bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Goddess encounters: Mughals, Monsters and the Goddess in Bengal
Authors: CHATTERJEE KUMKUM
Published: March 2013

This paper makes a case for exploring the cultural facets of Mughal rule as well as for a stronger engagement with sources in vernacular languages for the writing of Mughal history. Bengal's regional tradition of goddess worship is used to explore the cultural dimensions of Mughal rule in that region as well as the idioms in which Bengali regional perceptions of Mughal rule were articulated. Mangalkavya narratives—a quintessentially Bengali literary genre—are studied to highlight shifting perceptions of the Mughals from the late sixteenth century to the eighteenth century. During the period of the Mughal conquest of Bengal, the imperial military machine was represented as a monster whom the goddess Chandi, symbolizing Bengal's regional culture, had to vanquish. By the eighteenth century, when their rule had become much more regularized, the Mughals were depicted as recognizing aspects of Bengal's regional culture by capitulating in the end to the goddess and becoming her devotees. This paper also studies the relationship of the Mughal regime with Bengal's popular cultural celebration—the annual Durga puja—and explores its implications for the public performance of religion and for community formation during the early modern period.
Designing a national clinical audit of nutritional care in health and social care settings: consideration and future directions
Authors: Parsons Emma L. , Baldwin Christine , Fitzpatrick Joanne , Knight Annemarie , Manthorpe Jill , Thomas Jane E. , Weekes Elizabeth , Whelan Kevin , Wilson Richard , Murrells Trevor , Cassidy Aidan , Griffiths Peter J , Emery Peter W.
Published: March 2013

The aim of this review paper is to consider how the principles of clinical audit could be applied to the development of an audit of nutritional care in hospitals and care homes, based on criteria derived from the Essence of Care: Food and Drink. A literature review identified fifteen key papers that included guidance or standards for nutritional care in hospitals or care homes. These were used to supplement the ten factors suggested by the Essence of Care to develop a set of potential audit criteria covering all aspects of the nutritional care pathway including the identification of risk of malnutrition, implementation of nutritional care plans, referral to healthcare professionals for further nutritional assessment and nutritional support strategies. A series of audit tools have been developed, including an organisational level audit tool, a staff questionnaire, a patients' and residents' records audit tool and a patients' and residents' experiences questionnaire. Further issues to consider in designing a national nutritional audit include the potential role of direct observation of care, the use of trained auditors and the scope for including the results of pre-existing local audits. In conclusion, a national audit would need to encompass a very large number of health and care organisations of widely varying sizes and types and a diverse range of people.
Latent structure of social fears and social anxiety disorders
Authors: Iza M. , Wall M. M. , Heimberg R. G. , Rodebaugh T. L. , Schneier F. R. , Liu S.-M. , Blanco C.
Published: March 2013

Background

Despite its high prevalence and associated levels of impairment, the latent structure of social anxiety disorder (SAD) is not well understood, with published studies reporting inconsistent results. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the latent structure of social fears in individuals with and without SAD is the same.

Method

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis followed by multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) analysis were conducted on 13 commonly feared social situations assessed in a nationally representative sample including individuals with SAD and those with social fears but who did not meet DSM-IV criteria for SAD.

Results

An EFA conducted in the full sample, including individuals with no social fears (88% of the sample), yielded only one factor. When the sample was restricted to those with at least one social fear, the EFA yielded three factors, in both the subsample with at least one social fear but no SAD and the subsample with SAD. The three factors represented feared situations related to public performance, close scrutiny and social interaction. The MIMIC analyses further indicated that the three-factor structure was able to explain differences in prevalence of social fears across a broad range of sociodemographic covariates.

Conclusions

Among individuals with at least one social fear and those with DSM-IV SAD the latent structure of social fears appears to be best described by three factors, although this may partially depend on how the sample is specified. These results may help reconcile the findings of different numbers of factors identified in previous studies.
Particulate matter strongly associated with human Q fever in The Netherlands: an ecological study
Authors: REEDIJK M. , VAN LEUKEN J. P. G. , VAN DER HOEK W.
Published: March 2013

There are still questions about the importance of different animal reservoirs and environmental factors that played a role in the large Q fever epidemic in The Netherlands. We therefore investigated the spatial association between reported Q fever cases and different livestock and environmental factors at the national level. A spatial regression analysis was performed, with four-digit postal code areas as the unit of analysis. High level of particulate matter (⩾24·5 μg/m3) with an aerodynamic diameter <10 μm (PM10) was by far the strongest risk factor for human Q fever with an odds ratio of 10·4 (95% confidence interval 7·0–15·6) using PM10<24·5 μg/m3as reference, in logistic regression analysis, controlling for differences in animal densities, vegetation and other risk factors. Particulate matter seems to play an important role in the transmission of Q fever from infected animals to humans and should be a focus for further studies on zoonotic infectious diseases and decision-making.
Linguistique arabe
Authors: Rashed Roshdi
Published: March 2013

