bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Borehole temperatures reveal details of 20th century warming at Bruce Plateau, Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Zagorodnov V. , Nagornov O. , Scambos T. A. , Muto A. , Mosley-Thompson E. , Pettit E. C. , Tyuflin S.
Published: November 2011

Abstract. Two ice core boreholes of 143.74 m and 447.65 m (bedrock) were drilled during the 2009–2010 austral summer on the Bruce Plateau at a location named LARISSA Site Beta (66°02' S, 64°04' W, 1975.5 m a.s.l.). Both boreholes were logged with thermistors shortly after drilling. The shallow borehole was instrumented for 4 months with a series of resistance thermometers with satellite uplink. Surface temperature proxy data derived from an inversion of the borehole temperature profiles are compared to available multi-decadal records from weather stations and ice cores located along a latitudinal transect of the Antarctic Peninsula to West Antarctica. The LARISSA Site Beta profiles show temperatures decreasing from the surface downward through the upper third of the ice, and warming thereafter to the bed. The average temperature for the most recent year is −14.78 °C (measured at 15 m depth, abbreviated T15. A minimum temperature of −15.8 °C is measured at 173 m depth and basal temperature is estimated to be −10.2 °C. Current mean annual temperature and the gradient in the lower part of the measured temperature profile have a best fit with an accumulation rate of 1.9 × 103 kg m−2 a−1 and basal heat flux (q) of 88 mW m−2, if steady-state conditions are assumed. However, the mid-level temperature variations show that recent temperature has varied significantly. Reconstructed surface temperatures (Ts=T15 over the last 200 yr are derived by an inversion technique. From this, we find that cold temperatures (minimum Ts=−16.2 °C) prevailed from ~1920 to ~1940, followed by a gradual rise of temperature to −14.2 °C around 1995, then cooling over the following decade and warming in the last few years. The coldest period was preceded by a relatively warm 19th century at T15 ≥ −15 °C. To facilitate regional comparisons of the surface temperature history, we use our T15 data and nearby weather station records to refine estimates of lapse rates (altitudinal, adjusted for latitude: Γa(l)). Good temporal and spatial consistency of Γa(l)) over the last 35 yr are observed, implying that the climate trends observed here are regional and consistent over a broad altitude range.
Association between Human Body Composition and Periodontal Disease
Authors: Salekzamani Yagoub , Shirmohammadi Adileh , Rahbar Mohammad , Shakouri Seyed-kazem , Nayebi Farough
Published: November 2011

Obesity in humans
might increase the risk of periodontitis. The
aim of the present study was to examine the
relationship between body composition of males
and their periodontal status. AS total of 150
males (aged 30–60) were selected: 31 were
periodontally healthy, 45 had gingivitis, 39 had
initial periodontitis, and 35 suffered from
established periodontitis. BMI (body mass
index), WC (waist circumference), and body
composition parameters (consisting of body
water, body fat, and skeletal muscle and bone
mass) were measured. After adjusting for age,
history of diabetes, smoking, physical activity
status, and socioeconomic status, statistically
significant correlations were found between
periodontitis and BMI, WC, and body composition.
There was only a statistically significant
difference between the periodontal health and
established periodontitis; that is, periodontal
disease in mild forms (gingivitis) and initial
periodontitis do not influence these variables
(BMI, WC, and body composition parameters) and
only the severe form of the disease influences
the variables. These data suggest that there is
a considerable association between severe forms
of periodontal disease in males and their body
composition, but this preliminary finding needs
to be confirmed in more extensive
studies.
Synthesis of water‐soluble monotosylated ethylenediamines and their application in ruthenium and iridium‐catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of aldehydes
Authors: Zhou Zhongqiang , Ma Qiong , Zhang Aiqing , Wu Lamei
Published: November 2011

Synthesis of novel water‐soluble monotosylated ethylenediamines and their application in ruthenium and iridium‐catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of aldehydes are described. Various aldehydes, including electron‐deficient and electron‐rich variants, were reduced with high conversions and chemoselectivity using sodium formate as a hydrogen source in neat water. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Teamwork in Integrated Design Projects: Understanding the Effects of Trust, Conflict, and Collaboration on Performance
Authors: Chiocchio François , Forgues Daniel , Paradis David , Iordanova Ivanka
Published: November 2011

Teamwork during integrated design projects is complex. We address this by investigating how trust, collaboration, and conflict evolve over time to affect performance. Our results stem from data gathered using validated self-report questionnaires with 38 participants in 5 multidisciplinary teams at three points in time during a 6-week integrated design competition. Results show that without collaboration, trust and conflict have no bearing on performance. In addition to an unambiguous practical outcome—fostering collaboration helps build trust and manage conflict—our study points to theoretical developments: as trust- and conflict-performance relations grow over time, so does collaboration's mediating effect.
N-Terminal Motifs in Some Plant Disease Resistance Proteins Function in Membrane Attachment and Contribute to Disease Resistance
Authors: Takemoto Daigo , Rafiqi Maryam , Hurley Ursula , Lawrence Greg J. , Bernoux Maud , Hardham Adrienne R. , Ellis Jeffrey G. , Dodds Peter N. , Jones David A.
Published: November 2011

