bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Population‐Based Twin Study on Sleep Duration and Body Composition
Authors: Liu Rong , Liu Xin , Arguelles Lester M. , Patwari Pallavi P. , Zee Phyllis C. , Chervin Ronald D. , Ouyang Fengxiu , Christoffel Katherine K. , Zhang Shanchun , Hong Xiumei , Wang Guoying , Xu Xiping , Wang Xiaobin
Published: August 2011

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between sleep duration and body composition and to estimate the genetic contribution of sleep duration and body composition in a Chinese twin population. This cross‐sectional analysis included 738 men and 511 women aged 21–72 year. Anthropometric and dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) measures of body composition were used. Sleep duration was obtained from a standard sleep questionnaire. Multiple regression models were used to examine the association between sleep duration and body composition measures. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the heritability of sleep duration and body composition. Compared with individuals in the 2nd and 3rd age‐specific quartiles of sleep duration (reference group), shorter (1st quartile) sleep duration among women but not men was associated with higher z‐scores (0.248–0.317) for all adiposity measures—BMI, fat mass index (FMI), percent body fat mass (%BF), and percent trunk fat mass (%TF), P < 0.05 for each—and with 0.306 lower z‐scores for percent body lean mass (%LM) and 0.353 lower lean/fat mass ratio (LFR), P < 0.01 for each. The heritability of sleep duration was 0.27 in men and 0.29 in women, while the heritability of body composition was as high as 0.56–0.73 after adjustment for age in both genders. Short sleep duration was associated with increased body fat and decreased lean body mass in women but not in men. Sleep duration was largely influenced by environmental factors while adiposity measures were mainly influenced by genetic factors.
Apoptosis by aloe‐emodin is mediated through down‐regulation of calpain‐2 and ubiquitin‐protein ligase E3A in human hepatoma Huh‐7 cells
Authors: Jeon Won , Jeon Young Keul , Nam Myeong Jin
Published: August 2011

Natural flavonoids are associated with anti‐proliferation of cancer growth. However, the antioxidant and anti‐proliferation effects of AE (aloe‐emodin) have not been well studied. We have investigated how AE affects the proliferation of hepatic hepatocellular carcinoma cells and exerts an anti‐cancer effect. The cytotoxic effect of AE was demonstrated using an MTT [3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide] assay and Huh‐7 cells were inhibited by AE treatment in both dose‐ and time‐dependent manners. The IC50 level of AE was ∼75 μM. AE also has anti‐proliferative effects via induction of DNA damage and apoptosis. 2‐DE (two‐dimensional electrophoresis) revealed that several proteins were related to the anti‐cancer effects of AE. CAPN2 (calpain‐2) and UBE3A (ubiquitin‐protein ligase E3A), which are associated with the apoptosis signalling pathway, were verified by Western blotting. AE exhibited potent anti‐proliferative effects on Huh‐7 cells via down‐regulation of CAPN2 and UBE3A. The findings support the possibility of AE being a chemopreventative agent.
Effect of angiotensin receptor blockade on insulin sensitivity and endothelial function in abdominally obese hypertensive patients with impaired fasting glucose
Authors: Perlstein Todd S. , Henry Robert R. , Mather Kieren J. , Rickels Michael R. , Abate Nicola I. , Grundy Scott M. , Mai Yabing , Albu Jeanine B. , Marks Jennifer B. , Pool James L. , Creager Mark A.
Published: August 2011

AngII (angiotensin II) may contribute to cardiovascular risk in obesity via adverse effects on insulin sensitivity and endothelial function. In the present study, we examined the effects of ARB (angiotensin receptor blocker) therapy (losartan, 100 mg/day) on insulin sensitivity and endothelial function in 53 subjects with stage I hypertension, abdominal obesity and impaired fasting glucose. The study design was a randomized double-blinded parallel design placebo-controlled multi-centre trial of 8 weeks duration. We used the hyperinsulinaemic–euglycaemic clamp technique to measure insulin sensitivity (expressed as the ‘M/I’ value) and RH-PAT (reactive hyperaemia-peripheral arterial tonometry) to measure endothelial function. Additional measures included HOMA (homoeostasis model assessment)-B, an index of pancreatic β-cell function, and markers of inflammation [e.g. CRP (C-reactive protein)] and oxidative stress (e.g. F2-isoprostanes). ARB therapy did not alter insulin sensitivity [5.2 (2.7) pre-treatment and 4.6 (1.6) post-treatment] compared with placebo therapy [6.1 (2.9) pre-treatment and 5.3 (2.7) post-treatment; P value not significant], but did improve the HOMA-B compared with placebo therapy (P=0.05). ARB therapy also did not change endothelial function [RH-PAT, 2.15 (0.7) pre-treatment and 2.11 (0.7) post-treatment] compared with placebo therapy [RH-PAT, 1.81 (0.5) pre-treatment and 1.76 (0.7) post-treatment; P value not significant]. Markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were not significantly changed by ARB therapy. In conclusion, ARB therapy did not alter peripheral insulin sensitivity or endothelial function in this cohort of patients with essential hypertension, abdominal obesity and impaired fasting glucose, but did improve pancreatic β-cell function.
Completeness of †-categories and the complex numbers
Authors: Vicary Jamie
Published: August 2011

