stressors were controlled for. This study represents one of the first empirical confirmations that, at least in a war context, suffering the unconfirmed loss of a family member has specific negative mental health consequences compared to suffering a confirmed loss. In particular the high levels of severe depression including suicidal ideation in this group give cause for concern.
Prediction and Explanation of Young Offenders’ Intentions to Re-offend From Behavioral, Normative, and Control Beliefs
Authors: Kiriakidis Stavros P.
Published: March 2010

A detailed assessment of the constructs postulated by the Theory of Planned Behavior is offered as a comprehensive framework for understanding young offenders’ behavioral intentions to re-offend in the future. The paper reports the assessed salient behavioral, normative, and control beliefs with respect to future offending behavior. From the largest institution for young offenders in Scotland 152 male inmates were randomly selected and filled in a questionnaire which measured direct and belief-based attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intentions to re-offend in the future. Intentions to re-offend in the future by young offenders were predicted by control beliefs about certain internal and external impediments that the young offenders believed they had to overcome and behavioral beliefs, underlining attitudes toward future offending.
Sheared deep vortical convection in pre‐depression Hagupit during TCS08
Authors: Bell Michael M. , Montgomery Michael T.
Published: March 2010

Airborne Doppler radar observations from the recent Tropical Cyclone Structure 2008 field campaign in the western North Pacific reveal the presence of deep, buoyant and vortical convective features within a vertically‐sheared, westward‐moving pre‐depression disturbance that later developed into Typhoon Hagupit. On two consecutive days, the observations document tilted, vertically coherent precipitation, vorticity, and updraft structures in response to the complex shearing flows impinging on and occurring within the disturbance near 18 north latitude. The observations and analyses herein suggest that the low‐level circulation of the pre‐depression disturbance was enhanced by the coupling of the low‐level vorticity and convergence in these deep convective structures on the meso‐gamma scale, consistent with recent idealized studies using cloud‐representing numerical weather prediction models. Further examination of these new observations is needed to quantify the relative role of these vortical convection features in the tropical cyclone spin up process.
Compatibility of induction methods for mantle soundings
Authors: Vozar J. , Semenov V. Y.
Published: March 2010

Formulations that form the basis of experimental impedances in induction soundings result from the impedance boundary conditions or from the simplified theoretical models. The formulations are essentially different for the magnetotelluric and magnetovariation sounding methods. In order to increase reliability of mantle investigations, studies of the mantle's electrical properties are often carried out by the joint inversion of impedances obtained by both sounding methods. A forward modeling approach is used to verify the accuracy of merging the long‐period impedances obtained by the magnetotelluric and magnetovariation methods. The spherical modeling of the responses above 2‐D and 3‐D mantle inhomogeneities has shown that the different induction methods can give mutually inconsistent results and the combination of their responses can be problematic in practice. For this reason much attention is given to the generalized horizontal spatial gradient sounding method which results in impedance functions that in space and frequency domains closely resemble the magnetotelluric impedances. In this study some interesting properties of the induction arrows above a spherical inhomogeneity, excited by an inhomogeneous external field, are estimated for long periods. A final comprehensive model, assuming a shell of realistic conductance at the Earth's surface, is evidence that the generalized horizontal spatial gradient method is promising for the study of mantle inhomogeneities and can be reliably used in combination with the magnetotelluric method in a specific way.
How the annual cycle affects the extratropical response to ENSO
Authors: Jin Daeho , Kirtman Ben P.
Published: March 2010

The relationship between tropical remote forcing and seasonality in the extratropics is examined with a set of numerical experiments that use prescribed sea surface temperature (SST) in the tropical Pacific and a simple thermodynamic slab mixed‐layer model outside the prescribed region coupled to an atmospheric general circulation model. The numerical experiments use an idealized El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) evolution where the peak phase (with respect to the annual cycle) can be arbitrarily shifted. In this case, we shift the phase of ENSO by 6 months. An ENSO composite analysis indicates that the extratropical remote response is phase locked with the local season, not ENSO. Pacific basin zonal mean cross section shows that the tropical atmosphere continuously responds to the prescribed SST forcing, but the atmospheric bridge connecting to the extratropics occurs in specific seasons.
Measurements of Asian dust optical properties over the Yellow Sea of China by shipboard and ground‐based photometers, along with satellite remote sensing: A case study of the passage of a frontal system during April 2006
Authors: Liu Yi , Yang Dongxu , Chen Wenzhong , Zhang Hua
Published: March 2010

