bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of uniaxial strain on anisotropic diffusion in silicon
Authors: Chen Ming-Jer , Sheu Yi-Ming
Published: October 2006

A physical model is directly extended from the thermodynamic framework to deal with anisotropic diffusion in uniaxially stressed silicon. With the anisotropy of the uniaxial strain induced activation energy as input, two fundamental material parameters, the activation volume and the migration strain anisotropy, can be quantitatively determined. When applied to boron, a process-device coupled simulation is performed on a p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor undergoing uniaxial stress in a manufacturing process. The resulting material parameters have been found to be in satisfactory agreement with values presented in the literature.
Interband cascade laser operating cw to 257K at λ=3.7μm
Authors: Bewley W. W. , Nolde J. A. , Larrabee D. C. , Canedy C. L. , Kim C. S. , Kim M. , Vurgaftman I. , Meyer J. R.
Published: October 2006

A five-stage interband cascade laser with 12μm ridge width and Au electroplating for improved epitaxial-side-up heat sinking operates cw to a maximum temperature of 257K, where the emission wavelength is 3.7μm. The device emits 100mW̸facet for cw operation at 80K, 54mW at 200K, and 10mW at 250K. The beam quality is within twice the diffraction limit for injection currents up to 14 times the lasing threshold at 120K.
InGaAs metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors with HfO2 gate dielectric grown by atomic-layer deposition
Authors: Goel N. , Majhi P. , Chui C. O. , Tsai W. , Choi D. , Harris J. S.
Published: October 2006

The influence of various process conditions on the structural integrity and electrical properties of Al∕HfO2∕p-In0.13Ga0.87As metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors was investigated. Room temperature capacitance voltage measurements revealed postdielectric deposition anneal reduced hysteresis by more than 0.5V and sulfur passivation of InGaAs improved the capacitance frequency dispersion properties as well as reduced interface trap density. At V=VFB−1V, the leakage current densities ∼1.3×10−7, 0.4×10−6, and 1.3×10−6A∕cm2 were measured in devices with annealed HfO2 (110 and 32Å) and sulfur-passivated InGaAs (110Å unannealed HfO2), respectively. Transmission electron microscopy revealed sharp epitaxial InGaAs/crystalline HfO2 and GaAs∕InGaAs interfaces.
Enhancement of quantum well intermixing on InP∕InGaAs∕InGaAsP heterostructures using titanium oxide surface stressors to induce forced point defect diffusion
Authors: François A. , Aimez V. , Beauvais J. , Gendry M. , Regreny P.
Published: October 2006

Quantum well intermixing was studied on InP∕InGaAs∕InGaAsP heterostructures under stress induced by a TiOx surface stressor. Results provide a comparison of thermal emission wavelength shift and effective emission wavelength shift for samples intermixed with and without applied stress. It is shown that TiOx decreases the measured thermal shift depending on the amplitude of the induced stress. It is also shown that the diffusion of point defects created during ion implantation prior to TiOx stressor deposition is significantly enhanced. This results in an increase of the effective wavelength shift by up to 300%.
Mechanisms and control of phase transition in thermally grown aluminas
Authors: Veal B. W. , Paulikas A. P. , Birtcher R. C.
Published: October 2006

The oxidation rate of β-NiAl, at 1100°C in air, can be slowed by means of a mechanical polish with α-Al2O3 grit. Particles embedded during polishing act as nucleation sites for conversion of the initially formed θ-Al2O3 to the stable α-Al2O3 phase. Since θ-phase growth is much faster than α-phase growth, accelerated θ→α conversion results in a thinner oxide when conversion is complete. A model is presented to quantitatively describe this behavior.
Multiple reference Fourier transform holography with soft x rays
Authors: Schlotter W. F. , Rick R. , Chen K. , Scherz A. , Stöhr J. , Lüning J. , Eisebitt S. , Günther Ch. , Eberhardt W. , Hellwig O. , McNulty I.
Published: October 2006

The authors demonstrate multiple reference source Fourier transform holography with soft x rays. This technique extends the detection limit of high resolution lensless imaging by introducing spatial multiplexing to coherent x-ray scattering. In this way, image quality is improved without increasing the radiation exposure to the sample. This technique is especially relevant for recording static images of radiation sensitive samples and for studying spatial dynamics with pulsed light sources. Applying their technique in the weak illumination limit they image a nanoscale test object by detecting ∼2500 photons. The observed enhancement in the signal-to-noise ratio of the image follows the square root of the number of reference sources.
Phosphorylation of serine 1928 in the distal C-terminal domain of cardiac Ca
V
1.2 channels during β1-adrenergic regulation
Authors: Hulme Joanne T. , Westenbroek Ruth E. , Scheuer Todd , Catterall William A.
Published: October 2006