To investigate the role of N-terminal domains of plant disease resistance proteins in membrane targeting, the N termini of a number of Arabidopsis and flax disease resistance proteins were fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the fusion proteins localized in planta using confocal microscopy. The N termini of the Arabidopsis RPP1-WsB and RPS5 resistance proteins and the PBS1 protein, which is required for RPS5 resistance, targeted GFP to the plasma membrane, and mutation of predicted myristoylation and potential palmitoylation sites resulted in a shift to nucleocytosolic localization. The N-terminal domain of the membrane-attached Arabidopsis RPS2 resistance protein was targeted incompletely to the plasma membrane. In contrast, the N-terminal domains of the Arabidopsis RPP1-WsA and flax L6 and M resistance proteins, which carry predicted signal anchors, were targeted to the endomembrane system, RPP1-WsA to the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus, L6 to the Golgi apparatus, and M to the tonoplast. Full-length L6 was also targeted to the Golgi apparatus. Site-directed mutagenesis of six nonconserved amino acid residues in the signal anchor domains of L6 and M was used to change the localization of the L6 N-terminal fusion protein to that of M and vice versa, showing that these residues control the targeting specificity of the signal anchor. Replacement of the signal anchor domain of L6 by that of M did not affect L6 protein accumulation or resistance against flax rust expressing AvrL567 but removal of the signal anchor domain reduced L6 protein accumulation and L6 resistance, suggesting that membrane attachment is required to stabilize the L6 protein.
Evaluation of the Efficacy of Immunocastration Vaccine Composed of Gonadotrophin‐releasing Hormone Conjugated with Salmonella typhimurium Flagellin in Rats
Authors: Song YJ , Kim DG , Nam HM , Lee JB , Park SY , Song CS , Seo KH , Kim HM , Choi IS
Published: November 2011

Contents

Immunocastration is an alternative method to replace surgical castration that is commonly performed in domestic and pet animals. In this study, a new immunocastration vaccine was developed, and its efficacy was evaluated in male rats. Six tandem copies of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) peptide were genetically fused to Salmonella typhimurium flagellin fljB (STF2) that is a ligand of toll‐like receptor 5 (TLR5). The recombinant STF2–GnRH protein expressed in Escherichia coli was used as the immunocastration vaccine. Sixteen male rats were equally assigned to four groups. Excluding the control rats, three groups were immunized with 100, 200 and 400 μg of the STF2–GnRH vaccine, respectively. All of the immunized rats developed significantly higher titres of antibodies to GnRH than the control rats. The size and weight of both testes and epididymides from the immunized rats were significantly smaller than those of the control rats. Testicular tissues in the immunized rats demonstrated atrophy of seminiferous tubules and decreased numbers of both spermatogonia and spermatocytes. These data indicate that the newly developed STF2–GnRH vaccine has a potent immunogenicity to GnRH and efficiently suppresses the development of testes in rats.
From the British worker question to the impact of HRM: understanding the relationship between employment relations and economic performance
Authors: Procter Stephen , Rowlinson Michael
Published: November 2011

The long‐running UK debate over the relationship between employment relations and economic performance is examined. Its four phases are identified as: British worker question, British economic miracle, ‘what do unions do?’ and Human Resource Management (HRM) and performance. Change in the terms of debate is observed. Important common threads are identified. Recommendations for future research are made.
Consequence Analysis of a Liquefied Natural Gas Floating Production Storage Offloading (LNG FPSO) Leakage
Authors: Martins Marcelo Ramos , de Souza Gilberto F. M. , Ikeda Nilton Hiroaki
Published: November 2011

A quantitative risk assessment comprises some basic activities that have to be developed to allow the quantification of the risks involved in the operation of a system or process under analysis. Basically, the likelihood of the undesired events has to be identified as well as their consequences must be calculated. When the risks in the operation of a marine vessel are analyzed, the same process has to be followed. For each specific phase of the marine vessel mission, all of the undesired events must be accurately determined and evaluated. Many different types of undesired events must be investigated, such as: fire, explosion, collision, falling objects and marine hazards. There are many techniques involved in the estimation of the likelihood of the events and the same occurs for the evaluation of their consequences. The purpose of this paper is to study a leakage during a cargo offloading considering a LNG shuttle tanker and a Liquefied Natural Gas Floating Production Storage Offloading (LNG-FPSO) in the Pre Salt Brazilian coast. Once defined the feasible scenarios and the total quantity discharged, the consequences will be evaluated using physical models described in the literature and implemented in commercial softwares. The main idea is to identify all possible consequences and verify their magnitudes. As this is an isolated study, where the likelihood of the event will not be estimated, the final objective is to use the results obtained to predict mitigating measures to the system. This is not a simple task due to the complexity of the phenomena developed after the leakage. In order to verify the extension of possible spread events it is also necessary the identification of many variables, including the atmospheric conditions, the sea condition, the ignition sources, the vessels nearby, the shuttle tanker(s), and the positioning of the vessels involved in the offloading operation.
Experimental Investigation of Local Scour Around Conical Pier
Authors: Pourahmadi Masoumeh , Hakimzadeh Habib
Published: November 2011