La linguistique arabe est sans aucun doute la première science conçue et cultivée en arabe pour répondre à certains besoins scientifiques et idéologiques de la nouvelle société islamique. Les premiers travaux en ce domaine datent du VIIIe siècle, et leurs auteurs, les premiers linguistes, sont précisément contemporains de l'arabisation des institutions, de l'administration, de la monnaie etc., sous le Khalife Omeyade ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān. Ces premiers travaux étaient intimement liés à l'exégèse coranique, à l'orthoépie coranique, à la jurisprudence islamique, c'est-à-dire aux disciplines associées à l'organisation de la nouvelle société et à sa culture. C'est à cette époque qu'Abū al-Aswad al-Duʾalī (mort en 688–9) inventa des signes graphiques permettant de distinguer les différentes fonctions grammaticales des éléments linguistiques. C'est à la même époque que l'on a engagé la codification massive et systématique des données de l'arabe, comme en témoignent, à peine plus tard, les travaux d'ʿAbdallāh ibn Isḥāq (m. 735), d'Abū ʿAmr ibn al-ʿAlāʾ (m. 770) et de bien d'autres. Ils ont également initié l'étude de la grammaire au sens large, puisque celle du système phonétique y est incluse. Tous ces travaux ont tracé la voie de plusieurs disciplines: phonologie, phonétique, métrique, lexicographie, et favorisé la naissance des grandes théories du langage. Et, de fait, au cours de la seconde moitié du VIIIe siècle, al-Khalīl ibn Aḥmad (m. 786–7) a fondé plusieurs de ces disciplines. Sa connaissance des mathématiques et son recours aux procédés combinatoires l'ont aidé non seulement à inventer des disciplines telles que la métrique et la lexicographie, mais aussi à formuler les catégories grammaticales. Son élève, l'éminent linguiste Sībawayh, a ensuite codifié la plupart des analyses et des explications d'al-Khalīl, et les a enrichies en maintes occasions. Cette période héroïque de la linguistique arabe s'est prolongée grâce à de grands successeurs qui vont fonder des écoles linguistiques à Bassorah, Kufa, Bagdad, etc. D'autres écoles ont également vu le jour à Fuṣṭāṭ et ailleurs, et la recherche linguistique va ainsi se poursuivre jusqu'à la fin du XIe siècle, au moins.
‘Je sais et tout mais . . .’might the general extenders in European French be changing?
Authors: SECOVA MARIA
Published: March 2013

This paper addresses contemporary trends in the use of general extenders in two recent corpora of spontaneous French stratified by age. In these corpora, certain variants (e.g.et tout) are highly prevalent in the speech of young people compared to older speakers, while others are not. Other studies have shown that general extenders’ form as well as frequency tends to vary with respect to speakers’ age, while some extenders may also undergo grammaticalisation. The present study includes a comparison with a late 20th-century corpus of spoken French, and finds that not only age grading but also generational change might be occurring. This conclusion is supported by qualitative and quantitative analysis of the contemporary data, showing that the forms most frequent among young people appear to have acquired new pragmatic functions.
The Fragility of Self-Respect: Emotional Labour of Workfare Volunteering
Authors: Kampen Thomas , Elshout Judith , Tonkens Evelien
Published: March 2013

This article contributes to our empirical understanding of self-respect in rising meritocracies by focusing on the experiences of unemployed, low-skilled people recruited as workfare volunteers in the Netherlands. As many theorists have argued, the long-term unemployed struggle to maintain self-esteem. We found that workfare projects that introduce them to voluntary work can help them regain self-respect through four types of emotional labour: feeling respected through their newfound status, enjoying a craft, being able to perform in less stressful working environments, and taking pride in the meaning bestowed by voluntary work. But the emotional labour necessary to experience their situation more positively also increases the risk of experiencing negative emotions, thereby posing new threats to the fragile self-respect of unemployed citizens.
Verbrechen an Kindern und Jugendlichen in der NS-Zeit
Authors: Haack Kathleen , Kumbier Ekkehardt
Published: March 2013

Der Mord an psychisch Kranken und Behinderten in der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus traf die Schwächsten der Gesellschaft, darunter mehrere tausend Kinder. Ihr Weg in die Vernichtung konnte auf mehreren Ebenen stattfinden. Allein im Rahmen des so genannten «Reichsausschußverfahrens» wird die Zahl der getöteten Kinder auf 5.000 bis 10.000 geschätzt. In den hierfür eigens eingerichteten mehr als 30 «Kinderfachabteilungen» wurden die als bildungsunfähig angesehenen jungen Patienten systematisch ermordet und, wie das Beispiel der Abteilung in Loben zeigt, zu wissenschaftlichen Zwecken genutzt. Dafür arbeiteten die Psychiater Ernst Buchalik und Elisabeth Hecker eng mit dem Neuropathologischen Institut in Breslau zusammen. Doch auch innerhalb der zwischen 1940 und 1941 stattfindenden «Aktion T4» wurden Kinder getötet. Ausschlaggebendes Kriterium für eine Selektion und die damit verbundene Vergasung in einer «Euthanasie»-Anstalt waren auch hier neben dem Verhalten und dem Pflegeaufwand vor allem die Bildungsunfähigkeit. Auszugsweise werden Krankenakten von Kindern vorgestellt, die in den Landesheilanstalten Uchtspringe und Görden untergebracht waren und von dort in die Tötungsanstalten Brandenburg bzw. Bernburg verlegt worden sind. Nur sehr wenige der an den Morden beteiligten Psychiater wurden nach 1945 zur Rechenschaft gezogen. Die meisten konnten ihre ärztlichen Karrieren uneingeschränkt fortsetzen.
Emotionen
Authors: Kryspin-Exner Ilse
Published: March 2013

