bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seven years of experience with high‐intensity focused ultrasound for prostate cancer: Advantages and limitations
Authors: Sung Hyun Hwan , Jeong Byong Chang , Seo Seong Il , Jeon Seong Soo , Choi Han‐Yong , Lee Hyun Moo
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate oncologic outcomes and adverse events for patients with prostate cancer after treatment by high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).

METHODS

Between February 2004 and August 2010, patients with prostate cancer who underwent HIFU treatment were reviewed about oncologic outcomes and complications. Biochemical recurrence (BCR) was defined as prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) nadir plus 1.2 ng/ml. Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to evaluate BCR‐ and disease progression‐free survival according to risk stratification. Predictors for BCR and disease progression were identified using the Cox‐proportional hazard method.

RESULTS

The overall BCR rate was 59.5%, and median time to BCR was 13.8 months. The 5‐year BCR‐free survival rates of the low‐, intermediate‐, and high‐risk groups were 66.3, 40.2, and 21.0% (P = 0.001), respectively, and the 5‐year disease progression‐free survival rates were 73.5, 46.0, and 29.2%, respectively (P = 0.008). Multivariate analysis showed that risk stratification, PSA nadir, and time to PSA nadir were significant predictors of BCR and disease progression. In the first 3 months post‐op, 11 patients (8.7%) had complications. There were no patients who required blood transfusions or who had wound problems, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, or bowel dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

HIFU treatment does not provide effective oncologic outcomes even in low risk patients with prostate cancer as well as in the intermediate or high risk groups. Therefore, patients selected to undergo HIFU treatment for prostate cancer must be very carefully chosen. On the other hand, HIFU treatment for prostate cancer had a very low rate of complications. Prostate 72:1399–1406, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The binding affinities of proteins interacting with the PDZ domain of PICK1
Authors: Bolia Ashini , Gerek Z. Nevin , Keskin Ozlem , Banu Ozkan Sefika , Dev Kumlesh K.
Published: January 2012

Protein interacting with C kinase (PICK1) is well conserved throughout evolution and plays a critical role in synaptic plasticity by regulating the trafficking and posttranslational modification of its interacting proteins. PICK1 contains a single PSD95/DlgA/Zo‐1 (PDZ) protein–protein interaction domain, which is promiscuous and shown to interact with over 60 proteins, most of which play roles in neuronal function. Several reports have suggested the role of PICK1 in disorders such as epilepsy, pain, brain trauma and stroke, drug abuse and dependence, schizophrenia and psychosis. Importantly, lead compounds that block PICK1 interactions are also now becoming available. Here, a new modeling approach was developed to investigate binding affinities of PDZ interactions. Using these methods, the binding affinities of all major PICK1 interacting proteins are reported and the effects of PICK1 mutations on these interactions are described. These modeling methods have important implications in defining the binding properties of proteins interacting with PICK1 as well as the general structural requirements of PDZ interactions. The study also provides modeling methods to support in the drug design of ligands for PDZ domains, which may further aid in development of the family of PDZ domains as a drug target. Proteins 2012;. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The use of 2,2′‐dithiobis(5‐nitropyridine) (DTNP) for deprotection and diselenide formation in protected selenocysteine‐containing peptides
Authors: Schroll Alayne L. , Hondal Robert J. , Flemer Stevenson
Published: January 2012