There are many reports about failure of bridges around the world due to scouring. This shows the importance of research on scouring and any possibility on scour protection. The method used of control of scouring around the bridge piers can be divided in two categories, namely: Direct and Indirect methods. The first method may be done by increasing the streambed resistance. This is usually done by riprap around piers. Indirect control, however, can be achieved by changing the flow pattern around a pier. The second method can be done for instance by using a collar around the pier or using a slot within the pier. Another method of the second category is to use variable section in depth. For this purpose, various slopes of conical piers are investigated in this research study. Experiments were carried out in a channel with 10 meters long, 0.3 meter wide and 0.5 meter depth, having a horizontal slope. Median size of sediment was 0.78 mm with geometric standard deviation of 1.24. The experimental results have been shown that the scour depth at conical piers decrease in compare with cylindrical ones. These observations, may partly be due to decrease in bed shear stress, which is a key parameter for the sediment transport. Therefore, from experimental data it was found that with a very mild slope on conical pier, the scour depth decreased about 15.8% when compared with the cylindrical one. For the other piers with larger slope and larger diameter on the bed, the wall side effects were appeared, however the reduction rate of scour depth was not as much as expected, compared with the first conical pier.
The VICI-trial: high frequency oscillation versus conventional mechanical ventilation in newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: an international multicentre randomized controlled trial
Authors: van den Hout Lieke , Tibboel Dick , Vijfhuize Sanne , te Beest Harma , Hop Wim , Reiss Irwin ,   The CDH-EURO Consortium
Published: November 2011

Background

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a severe congenital anomaly of the diaphragm resulting in pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension. It is associated with a high risk of mortality and pulmonary morbidity. Previous retrospective studies have reported high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFO) to reduce pulmonary morbidity in infants with CDH, while others indicated HFO to be associated with worse outcome. We therefore aimed to develop a randomized controlled trial to compare initial ventilatory treatment with high-frequency oscillation and conventional ventilation in infants with CDH.

Methods/design

This trial is designed as a multicentre trial in which 400 infants (200 in each arm) will be included. Primary outcome measures are BPD, described as oxygen dependency by day 28 according to the definition of Jobe and Bancalari, and/or mortality by day 28. All liveborn infants with CDH born at a gestational age of over 34 weeks and no other severe congenital anomalies are eligible for inclusion. Parental informed consent is asked antenatally and the allocated ventilation mode starts within two hours after birth. Laboratory samples of blood, urine and tracheal aspirate are taken at the first day of life, day 3, day 7, day 14 and day 28 to evaluate laboratory markers for ventilator-induced lung injury and pulmonary hypertension.

Discussion

To date, randomized clinical trials are lacking in the field of CDH. The VICI-trial, as the first randomized clinical trial in the field of CDH, may provide further insight in ventilation strategies in CDH patient. This may hopefully prevent mortality and morbidity.

Trial registration

Netherlands Trial Register (NTR): NTR1310
Live-cell fluorescence correlation spectroscopy dissects the role of coregulator exchange and chromatin binding in retinoic acid receptor mobility
Authors: Brazda Peter , Szekeres Tibor , Bravics Balázs , Tóth Katalin , Vámosi György , Nagy Laszlo
Published: November 2011

The retinoic acid receptor (RAR) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. This ligand-inducible transcription factor binds to DNA as a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor (RXR) in the nucleus. The nucleus is a dynamic compartment and live-cell imaging techniques make it possible to investigate transcription factor action in real-time. We studied the diffusion of EGFP–RAR by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) to uncover the molecular interactions determining receptor mobility. In the absence of ligand, we identified two distinct species with different mobilities. The fast component has a diffusion coefficient of D1=1.8–6.0 μm2/second corresponding to small oligomeric forms, whereas the slow component with D2=0.05–0.10 μm2/second corresponds to interactions of RAR with the chromatin or other large structures. The RAR ligand-binding-domain fragment also has a slow component, probably as a result of indirect DNA-binding through RXR, with lower affinity than the intact RAR–RXR complex. Importantly, RAR-agonist treatment shifts the equilibrium towards the slow population of the wild-type receptor, but without significantly changing the mobility of either the fast or the slow population. By using a series of mutant forms of the receptor with altered DNA- or coregulator-binding capacity we found that the slow component is probably related to chromatin binding, and that coregulator exchange, specifically the binding of the coactivator complex, is the main determinant contributing to the redistribution of RAR during ligand activation.
A Modified Solid State Synthesis of LiFePO4/C as Active Material for Lithium-ion Batteries
Authors: Schünemann Dennis , Langer Thorsten , Binnewies Michael , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: November 2011

Solid state chemistry is already established as a conventional procedure for obtaining well-crystallized particles of LiFePO4 with ordered structure. The disadvantages of this method still are the uncontrollable particle growth and agglomeration, long reaction time and moreover the cost of production. The advantages of using 1-Hexadecanol as an additive to create a reducing atmosphere and additionally as a carbon source for the solid state method the existence of iron in the oxidation state Fe3+ can be prevented. The carbon coating can be controlled by the amount of the additive and the reaction conditions such as reaction time or reaction temperature. This modified synthesis cannot reduce the cost of energy but represents a simple variant to obtain both carbon coated LiFePO4 with a specific conductivity up to 10-2 S cm-1 and pure LiFePO4. The latter does not show any impurities as confirmed by Mös sbauer spectroscopy. The reaction time only takes three hours without any time-consuming preparations.
Efeito da radiação ionizante sobre o paladar em pacientes submetidos a radioterapia para a região da cabeça e pescoço
Authors: Silva Amaro Ilídio Vespasiano , Galante Célio , Manzi Flávio Ricardo
Published: November 2011