Aspekte affektiver und sozialer Neurowissenschaften sind Akzentsetzungen in der aktuellen Emotionsforschung, die eine Reihe von Implikationen für Psychiatrie, Psychologie und Psychotherapie haben. Entsprechende Versuchsdesigns müssen erstellt und validiert werden, um als geeignete «Paradigmen» im Rahmen neurobiologisch orientierter Studien zu Emotionen eingesetzt zu werden. Erst dann können Aussagen etwa zu Stressverarbeitungsmustern und Therapieeffizienz oder differentiellen Fragestellungen wie Geschlechtsunterschieden getroffen werden. Alle diese Untersuchungen können nur durchgeführt werden, wenn Personen dem experimentellen Procedere zustimmen, also ihre Einwilligung geben, wobei hierbei emotionale Elemente eine Rolle zu spielen scheinen.
Differentielle Neurobiologie emotionaler Verarbeitung bei spezifischen Phobien – Implikationen für die Psychotherapie
Authors: Schienle Anne , Leutgeb Verena
Published: March 2013

Gibt es bei spezifischen Phobien differentielle neurobiologische Korrelate emotionaler Verarbeitung in Abhängigkeit bestimmter Personenvariablen (wie Geschlecht und Alter) und können solche Befunde genutzt werden, um psychotherapeutische Strategien zu verbessern bzw. zu individualisieren? In der folgenden Übersicht wird dieser Frage nachgegangen, indem die Zahnbehandlungs- und Spinnenphobie näher betrachtet werden. Der Einsatz neurobiologischer Verfahren zeigte, dass männliche und weibliche Zahnbehandlungsphobiker eine unterschiedliche zentralnervöse Verarbeitung phobischer Reize aufwiesen und zwar in solchen Arealen, die für Schmerz- und selektive Aufmerksamkeitsprozesse bzw. Emotionsregulation relevant sind. Außerdem gewichteten sie spezifische Angstinhalte anders. Bei Spinnenphobikerinnen konnten in Abhängigkeit vom Lebensalter differentielle neurobiologische Reaktionen auf eine Expositionstherapie beobachtet werden. Elektrokortikale Veränderungen waren bei Kindern frontaler lokalisiert, setzten zeitlich früher ein und gingen mit störungsübergreifenden emotionalen Veränderungen einher, wie der Abnahme der allgemeinen Ekelempfindlichkeit. Es liegt nahe, solche differentiellen neurobiologischen Befunde in geschlechter- und altersgerechten Therapieansätzen zu berücksichtigen.
Emotionale Korrelate der Einwilligungsfähigkeit – Eine explorative Studie
Authors: Felnhofer* Anna , Kothgassner* Oswald D. , Meier Kristina , Kryspin-Exner Ilse
Published: March 2013

Die vorliegende explorative Studie wird der Kritik an der kognitiven Ausrichtung des Konzeptes der Einwilligungsfähigkeit gerecht, indem sie erstmals mögliche emotionale Korrelate der Fähigkeit, in eine wissenschaftliche Untersuchung einzuwilligen, untersucht. Bei 21 gesunden Älteren und 20 Patienten mit leichter bis mittelschwerer Demenz wurde einerseits die Einwilligungsfähigkeit mittels einer deutschen Version des MacCAT-CR erfasst und andererseits die situationsbezogene emotionale Befindlichkeit und situative Ängstlichkeit erhoben. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass sich vor allem die positive Stimmung während des MacCAT-CR-Interviews auf die Einschätzung der Einwilligungsfähigkeit günstig auswirken kann. Ferner wurde ein signifikanter Einfluss der positiven Stimmung auf den Ausgang der Entscheidung für oder gegen eine Studienteilnahme aufgezeigt. Die Bedeutung dieser Ergebnisse für die Einwilligungsfähigkeitsforschung insbesondere bei Demenz-Patienten wird im Anschluss diskutiert und Vorschläge für künftige Forschungsprojekte unterbreitet.
Sprachstandserhebung im Grundschulalter – Sensitivität und Spezifität des SET 5–10
Authors: Rißling Julia-Katharina , Waldmann Hans-Christian , Petermann Franz
Published: March 2013

Für die Einleitung von Förder- oder Therapiemaßnahmen bei Sprachentwicklungsstörungen ist eine zuverlässige Diagnostik zentral. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Studie soll untersucht werden, inwiefern der Sprachstandserhebungstests für Kinder im Alter zwischen 5 und 10 Jahren (SET 5–10) die Identifikation von sprachauffälligen und sprachunauffälligen Kindern ermöglicht. Hierfür wurden N = 100 sprachauffällige und sprachunauffällige Kinder zwischen 7 und 10 Jahren in einer Fall-Kontroll-Studie mit dem SET 5–10 überprüft. Aus der Kreuzklassifikation wurden diagnostisch bzw. prognostisch relevante Gütemaße wie Sensitivität, Spezifität und prädiktive Werte der sprachlichen Untertests des Verfahrens bestimmt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen je nach Untertest eine Sensitivität zwischen 0,66 bis 0,96 und eine Spezifität zwischen 0,84 bis 0,96. Positive Indizierungen mit dem SET 5–10 sind mit Wahrscheinlichkeiten zwischen 85 und 96 % korrekt (prädiktive Werte). Die Ergebnisse geben einen ersten Hinweis darauf, dass in der Altersgruppe 7 bis 10 Jahre sprachauffällige und unauffällige Kinder mit dem SET 5–10 identifiziert werden können.
Caring for Sharing
Authors: IJzerman Hans , Karremans Johan C. , Thomsen Lotte , Schubert Thomas W.
Published: March 2013