During the fight-or-flight response, epinephrine and norepinephrine released by the sympathetic nervous system increase L-type calcium currents conducted by Ca
V
1.2a channels in the heart, which contributes to enhanced cardiac performance. Activation of β-adrenergic receptors increases channel activity via phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) tethered to the distal C-terminal domain of the α
1
subunit via an A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP15). Here we measure phosphorylation of S1928 in dissociated rat ventricular myocytes in response to β-adrenergic receptor stimulation by using a phosphospecific antibody. Isoproterenol treatment increased phosphorylation of S1928 in the distal C-terminal domain, and a similar increase was observed with a direct activator of adenylyl cyclase, forskolin, confirming that the cAMP and PKA are responsible. Pretreatment with selective β1- and β2-adrenergic antagonists reduced the increase in phosphorylation by 79% and 42%, respectively, and pretreatment with both agents completely blocked it. In contrast, treatment with these agents in the presence of 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-
N
′,
N
′-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA)–acetoxymethyl ester to buffer intracellular calcium results in only β1-stimulated phosphorylation of S1928. Whole-cell patch clamp studies with intracellular BAPTA demonstrated that 98% of the increase in calcium current was attributable to β1-adrenergic receptors. Thus, β-adrenergic stimulation results in phosphorylation of S1928 on the Ca
V
1.2 α1 subunit in intact ventricular myocytes via both β1- and β2-adrenergic receptor pathways, but the β2-dependent increase in phosphorylation depends on elevated intracellular calcium and does not contribute to regulation of whole-cell calcium currents at basal calcium levels. Our results correlate phosphorylation of S1928 with β1-adrenergic functional up-regulation of cardiac calcium channels in the presence of BAPTA in intact ventricular myocytes.
Proinsulin is encoded by an RNA splice variant in human blood myeloid cells
Authors: Narendran Parth , Neale Alana M. , Lee Bo Han , Ngui Katrina , Steptoe Raymond J. , Morahan Grant , Madsen Ole , Dromey James A. , Jensen Kent P. , Harrison Leonard C.
Published: October 2006

Genes for peripheral tissue-restricted self-antigens are expressed in thymic and hematopoietic cells. In thymic medullary epithelial cells, self-antigen expression imposes selection on developing autoreactive T cells and regulates susceptibility to autoimmune disease in mouse models. Less is known about the role of self-antigen expression by hematopoietic cells. Here we demonstrate that one of the endocrine self-antigens expressed by human blood myeloid cells, proinsulin, is encoded by an RNA splice variant. The surface expression of immunoreactive proinsulin was significantly decreased after transfection of monocytes with small interfering RNA to proinsulin. Furthermore, analogous to proinsulin transcripts in the thymus, the abundance of the proinsulin RNA splice variant in blood cells corresponded with the length of the variable number of tandem repeats 5′ of the proinsulin gene, known to be associated with type 1 diabetes susceptibility. Self-antigen expression by peripheral myeloid cells extends the umbrella of “immunological self” and, by analogy with the thymus, may be implicated in peripheral immune tolerance.
Powerline communication and the 36 officers problem
Authors: Huczynska Sophie
Published: October 2006

In this survey paper, we explore the interactions between mathematics and engineering inspired by the challenge of transmitting data along powerlines. In particular, we focus on how combinatorial objects called
permutation arrays
offer a way of encoding data which allows the noise problems experienced in powerline communications (PLCs) to be overcome. The first study of permutation codes was carried out in the 1970s, but the preference in traditional information theory for codes with small alphabet size meant that permutation codes were largely ignored until recently. Their rediscovery for use in PLCs has brought about a resurgence of interest in the construction and properties of permutation arrays. We survey previous and current work in this area, and discuss future developments.
Novel regimes of electron dynamics in superlattices
Authors: Patanè Amalia , Fromhold Mark
Published: October 2006

A superlattice (SL) is an artificial crystal in which alternating nanometre-thick layers of two or more different semiconductor materials provide a periodic potential for conduction electrons. Strong magnetic and electric fields applied to this type of structure provide a means of exploring novel regimes of electron dynamics. The applied fields lower the dimensionality of the electronic states and lead to qualitative changes in the electronic conduction. This discovery is of fundamental interest and highly relevant to the properties of other low-dimensional conductors, such as nanowires and quantum dot SLs, which are presently attracting the attention of the physics and device communities. In addition, a rare type of chaotic electron dynamics, called non-Kolmogorov–Arnold–Moser (KAM) chaotic motion, which has been theoretically studied for several decades, is observed experimentally in SLs. The onset of chaos at discrete values of the applied electric and magnetic fields is observed as a large increase in the current flow due to the creation of unbound electron orbits, which propagate through intricate web patterns in phase space. Therefore, non-KAM chaos could provide a new mechanism for controlling the electrical conductivity of the electronic devices with extreme sensitivity.
Geometric phases and criticality in spin systems
Authors: Pachos Jiannis K , Carollo Angelo C.M
Published: October 2006

A general formalism of the relation between geometric phases produced by circularly evolving interacting spin systems and their criticality behaviour is presented. This opens up the way for the use of geometric phases as a tool to probe regions of criticality without having to undergo a quantum phase transition. As a concrete example, a spin-1/2 chain with XY interactions is considered and the corresponding geometric phases are analysed. Finally, a generalization of these results to the case of an arbitrary spin system is presented.
Measure recognition problem
Authors: Džamonja Mirna
Published: October 2006