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos da radiação ionizante sobre o paladar, em pacientes que foram submetidos a radioterapia na região de cabeça e pescoço. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados 20 pacientes que possuíam diagnóstico de tumor na região de cabeça e pescoço, que iniciaram tratamento no Setor de Radioterapia da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. Para testes do paladar, foram manipuladas quatro soluções (salgada - NaCl; doce - sacarose; azeda - ácido cítrico; amarga - ureia) em três concentrações diferentes (fraca, média e forte), administradas por meio de conta-gotas, três gotas de cada solução de maneira aleatória, respeitando a ordem das concentrações fracas, médias e fortes. Após a aplicação de cada solução, o paciente relatava o sabor que sentia. O procedimento foi realizado semanalmente durante as três primeiras semanas de radioterapia. RESULTADOS: Foi observada diferença estatisticamente significante na perda do paladar dos pacientes em tratamento radioterápico, quando se compararam a 1ª e 4ª semanas de tratamento na solução salgada, nas três concentrações, na solução doce nas concentrações fracas e médias e nas soluções azedas e amargas, apenas quando se testaram as concentrações fracas. CONCLUSÃO: A radiação ionizante altera o paladar de pacientes submetidos a radioterapia de cabeça e pescoço.
Applying Weighted PCA on Multiclass Classification for Intrusion Detection
Authors: Moshki Mohsen , Garmehi Mehran , Kabiri Peyman
Published: November 2011

In this chapter, application of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and one of its extensions on intrusion detection is investigated. This extended version of PCA is modified to cover an important shortcoming of traditional PCA. In order to evaluate these modifications, it is mathematically proved that these modifications are beneficial and later on a known dataset such as the DARPA99 dataset is used to verify results experimentally. To verify this approach, initially the traditional PCA is used to preprocess the dataset. Later on, using a simple classifier such as KNN, the effectiveness of the multiclass classification is studied. In the reported work, instead of traditional PCA, a revised version of PCA named Weighted PCA (WPCA) will be used for feature extraction. The results from applying the aforementioned method to the DARPA99 dataset show that this approach results in better accuracy than the traditional PCA when a number of features are limited, a number of classes are large, and a population of classes is unbalanced. In some situations WPCA outperforms traditional PCA by more than 1% in accuracy.
Tubercular Sinus over Manubrium Sterni: A Rare Presentation
Authors: Gupta Nikhil , Hadke Niladhar Shankarrao , Khurana Nita
Published: November 2011

Isolated sternal involvement in tuberculosis is rare. Very few case reports are available in literature even from the countries where tuberculosis is endemic. We are reporting a case of 32-year-old female who presented to us with a pus discharging sinus over manubrium sterni with no other systemic features of tuberculosis. Sinus tract was excised and biopsy confirmed tuberculosis. Patient received antitubercular therapy for 9 months.
Women with gout: Efficacy and safety of urate‐lowering with febuxostat and allopurinol
Authors: Chohan Saima , Becker Michael A. , MacDonald Patricia A. , Chefo Solomon , Jackson Robert L.
Published: November 2011

Objective

To compare the characteristics of female versus male gout patients and assess urate‐lowering efficacy and safety of febuxostat or allopurinol treatment in women with gout.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of 4,101 hyperuricemic (serum urate [sUA] level ≥8.0 mg/dl) gout subjects enrolled in 3 phase III comparative trials and randomized to receive placebo, febuxostat (40 mg, 80 mg, 120 mg, or 240 mg daily), or allopurinol (100 mg, 200 mg, or 300 mg daily, based on renal function). Baseline demographics and characteristics were summarized and compared between female and male subjects. Urate‐lowering efficacy, which was defined as the proportion of subjects with sUA levels <6.0 mg/dl at final visit, was assessed for all subjects and, among women, according to baseline renal function.

Results

Female gout subjects (n = 226) were older with significantly higher rates of obesity and metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities than their male counterparts. The percentage of female subjects with sUA levels <6.0 mg/dl at final visit was 0% in the placebo group, 54.3%, 85.1%, 81.0%, and 100.0% in the febuxostat 40 mg, 80 mg, 120 mg, and 240 mg groups, respectively, and 45.9% in the allopurinol group. Similar patterns of urate‐lowering efficacy rates were observed when stratified by renal function. Among all the female subjects, febuxostat 80 mg was significantly more efficacious than allopurinol (P < 0.001). Rates of adverse events (AEs) were low. The most frequently reported AEs were upper respiratory tract infections, musculoskeletal/connective tissue disorders, and diarrhea.

Conclusion

These data suggest that febuxostat 80 mg may be more efficacious than commonly prescribed doses of allopurinol in female gout subjects with high rates of comorbidities.
Low Temperature Plasticity of an Ultrafine‐Grained Al–3Mg Alloy Prepared by Accumulative Roll Bonding
Authors: Shumilin Sergii Eduardovich , Janecek Milos , Isaev Nikolai Vasilievich , Homola Petr , Kral Robert
Published: November 2011

Many efforts have been made recently to produce ultrafine grained (UFG) structural metallic materials having submicrometer grain sizes, since UFG materials are expected to perform superior mechanical properties, i.e., a high strength, good elongation and, mainly superplastic formability at lower temperatures and higher strain rates. One of the promising ways to produce bulk UFG materials is the severe plastic deformation (SPD).
Influence of Silicification on the Structural and Biological Properties of Buffer‐Mediated Collagen Hydrogels
Authors: Quignard Sandrine , Copello Guillermo J. , Aimé Carole , Bataille Isabelle , Hélary Christophe , Desimone Martin F. , Coradin Thibaud
Published: November 2011