Does physical warmth lead to caring and sharing? Research suggests that it does; physically warm versus cold conditions induce prosocial behaviors and cognitions. Importantly, previous research has not traced the developmental origins of the association between physical warmth and affection. The association between physical warmth and sharing may be captured in specific cognitive models of close social relations, often referred to as attachment styles. In line with this notion, and using a dictator game set-up, the current study demonstrates that children who relate to their friends with a secure attachment style are more generous toward their peers in warm than in cold conditions. This effect was absent for children who relate to friends with an insecure attachment style. Notably, however, these children not just always shared less: They allocated more stickers to a friend than to a stranger. These findings provide an important first step to understand how fundamental embodied relations develop early in life. We discuss broader implications for grounded cognition and person perception.
Accentuating Your Masculine Side
Authors: Bi Chongzeng , Ybarra Oscar , Zhao Yufang
Published: March 2013

Recent research investigating self-judgment has shown that people are more likely to base their evaluations of self on agency-related traits than communion-related traits. In the present research, we tested the hypothesis that agency-related traits dominate self-evaluation by expanding the purview of the fundamental dimensions to consider characteristics typically studied in the gender-role literature, but that nevertheless should be related to agency and communion. Further, we carried out these tests on two samples from China, a cultural context that, relative to many Western countries, emphasizes the interpersonal or communion dimension. Despite the differences in traits used and cultural samples studied, the findings generally supported the agency dominates self-esteem perspective, albeit with some additional findings in Study 2. The findings are discussed with regard to the influence of social norms and the types of inferences people are able to draw about themselves given such norms.
Programming cancer cells for high expression levels of Mcl1
Authors: Ertel Franziska , Nguyen Mai , Roulston Anne , Shore Gordon C
Published: March 2013

The Bcl2 pro‐survival protein family has long been recognized for its important contributions to cancer. At elevated levels relative to pro‐apoptotic effector members, the survival proteins prevent cancer cells from initiating apoptosis in the face of many intrinsic tumour‐suppressing pathways and extrinsic therapeutic treatments aimed at controlling tumorigenesis. Recent studies, including genome‐wide analyses, have begun to focus attention on a particularly enigmatic member of the family—myeloid cell leukaemia 1 (Mcl1). For reasons that are not clear, Mcl1 in cancer cells is turned over rapidly, eliminated primarily through the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Moreover, the mechanistic aspects of this constitutive membrane‐associated protein have not been fully elucidated. As the pro‐cancer activity of Mcl1 requires elevated expression levels of the protein, the cancer genome adapts to ensure either high levels of synthesis or evasion of degradation, or both. Here, we focus on the complex strategies at play and their therapeutic implications.
Protein disulfide-isomerase interacts with soluble guanylyl cyclase via a redox-based mechanism and modulates its activity
Authors: Heckler Erin J. , Crassous Pierre-Antoine , Baskaran Padmamalini , Beuve Annie
Published: March 2013

NO binds to the receptor sGC (soluble guanylyl cyclase), stimulating cGMP production. The NO–sGC–cGMP pathway is a key component in the cardiovascular system. Discrepancies in sGC activation and deactivation in vitro compared with in vivo have led to a search for endogenous factors that regulate sGC or assist in cellular localization. In our previous work, which identified Hsp (heat-shock protein) 70 as a modulator of sGC, we determined that PDI (protein disulfide-isomerase) bound to an sGC-affinity matrix. In the present study, we establish and characterize this interaction. Incubation of purified PDI with semi-purified sGC, both reduced and oxidized, resulted in different migration patterns on non-reducing Western blots indicating a redox component to the interaction. In sGC-infected COS-7 cells, transfected FLAG-tagged PDI and PDI CXXS (redox active site ‘trap mutant’) pulled down sGC. This PDI–sGC complex was resolved by reductant, confirming a redox interaction. PDI inhibited NO-stimulated sGC activity in COS-7 lysates, however, a PDI redox-inactive mutant PDI SXXS did not. Together, these data unveil a novel mechanism of sGC redox modulation via thiol-disulfide exchange. Finally, in SMCs (smooth muscle cells), endogenous PDI and sGC co-localize by in situ proximity ligation assay, which suggests biological relevance. PDI-dependent redox regulation of sGC NO sensitivity may provide a secondary control over vascular homoeostasis.
Computing rovibrational levels of methane with curvilinear internal vibrational coordinates and an Eckart frame
Authors: Wang Xiao-Gang , Carrington Tucker
Published: March 2013

We present a new procedure for computing a rovibrational spectrum of a polyatomic molecule and apply it to methane. The Schrödinger equation is solved, numerically exactly, by using a nested contracted basis. Rovibrational wavefunctions are computed in a |v⟩|JKM⟩ basis, where |v⟩ is a vibrational wavefunction and |JKM⟩ is a symmetric top wavefunction. In turn, the |v⟩ are obtained by solving a vibrational Schrödinger equation with basis functions that are products of contracted bend and stretch functions. At all stages of the calculation we exploit parity symmetry. The calculations are done in internal coordinates that facilitate the treatment of large amplitude motion. An Eckart molecule-fixed frame is used by numerically computing coefficients of the kinetic energy operator. The efficacy of the method is demonstrated by calculating a large number of converged J = 10 methane rovibrational levels in the Tetradecad polyad. No previous calculation of rovibrational levels of methane includes as many levels as we report in this paper.
Role of oxygen defects on the magnetic properties of ultra-small Sn1−xFexO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Dodge Kelsey , Chess Jordan , Eixenberger Josh , Alanko Gordon , Hanna Charles B. , Punnoose Alex
Published: March 2013