The complex numbers are an important part of quantum theory, but are difficult to motivate from a theoretical perspective. We describe a simple formal framework for theories of physics, and show that if a theory of physics presented in this manner satisfies certain completeness properties, then it necessarily includes the complex numbers as a mathematical ingredient. Central to our approach are the techniques of category theory, and we introduce a new category-theoretical tool, called the †-limit, which governs the way in which systems can be combined to form larger systems. These †-limits can be used to characterize the properties of the †-functor on the category of finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces, and so can be used as an equivalent definition of the inner product. One of our main results is that in a nontrivial monoidal †-category with finite †-limits and a simple tensor unit, the semiring of scalars embeds into an involutive field of characteristic 0 and orderable fixed field.
Biogas potential on Long Island, New York: A quantification study
Authors: Patel Saurabh , Tonjes David , Mahajan Devinder
Published: August 2011

Biogas is the product of anaerobic digestion of waste, whether occurring spontaneously in landfills or under controlled conditions in digesters. Biogas is viewed as an important energy source in current efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuels and dependency on imported resources. Several studies on the assessment of biogas potential have been made at regional, national, and global scales. However, because it is not economically feasible to transport biogas feedstock over long distances, it is more appropriate to consider local waste sources for their potential to produce biogas. An assessment of the biogas potential on Long Island, based on the review of local landfills, wastewater treatment plants, solid waste generation and management, and agricultural waste, found that 234 × 106 m3 of methane (CH4) from biogas might be harvestable, although substantial barriers for complete exploitation exist. This number is equivalent to 2.52 TW-h of electricity, approximately 12% of fossil fuel power generation on Long Island. This work can serve as a template for other areas to rapidly create or approximate biogas potentials, especially for suburban U.S. locations that are not usually thought of as sources of renewable energy
Theoretical study on vibrational circular dichroism spectra of tris(acetylacetonato)metal(III) complexes: Anharmonic effects and low-lying excited states
Authors: Mori Hirotoshi , Yamagishi Akihiko , Sato Hisako
Published: August 2011

The open-shell density functional theory calculations with M06 exchange-correlation functional and all-electron Douglas-Kroll second order scalar relativistic correction were performed to interpret the vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of four kinds of tris(acetylacetonato)metal(III), [M(III)(acac)3] (acac = acetylacetonato, M = Ru, Cr, Co, and Rh). It was deduced that the experimental spectra were well reproduced by the calculation with harmonic approximation in case of [Co(III)(acac)3] (d6; S = 0), [Rh(III)(acac)3] (d6; S = 0), and [Ru(III)(acac)3] (d5; S = 1/2). In case of [Cr(III)(acac)3] (d3; S = 3/2), anharmonic effects should be taken into account to predict the accurate vibrational frequencies of closely located modes. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations were performed to estimate the contribution of excited states in the VCD spectra. As a consequence, the presence of the low-lying excited states was predicted for [Ru(III)(acac)3] alone, which agreed with the experimental observation.
The rotational spectra, potential function, Born–Oppenheimer breakdown, and hyperfine structure of GeSe and GeTe
Authors: Giuliano Barbara M. , Bizzocchi Luca , Sanchez Raquel , Villanueva Pablo , Cortijo Vanessa , Sanz M. Eugenia , Grabow Jens-Uwe
Published: August 2011

The pure rotational spectra of 18 and 21 isotopic species of GeSe and GeTe have been measured in the frequency range 5–24 GHz using a Fabry–Pérot-type resonator pulsed-jet Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer. Gaseous samples of both chalcogenides were prepared by a combined dc discharge/laser ablation technique and stabilized in supersonic jets of Ne. Global multi-isotopologue analyses of the derived rotational data, together with literature high-resolution infrared data, produced very precise Dunham parameters, as well as rotational constant Born–Oppenheimer breakdown (BOB) coefficients (δ01) for Ge, Se, and Te. A direct fit of the same datasets to an appropriate radial Hamiltonian yielded analytic potential-energy functions and BOB radial functions for the X1Σ+ electronic state of both GeSe and GeTe. Additionally, the electric quadrupole and magnetic hyperfine interactions produced by the nuclei 73Ge, 77Se, and 125Te were observed, yielding much improved quadrupole coupling constants and first determinations of the spin–rotation parameters.
Photo-aligned blend films of azobenzene-containing polyimides with and without side-chains for inducing inclined alignment of liquid crystal molecules
Authors: Usami Kiyoaki , Sakamoto Kenji
Published: August 2011

We have succeeded in controlling the pretilt angle of liquid crystal (LC) molecules over the whole range of 0 to 90° by using photo-aligned blend films of two azobenzene-containing polyimides (Azo-PIs) with and without side-chains. The Azo-PIs were synthesized from pyromellitic dianhydride and a mixture of 4,4′-diaminoazobenzene and 4-(4′-propylbi(cyclohexan)-4-yl)phenyl 3,5-diaminobenzoate (PBCP-DABA). PBCP-DABA is a diamine to introduce a side-chain structure into the polyimide. Defect-free uniform LC alignment was obtained in the pretilt angle (θp) ranges of θp ≤ 11° and θp ≥ 78°. Previously, we reported that the pretilt angle can be controlled using pure photo-aligned films of Azo-PIs with different molar fractions of PBCP-DABA. For the pure photo-aligned films, the defect-free pretilt angle ranges were θp < 5° and θp ≥ 85°. These results suggest that the azimuthal anchoring strength of the blend Azo-PI film is stronger than that of the pure films of Azo-PIs with side-chains, at least for the pretilt angle range from 5 to 11°. We found that the defect-free pretilt angle range can be extended by using the blend Azo-PI films instead of the pure Azo-PI films.
Transport properties of the clathrate BaGe5
Authors: Candolfi C. , Aydemir U. , Ormeci A. , Carrillo-Cabrera W. , Burkhardt U. , Baitinger M. , Oeschler N. , Steglich F. , Grin Yu.
Published: August 2011