This is a paper in mathematics, specifically in set theory. On the example of the measure recognition problem (MRP), the paper highlights the phenomenon of the utility of a multidisciplinary mathematical approach to a single mathematical problem, in particular, the value of a set-theoretic analysis. MRP asks if for a given Boolean algebra,

, and a property,
Φ
, of measures, one can recognize by purely combinatorial means if

supports a strictly positive measure with property
Φ
. The most famous instance of this problem is MRP (countable additivity), and in the first part of the paper, we survey the known results on this and some other problems. We show how these results naturally lead to asking about two other specific instances of the problem MRP, namely MRP (non-atomic) and MRP (separable). Then, we show how our recent work gives an easy solution to the former of these problems and some partial information about the latter. The long-term goal of this line of research is to obtain a structure theory of Boolean algebras that support a finitely additive strictly positive measure, along the lines of Maharam theorem, which gives such a structure theorem for measure algebras.
Drug injecting and syringe use in the HIV risk environment of Russian penitentiary institutions: qualitative study
Authors: Sarang Anya , Rhodes Tim , Platt Lucy , Kirzhanova Valentina , Shelkovnikova Olga , Volnov Venyamin , Blagovo Dmitri , Rylkov Andrei
Published: October 2006

Background  Evidence highlights the prison as a high risk environment in relation to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmsission associated with injecting drug use.

Methods  We undertook qualitative studies among 209 injecting drug users (IDUs) in three Russian cities: Moscow (n = 56), Volgograd (n = 83) and Barnaul in western Siberia (n = 70).

Results  Over three‐quarters (77%) reported experience of police arrest related to their drug use, and 35% (55% of men) a history of imprisonment or detention. Findings emphasize the critical role that penitentiary institutions may play as a structural factor in the diffusion of HIV associated with drug injection in the Russian Federation. While drugs were perceived to be generally available in penitentiary institutions, sterile injection equipment was scarce and as a consequence routinely shared, including within large groups. Attempts to clean borrowed needles or syringes were inadequate, and risk reduction was severely constrained by a combination of lack of injecting equipment availability and punishment for its possession. Perceptions of relative safety were also found to be associated with assumptions of HIV negativity, resulting from a perception that all prisoners are HIV tested upon entry with those found HIV positive segregated.

Conclusion  This study shows an urgent need for HIV prevention interventions in the Russian penitentiary system.
Using cervical mucus and other easily observed biomarkers to identify ovulation in prospective pregnancy trials
Authors: Zinaman Michael J.
Published: October 2006

To help fulfil the objectives of prospective studies of pregnancy and human development, such as the National Children’s Study, there is a need to pinpoint ovulation and conception in a cohort of women. This paper discusses the suitability of using natural and easily observed markers of ovulation for detection of the most likely day of ovulation and conception. Of the biomarkers supported by clinical data, the use of cervical mucus is emphasised as it appears most promising. A considerable amount of data suggests that observation of changes in vaginal discharge from cervical mucus can closely approximate the day of ovulation, is easy to learn and suitable for a large group of women. While this approach could also be cost‐effective, a significant drawback may be the learning phase which may take 2–3 instructional sessions for women to fully identify recurring changes across the menstrual cycle.
Workshop recommendations for the preconception cohort of the National Children’s Study
Authors: Selevan Sherry G. , Stanford Joseph B.
Published: October 2006

This paper summarises discussions on incorporating preconception recruitment in the National Chidren’s Study (NCS); these were part of the workshop on Expanding Methodologies for Capturing Day‐Specific Probabilities of Conception. Four key issues were discussed in relation to the NCS: (1) differences between pregnancy ‘planners’ and ‘non‐planners’; (2) a tiered approach to preconception data collection; (3) data gaps in preconception studies; and (4) assessment of early pregnancy in subsequent pregnancies for women with a child already in the study. Practical recommendations were developed for each theme, which have relevance for other prospective studies of conception, pregnancy and human development.
Lack of galectin‐3 involvement in murine intestinal nematode and schistosome infection
Authors: BICKLE Q. , HELMBY H.
Published: October 2006

Many parasitic helminths produce large quantities of glycosylated proteins, some if which are believed to be involved in the skewing towards the dominant Th2 response observed during helminth infection. Galectin‐3 is a member of a family of lectin‐binding proteins produced by many different types of immune cells, including macrophages. Galectin‐3 recognizes the GalNAcβ1‐4GlcNAc (LDN) epitope present on many helminth antigens, including those of the schistosome eggs. Here we show that galectin‐3 is not involved in the development of the Th2 response nor in schistosome granuloma formation. Galectin‐3‐deficient mice were able to expel the gastrointestinal nematode Trichuris muris at the same speed as wild‐type mice. Expulsion of T. muris is known to be dependent on a Th2 immune response and galectin‐3‐deficient mice showed no defect in their ability to produce Th2 cytokines or in their antibody responses, compared to wild‐type mice. Furthermore, galectin‐3‐deficient mice were also able to mount a Th2 response to Schistosoma mansoni infection and they exhibited normal hepatic granuloma formation. The data presented here demonstrate that galectin‐3 is not a critical component in the development of Th2 responses during helminth infection in vivo, nor is it essential for schistosome egg granuloma formation.
Community response to intermittent preventive treatment delivered to infants (IPTi) through the EPI system in Manhiça, Mozambique
Authors: Pool Robert , Munguambe Khatia , Macete Eusebio , Aide Pedro , Juma Geraldina , Alonso Pedro , Menendez Clara
Published: October 2006