Although the role of oxygen defects in the magnetism of metal oxide semiconductors has been widely discussed, it is been difficult to directly measure the oxygen defect concentration of samples to verify this. This work demonstrates a direct correlation between the photocatalytic activity of Sn1−xFexO2 nanoparticles and their magnetic properties. For this, a series of ∼2.6 nm sized, well characterized, single-phase Sn1−xFexO2 crystallites with x = 0−0.20 were synthesized using tin acetate, urea, and appropriate amounts of iron acetate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the concentration and 3+ oxidation state of the doped Fe ions. The maximum magnetic moment/Fe ion, μ, of 1.6 × 10−4 μB observed for the 0.1% Fe doped sample is smaller than the expected spin-only contribution from either high or low spin Fe3+ ions, and μ decreases with increasing Fe concentration. This behavior cannot be explained by the existing models of magnetic exchange. Photocatalytic studies of pure and Fe-doped SnO2 were used to understand the roles of doped Fe3+ ions and of the oxygen vacancies and defects. The photocatalytic rate constant k also showed an increase when SnO2 nanoparticles were doped with low concentrations of Fe3+, reaching a maximum at 0.1% Fe, followed by a rapid decrease of k for further increase in Fe%. Fe doping presumably increases the concentration of oxygen vacancies, and both Fe3+ ions and oxygen vacancies act as electron acceptors to reduce e−-h+ recombination and promote transfer of electrons (and/or holes) to the nanoparticle surface, where they participate in redox reactions. This electron transfer from the Fe3+ ions to local defect density of states at the nanoparticle surface could develop a magnetic moment at the surface states and leads to spontaneous ferromagnetic ordering of the surface shell under favorable conditions. However, at higher doping levels, the same Fe3+ ions might act as recombination centers causing a decrease of both k and magnetic moment μ.
Transient mobility in silicon as seen by a combination of free-carrier absorption and resonance-coupled photoconductive decay
Authors: Feldman Ari , Ahrenkiel Richard , Lehman John
Published: March 2013

The combination of the resonance-coupled photoconductive decay (RCPCD) apparatus and a pump-probe free carrier absorption experiment results in a method of viewing transient mobility. RCPCD uses an Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 nm to pump the p-type silicon wafer, and a microwave coil antenna detects the transient excess-carrier concentration. The pump-probe experiment uses the same pump laser and a 10.6 μm CO2 laser with HgCdTe photodetector to measure the transient change in absorption. The change in conductivity detected by RCPCD is directly proportional to the excess-carrier concentration (Δn) and mobility (μ), whereas the pump-probe experiment has an inversely proportional relationship. By mathematically combining these signals at equivalent optical fluxes, a quantity proportional to the mobility emerges. The mobility is shown to vary both temporally and with respect to injection, countering the assumption that mobility is constant for photoconductive decay measurements. Theory and results are discussed within.
Characteristics of plasma properties in an ablative pulsed plasma thruster
Authors: Schönherr Tony , Nees Frank , Arakawa Yoshihiro , Komurasaki Kimiya , Herdrich Georg
Published: March 2013

Pulsed plasma thrusters are electric space propulsion devices which create a highly transient plasma bulk in a short-time arc discharge that is expelled to create thrust. The transitional character and the dependency on the discharge properties are yet to be elucidated. In this study, optical emission spectroscopy and Mach-Zehnder interferometry are applied to investigate the plasma properties in variation of time, space, and discharge energy. Electron temperature, electron density, and Knudsen numbers are derived for the plasma bulk and discussed. Temperatures were found to be in the order of 1.7 to 3.1 eV, whereas electron densities showed maximum values of more than 1017 cm−3. Both values showed strong dependency on the discharge voltage and were typically higher closer to the electrodes. Capacitance and time showed less influence. Knudsen numbers were derived to be in the order of 10−3−10−2, thus, indicating a continuum flow behavior in the main plasma bulk.
Experimental verification of the Boltzmann relation in confined plasmas: Comparison of noble and molecule gases
Authors: Lee Hyo-Chang , Hwang Hye-Ju , Kim Young-Cheol , Kim June Young , Kim Dong-Hwan , Chung Chin-Wook
Published: March 2013

Experimental verification of the Boltzmann relation is performed in argon and oxygen gas inductively coupled plasmas from the measurements of both the spatial electron currents (as a fluid approach) and the electron energy probability functions (EEPFs, as a kinetic approach). At a low gas pressure of 10 mTorr, the measured electron currents are spatially uniform, and the EEPFs in the total electron energy scale are identical, which indicate that the Boltzmann relation is valid at both the argon and oxygen gases. As the gas pressure increases to 30–40 mTorr, however, the Boltzmann relation is broken in the oxygen gas discharge, while the Boltzmann relation is still valid in the argon gas discharge. This different variation in the oxygen gas discharge is mainly due to the presence of various inelastic collisions in the entire electron energy region, which causes the transition of the electron kinetics from a non-local to a local regime.
Characterization of nanosecond pulse driven dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators for aerodynamic flow control
Authors: Dawson Robert , Little Jesse
Published: March 2013

Positive polarity nanosecond pulse driven dielectric barrier discharge (ns-DBD) plasma actuators are studied experimentally in quiescent atmosphere. Pulse energy and instantaneous pulse power (hereafter referred to as energy and power) are calculated using simultaneous voltage and current measurements. Electrical characteristics are evaluated as a function of peak voltage, pulse frequency, discharge length, and dielectric thickness. Schlieren imaging is used to provide a relative estimate of discharge energy that is coupled to the near surface gas as heat for the same parameters. Characteristics of the DBD load have a substantial effect on the individual voltage and current traces which are reflected in the energy and power values. Power is mainly dependent on actuator length which is inconsistent with schlieren data as expected. Higher per unit length energy indicates a stronger compression wave for a given actuator geometry, but this is not universally true across different actuators suggesting some constructions more efficiently couple energy to the gas. Energy and compression wave strength are linearly related. Higher pulse frequency produces higher energy but is primarily attributed to heating of the actuator and power supply components and not to an optimal discharge frequency. Both energy and wave strength increase as peak voltage to the power of approximately 3.5 over a substantial range similar to ac-DBD plasma actuators.
Ba and Ti co-doped BiFeO3 thin films via a modified chemical route with synchronous improvement in ferroelectric and magnetic behaviors
Authors: Wang Yao , Li Jing , Chen Jingyi , Deng Yuan
Published: March 2013