Aerosol optical properties were measured by a POM‐01 MarkII Sun and sky photometer onboard the Dongfanghong Number 2 Research Ship on the Yellow Sea of China during the passage of a cold front surrounded by airborne dust that originated in Mongolia between 21 and 24 April 2006. The aerosol size distributions in clean marine environment were dominated by an accumulate mode with radius of 0.15 μm and a coarse mode with radius of 4.5 μm. The mean aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Ångström exponent were 0.26 and 1.26, respectively. In the frontal zone the aerosol size distribution was dominated by an accumulate mode with radius of 0.25 μm and two coarse modes with radii of 1.69 and 7.73 μm, and the AOD and Ångström exponent were 2.46 and 0.84, respectively. In the nonfrontal dust conditions, the concentration of coarse modes with radii of 2.5 μm increased to a maximum of 0.3 μm3/μm2, and the mean AOD and Ångström exponent were 0.70 and 0.30, respectively. Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) observations combined with shipboard measurements reveal the decreasing concentration of dust aerosol during its transport from continent to Japan. The spatial distribution of dust aerosol was studied using the Aqua/Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Aura/Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) products. On 22 April, for frontal dust, their AOD and UV aerosol index (UVAI) increased with decreasing distance to the frontal line, peaked with values of 4.36 and 5.21 in the frontal zone, and decreased rapidly with increasing distance off the frontal line. On 23 April, nonfrontal dust showed the lower AOD and UVAI with peak values of 2.0 and 2.7, respectively.
Fractional dispersion in a sand bed river
Authors: Bradley D. Nathan , Tucker Gregory E. , Benson David A.
Published: March 2010

Random walk models of fluvial bed load transport use probability distributions to describe the distance a grain travels during an episode of transport and the time it rests after deposition. These models typically employ probability distributions with finite first and second moments, reflecting an underlying assumption that all the factors that influence sediment transport tend to combine in such a way that the length of a step or the duration of a rest can be characterized by a mean value surrounded by a specific amount of variability. The observation that many transport systems exhibit apparent scale‐dependent behavior and non‐Fickian dispersion suggests that this assumption is not always valid. We revisit a nearly 50 year old tracer experiment in which the tracer plume exhibits the hallmarks of dispersive transport described by a step length distribution with a divergent second moment and no characteristic dispersive size. The governing equation of this type of random walk contains fractional‐order derivatives. We use the data from the experiment to test two versions of a fractional‐order model of dispersive fluvial bed load transport. The first version uses a heavy‐tailed particle step length distribution with a divergent second moment to reproduce the anomalously high fraction of tracer mass observed in the downstream tail of the spatial distribution. The second version adds a feature that partitions mass into a detectable mobile phase and an undetectable, immobile phase. This two‐phase transport model predicts other features observed in the data: a decrease in the amount of detected tracer mass over the course of the experiment and enhanced particle retention near the source. The fractional‐order models match the observed plume shape and growth rates better than prior attempts with classical models.
Modeling stream dissolved organic carbon concentrations during spring flood in the boreal forest: A simple empirical approach for regional predictions
Authors: Ågren Anneli , Buffam Ishi , Bishop Kevin , Laudon Hjalmar
Published: March 2010

Changes in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration are clearly seen for streams in which chemistry is measured on a high‐frequency/episode basis, but these high‐frequency data are not available in long‐term monitoring programs. Here we develop statistical models to predict DOC concentrations during spring flood from easily available geographic information system data and base flow chemistry. Two response variables were studied, the extreme DOC concentration and the concentration during peak flood. Ninety‐seven streams in boreal Scandinavia in two different ecoregions with substantially different mean water chemistry and landscape characteristics (covering a large climatic gradient) were used to construct models where 56% of the extreme DOC concentration and 63% of the concentration during peak flood were explained by altitude. This highlights important regional drivers (gradients in altitude, runoff, precipitation, temperature) of material flux. Spring flood extreme DOC concentration could be predicted from only base flow chemistry (r2 = 0.71) or from landscape data (r2 = 0.74) but combining them increased the proportion of explained variance to 87%. The “best” model included base flow DOC (positive), mean annual runoff (negative), and wetland coverage (positive). The root mean square error was 1.18 mg L−1 for both response variables. The different ecoregions were successfully combined into the same regression models, yielding a single approach that works across much of boreal Scandinavia.
Contribution of glacier runoff to freshwater discharge into the Gulf of Alaska
Authors: Neal Edward G. , Hood Eran , Smikrud Kathy
Published: March 2010