Objective  To describe attitudes to the expanded programme on immunization (EPI) and intermittent preventive treatment in infants (IPTi), and perceptions of the relationship between them. In particular, whether the introduction of IPTi negatively affects community attitudes to, or use of, EPI; or, conversely, whether and if so how, the concurrent delivery of IPTi and immunization influences perceptions of IPTi.

Methods  Anthropological study carried out in the context of a trial of IPTi with sulphadoxine–pyrimethamine delivered alongside routine EPI vaccinations. We used open in‐depth interviews, semi‐structured interviews and participant observation, conducted in both community and clinic settings.

Results  IPTi was generally acceptable, in spite of initial resistance. Perceived negative aspects of IPTi did not affect perceptions of EPI, and IPTi was not misinterpreted as immunization against malaria, leading to a reduction of other preventive measures or delay in treatment seeking. Initial resistance was related more to the trial than to IPTi per se, but both rejection and acceptance were embedded in a complex constellation of local and wider contextual factors.

Conclusions  IPTi delivered together with EPI was generally accepted after initial rejection. The factors that led to this rejection were largely local and trial related, but they did resonate with much wider cultural themes (rumours about research and health interventions, gender inequality and health‐related decision making). The prior acceptance and routine administration of EPI played a key role in the acceptance of IPTi in this community. However, more studies, in different social and cultural settings and using different drugs and regimens, are needed before generalizations can be made. Although trial settings are different from actual implementation, it is necessary to study acceptability before implementation in order to anticipate problems and design information campaigns to ensure maximum community acceptance.

Keywords  malaria , Mozambique , IPTi , EPI , acceptability , rumours
Impact of repeated mass treatment on human Oesophagostomum and hookworm infections in northern Ghana
Authors: Ziem Juventus B. , Magnussen Pascal , Olsen Annette , Horton John , Asigri Von L. L. , Polderman Anton M.
Published: October 2006

Oesophagostomum bifurcum is a common parasite of humans causing disease in parts of northern Ghana and northern Togo. The impact of repeated mass treatment with albendazole on infection with O. bifurcum and hookworm is analysed and the results compared with those in a control area where no treatment was given. At baseline, O. bifurcum and hookworm prevalences were 53.0% and 86.9%, respectively (n = 1011). After 12 months, following two rounds of albendazole treatment, prevalences decreased significantly to 5.4% for O. bifurcum and 36.8% for hookworm (n = 535). Twenty‐four months after the baseline survey and following a total of four rounds of treatment, prevalences were further reduced to 0.8% and 23.4% for O. bifurcum and hookworm, respectively (n = 478). Overall, there was a significant decrease in the larval counts, measured as geometric mean larval count per 4 g of stool of O. bifurcum from 3.0 to 0.1 and of hookworm from 47.2 to 1.8. The fourth mass treatment was carried out in April 2003 by the Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Programme. Overall, compliance to treatment varied from 70% to 80%. In the control area, Oesophagostomum prevalence increased from 18.5% to 37.0% and the intensity from 0.4 to 1.4. For hookworm, both prevalence (86.1–91.3%) and intensity (54.8–74.3) increased but not to a significant level. The prospects of eliminating human oesophagostomiasis from the intervention area, while simultaneously achieving an important reduction of hookworm prevalences by albendazole mass treatment, are discussed.
Annual mass treatment with albendazole might eliminate human oesophagostomiasis from the endemic focus in northern Ghana
Authors: Ziem J. B. , Olsen A. , Magnussen P. , Horton J. , Spannbrucker N. , Yelifari L. , Nana Biritwum K. , Polderman A. M.
Published: October 2006

As a follow‐up to the study by Ziem et al., in this issue, efforts to control human oesophagostomiasis and hookworm infections in northern Ghana were pursued, and the results evaluated in collaboration with the Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Programme. This phase of evaluation of the impact of mass treatment was no longer limited to a small‐scale research setting: it was done both in the context of an operationally viable national control programme and as a continuation of the Oesophagostomum Intervention Research Project (OIRP). The methods of evaluation included classical stool examination with Kato thick smears, stool culture and ultrasound examination of the colon wall. The results showed that yearly population‐based albendazole–ivermectin treatment in 11 villages scattered over north‐eastern Ghana, with a treatment coverage of 70–75%, resulted in a reduction of Oesophagostomum prevalence from about 20% pre‐intervention to less than 1% after 2 years of mass treatment. Simultaneously, hookworm prevalence went down from 70% to approximately 15%. The data, however, cannot be readily compared with those of Ziem et al. because of the relatively crude diagnostic (single stool cultures) screening system that had to be used for the evaluation of the large‐scale control programme. In the research area of the OIRP, interruption of mass treatment resulted in a rising hookworm prevalence. The Oesophagostomum prevalence, on the other hand, continued to go down. Transmission of human oesophagostomiasis appears interruptible and small numbers of persistent cases of Oesophagostomum infection were shown insufficient to serve as a nucleus of renewed spread of the infection. The data suggest that both the infection with and the pathology due to human oesophagostomiasis can be eliminated and that elimination is likely to be achieved through operationally feasible albendazole–ivermectin treatment as used by the Global Alliance for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis.
Divergence in Female Duetting Signals in theEnchenopa binotataSpecies Complex of Treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae)
Authors: Rodríguez Rafael L. , Cocroft Reginald B.
Published: October 2006