We report on the synthesis, crystallographic and transport properties of the Zintl phase BaGe5, which crystallizes in a new clathrate-type structure. This compound was synthesized by the decomposition of the type-I clathrate Ba8Ge43□3 subjected to annealing treatment at 623, 673 and 793 K. Electrical resistivity, thermopower and thermal conductivity measurements were performed in the temperature range 2 – 773 K and complemented by magnetization, specific heat and Hall experiments below room temperature. Additional information on the chemical bonding and electronic band structure in BaGe5 was obtained through the electron localizability indicator (ELI) and the total density of states, all calculated within the all-electron full-potential local orbital method (FLPO). In agreement with the chemical bonding and electronic band structure calculations, electrical resistivity and specific heat data show that BaGe5 is a semiconductor. The complex crystal structure of BaGe5 contributes to the low thermal conductivity which displays a conventional crystalline-like behavior. Further measurements were carried out on samples annealed at 623, 673 and 793 K for four up to 30 days to probe possible variations of the crystal structure and electronic properties as a function of the annealing temperature and time. Even though the annealing temperature does not alter the semiconducting nature of this material, differences in the absolute values of the transport properties were unveiled in samples annealed for short-time periods. These differences are significantly reduced in samples which underwent long-time annealing treatment even though the measured curves do not merge completely.
Singlet-triplet relaxation in SiGe/Si/SiGe double quantum dots
Authors: Wang L. , Wu M. W.
Published: August 2011

We study the singlet-triplet relaxation due to the spin-orbit coupling assisted by the electron-phonon scattering in two-electron SiGe/Si/SiGe double quantum dots in the presence of an external magnetic field in either Faraday or Voigt configuration. By explicitly including the electron-electron Coulomb interaction and the valley splitting induced by the interface scattering, we employ the exact-diagonalization method to obtain the energy spectra and the eigenstates. Then, we calculate the relaxation rates with the Fermi golden rule. We find that the transition rates can be effectively tuned by varying the external magnetic field and the interdot distance. Especially in the vicinity of the anticrossing point, the transition rates show intriguing features. We also investigate the electric-field dependence of the transition rates and find that the transition rates are almost independent of the electric field. This is of great importance in the spin manipulation, since the lifetime remains almost the same during the change of the qubit configuration from (1,1) to (2,0) by the electric field.
Thermal emission at near-infrared wavelengths from three-dimensional copper photonic crystals
Authors: Wu Shich-Chuan , Yang Yu-Lin , Huang Wen-Hsien , Huang Yang-Tung
Published: August 2011

A three-dimensional copper photonic crystal was fabricated with the high compatibility process, damascene copper interconnections technique. The reflectance and transmittance spectra of this structure were measured with the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and simulated with the 3 D finite-difference time-domain method. From the experiment data, it is shown that this structure exhibits a large photonic bandgap from mid-infrared regime to λ = 1.95 μm. At a heating temperature of 420 °C, it is observed that thermal emission is enhanced near the bandedge λ = 1.71 μm and suppressed in the bandgap region. This is attributed to the enhancement of photonic density of states near the bandedge.
Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on the dielectric relaxation in a non-crystallizable monohydroxy alcohol in its supercooled liquid and glassy states
Authors: Pawlus S. , Paluch M. , Nagaraj M. , Vij J. K.
Published: August 2011

The complex relative permittivity of a non-crystallizable secondary alcohol, 5-methyl-2-hexanol, is measured over a wide range of temperatures and pressures up to 1750 MPa (17.5 kbar). The data at atmospheric pressure (P = 0.101 MPa) are analyzed in terms of three processes, and the results are in complete agreement with that of O. E. Kalinovskaya and J. K. Vij [J. Chem. Phys. 112, 3262 (2000)]. Process I is of the Debye type and process II is of the Davidson-Cole type, whereas process III is identified as the Johari-Goldstein relaxation process. For pressures of ∼500 MPa and higher, processes I and II are seen to merge into each other to form a single dominant process which unambiguously cannot be resolved into more than one process. The dielectric relaxation strength of process I decreases slightly initially with pressure and when the two processes have merged at elevated pressures, the total relaxation strength increases with increase in pressure. Process III is better resolvable at higher pressures especially above Tg in the supercooled liquid state for the reason that the separation in the time scales between the dominant and the JG relaxation process increases at elevated pressures. Surprisingly we find a change in the slope in the plot of log τJG vs. 1/T for P = 1750 MPa. The results for the relaxation time of alcohols are compared with the Kirkwood correlation factor, g, and it is found that higher is the g, lower is the relaxation time for process I, and it is more of the Debye type. On a reduction in g brought about by an increase in pressure at lower temperatures, the dominant process becomes non-Debye though extensive hydrogen bonding is still present. The dielectric strength of the merged processes increases with increase in pressure. The values of the steepness index, m = |d log τ/d(Tg/T)|T = Tg for processes I and II are different for P = 0.1 MPa. However the value of m, for the composite process, which is a merger of processes I and II, for P = 1750 MPa is almost the same for process II at P = 0.1 MPa. From the results of the activation volume, activation enthalpy, and a comparison of the relaxation times with the g factor, we conclude that both processes I and II are significantly affected by hydrogen bonding and both contribute to the structural relaxation.
Infrared plasmons on heavily-doped silicon
Authors: Ginn James C. , Jarecki Robert L. , Shaner Eric A. , Davids Paul S.
Published: August 2011