A buffer‐mediated gelation route for collagen hydrogels that allows the formation of homogeneous composite and hybrid materials with various silica sources (i.e., colloidal silica and soluble silicates) at high concentration (up to 25 × 10−3 M) is described. Most significant improvement in rheological properties and proliferation of primary adult human dermal fibroblasts was obtained for the silicate‐based hybrid materials. A similar trend was observed in composite materials incorporating 14 nm SiO2 nanoparticles, although to a much lesser extent, whereas larger colloids (80 and 390 nm) did not significantly impact mechanical stability and cell behavior. Modification of 80 nm particles surface with amine groups weakens the collagen‐mineral interface, resulting in the decrease of material stability and leading to particle aggregation during the course of cell proliferation experiments.
Preferential Affinity of the Components of Liquid Mixtures at a Rigid Non‐Polar Surface: Enthalpic and Entropic Driving Forces
Authors: Choutko Alexandra , van Gunsteren Wilfred F. , Hünenberger Philippe H.
Published: November 2011

The modulation of the properties of lipid membranes by polyhydroxylated cosolutes such as sugars is a phenomenon of considerable biological, technological and medicinal relevance. A few years ago, we proposed the sugar‐like mechanism—binding driven by the release of water molecules—as an attempt to rationalize the preferential affinity of carbohydrate molecules compared to water molecules for the surface of lipid bilayers, which is presumably related to the bioprotective action of these compounds. The goal herein is to gain a better understanding of the driving force underlying this mechanism, in terms of specific interactions or effects, as well as in terms of the energy–entropy partitioning. This is done in the simplest possible context of an apolar rigid‐wall model representing the membrane, and mixtures of closely related and possibly artificial species in solution, namely monomers or dimers of Lennard‐Jones particles, water with physical or reduced charges, and hydroxymethyl groups. The results indicate that although the sugar‐like mechanism seems phenomenologically reasonable, the main driving force underlying this mechanism is not the entropy gain upon releasing water molecules into the bulk, as originally suggested, but rather the hydrophobic effect. Note that the latter effect is a generic concept and may in principle involve both a solvent release and an interaction component, depending on the solute considered.
Sonocatalytic damage of bovine serum albumin (BSA) under ultrasonic irradiation with TiO2/tooth composite
Authors: Wang Zhiqiu , Li Ying , Wang Jun , Jin Xudong , Zou Mingming , Han Guangxi , Li Kai , Gao Jingqun
Published: November 2011

BACKGROUND: In order to effectively degrade bovine serum albumin (BSA) under ultrasonic irradiation, biological mineral material (tooth powder) was adopted to mix with nano‐sized TiO2 powder. A TiO2/tooth composite with high sonocatalytic activity and remarkable selectivity was prepared.

RESULTS: TiO2/tooth composite with tooth content of 30% (w/w) heat‐treated at 500 °C for 40 min was used as sonocatalyst and the catalytic degradation of BSA under ultrasonic irradiation was examined. Some influencing factors, such as ultrasonic irradiation time, TiO2/tooth catalyst amount, solution acidity and NaCl concentration, were studied by UV‐vis and fluorescence spectroscopic analysis. Furthermore, the BSA attack site for the TiO2/tooth composite was identifies by synchronous fluorescence spectra.

CONCLUSION: The results indicated that, under ultrasonic irradiation, the TiO2/tooth composite can promote the degradation of BSA more effectively than pure nano‐sized TiO2 powder. The attack site is identified as tyrosine (Tyr) residue. These results are of great significance for the use of a sonocatalytic method to treat tumours in clinical applications. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Impact of parainfluenza virus infection in pediatric cancer patients
Authors: Maeng Se Hyun , Yoo Hye Soo , Choi Soo‐Han , Yoo Keon Hee , Kim Yae‐Jean , Sung Ki Woong , Lee Nam Yong , Koo Hong Hoe
Published: November 2011

Background

Respiratory virus (RV) infection can cause significant morbidity and mortality in pediatric cancer patients. Parainfluenza virus (PIV) is a common pathogen in childhood among the respiratory viruses. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of parainfluenza virus infection in pediatric cancer patients.

Procedure

A retrospective review of medical records of 1,554 children diagnosed with cancer from January 2000 through July 2008 was analyzed at Samsung Medical Center.

Results

A total of 6.4% (137/1,554) had respiratory virus infection and 54% (74/137) of patients with RV infection had PIV infection. PIV type 3 was the predominant subtype. Among patients with PIV infection, 59 children (79.7%) had upper respiratory tract infection (URI) whereas 15 children (20.3%) had lower respiratory tract infection (LRI) at initial presentation. Among patients with URI, 12 (20.3%) progressed to pneumonia with the median interval of 4 days from URI to LRI. Mortality associated with PIV infection was 18.5% (5/27) in patients with LRI. Among patients with PIV infection, 80% (59/74) had nosocomial infection, which shows the difficulty and importance of infection control at pediatric cancer ward.