Sexual communication often involves signal exchanges between the sexes, or duetting, in which mate choice is expressed through response signals. With both sexes acting as signalers and receivers, variation in the signals of males and females may be important for mate choice, reproductive isolation, and divergence. In theEnchenopa binotataspecies complex – a case study of sympatric speciation in which vibrational duetting may have an important role – male signals are species‐specific, females choose among males on the basis of signal traits that reflect species and individual differences, and female preferences have exerted divergent selection on male signals. Here, we describe variation in female signals in theE. binotataspecies complex. We report substantial species differences in the spectral and temporal features of female signals, and in their timing relative to male signals. These differences were similar in range to differences in male signals in theE. binotatacomplex. We consider processes that might contribute to divergence in female signals, and suggest that signal evolution in theE. binotatacomplex may be influenced by mate choice in both sexes.
Patterns in the within‐tree distribution of the emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis (Fairmaire) in young, green‐ash plantations of south‐western Ontario, Canada
Authors: Timms Laura L , Smith Sandy M , De Groot Peter
Published: October 2006

1 The emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is a serious exotic pest of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in North America, and is responsible for the deaths of millions of trees in Ontario and Michigan. One of the greatest challenges facing the successful management of the pest is the ability to accurately detect its presence in a tree.

2 Observations were made on A. planipennis larval feeding galleries found within 65 young, green‐ash trees cut from plantations in Essex County, Ontario, Canada. The within‐tree distributions of feeding galleries were described in relation to height‐above‐ground, stem diameter, bark thickness and stem aspect.

3 Galleries were not distributed randomly or evenly; minimum boundaries of stem diameter and bark thickness and a maximum boundary of height‐above‐ground were detected. Indications of maximum boundaries for stem diameter and bark thickness were also observed. Galleries were found most often on the south‐west side of the tree.

4 Using the technique of upper boundary regression, we were able to identify significant quadratic relationships between A. planipennis gallery density and stem diameter and bark thickness, as well as a significant negative linear relationship between gallery density and height‐above‐ground.

5 Agrilus planipennis gallery density in newly‐infested trees was lower than in previously‐infested trees, and was observed to peak at smaller stem diameters and bark thicknesses than in previously‐infested trees.

6 Survey teams would increase their probability of detecting new A. planipennis infestations by initiating searches for exit holes and feeding galleries in trunk sections and branches of approximately 7 cm in diameter.
Species status and population structure of the Australian Eucalyptus pest Paropsis atomaria Olivier (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Schutze Mark K. , Mather Peter B. , Clarke Anthony R.
Published: October 2006

1 Paropsis atomaria Olivier represents an emergent pest of Eucalyptus plantations in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Most prior studies on the biology and control of P. atomaria have centred on populations from Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, but the biological relationship between beetles from Canberra and those from up to 1500 km further north are unknown.

2 DNA markers were used to determine whether P. atomaria from Canberra are the same biological species as those from Eucalyptus forestry plantations in northern New South Wales and Queensland, where the beetle has become an important pest. Using the mitochondrial gene, cytochrome c oxidase I (COI), individuals collected from across the distribution of P. atomaria were investigated for haplotype diversity and levels of mitochondrial divergence.

3 Within P. atomaria, genetic distance averaged 0.5% across 23 unique haplotypes for 93 individuals, with an average of 14% difference between P. atomaria and the outgroup species, Paropsis obsoleta. Significant genetic structure was observed relative to geographical distribution, but not with respect to host plant species of origin. Greatest divergence was between the southern‐most sample site (Canberra) and northern sites in New South Wales and Queensland, indicating reduced gene flow between these regions.

4 Individuals from across eastern Australia belong to the same genetic species with population substructuring evident. Consequently, there is no evidence to suggest cryptic species complexes exist within the currently defined taxon. Continued implementation of control strategies for P. atomaria across its distribution is appropriate.
Valuation Effects of Short Sale Constraints: the Case of Corporate Takeovers
Authors: Alexandridis George , Antoniou Antonios , Zhao Huainan
Published: October 2006

We examine the relation between the degree of short sale constraints for acquiring firms' equity and post takeover stock performance. We find that negative long‐run abnormal returns appear to decline (in economic and statistical terms) as the extent and persistence of institutional block‐holder ownership increase, after accounting for the size, book‐to‐market and method of payment effects. In the spirit of Miller (1977), such evidence implies that the degree of short sale constraints serves as an important determinant of acquiring firms' short‐run overpricing. It appears that the presence of concentrated institutional presence mitigates and in most cases eliminates, through effective arbitrage, any short‐run overpricing that may be responsible for the long‐run underperformance of acquirers, preserving in this way efficiency in the takeover markets.
Use of respite care and coping strategies among Irish families of children with intellectual disabilities1
Authors: Mac Donald Elaine , Fitzsimons Elaine , Walsh Patricia Noonan
Published: October 2006

Accessible summary

This research was done in Ireland with carers of children with learning disability.