We examine the long-wave infrared (LWIR) optical characteristics of heavily-doped silicon and explore engineering of surface plasmons polaritons (SPP) in this spectral region. Both phosphorus (n-type Si) and boron (p-type Si) implants are evaluated and various cap layers and thermal annealing steps are examined. The optical properties are measured using ellipsometry and fit to a Drude model for the infrared (IR) permittivity. The predicted metallic behavior for Si in the thermal IR and its impact on the spatial confinement and dispersion for surface plasmons is studied. We find that the transverse spatial confinement for a surface plasmon on highly doped Si is strongly sub-wavelength near the plasma edge, and the confinement to the surface is enhanced to greater than 10× that of the metal confined SPP over the entire LWIR spectrum.
Ferromagnetism in antiferromagnetic NiO-based thin films
Authors: Lin Yuan-Hua , Zhan Bin , Nan Ce-Wen , Zhao Rongjuan , Xu Xiang , Kobayashi M.
Published: August 2011

Polycrystalline NiO-based thin films with Li or/and transition metal ions (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn) doping have been prepared by a sol-gel spin-coating method. Magnetization measurements reveal that V-, Fe-, and Mn-doped NiO thin films show obvious room-temperature ferromagnetic behaviors and ferromagnetic properties can be enhanced by the Li co-doping. Microstructure and X-ray core-level photoemission spectra analysis indicate that the ferromagnetism was not from the impurity TM metal cluster and may be ascribed to double exchange coupling effects via Li-induced holes.
Magnetoacoustic solitons in quantum plasma
Authors: Hussain S. , Mahmood S.
Published: August 2011

Nonlinear magnetoacoustic waves in collisionless homogenous, magnetized quantum plasma is studied. Two fluid quantum magneto-hydrodynamic model (QMHD) is employed and reductive perturbation method is used to derive Korteweg de Vries (KdV) equation for magnetoacoustic waves. The effects of plasma density and magnetic field intensity are investigated on magnetoacoustic solitary structures in quantum plasma. The numerical results are also presented, which are applicable to explain some aspects of the propagation of nonlinear magnetoacosutic wave in dense astrophysical plasma situations.
Hard ellipsoids: Analytically approaching the exact overlap distance
Authors: Guevara-Rodríguez F. de J. , Odriozola G.
Published: August 2011

Following previous work [G. Odriozola and F. de J. Guevara-Rodríguez, J. Chem. Phys. 134, 201103 (2011)]10.1063/1.3596728, the replica exchange Monte Carlo technique is used to produce the equation of state of hard 1:5 aspect-ratio oblate ellipsoids for a wide density range. Here, in addition to the analytical approximation of the overlap distance given by Berne and Pechukas (BP) and the exact numerical solution of Perram and Wertheim, we tested a simple modification of the original BP approximation (MBP) which corrects the known T-shape mismatch of BP for all aspect ratios. We found that the MBP equation of state shows a very good quantitative agreement with the exact solution. The MBP analytical expression allowed us to study size effects on the previously reported results. For the thermodynamic limit, we estimated the exact 1:5 hard ellipsoid isotropic-nematic transition at the volume fraction 0.343 ± 0.003, and the nematic-solid transition in the volume fraction interval (0.592 ± 0.006) − (0.634 ± 0.008).
High spectral resolution, real-time, Raman spectroscopy in shock compression experiments
Authors: Hemmi N. , Zimmerman K. A. , Dreger Z. A. , Gupta Y. M.
Published: August 2011

The use of Raman measurements to examine molecular changes associated with shock-induced structural and chemical changes in condensed materials often poses two challenging requirements: high spectral resolution and significantly reduced background light. Here, we describe an experimental method that addresses these requirements and provides better quality data than the time resolved approach used previously. Representative measurements are presented for shock compression of two energetic crystals: pentaerythritol tetranitrate and cyclotrimethylene trinitramine. The high spectral resolution data have provided insight into molecular changes that could not be obtained from lower-resolution, time-resolved methods.
Probing electron-phonon coupling in metals via observations of ablation plumes produced by two delayed short laser pulses
Authors: Axente E. , Mihailescu I. N. , Hermann J. , Itina T. E.
Published: August 2011