In contrast to the large number of sidechain protecting groups available for cysteine derivatives in solid phase peptide synthesis, there is a striking paucity of analogous selenocysteine Se‐protecting groups in the literature. However, the growing interest in selenocysteine‐containing peptides and proteins requires a corresponding increase in availability of synthetic routes into these target molecules. It therefore becomes important to design new sidechain protection strategies for selenocysteine as well as multiple and novel deprotection chemistry for their removal. In this paper, we outline the synthesis of two new Fmoc selenocysteine derivatives [Fmoc‐Sec(Meb) and Fmoc‐Sec(Bzl)] to accompany the commercially available Fmoc‐Sec(Mob) derivative and incorporate them into two model peptides. Sec‐deprotection assays were carried out on these peptides using 2,2′‐dithiobis(5‐nitropyridine) (DTNP) conditions previously described by our group. The deprotective methodology was further evaluated as to its suitability towards mediating concurrent diselenide formation in oxytocin‐templated target peptides. Sec(Mob) and Sec(Meb) were found to be extremely labile to the DTNP conditions whether in the presence or absence of thioanisole, whereas Sec(Bzl) was robust to DTNP in the absence of thioanisole but quite labile in its presence. In multiple Sec‐containing model peptides, it was shown that bis‐Sec(Mob)‐containing systems spontaneously cyclize to the diselenide using 1 eq DTNP, whereas bis‐Sec(Meb) and Sec(Bzl) models required additional manipulation to induce cyclization. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hexafluoroisopropanol induces self‐assembly of β‐amyloid peptides into highly ordered nanostructures
Authors: Pachahara Sanjai Kumar , Chaudhary Nitin , Subbalakshmi Chilukuri , Nagaraj Ramakrishnan
Published: January 2012

Deposition of insoluble fibrillar aggregates of β‐amyloid (Aβ) peptides in the brain is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Apart from forming fibrils, these peptides also exist as soluble aggregates. Fibrillar and a variety of nonfibrillar aggregates of Aβ have also been obtained in vitro. Hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) has been widely used to dissolve Aβ and other amyloidogenic peptides. In this study, we show that the dissolution of Aβ40, 42, and 43 in HFIP followed by drying results in highly ordered aggregates. Although α‐helical conformation is observed, it is not stable for prolonged periods. Drying after prolonged incubation of Aβ40, 42, and 43 peptides in HFIP leads to structural transition from α‐helical to β‐conformation. The peptides form short fibrous aggregates that further assemble giving rise to highly ordered ring‐like structures. Aβ16–22, a highly amyloidogenic peptide stretch from Aβ, also formed very similar rings when dissolved in HFIP and dried. HFIP could not induce α‐helical conformation in Aβ16–22, and rings were obtained from freshly dissolved peptide. The rings formed by Aβ40, 42, 43, and Aβ16–22 are composed of the peptides in β‐conformation and cause enhancement in thioflavin T fluorescence, suggesting that the molecular architecture of these structures is amyloid‐like. Our results clearly indicate that dissolution of Aβ40, 42 and 43 and the amyloidogenic fragment Aβ16–22 in HFIP results in the formation of annular amyloid‐like structures. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Navigating the language demands of an inquiry‐based science performance assessment: Classroom challenges and opportunities for English learners
Authors: Lyon Edward G. , Bunch George C. , Shaw Jerome M.
Published: January 2012

Science performance assessments (SPAs) are designed to elicit a wider range of scientific knowledge and abilities than ordinarily measured by more traditional paper‐and‐pencil tests. To engage in SPAs and thus demonstrate abilities such as scientific inquiry, students must interact with various participants and communicate in a variety of ways. Using an analytical framework that draws on functional and interactional views of language, we analyzed video footage of one SPA, The World Down Under, enacted in three fifth‐grade classrooms. The video analysis revealed a wide variety of language demands that students encountered during the SPA, including a range of participant structures (whole class, small group, and individual), communicative modes (interpreting language, presenting language, and engaging interpersonally), and 18 different texts. Moreover, the language demands differed by classroom. A closer look at two video episodes illustrated how this more expansive communicative context afforded two English Learners (ELs) with opportunities to navigate the language demands of the assessment. However, the same language demands could present challenges for ELs with lower levels of English proficiency. The findings contribute to science education by bringing attention to the nature and role of language in SPAs, which has only begun to be described in the literature. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed 96:631–651, 2012
An on‐site digital investigation methodology for data leak case
Authors: Lee Seokhee , Lee Keungi , Park Jong Hyuk , Lee Sangjin
Published: January 2012

The ever growing storage device capacity poses a severe limit to the standard digital forensics collection procedures based on duplicating the original storage device by creating a bit‐by‐bit copy. Such a traditional procedure is followed, even if the goal of the investigation is to find a limited quantity of digital objects to support or refute an investigative hypothesis related to a precise case category. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a new methodology to deal with data leak cases, by applying an intelligent collection paradigm, a fast analysis approach that reduces investigation time. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Local modes in vibration–rotation spectroscopy
Authors: Jensen Per
Published: January 2012