The researchers wanted to learn more about how carers cope and why carers use respite care.

This research found that:

This research will help service providers to plan and run respite care to suit families better. Other researchers will understand more about how male and female carers cope.

The study aimed to identify patterns of respite use and coping strategies among family caregivers in a region of Ireland. Firstly, we asked what child and family characteristics were associated with use of respite care. Secondly, we explored coping strategies reported by family carers. The study was undertaken with a view to informing respite service provision and redressing a gap in the literature on family caregiving. Findings differed from former research by suggesting that the likelihood of families using respite care was not significantly related to presence of challenging behaviours or level of support required by children. Additionally, likelihood of using respite care was not significantly related to family size and social support. Female carers tended to use more ‘problem solving’ strategies than males. Male carers tended to use more ‘managing meaning’ coping strategies than females, although some strategies were shared across genders. The need for carers to have confirmation of high standards of care and the importance of supporting male carers was discussed. Study limitations and implications for service provision and research were explored.
Three‐dimensional MRI perfusion maps: a step beyond volumetric analysis in mental disorders
Authors: Fabene Paolo F. , Farace Paolo , Brambilla Paolo , Andreone Nicola , Cerini Roberto , Pelizza Luisa , Versace Amelia , Rambaldelli Gianluca , Birbaumer Niels , Tansella Michele , Sbarbati Andrea
Published: October 2006

A new type of magnetic resonance imaging analysis, based on fusion of three‐dimensional reconstructions of time‐to‐peak parametric maps and high‐resolution T1‐weighted images, is proposed in order to evaluate the perfusion of selected volumes of interest. Because in recent years a wealth of data have suggested the crucial involvement of vascular alterations in mental diseases, we tested our new method on a restricted sample of schizophrenic patients and matched healthy controls. The perfusion of the whole brain was compared with that of the caudate nucleus by means of intrasubject analysis. As expected, owing to the encephalic vascular pattern, a significantly lower time‐to‐peak was observed in the caudate nucleus than in the whole brain in all healthy controls, indicating that the suggested method has enough sensitivity to detect subtle perfusion changes even in small volumes of interest. Interestingly, a less uniform pattern was observed in the schizophrenic patients. The latter finding needs to be replicated in an adequate number of subjects. In summary, the three‐dimensional analysis method we propose has been shown to be a feasible tool for revealing subtle vascular changes both in normal subjects and in pathological conditions.
Why so few, and why so late? Green parties and the question of governmental participation
Authors: DUMONT PATRICK , BÄCK HANNA
Published: October 2006

Abstract.  Green parties have been represented in the parliaments of European Union countries since 1981, but it was not until recently that a few have entered national governments. Using a data set comprised of 51 government formation opportunities (where the Greens were represented in parliament), the authors of this article show that the parties involved in these bargaining situations are more office‐oriented than earlier studies had found. As Green parties are seen to be less office‐seeking than other parties, this general tendency for office‐seeking behaviour in government formation may partly account for the scarcity of Greens in government. Furthermore, a number of hypotheses derived from theories that account for the specific nature of Green parties in terms of their office‐, policy‐ and vote‐seeking orientations are tested. It is found that Greens participate in government when they have lost votes in at least one election, when the main party of the left identifies them as a clear electoral threat and when the policy distance between the Greens and either the formateur party or the main left party is small (the latter condition must be accompanied by a substantial proportion of seats for the Green party in parliament). As most of these simultaneous conditions only materialized recently, and in a few countries, it is argued that this analysis, which is the first comparative and multivariate test focused on this question, explains the scarcity and the delay of Green governmental participation.
Assessing the Disease Burden Due to Epilepsy by Disability Adjusted Life Year in Rural China
Authors: Ding Ding , Hong Zhen , Wang Wen‐zhi , Wu Jian‐zhong , De Boer Hanneke M. , Prilipko Leonid , Sander Josemir W.
Published: October 2006

Summary:  Purpose: To demonstrate the application of Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY) as an aid in health outcome measures to evaluate the epilepsy disease burden in rural China and to provide Chinese data to achieve a better understanding of disease burden due to epilepsy.

Methods: The DALY is the sum of the number of years of survival with disability (Years Lived with Disability, YLD) and the number of years lost because of premature mortality (Years of Life Lost, YLL). We calculated the YLD based on the prevalence survey of epilepsy among 66,393 people sampled in Heilongjiang, Henan, Jiangsu, Ningxia, Shanghai, and Shanxi provinces in 2000. The epilepsy mortality data from Chinese literature provided the YLL due to epilepsy. We applied sensitivity analysis to evaluate the influence of uncertainty on the epilepsy mortality value and disability weight in the study.