We investigate electron-phonon coupling in metals by analyzing the composition of plumes produced by laser ablation with two delayed short laser pulses. Samples of Ti, Zr, and Hf are chosen since they have similar thermo-physical properties but significant different atomic masses. It is shown that the atomic emission intensity increases with the interpulse delay, whereas the nanoparticle emission intensity decreases. The characteristic time of plume changes is found to depend linearly on the metals’ atomic mass. Theoretical considerations suggest that the measured times equal to the characteristic times of electron-lattice relaxation.
Charge transfer hysteresis in graphene dual-dielectric memory cell structures
Authors: Imam S. A. , Deshpande T. , Guermoune A. , Siaj M. , Szkopek T.
Published: August 2011

We report controlled charge transfer between large-area graphene and a dual-dielectric, silicon nitride/silicon oxide substrate. Graphene was grown on copper by chemical vapour deposition, transferred to the nitride substrates, and patterned into test structures. Hysteresis in conductance with varying gate voltage is easily understood in terms of electron transfer between graphene and nitride traps. Increased hysteresis with temperature suggests thermally activated charge transfer of a Poole-Frenkel or Schottky nature. A 7.3× change in graphene sheet resistance is observed at room temperature with the nitride in a charged and discharged state.
Effects of the Medicare enhanced primary care program on primary care physician contact in the population of older Western Australians with chronic diseases
Authors: Gibson David A. J. , Moorin Rachael E. , Preen David B. , Emery Jon D. , Holman C. D'Arcy J
Published: August 2011

Objective. Assess uptake of Medicare’s enhanced primary care (EPC) services in Western Australia (WA) in 2001 to 2006, evaluating effect of EPC services on the regularity of contact with general practitioners (GPs) in patients aged 65+ years. Method. Whole-population cohort study using linked routinely collected health service data from State and Federal health databases. Analyses include age-standardised rate of EPC services, odds of EPC utilisation relative to other GP services using logistic regression, and total GP service regularity pre- and post-implementation of the EPC program. Results. EPC services provided to WA seniors increased 345% 2001 to 2006, comprising an increasing proportion of the total GP services (1.1 to 3.6%). Uptake of EPC services accelerated abruptly after 2004 due to greater use of ‘care plans’. EPC services were associated with a history of chronic disease, especially type 2 diabetes (OR = 1.74, 95% CI 1.66–1.82). Regularity of total GP services was improved with any EPC service exposure, with greater improvement occurring in the presence of annual EPC service exposure. Conclusions. EPC item uptake responded favourably to item changes from Medicare Australia. Prior exposure to EPC items increased the regularity of GP services, an outcome inversely associated with chronic disease progression. What is known about the topic? The Australian Federal government has invested substantial funds (over $200 million in 2007–08 alone) in the enhanced primary care (EPC) program with the intention of improving patient outcomes, specifically aged patients and those suffering from chronic disease. The EPC program uses high value Medicare items to incentivise GPs to engage in long-term planned care. However, limited research has examined the effect of this program on patient service utilisation and outcomes. What does this paper add? This paper provides a whole-population perspective on the EPC utilisation trends from 2001 to 2006 for Western Australian residents over 65 years of age. The paper then examines the likelihood of using the EPC program on the basis of calendar year, sex, age and chronic disease history. A comparison of the regularity of GP service utilisation for those exposed to the EPC program is also made. What are the implications for practitioners? The adjustments made to the EPC program in 2004, after feedback from GPs, appears to have substantially increased the utilisation of the program. Additionally, patients suffering from several different chronic diseases are more likely to be exposed to the EPC program. Exposure to the EPC program also appears to provide an improvement in regularity of service utilisation which has been associated with improved outcomes in the literature.
Do triage systems in healthcare improve patient flow? A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Harding Katherine E. , Taylor Nicholas F. , Leggat Sandra G.
Published: August 2011

Objectives. Triage processes are often used by Emergency Departments to sort patients according to urgency or type of service required. Triage may also be used in a broad spectrum of other health services and not just emergency departments. Triage systems may be used to ensure the most urgent patients get timely service, but do they have an effect on patient flow? Methods. We conducted a systematic review by searching five electronic databases (until August 2009) combining the elements ‘triage’ and ‘patient flow’, complemented by hand searching reference lists and citation tracking. We identified and assessed the quality of 25 articles that met inclusion criteria. Population, setting, design and results were extracted and a process of descriptive synthesis applied. Effect sizes for waiting time were compared for seven studies in which sufficient data could be extracted. Results and conclusion. Moderate evidence exists from a range of health services that the ability to combine triage and initial treatment in less resource intensive cases can have a positive effect on patient flow. There is conflicting evidence that triage systems that only prioritise patients, without providing any treatment, improve overall patient flow, although tailoring triage criteria more specifically to the patient population or using triage to prioritise treatable cases may be of benefit. What is known about the topic? Triage systems are widely used across many health services. Triage systems that combine treatment and triage have been found to improve patient flow in emergency departments, but the effect of more basic triage systems on patient flow and the effect of triage on patient flow in other settings has not been widely examined. What does this paper add? The results of this review reinforce previous findings from emergency departments, but also suggests that these principles can be used to enhance triages systems and improve patient flow in other healthcare settings. What are the implications for practitioners? Triage systems can improve patient flow, and providing some options for management of simple cases at the point of triage is likely to be of benefit in achieving this outcome across a broad spectrum of health services.
Paying the right price for pharmaceuticals: a case study of why the comparator matters
Authors: Spinks Jean M. , Richardson Jeff R. J.
Published: August 2011