A modified chemical route via the layer-by-layer alternative deposition of BaTiO3 and BiFeO3 two compositions followed by the solution processing has been developed to prepare Ba and Ti co-doped multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films. The Ba and Ti co-doped BiFeO3 films crystallize in single perovskite phase and are composed of uniformly distributed grains of tens of nanometers as evidenced by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy images, respectively. But the films show local composition fluctuation with further high-resolution transmission electron microscope analysis, which leads to increased inner strain and thus a phase transition from R3c to P4mm occurs as Ba and Ti contents reach 50 mol. %. Accompanying the structural phase transition, a saturated P-E hysteresis loop with Pr ∼ 27 μC/cm2 and Ps ∼ 87 μC/cm2 and, moreover, a transition from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic state with Mr ∼ 1.46 emu/cm3 and Hc ∼ 1000 Oe have been observed. A strain induced structural change is proposed to explain for the observed synchronous enhancement in ferroelectric and magnetic properties, and elastic energy calculation is carried out to verify the viewpoint on magnetic behavior. The modified multiferroic behaviors of Ba, Ti co-doped BiFeO3 film imply an improved magnetoelectric coupling, which makes the material good candidate as memory devices and sensors.
Tuning the spin pumping characteristics in Ni81Fe19/CuNx bilayer films
Authors: Jin Lichuan , Zhang Huaiwu , Tang Xiaoli , Zhong Zhiyong
Published: March 2013

We demonstrate that the spin pumping effect can be effectively tuned with nitriding the nonmagnetic layer in ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic (FM/NM) bilayer system. Series of Ni81Fe19/CuNx bilayer films were prepared by magnetron sputtering with different nitrogen partial pressures from 0% to 20%. The static magnetic properties of the Ni81Fe19/CuNx bilayer films were studied by vibrating sample magnetometer and dynamic magnetic properties was studied using a coplanar waveguide vector-network-analyzer ferromagnetic resonance spectrometer with an in-plane configuration. The results reveal that the static magnetic properties are not noticeably changed with capping a nitrified copper layer. Both the linewidth and the Gilbert damping parameter are strongly influenced by the nitrogen partial pressure during the copper layer nitride process. The spin-mixing conductance of the NiFe/CuNx bilayer films was quantified from the peak-to-peak linewidth of ferromagnetic resonance spectra based on the model of the spin pumping.
Structural and magnetic properties of the Heusler compound Fe2MnGa
Authors: Gasi Teuta , Nayak Ajaya K. , Nicklas Michael , Felser Claudia
Published: March 2013

We report a structural and magnetization study of the Heusler compound Fe2MnGa. The sample shows a single cubic phase with a large Curie temperature (TC) of 750 K. The sample undergoes a disorder induced first-order ferromagnetic (FM) to antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition around the room temperature. This transition results in a mixed AFM and FM phases. A large exchange bias (EB) of 0.12 T is observed for a cooling field of 0.5 T. The EB decreases to a near saturation value of 0.07 T for a cooling field of 7 T. The ac-susceptibility measurements confirm that no spin-glass type of magnetic state is present in the sample.
Experimental evidences of topological surface states of β-Ag2Te
Authors: Sulaev Azat , Ren Peng , Xia Bin , Lin Qing Hua , Yu Ting , Qiu Caiyu , Zhang Shuang-Yuan , Han Ming-Yong , Li Zhi Peng , Zhu Wei Guang , Wu Qingyu , Feng Yuan Ping , Shen Lei , Shen Shun-Qing , Wang Lan
Published: March 2013

We present evidence of topological surface states in β-Ag2Te through first-principles calculations, periodic quantum interference effect and ambipolar electric field effect in single crystalline nanoribbon. Our first-principles calculations show that β-Ag2Te is a topological insulator with a gapless Dirac cone with strong anisotropy. To experimentally probe the topological surface state, we synthesized high quality β-Ag2Te nanoribbons and performed electron transport measurements. The coexistence of pronounced Aharonov-Bohm oscillations and weak Altshuler-Aronov-Spivak oscillations clearly demonstrates coherent electron transport around the perimeter of β-Ag2Te nanoribbon and therefore the existence of topological surface states, which is further supported by the ambipolar electric field effect for devices fabricated by β-Ag2Te nanoribbons. The experimental evidences of topological surface states and the theoretically predicted anisotropic Dirac cone of β-Ag2Te suggest that the material may be a promising candidate of topological insulator for fundamental study and future spintronic devices.
UV-visible detector and LED based n-ZnO/p-Si heterojunction formed by electrodeposition
Authors: Baltakesmez A. , Tekmen S. , Köç P. , Tüzemen S. , Meral K. , Onganer Y.
Published: March 2013