The present paper is concerned with the description of highly excited rotational and/or vibrational states of molecules in terms of localized vibrations or local modes. Local mode effects are most common in molecules with multiple equivalent H–X bonds, which give rise to equivalent H–X local mode stretching vibrations, and the theory is outlined for the simplest such case, that of an H2X molecule. In the local mode picture of molecular vibration, experimentally observed, initially unexpected near‐degeneracies of vibrational states at high vibrational excitation, and of rotation–vibration states at high rotational excitation, can be explained in a relatively straightforward manner. The local mode theory predicts relations between the conventional rotation–vibration parameters whose values are determined in least‐squares fittings to observed rotation–vibration transition frequencies or wavenumbers. It should be emphasized, however, that such relations are valid only for particular forms of the effective rotation–vibration Hamiltonian used in the spectral analysis. We illustrate the theory with examples of experimental spectroscopic work where local mode effects play an important role in the interpretation of the experimental findings. The fact that local mode vibrations not only cause clustering of highly excited vibrational energy levels, but also of highly rotationally excited rotation–vibration energy levels, has been understood fairly recently. We outline the theoretical background for this phenomenon and relate it to the existing experimental work. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This article is categorized under:

Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Spectroscopy
Ab initio calculation of magnetic circular dichroism
Authors: Kjærgaard Thomas , Coriani Sonia , Ruud Kenneth
Published: January 2012

We discuss the ab initio calculation of all terms contributing to a magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectrum—i.e., A, B, and C terms—and give an overview of the most recent methods that have been introduced for calculating these different contributions. Among them, we highlight the use of the complex polarization propagator approach because it may give direct access to the A and B terms of MCD. We also briefly discuss how ab initio calculations for analyzing experimental MCD spectra can be used to gain insight into the electronic excited states of molecules. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This article is categorized under:

Electronic Structure Theory > Ab Initio Electronic Structure Methods
Industrial production of recombinant therapeutics in Escherichia coli and its recent advancements
Authors: Huang Chung-Jr , Lin Henry , Yang Xiaoming
Published: January 2012

Nearly 30% of currently approved recombinant therapeutic proteins are produced in Escherichia coli. Due to its well-characterized genetics, rapid growth and high-yield production, E. coli has been a preferred choice and a workhorse for expression of non-glycosylated proteins in the biotech industry. There is a wealth of knowledge and comprehensive tools for E. coli systems, such as expression vectors, production strains, protein folding and fermentation technologies, that are well tailored for industrial applications. Advancement of the systems continues to meet the current industry needs, which are best illustrated by the recent drug approval of E. coli produced antibody fragments and Fc-fusion proteins by the FDA. Even more, recent progress in expression of complex proteins such as full-length aglycosylated antibodies, novel strain engineering, bacterial N-glycosylation and cell-free systems further suggests that complex proteins and humanized glycoproteins may be produced in E. coli in large quantities. This review summarizes the current technology used for commercial production of recombinant therapeutics in E. coli and recent advances that can potentially expand the use of this system toward more sophisticated protein therapeutics.
Absorption and Metabolism of cis‐9,trans‐11‐CLA and of Its Oxidation Product 9,11‐Furan Fatty Acid by Caco‐2 Cells
Authors: Buhrke Thorsten , Merkel Roswitha , Lengler Imme , Lampen Alfonso
Published: January 2012