This article considers the pricing policy for pharmaceuticals in Australia, which is widely seen as having achieved low drug prices. However, compared to New Zealand, the evidence implies that Australia might have improved its performance significantly if it had proactively sought market best pricing. The Australian record suggests that the information sought by authorities may not be sufficient for optimal pricing and that the economic evaluation of pharmaceuticals may be neither necessary nor sufficient for achieving this goal. What is known about the topic? Pharmaceutical expenditures vary significantly across countries. Few surveys exist to determine the role of price but these suggest that Australian prices are relatively low compared with most OECD countries. What does this paper add? An analysis of public data implies that Australia pays significantly higher prices than NZ for its pharmaceuticals. This is attributable to NZ’s more effective use of competition, especially in the market for generics. Australian policy effectively limits competition by the provision of price information to competing companies. Recent agreements are similarly consistent with de facto regulatory capture. What are the implications for practitioners? There should be a review of pharmaceutical pricing policies with the criterion for success being the ‘lowest’, not ‘comparable’ world prices. Comparators should include prices paid for quality drugs in all, not selected countries, where data are available.
Restricted feed intake in lactating primiparous sows. II. Effects on subsequent litter sex ratio and embryonic gene expression
Authors: Oliver G. , Novak S. , Patterson J. L. , Pasternak J. A. , Paradis F. , Norrby M. , Oxtoby K. , Dyck M. K. , Dixon W. T. , Foxcroft G. R.
Published: August 2011

Expression of panels of candidate genes controlling myogenesis, angiogenesis and gender-specific imprinting of development were analysed in embryonic, placental and endometrial tissues recovered at Day 30 of gestation from a subset of primiparous sows that were either feed restricted (Restrict; n = 17) or fed to appetite (Control; n = 15) during the last week of the previous lactation. Embryos were also sex typed to investigate gender bias in response to treatments. Average embryonic weight was lower in the subset of Restrict compared with Control litters (1.38 ± 0.07 vs 1.59 ± 0.08 g, respectively) and the male : female sex ratio was higher (P < 0.05) in embryos (litters) recovered from Restrict sows. Treatment affected (P ≤ 0.05) the expression of embryonic and placental genes involved in insulin-like growth factor (IGF) 2 signalling, including IGF2, INSR and IGF2R. Embryonic expression of ESR1 was also affected by treatment (P < 0.03) and sex × treatment interactions were observed for the expression of embryonic ESR1 (P < 0.05) and placental ANGPT2 (P < 0.03). At the molecular level, these results support the suggestion that changes in placental function are not the primary mechanism mediating detrimental effects of previous sow catabolism on early embryonic development in the feed-restricted lactational sow model. However, perturbations in the IGF2 system are implicated as mediators of these effects.
Long-term effects of afforestation with Pinus radiata on soil carbon, nitrogen, and pH: a case study
Authors: Parfitt R. L. , Ross D. J.
Published: August 2011

Planting of Pinus radiata D. Don in previously grazed pastures is a common land-use change in New Zealand. Although carbon (C) accumulates relatively rapidly in the trees, there have been no studies of the annual effect on soil C content during the early years of establishment. Here, we study soil properties under P. radiata and pasture each year over 11 years after P. radiata was planted into pasture that had been grazed by sheep. Under the growing trees, grass was gradually shaded out by the unpruned trees, and completely disappeared after 6 years; needle litterfall had then increased appreciably. By year 9, soil microbial C and nitrogen (N), and net N mineralisation, were significantly lower under pine than under pasture. Soil pH, sampled at 0–100 mm in early spring each year, decreased by ~0.3 units under pine and increased by ~0.3 units under pasture. Close to the pine stems, total C and N decreased significantly for 3 years, while ~100 kg N/ha accumulated in the trees. Soil C and N increased in subsequent years, when litterfall increased. Overall, the mineral soil under pine lost ~500 kg N/ha over 11 years, consistent with uptake by the trees. Leaching losses (estimated using lysimeters) in year 9 were 4.5 kg N/ha.year. These data indicate that ~6 Mg C/ha may have been lost from the mineral soil at this site. The difficulties associated with measuring losses of C are discussed.
Better placement of soil moisture point measurements guided by 2D resistivity tomography for improved irrigation scheduling
Authors: Kelly B. F. J. , Acworth R. I. , Greve A. K.
Published: August 2011

Soil moisture beneath irrigated crops has traditionally been determined using point measurement methods such as neutron probes or capacitance systems. These approaches cannot measure soil moisture at depths beyond the root-zone of plants and have limited lateral coverage. It is shown that surface two-dimensional electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) can be used to map the spatial heterogeneity in soil moisture throughout a field under irrigated cotton. The case study demonstrates that ERT provides a better understanding of the pathways of water migration, and provides spatial information on how water storage changes throughout the growing season. We conclude that ERT should be integrated into farm water management surveys to delineate zones of excessive water loss due to deep drainage and to improve the positioning of point measurement methods for measuring soil moisture, thereby improving irrigation scheduling.
Global impairment and therapeutic restoration of visual plasticity mechanisms after a localized cortical stroke
Authors: Greifzu Franziska , Schmidt Silvio , Schmidt Karl-Friedrich , Kreikemeier Klaus , Witte Otto W. , Löwel Siegrid
Published: August 2011