In this study, we have investigated the heterojunctions formed by n-ZnO thin films deposited on (100) p-Si:B using electrochemical deposition (ECD) technique. Structural, electrical and luminescence features of the thin films were respectively measured. Optimal sets of growth conditions seem to be the ones that are undergone for the samples D1 and D2. It was observed that n-ZnO thin films have dominantly preferred orientation of (002). It has been shown that the heterostructures exhibited reasonable rectifying behavior with turn-on voltage of about 1.2 V and ideality factor of 2.1. In case of illumination with 400 nm wavelength light, significant increase occurred especially in reverse bias current by a factor of 103 and 102 for the D1 and the D2, respectively. Bandgap of ZnO thin films has been determined to be 3.4 eV at the room temperature by using the band edge photoluminescence measurements. Finally, the room temperature electroluminescence (EL) results show that the heterostructures exhibits observable broad luminescence centered at the wavelengths of 390 and 510 nm for D1 and 470 nm for D2, respectively. Additionally, sharp lasing peaks are also observed in the EL spectra, probably due to the multiple scattering effects.
Cantilever-based optical interfacial force microscope in liquid using an optical-fiber tip
Authors: Kim Byung I. , Smith Luke , Tran Thanh , Rossland Steven , Parkinson Erik
Published: March 2013

We developed a novel cantilever-based optical interfacial force microscope (COIFM) to study molecular interaction in liquid environments. The force sensor was created by attaching a chemically etched optical-fiber tip to the force sensor with UV epoxy, and characterized by imaging on a calibration grid. The performance of the COIFM was then demonstrated by measuring the force between two oxidized silicon surfaces in 1 mM KCl as a function of distance. The result was consistent with previously reported electrical double layer forces, suggesting that a COIFM using an optical-fiber tip is capable of measuring force in a liquid environment.
Effect of seed layer on the self assembly of spray pyrolyzed Al-doped ZnO nanoparticles
Authors: Dwivedi Charu , Dutta V.
Published: March 2013

Al-doped ZnO (AlZO) nanorod arrays and nanostructures were fabricated on seed coated glass substrates via CoSP (Continuous Spray Pyrolysis) reactor. The as-synthesized aluminium doped ZnO nanoparticles and nanorods were analyzed through different characterization techniques. There were no significant changes found in the structure with doping of Al but the morphology of the film changed to branched nanorods and nanosheets with the change in seed solution and annealing temperature, respectively. Also, the current–voltage curves of the ZnO and AZO nanorod arrays was measured and it was found that the current response of AZO nanorods was higher than that of ZnO nanorods, proving the Al incorporation as a dopant.
A Colorimetric Aptamer Biosensor Based on Gold Nanoparticles for the Ultrasensitive and Specific Detection of Tetracycline in Milk
Authors: He Lan , Luo Yanfang , Zhi Wenting , Wu Yuangen , Zhou Pei
Published: March 2013

This paper proposes a sensing strategy which employs an aptamer, unmodified gold nanoparticles (AuNP), and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) to detect tetracycline (TET) in raw milk. The method is based on the colorimetric assay of aggregating AuNP. In the absence of TET, the CTAB and aptamer form a complex which allows the aggregation of AuNP. In the presence of TET, the TET aptamer is exhausted first due to the formation of aptamer-TET complexes, which prevents assembly of the CTAB–aptamer supramolecule, causing a colour change and no aggregation of AuNP. This mechanism for the detection of TET proved to be sensitive and convenient. The colorimetric assay has a detection limit of 122 nM TET. This sensor has great potential for the sensitive, colorimetric detection of a wide range of molecular analytes.
Nitrite removal improves hydroxylamine analysis in aqueous solution by conversion with iron(III)
Authors: Kock Annette , Bange Hermann W.
Published: March 2013

Environmental context
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for marine organisms, and thus an understanding of the marine nitrogen cycle is a crucial factor in predicting the sensitivity of marine life to environmental change. Hydroxylamine is a short-lived intermediate in nitrogen transformation processes, and reliable detection of this compound in seawater can help to identify these processes within the marine nitrogen cycle.

Abstract
Dissolved hydroxylamine (NH2OH) is a short-lived compound produced in the oceanic environment during nitrification and dissimilatory reduction of nitrate to ammonium (DNRA). The ferric ammonium sulfate (FAS) conversion method is the only method available so far to determine dissolved NH2OH in nanomolar concentrations in seawater. We show that side reactions of dissolved nitrite (NO2–) can result in a significant bias in the NH2OH concentration measurements when applying the FAS conversion method. We propose to scavenge dissolved NO2– by addition of sulfanilamide to suppress effectively the undesired side reactions by NO2–. This modification of the FAS conversion method will allow a NH2OH determination even in oceanic regions with high NO2– concentrations. A reliable detection of NH2OH in seawater samples can give us a clue about the occurrence of active nitrification or DNRA in the ocean and, therefore, will provide further insights about the oceanic nitrogen cycle.
‘Excuse me, do any of you ladies speak English?’ Perspectives of refugee women living in South Australia: barriers to accessing primary health care and achieving the Quality Use of Medicines
Authors: Clark Alice , Gilbert Andrew , Rao Deepa , Kerr Lorraine
Published: March 2013