Results: In 2000, epilepsy caused 1.83 and 2.48 DALY lost per 1,000 population in Henan and Ningxia province, which had the lowest and the highest DALY lost among the six study areas. Overall, epilepsy caused 1.41 YLLs and 0.67 YLDs per 1,000 population; thus the DALYs lost because of epilepsy was 2.08 per 1,000 population, representing the epilepsy disease burden in rural China.

Conclusions: The DALY measure, which includes the extent of disability from epilepsy, provides a useful tool for the epilepsy disease burden assessment. The disease burden of epilepsy in China is considered higher than previous estimations.
A Prospective Study of Postictal Psychoses with Emphasis on the Periictal Type
Authors: Oshima Tomohiro , Tadokoro Yukari , Kanemoto Kousuke
Published: October 2006

Summary:  Purpose: To assess prospectively episodes of postictal psychosis.

Methods: We followed 108 consecutive patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, who were divided into three groups: those without psychotic episodes (n = 87, N group), those with interictal psychosis (n = 13, IIP group), and those with postictal psychosis (n = 8, PIP group). The first episode of postictal psychosis, which was defined as a psychotic episode that occurred within 1 week after the end or within 3 days before the beginning of seizure clusters, was assessed with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Social Dysfunction and Aggression Scale (SDAS) during the observation period.

Results: The duration of illness was significantly different between the N and PIP groups (p = 0.004) and between the N and IIP groups (p = 0.039). The average initial BPRS score (obtained 3.0 days after the end of the seizure cluster) was 19.7, and then decreased to 5.8 after 1 week, and finally normalized at 1.5 after 1 month. A statistically significant decrease in BPRS scores was found between the initial assessment and those obtained after 1 week (p = 0.011). Those who had psychotic episodes without a lucid interval tended to have episodes more often than monthly, and experienced additional seizure recurrence even during the psychotic episodes. Two patients exhibited a frank manic phase, and three patients showed excessively aggressive behavior, as determined by the SDAS.

Conclusions: Postictal psychosis should be subdivided into the nuclear type, with an established clinical picture as an indirect aftereffect of seizure activity, and the atypical periictal type, which is a direct manifestation of limbic discharge.
Reduced expression of vps11 causes less pigmentation in medaka, Oryzias latipes
Authors: Yu Jia‐Fei , Fukamachi Shoji , Mitani Hiroshi , Hori Hiroshi , Kanamori Akira
Published: October 2006

In this article, we describe the medaka mutant pale gray eyes (pge) that shows reduction of black, white, and silver pigmentation and lethality approximately a week after hatching. The pge mutation was mapped to the tip of linkage group 14 and no recombinations were observed between the mutation and medaka vps11 in 900 meioses. Vps 11 is one of the evolutionarily conserved class C vacuolar protein sorting genes (c‐vps: vps11, vps16, vps18, and vps33), whose products physically associate to form the c‐vps protein complex required for vesicle docking and fusion in the budding yeast. Mutations in vps16, vps18, and vps33 are known to result in decreased pigmentation in organisms such as Drosophila. We cloned the full‐length medaka vps11 cDNA by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and found no RACE products from the pge mutants. Similarly, no vps11 transcripts were detected from the pge mutants by Northern analysis. The injection of an antisense morpholino against vps11 phenocopied the pge mutant. Taken together, the results suggest that reduced expression of medaka vps11 causes pge and that medaka vps11 is indispensable for survival and normal pigmentation.
Ventricular cerebrospinal fluid melatonin concentrations investigated with an endoscopic technique
Authors: Longatti Pierluigi , Perin Alessandro , Rizzo Vittoria , Comai Stefano , Giusti Pietro , Costa Carlo Virgilio Luigi
Published: October 2006

Abstract:  The role of melatonin in humans still remains unclear. Uncertainties persist about its effects on neurophysiology regarding its levels in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), as the bulk of knowledge on this subject mainly derives from studies conducted on animals. In this study, CSF was micro‐sampled with a simple, new method from each cerebral ventricle of patients undergoing neuroendoscopy for hydrocephalus. Our purpose was to measure CSF melatonin levels and determine possible differences in its concentration among various significant areas in the cerebral ventricles (e.g. pineal recess, pituitary recess, lateral ventricle, fourth ventricle) and lumbar cistern. From 2002 to 2004, 10 hydrocephalic patients were operated on using a neuroendoscopic technique. The CSF specimens were investigated for melatonin concentrations (free plus protein‐bound) after deproteinization; the measurement technique was high‐performance liquid chromatography. The preliminary data obtained with this endoscopic micro‐sampling technique (applied to humans for the first time) suggest that melatonin is more concentrated within the ventricles and its highest concentration is found in the third ventricle (IIIv), although the difference detected between the CSF of the IIIv and that of the pineal recess was not significant.
Analysis of ancient sequence motifs in the H+‐PPase family
Authors: Hedlund Joel , Cantoni Roberto , Baltscheffsky Margareta , Baltscheffsky Herrick , Persson Bengt
Published: October 2006