We tested the influence of a photothrombotic lesion in somatosensory cortex on plasticity in the mouse visual system and the efficacy of anti-inflammatory treatment to rescue compromised learning. To challenge plasticity mechanisms, we induced monocular deprivation (MD) in 3-mo-old mice. In control animals, MD induced an increase of visual acuity of the open eye and an ocular dominance (OD) shift towards this eye. In contrast, after photothrombosis, there was neither an enhancement of visual acuity nor an OD-shift. However, OD-plasticity was present in the hemisphere contralateral to the lesion. Anti-inflammatory treatment restored sensory learning but not OD-plasticity, as did a 2-wk delay between photothrombosis and MD. We conclude that (
i
) both sensory learning and cortical plasticity are compromised in the surround of a cortical lesion; (
ii
) transient inflammation is responsible for impaired sensory learning, suggesting anti-inflammatory treatment as a useful adjuvant therapy to support rehabilitation following stroke; and (
iii
) OD-plasticity cannot be conceptualized solely as a local process because nonlocal influences are more important than previously assumed.
Life History and Seasonal Stock‐Specific Ocean Migration of Juvenile Chinook Salmon
Authors: Tucker S. , Trudel M. , Welch D. W. , Candy J. R. , Morris J. F. T. , Thiess M. E. , Wallace C. , Beacham T. D.
Published: August 2011

The ocean feeding grounds of juvenile Pacific salmonOncorhynchusspp. range over several thousand kilometers in which ocean conditions, prey quality and abundance, and predator assemblages vary greatly. Therefore, the fate of individual stocks may depend on where they migrate and how much time they spend in different regions. Juvenile (n= 6,266) and immature (n= 659) Chinook salmonOncorhynchus tshawytschawere collected from coastal Washington to Southeast Alaska in coastal trawl surveys from February to November 1998–2008, which allowed us to reconstruct changes in stock composition for seasons and regions by means of DNA stock identification techniques. Individuals were allocated to 12 regional stocks. The genetic stock assignments were directly validated by showing that 96% of the 339 known‐origin, coded‐wire‐tagged fish were accurately allocated to their region of origin. Overall, the analyses performed in this study support the main findings of previous work based on tagging. However, given that the sample sizes for all stocks were larger and additional stocks were analyzed, we can extend those results; coastal residency of local stocks in their first year at sea with differences between smolt classes for southern stocks. Notably, yearling Chinook salmon moved quickly into waters north of the west coast of Vancouver Island, including Southeast Alaska. Furthermore, subyearling salmon were found over shallower bottom depths than yearling fish. Summer catches in all regions were dominated by Columbia River yearling fish, which suggests a rapid northward migration. In contrast, very few Columbia River subyearling fish were recovered north of Vancouver Island. Columbia River fish were a minor component of the catches in fall and winter, as fish originating from other southern stocks dominated catches off the west coast of Vancouver Island while northern British Columbia and Southeast Alaska stocks dominated northern regions during these time periods. In addition, we found no effect of hatchery origin on the distribution of fish.
Mode of Production in Medieval Iran
Authors: Shaugannik Hassan
Published: August 2011

This essay has two purposes. One is to compare the agrarian mode of production in Iran during the 7th through 12th centuries with the mode of production in European feudalism, searching for clues as to why Europe--but not Iran--developed a capitalist mode of production. The second, accompanying purpose is to evaluate the theory of the Asiatic Mode of Production, a theory developed mainly within the Marxist tradition, in the context of medieval Iran.

A few Persian writers of the 1960s and 1970s dealt with the question of why non-European societies failed to experience a transition to capitalism, but their writings were not convincing. If the transformation from a feudal mode to a capitalist mode is due to feudal evolution, then a rigorous comparative approach is necessary in order to see why such an evolution took place in one society and not in another.
The Politics of Radicalism within the Iranian Army: The Jahansuz Group of 1939
Authors: Cronin Stephanie
Published: August 2011

When the Iranian Revolution of 1979 Overthrew Pahlavi Power in Iran the attention of historians was suddenly attracted towards a study of the antecedents of the revolutionary movement and of opposition to the Pahlavi dictatorship in general. This redirection of attention produced, during the 1980s, quite novel historical and historiographical analyses of modern Iran. The army, however, largely escaped these revisionist approaches. Yet it is clear that the image of the army conventionally accepted, the military structures a bedrock of monarchical rule and the officer corps a key element on which the regime could depend, is a considerable oversimplification. Although ideological trends within the army tended to be dominated by secular nationalism and modernism, political attitudes towards the Pahlavi shahs were always capable of marked variegation. The relationship between the shah and the officer corps, both senior and junior, especially during periods of political crisis and uncertainty such as the early years of Pahlavi rule or the oil nationalization crisis, was susceptible to considerable tension.
Storytelling Techniques in theMasnavī‐yi Maᶜnavīof Mowlana Jalal al‐Din Rumi: Wayward Narrative or Logical Progression?
Authors: Hamid Farooq
Published: August 2011

baᶜd az samāᶜ gūyī k-ān shūr-hā kujā shud

yā khud na-būd chizī yā būd va ān fanā shud

Confounded, after thesamāᶜyou inquire, “What became of that tumult?”