Conclusions

PIV infection was most commonly diagnosed among pediatric cancer patients with RV infection and PIV infection led to significant pulmonary complications and direct mortality in immunocompromised children. Since there are no effective antiviral agents for PIV infection, precautionary infection control and early diagnosis are the only methods available to prevent the infection spread. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012;59:708–710. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Influence of medium on the nanostructure and properties of poly(4‐aminodiphenylamine)‐silver nanocomposites
Authors: Thanjam I. Starlet , Philips M. Francklin , Komathi Shanmugasundaram , Manisankar Paramasivam , Gopalan Anantha Iyengar , Lee Kwang‐Pill
Published: November 2011

Poly(4‐aminodiphenylamine)‐silver nanocomposites were synthesized by an easy one‐step aqueous chemical oxidative polymerization of 4‐aminodiphenylamine (4ADPA) using silver nitrate (AgNO3) as the oxidant. Two different structure directing surfactants, p‐toluene sulfonic acid (p‐TSA) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide/hydrochloric acid (CTAB/HCl), were independently used for the nanocomposite (NC) preparation. The NCs prepared in p‐TSA and CTAB/HCl medium were designated as P4ADPA/AgNC(p−TSA) and P4ADPA/AgNC(CTAB/HCl), respectively. We investigated the morphological variations in the NCs based on the medium. P4ADPA/AgNC(p−TSA) and P4ADPA/AgNC(CTAB/HCl) were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and UV‐visible spectroscopy. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Linolenate 9R‐Dioxygenase and Allene Oxide Synthase Activities of Lasiodiplodia theobromae
Authors: Jernerén Fredrik , Eng Felipe , Hamberg Mats , Oliw Ernst H.
Published: November 2011

Jasmonic acid (JA) is synthesized from linolenic acid (18:3n‐3) by sequential action of 13‐lipoxygenase, allene oxide synthase (AOS), and allene oxide cyclase. The fungus Lasiodiplodia theobromae can produce large amounts of JA and was recently reported to form the JA precursor 12‐oxophytodienoic acid. The objective of our study was to characterize the fatty acid dioxygenase activities of this fungus. Two strains of L. theobromae with low JA secretion (~0.2 mg/L medium) oxygenated 18:3n‐3 to 5,8‐dihydroxy‐9Z,12Z,15Z‐octadecatrienoic acid as well as 9R‐hydroperoxy‐10E,12Z,15Z‐octadecatrienoic acid, which was metabolized by an AOS activity into 9‐hydroxy‐10‐oxo‐12Z,15Z‐octadecadienoic acid. Analogous conversions were observed with linoleic acid (18:2n‐6). Studies using [11S‐2H]18:2n‐6 revealed that the putative 9R‐dioxygenase catalyzed stereospecific removal of the 11R hydrogen followed by suprafacial attack of dioxygen at C‐9. Mycelia from these strains of L. theobromae contained 18:2n‐6 as the major polyunsaturated acid but lacked 18:3n‐3. A third strain with a high secretion of JA (~200 mg/L) contained 18:3n‐3 as a major fatty acid and produced 5,8‐dihydroxy‐9Z,12Z,15Z‐octadecatrienoic acid from added 18:3n‐3. This strain also lacked the JA biosynthetic enzymes present in higher plants.
Nanostructured MnGa films on Si/SiO2 with 20.5 kOe room temperature coercivity
Authors: Zha C. L. , Dumas R. K. , Lau J. W. , Mohseni S. M. , Sani Sohrab R. , Golosovsky I. V. , Monsen Å. F. , Nogués J. , Åkerman Johan
Published: November 2011

Nanostructured Mn67Ga33 films exhibiting high room temperature coercivity (HC = 20.5 kOe) have been prepared by sputtering onto thermally oxidized Si substrates. Both the morphology and the coercivity of the films can be tuned by varying the growth parameters. The low deposition rate film, sputtered at a reduced power and working pressure, demonstrates a discontinuous island-like growth and the highest HC. The large HC is linked to the presence of the high anisotropy DO22 Mn3Ga phase and the single domain character of the exchange isolated, dipolar interacting, single crystal islands.
Photoisomerization dynamics of 3,3′-diethyloxadicarbocyanine iodide in ionic liquids: Breakdown of hydrodynamic Kramers model
Authors: Gangamallaiah V. , Dutt G. B.
Published: November 2011

Photoisomerization dynamics of 3,3′-diethyloxadicarbocyanine iodide (DODCI) has been examined in a series of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium (alkyl = methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, and hexyl) bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imides by measuring its fluorescence lifetimes and quantum yields. This study has essentially been undertaken to find out whether the process of photoisomerization of DODCI in ionic liquids is different compared to that observed in conventional solvents such as alcohols. Activation energy of the reaction has been attained with the aid of isoviscosity plots and was found to be 22 ± 3 kJ mol−1, which is a factor of two higher compared to that obtained in alcohols. The significantly higher activation energy obtained in bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imides compared to alcohols is probably due to the highly ordered nature of the ionic liquids, which hinders the twisting process. Kramers theory has been applied to understand the reduced isomerization rate constants in terms of solvent friction. As in case of alcohols, the isomerization data could not be explained by the Kramers model. However, a power law relation, which is a phenomenological functional form, could mimic the observed trend.
Properties of a capillary discharge-produced argon plasma waveguide for shorter wavelength source application
Authors: Sakai Shohei , Higashiguchi Takeshi , Bobrova Nadezhda , Sasorov Pavel , Miyazawa Jun , Yugami Noboru , Sentoku Yasuhiko , Kodama Ryosuke
Published: November 2011