The unique family of membrane‐bound proton‐pumping inorganic pyrophosphatases, involving pyrophosphate as the alternative to ATP, was investigated by characterizing 166 members of the UniProtKB/Swiss‐Prot + UniProtKB/TrEMBL databases and available completed genomes, using sequence comparisons and a hidden Markov model based upon a conserved 57‐residue region in the loop between transmembrane segments 5 and 6. The hidden Markov model was also used to search the approximately one million sequences recently reported from a large‐scale sequencing project of organisms in the Sargasso Sea, resulting in additional 164 partial pyrophosphatase sequences. The strongly conserved 57‐residue region was found to contain two nonapeptidyl sequences, mainly consisting of the four ‘very early’ proteinaceous amino acid residues Gly, Ala, Val and Asp, compatible with an ancient origin of the inorganic pyrophosphatases. The nonapeptide patterns have charged amino acid residues at positions 1, 5 and 9, are apparent binding sites for the substrate and parts of the active site, and were shown to be so specific for these enzymes that they can be used for functional assignments of unannotated genomes.
Muscle type‐specific response of PGC‐1α and oxidative enzymes during voluntary wheel running in mouse skeletal muscle
Authors: Ikeda S. , Kawamoto H. , Kasaoka K. , Hitomi Y. , Kizaki T. , Sankai Y. , Ohno H. , Haga S. , Takemasa T.
Published: October 2006

Aim:  It is generally accepted that endurance exercise increases the expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α), which governs the expression of oxidative metabolic enzymes. A previous report demonstrated that the regulation of mitochondrial protein expression in skeletal muscles in response to cold exposure depends on muscle fibre type. Cold exposure and endurance exercise are both metabolic challenges that require adjustments in mitochondrial energy metabolism, we hypothesized that the exercise‐induced increase in oxidative enzymes and PGC‐1α expression is higher in fast‐type than in slow‐type muscle.

Methods:  Female ICR mice were individually housed in cages equipped with running wheel for 1, 2, 4, 6 or 8 weeks. The soleus, plantaris (PLA) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles were then prepared from each mouse. The expression levels of PGC‐1α, mitochondrial proteins and GLUT4 were evaluated by Western blotting.

Results:  The expression level of PGC‐1α was increased only in the PLA muscle. Furthermore, the expression levels of all mitochondrial proteins and GLUT4 in the PLA muscle were increased. In the TA muscle, although there was no increase in PGC‐1α expression, the expression levels of mitochondrial proteins and GLUT4 were increased.

Conclusions:  These results suggest that muscle type‐specific responses occur during endurance exercise, and that the increase in PGC‐1α expression is not the only factor that promotes oxidative capacity as a result of endurance exercise.
Increased physical activity decreases hepatic free fatty acid uptake: a study in human monozygotic twins
Authors: Hannukainen Jarna C. , Nuutila Pirjo , Ronald Borra , Kaprio Jaakko , Kujala Urho M. , Janatuinen Tuula , Heinonen Olli J. , Kapanen Jukka , Viljanen Tapio , Haaparanta Merja , Rönnemaa Tapani , Parkkola Riitta , Knuuti Juhani , Kalliokoski Kari K.
Published: October 2006

Exercise is considered to be beneficial for free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism, although reports of the effects of increased physical activity on FFA uptake and oxidation in different tissues in vivo in humans have been inconsistent. To investigate the heredity‐independent effects of physical activity and fitness on FFA uptake in skeletal muscle, the myocardium, and liver we used positron emission tomography (PET) in nine healthy young male monozygotic twin pairs discordant for physical activity and fitness. The cotwins with higher physical activity constituting the more active group had a similar body mass index but less body fat and 18 ± 10% higher (P < 0.001) compared to the less active brothers with lower physical activity. Low‐intensity knee‐extension exercise increased skeletal muscle FFA and oxygen uptake six to 10 times compared to resting values but no differences were observed between the groups at rest or during exercise. At rest the more active group had lower hepatic FFA uptake compared to the less active group (5.5 ± 4.3 versus 9.0 ± 6.1 μmol (100 ml)−1 min−1, P= 0.04). Hepatic FFA uptake associated significantly with body fat percentage (P= 0.05). Myocardial FFA uptake was similar between the groups. In conclusion, in the absence of the confounding effects of genetic factors, moderately increased physical activity and aerobic fitness decrease body adiposity even in normal‐weighted healthy young adult men. Further, increased physical activity together with decreased intra‐abdominal adiposity seems to decrease hepatic FFA uptake but has no effects on skeletal muscle or myocardial FFA uptake.
On the Effectiveness of Ion Slip on Steady MHD Flow and Heat Transfer Above a Rotating Disk With Ohmic Heating
Authors: Attia Hazem Ali
Published: October 2006

The steady flow and heat transfer of a conducting fluid due to the rotation of an infinite, nonconducting disk in the presence of an axial uniform steady magnetic field are studied considering the ion slip and the Ohmic heating. The relevant equations are solved numerically using finite differences and the solution shows that the inclusion of the ion slip gives some interesting results.