Reforms to the Australian health system aim to ensure that services are accessible, clinically and culturally appropriate, timely and affordable. During the reform consultation process there were urgent calls from stakeholders to specifically consider the health needs of the thousands of refugees who settle here each year, but little is known about what is needed from the refugee perspective. Access to health services is a basic requirement of achieving the quality use of medicines, as outlined in Australia’s National Medicines Policy. This study aimed to identify the barriers to accessing primary health care services and explore medicine-related issues as experienced by refugee women in South Australia. Thirty-six women participated in focus groups with accredited and community interpreters and participants were from Sudan, Burundi, Congo, Burma, Afghanistan and Bhutan who spoke English (as a second language), Chin, Matu, Dari and Nepali. The main barrier to accessing primary health care and understanding GPs and pharmacists was not being able to speak or comprehend English. Interpreter services were used inconsistently or not at all. To implement the health reforms and achieve the quality use of medicines, refugees, support organisations, GPs, pharmacists and their staff require education, training and support.
Transient treatment with epigenetic modifiers yields stable neuroblastoma stem cells resembling aggressive large-cell neuroblastomas
Authors: Ikegaki Naohiko , Shimada Hiroyuki , Fox Autumn M. , Regan Paul L. , Jacobs Joshua R. , Hicks Sakeenah L. , Rappaport Eric F. , Tang Xao X.
Published: March 2013

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are plastic in nature, a characteristic that hampers cancer therapeutics. Neuroblastoma (NB) is a pediatric tumor of neural crest origin, and half of the cases are highly aggressive. By treating NB cell lines [SKNAS, SKNBE(2)C, CHP134, and SY5Y] with epigenetic modifiers for a short time, followed by sphere-forming culture conditions, we have established stem cell–like NB cells that are phenotypically stable for more than a year. These cells are characterized by their high expression of stemness factors, stem cell markers, and open chromatin structure. We referred to these cells as induced CSCs (iCSCs). SKNAS iCSC and SKNBE(2)C iCSC clones (as few as 100 cells) injected s.c. into SCID/Beige mice formed tumors, and in one case, SKNBE(2)C iCSCs metastasized to the adrenal gland, suggesting their increased metastatic potential. SKNAS iCSC xenografts showed the histologic appearance of totally undifferentiated large-cell NBs (LCNs), the most aggressive and deadly form of NB in humans. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that SKNAS iCSC xenografts expressed high levels of the stem cell marker CXCR4, whereas the SKNAS monolayer cell xenografts did not. The patterns of CXCR4 and MYC expression in SKNAS iCSC xenografts resembled those in the LCNs. The xenografts established from the NB iCSCs shared two common features: the LCN phenotype and high-level MYC/MYCN expression. These observations suggest both that NB cells with large and vesicular nuclei, representing their open chromatin structure, are indicative of stem cell–like tumor cells and that epigenetic changes may have contributed to the development of these most malignant NB cells.
Cod glycopeptide with picomolar affinity to galectin-3 suppresses T-cell apoptosis and prostate cancer metastasis
Authors: Guha Prasun , Kaptan Engin , Bandyopadhyaya Gargi , Kaczanowska Sabina , Davila Eduardo , Thompson Keyata , Martin Stuart S. , Kalvakolanu Dhananjaya V. , Vasta Gerardo R. , Ahmed Hafiz
Published: March 2013

Cancer metastasis and immune suppression are critical issues in cancer therapy. Here, we show that a β-galactoside–binding lectin [galectin-3 (gal3)] that recognizes the Thomsen-Friedenreich disaccharide (TFD, Galβ1,3GalNAc) present on the surface of most cancer cells is involved in promoting angiogenesis, tumor-endothelial cell adhesion, and metastasis of prostate cancer cells, as well as evading immune surveillance through killing of activated T cells. To block gal3-mediated interactions, we purified a glycopeptide from cod (designated TFD
100
) that binds gal3 with picomolar affinity. TFD
100
blocks gal3-mediated angiogenesis, tumor-endothelial cell interactions, and metastasis of prostate cancer cells in mice at nanomolar levels. Moreover, apoptosis of activated T cells induced by either recombinant gal3 or prostate cancer patient serum-associated gal3 was inhibited at nanomolar concentration of TFD
100
. Because the gal3–TFD interaction is a key factor driving metastasis in most epithelial cancers, this high-affinity TFD
100
should be a promising antimetastatic agent for the treatment of various cancers, including prostate adenocarcinoma.
Role for cytoplasmic nucleotide hydrolysis in hepatic function and protein synthesis
Authors: Hudson Benjamin H. , Frederick Joshua P. , Drake Li Yin , Megosh Louis C. , Irving Ryan P. , York John D.
Published: March 2013

Nucleotide hydrolysis is essential for many aspects of cellular function. In the case of 3′,5′-bisphosphorylated nucleotides, mammals possess two related 3′-nucleotidases, Golgi-resident 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphate (PAP) phosphatase (gPAPP) and Bisphosphate 3′-nucleotidase 1 (Bpnt1). gPAPP and Bpnt1 localize to distinct subcellular compartments and are members of a conserved family of metal-dependent lithium-sensitive enzymes. Although recent studies have demonstrated the importance of gPAPP for proper skeletal development in mice and humans, the role of Bpnt1 in mammals remains largely unknown. Here we report that mice deficient for Bpnt1 do not exhibit skeletal defects but instead develop severe liver pathologies, including hypoproteinemia, hepatocellular damage, and in severe cases, frank whole-body edema and death. Accompanying these phenotypes, we observed tissue-specific elevations of the substrate PAP, up to 50-fold in liver, repressed translation, and aberrant nucleolar architecture. Remarkably, the phenotypes of the Bpnt1 knockout are rescued by generating a double mutant mouse deficient for both PAP synthesis and hydrolysis, consistent with a mechanism in which PAP accumulation is toxic to tissue function independent of sulfation. Overall, our study defines a role for Bpnt1 in mammalian physiology and provides mechanistic insights into the importance of sulfur assimilation and cytoplasmic PAP hydrolysis to normal liver function.