I say, “Either it wasn't anything or maybe it was and simply ceased to be.”

This Paper Shall Deal with the Formal Aspects of the Storytelling technique employed by Mowlana Jalal al-Din Rumi (1207-73 C.E.) in hisManavī-yi Maᶜnavī(henceforthManavī).I shall begin with the assumption that there is some kind of form to this work and shall try to investigate the nature of that form.

To the casual observer theManavī,as a whole, seems to have no narrative sequence with its plethora of apparently unconnected and disjointed stories. Moreover, the narrative order of a particular story may be interrupted by other stories, sermons, expositions of Qurᶜanic verses,aḥādīth,stories of prophets(qiṣaṣ al-anbiyāᵓ),popular Islamic lore and glosses, etc. Throughout this entire exercise Rumi's goal is to drive home various precepts of Sufism via the use of these means.
Toward a Theory of Iranian Urban Moieties: TheḤaydariyyahandNiᶜmatiyyahRevisited
Authors: Perry John R.
Published: August 2011

The Haydariyyah and Niᶜmatiyyah were Widespread, Mutually Hostile urban factions of Safavid and post-Safavid Iran, sparsely documented and virtually unstudied. From at least the middle of the tenth/sixteenth century up until recent decades, a number of cities and towns of Iran were perceived as being divided into two groupings of adjacent wards(maḥallah),one grouping known as theḤaydarī-khānahand the other as theNiᶜmatī-khānah,the respective (male) inhabitants of which would profess mutual contempt and antagonism, and would periodically clash in massive public fights. The origin of the terms and the cause of the antagonism were not generally known to the participants; the topography and composition of theḤaydarī-khānahand theNiᶜmatī-khānah(which in some places extended into the adjacent countryside) was apparently irrelevant; and membership in either of these factions corresponded to no other social, political, or sectarian affiliation.
Curvature-tuned InAs-based shells containing two-dimensional electron gas
Authors: Mutilin S V , Vorobyova Ju S , Vorob'ev A B , Putyato M A , Prinz V Ya
Published: August 2011

Conducting InAs/AlSb/GaSb shells of curvature radius ∼10 µm are fabricated on GaSb (1 0 0) substrates. In the InAs quantum well, the shells are shown to contain a two-dimensional electron gas. Controlled tuning of the curvature of the formed shells in excess of three times is demonstrated. The sequence of fabrication steps for forming curvature-tuned InAs-based shells with quantum well is described.
Acoustic absorption properties of open-cell Al alloy foams with graded pore size
Authors: Ke Huang , Donghui Yang , Siyuan He , Deping He
Published: August 2011

By adjusting the size of preform particles and their stacking routes, the open-cell Al alloy foams with graded pore size were prepared by the melt infiltration method. The effects of pore structures and air gap on the acoustic absorption properties of open-cell Al alloy foams have been investigated. The results show that whether there is an air gap, the open-cell Al alloy foam with graded pore size exhibits better acoustic absorption properties (maximum absorption coefficient, noise reduction coefficient (NRC) and half-width of the absorption peak) than the foams with uniform pore size. The typical maximum absorption coefficient, NRC and half-width of the absorption peak are 0.96–0.99, 0.40–0.64 and 1600–3200 Hz, respectively.
Prevention of estradiol 17β-d-glucuronide–induced canalicular transporter internalization by hormonal modulation of cAMP in rat hepatocytes
Authors: Zucchetti Andrés E. , Barosso Ismael R. , Boaglio Andrea , Pellegrino José M. , Ochoa Elena J. , Roma Marcelo G. , Crocenzi Fernando A. , Sánchez Pozzi Enrique J.
Published: August 2011

In estradiol 17β-d-glucuronide (E17G)–induced cholestasis, the canalicular hepatocellular transporters bile salt export pump (Abcb11) and multidrug-resistance associated protein 2 (Abcc2) undergo endocytic internalization. cAMP stimulates the trafficking of transporter-containing vesicles to the apical membrane and is able to prevent internalization of these transporters in estrogen-induced cholestasis. Hepatocyte levels of cAMP are regulated by hormones such as glucagon and adrenaline (via the β2 receptor). We analyzed the effects of glucagon and salbutamol (a β2 adrenergic agonist) on function and localization of Abcb11 and Abcc2 in isolated rat hepatocyte couplets exposed to E17G and compared the mechanistic bases of their effects. Glucagon and salbutamol partially prevented the impairment in Abcb11 and Abcc2 transport capacity. E17G also induced endocytic internalization of Abcb11 and Abcc2, which partially colocalized with the endosomal marker Rab11a. This effect was completely prevented by salbutamol, whereas some transporter-containing vesicles remained internalized and mainly colocalizing with Rab11a in the perinuclear region after incubation with glucagon. Glucagon prevention was dependent on cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and independent of exchange proteins activated directly by cAMP (Epac) and microtubules. In contrast, salbutamol prevention was PKA independent and Epac/MEK and microtubule dependent. Anticholestatic effects of glucagon and salbutamol were additive in nature. Our results show that increases in cAMP could activate different anticholestatic signaling pathways, depending on the hormonal mediator involved.