We report the operation of a discharge-produced argon (Ar) plasma waveguide in an alumina (Al2O3) capillary to guide a 1016-W/cm2 ultrashort laser pulse for shorter wavelength light sources at high repetition rate operation. The electron density in the plasma channel was measured to be 1 × 1018 cm−3. Modeling with a one-dimensional magnetrohydrodynamic code was used to evaluate the degree of ionization of Ar in the preformed plasma channel. The observed spectrum of the laser pulse after propagation in the argon plasma waveguide was not modified and was well reproduced by a particle in cell simulation.
Characterization of high-κ LaLuO3 thin film grown on AlGaN/GaN heterostructure by molecular beam deposition
Authors: Yang Shu , Huang Sen , Chen Hongwei , Schnee Michael , Zhao Qing-Tai , Schubert Jürgen , Chen Kevin J.
Published: November 2011

We report the study of high-dielectric-constant (high-κ) dielectric LaLuO3 (LLO) thin film that is grown on AlGaN/GaN heterostructure by molecular beam deposition (MBD). The physical properties of LLO on AlGaN/GaN heterostrucure have been investigated with atomic force microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and TEM. It is revealed that the MBD-grown 16 nm-thick LLO film is polycrystalline with a thin (∼2 nm) amorphous transition layer at the LLO/GaN interface. The bandgap of LLO is derived as 5.3 ± 0.04 eV from O1s energy loss spectrum. Capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics of a Ni-Au/LLO/III-nitride metal-insulator-semiconductor diode exhibit small frequency dispersion (<2%) and reveal a high effective dielectric constant of ∼28 for the LLO film. The LLO layer is shown to be effective in suppressing the reverse and forward leakage current in the MIS diode. In particular, the MIS diode forward current is reduced by 7 orders of magnitude at a forward bias of 1 V compared to a conventional Ni-Au/III-nitride Schottky diode.
Broad spectral response in composition-graded CdSSe single nanowires via waveguiding excitation
Authors: Gu Fuxing , Yu Huakang , Fang Wei , Tong Limin
Published: November 2011

We report broad spectral response in composition-graded CdSSe single nanowires (NWs) via waveguiding excitation. The excitation light is coupled to CdSSe single nanowires via silica fiber tapers. The guided photons in the nanowire with energies ranging from 1.74 to 2.44 eV can be efficiently captured at different sites along the NW length. Compared to single-composition nanowires, the composition-graded CdSSe nanowires exhibit much broader spectral response range, while retaining the detection limit down to sub-pW level. Utilizing the photoconductive quenching effect, the spectral range can be further extended beyond 1.5 μm with detection limit down to sub-nW level at room temperature.
Control of density of self-organized carbon nanotube arrays by catalyst pretreatment through plasma immersion ion implantation
Authors: Yick S. , Han Z. J. , Ostrikov K.
Published: November 2011

A simple and effective method of controlling the growth of vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays in a low-temperature plasma is presented. Ni catalyst was pretreated by plasma immersion ion implantation prior to the nanotube growth by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Both the size distribution and the areal density of the catalyst nanoparticles decrease due to the ion-surface interactions. Consequently, the resulting size distribution of the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes is reduced to 50 ∼ 100 nm and the areal density is lowered (by a factor of ten) to 108 cm−2, which is significantly different from the very-high-density carbon nanotube forests commonly produced by thermal chemical vapor deposition. The efficiency of this pretreatment is compared with the existing techniques such as neutral gas annealing and plasma etching. These results are highly relevant to the development of the next-generation nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices that require effective control of the density of nanotube arrays.
Liquid crystal-based dielectric loaded surface plasmon polariton optical switches
Authors: Tasolamprou A. C. , Zografopoulos D. C. , Kriezis E. E.
Published: November 2011

An optical switch based on liquid crystal dielectric loaded surface plasmon polariton waveguides is proposed and theoretically analyzed. The infiltration of the plasmonic structure with a nematic liquid crystalline material serving as the dielectric loading is shown to allow for extensive electrical tuning of its waveguiding characteristics. Both the electrical switching and optical properties of the proposed waveguide are investigated in the context of designing a directional coupler optical switch, which is found to combine efficient voltage control, low power consumption, high extinction ratio, and relatively low insertion losses.
Plasma modelling results and shape control improvements for NSTX
Authors: Kolemen E. , Gates D.A. , Gerhardt S. , Kaita R. , Kugel H. , Mueller D. , Rowley C. , Soukhanovskii V.
Published: November 2011

New shape control implementations and dynamics studies on the National Spherical Torus eXperiment (NSTX) (Ono et al
2000 Nucl. Fusion
40 557–61) are summarized. In particular, strike point position, X-point height and squareness control, and two new system-identification methods/control-tuning algorithms were put into operation. The PID controller for the strike point was tuned by analysing the step response of the strike point position to the poloidal coil currents, employing the Ziegler–Nichols method. An offline system identification of the plasma response to the control inputs based on ARMAX (Ljung 1999 System Identification: Theory for the User (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall)) input–output models was implemented. With this tool, rough estimates of the improvements were realized and several control improvements were identified. An online automatic relay-feedback PID tuning algorithm, which has the advantage of tuning the controller in one shot, was implemented, thus optimizing the use of experimental time. Using these new capabilities, all four upper/lower/inner/outer strike points were simultaneous controlled and a combined X-point height, strike point radius control was implemented. The new and improved control with better accuracy and robustness enabled successful plasma operations with the liquid lithium divertor. Additionally this year, the first independent squareness control was developed. This will enable better optimization of the NSTX shape for stability and high performance in the future.
First Report of Ginseng (Panax ginseng) as a Natural Host of Dodder (Cuscuta japonica) in China
Authors: Chen C. Q. , Han S. , Gao J. , Yang L. N.
Published: November 2011