Watersheds along the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) are undergoing climate warming, glacier volume loss, and shifts in the timing and volume of freshwater delivered to the eastern North Pacific Ocean. We estimate recent mean annual freshwater discharge to the GOA at 870 km3 yr−1. Small distributed coastal drainages contribute 78% of the freshwater discharge with the remainder delivered by larger rivers penetrating coastal ranges. Discharge from glaciers and icefields accounts for 47% of total freshwater discharge, with 10% coming from glacier volume loss associated with rapid thinning and retreat of glaciers along the GOA. Our results indicate the region of the GOA from Prince William Sound to the east, where glacier runoff contributes 371 km3 yr−1, is vulnerable to future changes in freshwater discharge as a result of glacier thinning and recession. Changes in timing and magnitude of freshwater delivery to the GOA could impact coastal circulation as well as biogeochemical fluxes to near‐shore marine ecosystems and the eastern North Pacific Ocean.
The evolving function of Langerhans cells in adaptive skin immunity
Authors: Igyarto Botond Z , Kaplan Daniel H
Published: March 2010

Langerhans cells (LC) are dendritic cell that resides in the epidermis of skin. Paul Langerhans originally observed and named this epinonymous cell more than 140 years ago. Their network‐like distribution and dendritic processes that extended up into the stratum corneum convinced him that they represented peripheral nerve cells. It was not determined until almost 100 years later that LC are, in fact, bone marrow‐derived and function as skin‐resident antigen presenting cells. Many studies have shown that LC are highly immunostimulatory. Recently, data have begun to accumulate suggesting LC have immunoregulatory properties. This review will focus on the participation of LC in the development and regulation of adaptive immune responses.
Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of mycobacterial DNA vaccines incorporating plasmid‐encoded cytokines against Mycobacterium bovis
Authors: Young Sarah L , Slobbe Lynn J , Peacey Matthew , Gilbert Sarah C , Buddle Bryce M , de Lisle Geoffrey W , Buchan Glenn S
Published: March 2010

DNA‐based vaccines, alone or in combination with other sub‐unit vaccination regimes, represent an alternative to live mycobacterial vaccines for protective immunization against tuberculosis. Here, we have used a murine immunization or Mycobacteriam bovis aerosol challenge model to assess the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of mycobacterial DNA vaccines. Mice that received immunization with DNA constructs encoding M. bovis antigen 85A (Ag85–A) and arget(ESAT‐6) produced measurable interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) responses to CD4+ T‐cell epitope‐peptide recall antigens in vitro. The magnitude of these responses was enhanced by co‐delivery of a construct encoding murine cytokines (macrophage inhibitory protein (MIP)‐1α or interleukin(IL)‐7), although they did not the match responses observed in mice that received Bacille Calmette−Guerin(BCG) immunisation. In contrast, DNA priming followed by boosting with modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccine (expressing M. tuberculosis Ag85–A) invoked higher IFN‐γ levels, with the most immunogenic regime of Ag85 or ESAT or IL‐7 prime followed by MVA boost being of commensurate immunogenicity to BCG. Despite this, neither DNA alone nor DNA‐prime or MVA boost regimes conferred measurable protection against aerosol challenge with virulent M. bovis. These data highlight both the promise and the shortcomings of new generation subunit tuberculosis vaccines, with particular emphasis on their potential as vaccines against M. bovis.
Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway may ameliorate dextran sodium sulfate‐induced colitis in mice
Authors: Takamura Takeyuki , Harama Daisuke , Matsuoka Shuji , Shimokawa Naomi , Nakamura Yuki , Okumura Ko , Ogawa Hideoki , Kitamura Masanori , Nakao Atsuhito
Published: March 2010

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) recognizes numerous small xenobiotic and natural molecules, such as dioxin and natural chemicals, and is involved in the metabolism of these compounds. AhR also has a regulatory role in inflammatory responses. This study investigated whether the activation of the AhR pathway affects dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)‐induced colitis, an ulcerative colitis‐like model, in mice. DSS‐induced colitis was ameliorated by pretreatment with a potent AhR activator, 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD), in mice. In addition, the mice pretreated with TCDD showed increased prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in the colon, and inhibition of PGE2 production by indomethacin abrogated the inhibitory effects of TCDD on DSS‐induced colitis. Collectively, the activation of the AhR pathway by TCDD may ameliorate DSS‐induced colitis, at least in part, through PGE2 production.
Fabrication of microfluidic devices using polydimethylsiloxane
Authors: Friend James , Yeo Leslie
Published: March 2010

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is nearly ubiquitous in microfluidic devices, being easy to work with, economical, and transparent. A detailed protocol is provided here for using PDMS in the fabrication of microfluidic devices to aid those interested in using the material in their work, with information on the many potential ways the material may be used for novel devices.