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) belongs to the Araliaceae family and is a high-value medicinal herb grown mainly in Jilin Province, China. China is the world's oldest and largest producer of ginseng. Annual yield and exports account for more than 78 and 60% for the world, respectively. In July 2009 and August 2010, dodder (Cuscuta sp.), a parasitic seed plant, was observed on 4- and 5-year-old plants that were being cultivated on raised beds under artificial shading in three separate locations approximately 200 kilometers apart in Jilin Province. The infested area was approximately one-third of the field (300 m2 of 10,000 m2), which was previously planted with pine trees and herbaceous plants. Initially, there were no obvious symptoms on ginseng plants, but later, symptoms consisted of poor growth, chlorosis, and wilting, eventually followed by death in large areas throughout the field. One typical representative of 10 samples collected was identified as Cuscuta japonica based on several morphological characteristics, including yellow stems with purplish spots with branches 1.2 to 2.5 mm in diameter. Inflorescences were spicate and measured 3 cm with broadly ovate, scale-like bracts. Flowers were sessile with deeply divided calyxes. The parasite had purplish, ovate sepals with pink or greenish white corollas. The plant had five stamens with yellow, ovate-circular anther. Ovaries were globose and smooth. Capsules contained three to four pale yellow or brown ovate seeds measuring 1.9 to 2.7 mm (3,4). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA of the representative samples was amplified using primers ITS4/ITS5 (2) and sequenced. BLASTn analysis of the 650-bp amplicon (GenBank Accession No. JF431541) showed 99% sequence identity with C. japonica (Accession Nos. DQ924571 and EU330320). Phylogenetic trees constructed by utilizing the neighbor-joining method with software MEGA 4.0 (1) placed the dodder specimens and C. japonica (DQ924571 and EU330320) into one group. The reported hosts of C. japonica include plants belonging to the Leguminosae, Salicaceae, Polygonaceae, and Compositae. Therefore, to our knowledge, this is the first report of C. japonica naturally infecting P. ginseng in the world.

Reference: (1) K. Tamura et al. Mol. Biol. Evol. 24:1596, 2007. (2) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, 1990. (3) Z. Y. Wu. Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae 64:147, 1979. (4) L. P. Yin. Plant Quarantine (in Chinese) 9:292, 1995.
BDM1, a phosducin‐like gene of Fusarium graminearum, is involved in virulence during infection of wheat and maize
Authors: HOREVAJ PETER , BLUHM BURTON H.
Published: November 2011

Fusarium graminearum is a common pathogen of wheat and maize throughout the world. Despite recent advances in the elucidation of the genetic basis of virulence, significant gaps in the regulatory network underlying pathogenesis remain to be filled. In particular, little is known at the molecular level about the overlap among mechanisms of pathogenicity on maize and wheat. G‐protein signalling has been implicated in pathogenesis in F. graminearum, although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the involvement of a putative phosducin‐like gene (BDM1) in growth, development and pathogenesis in F. graminearum. Targeted deletion of BDM1 revealed roles in sexual and asexual sporulation, germ tube development, hyphal branching and mycelial morphology. During pathogenesis, BDM1 is required for wild‐type levels of colonization of maize silk tissue and stalks, but is dispensable for the colonization of kernels. The deletion of BDM1 also reduced the virulence of F. graminearum during the infection of wheat seedlings and heads, resulting in a significant reduction in fungal biomass and a delayed spread of visual symptom expression (i.e. bleaching in heads). Furthermore, BDM1 is required for wild‐type levels of deoxynivalenol biosynthesis during the infection of wheat heads and maize silks. In summation, BDM1 is one of the few genes characterized to date in F. graminearum involved in virulence during infection of both maize and wheat. Thus, the functional characterization of BDM1 has established a new regulatory link between pathogenesis in maize and wheat, and provides a genetic resource through which the regulatory networks underlying virulence in F. graminearum can be further elucidated.
Geochronological constraints on post‐collisional shear zones in the Variscides of Sardinia (Italy)
Authors: Carosi Rodolfo , Montomoli Chiara , Tiepolo Massimo , Frassi Chiara
Published: November 2011

Terra Nova, 24, 42–51, 2012

The post‐collisional tectonics in the inner zone of the Variscan belt of Corsica–Sardinia recorded a dextral transpression developed with an orogen‐parallel tectonic transport. Recent works documented the presence of nearly parallel dextral and sinistral crustal‐scale shear zones responsible for the exhumation of the metamorphic complexes. To constrain, for the first time, the timing of both shear zones and the timing of the transpressional shearing, zircons and monazites were collected for U‐Th‐Pb ages. Results indicate that the shear zones have been active at c. 320 Ma in a transpressional setting, widespread in the Southern European Variscan belt.