Furan fatty acids (furan‐FA) can be formed by auto‐oxidation of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) and may therefore be ingested when CLA‐containing foodstuff is consumed. Due to the presence of a furan ring structure, furan‐FA may have toxic properties, however, these substances are toxicologically not well characterized so far. Here we show that 9,11‐furan‐FA, the oxidation product of the major CLA isomer cis‐9,trans‐11‐CLA (c9,t11‐CLA), is not toxic to human intestinal Caco‐2 cells up to a level of 100 μM. Oil‐Red‐O staining indicated that 9,11‐furan‐FA as well as c9,t11‐CLA and linoleic acid are taken up by the cells and stored in the form of triglycerides in lipid droplets. Chemical analysis of total cellular lipids revealed that 9,11‐furan‐FA is partially elongated probably by the enzymatic activity of cellular fatty acid elongases whereas c9,t11‐CLA is partially converted to other isomers such as c9,c11‐CLA or t9,t11‐CLA. In the case of 9,11‐furan‐FA, there is no indication for any modification or activation of the furan ring system. From these results, we conclude that 9,11‐furan‐FA has no properties of toxicological relevance at least for Caco‐2 cells which serve as a model for enterocytes of the human small intestine.
Rice in Dravidian
Authors: Southworth Franklin
Published: January 2012

The Dravidian languages, now spoken mainly in peninsular India, form one of two main branches of the Zagrosian language family, whose other main branch consists of Elamitic and Brahui. Proto-Dravidian, the oldest reconstructible form of Dravidian, shows a society whose economy is based mainly on herding. While the speakers of Proto-Dravidian had some agricultural knowledge, they do not appear to have brought cereals with them when they moved from western Iran to the borderlands of South Asia in the fourth millennium BCE. Linguistic evidence shows that they had contact with Indo-Iranian speakers, and some groups of Dravidian speakers entered the Indus Valley before or during the period of the Harappan civilization. Dravidian-speaking groups played a significant role in herding and agriculture during that period and later, and may have been the first to cultivate rice on a large scale in the Indus Valley.
A multicenter study of the clinical characteristics of usual‐type vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia in China
Authors: Li Xiaochuan , Zhu Lan , Gu Yu , Jin Hangmei , Wang Changyu , Lang Jinghe
Published: January 2012

Objective

To investigate clinical characteristics of usual‐type vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (uVIN) in China.

Methods

A retrospective review of the records of 64 patients with uVIN was performed at 3 academic hospitals between 2004 and 2010. Patients were assigned to a younger (≤ 40 years) or an older (> 40 years) group. Clinical characteristics of lesions were described and analyzed.

Results

Mean patient age was 40.6 years. There was a high proportion of incidental findings (34%), multifocal lesions (64%), variegated lesions (59%), and multiple neoplastic lesions in the lower genital tract (20%). As patient age increased, so did numbers of patients reporting pain (P < 0.05). Longer time between symptom onset and uVIN diagnosis, and more multifocal lesions were noted in the older group (P < 0.05). Whereas younger patients often presented with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and uVIN, older patients often presented with intraepithelial neoplasia at uncommon locations (e.g. vagina, anus, and periurethral region) (P < 0.05). No differences between the groups were found regarding gross appearance or anatomic location of uVIN lesions (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Age‐specific differences were noted in location of neoplastic lesions in the lower genital tract and time to diagnosis of uVIN. However, the clinical features of uVIN lesions were heterogeneous and non‐age specific.
Effect of omega‐3 fatty acids on intensity of primary dysmenorrhea
Authors: Rahbar Nahid , Asgharzadeh Neda , Ghorbani Raheb
Published: January 2012

Objective

To examine whether dietary supplementation with omega‐3 fatty acids relieved symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea.

Methods

Women aged 18–22 years with primary dysmenorrhea were enrolled in a double‐blind crossover study. Women assigned to group 1 (n = 47) received 1 omega‐3 capsule daily for 3 months, followed by placebo for 3 months. Women in group 2 (n = 48) received placebo for 3 months, followed by omega‐3 for 3 months. A washout period was performed in both groups. Participants used 400 mg of ibuprofen as a rescue dose if severe menstrual pains were experienced.

Results

A marked reduction in pain intensity was observed after 3 months of treatment with omega‐3 fatty acids (P < 0.05). Women who received omega‐3 fatty acids required fewer rescue doses than women who received placebo (P < 0.05). The mean numbers of ibuprofen tablets used after 3 months with omega‐3 fatty acids were 4.3 ± 2.1 (group 1) and 3.2 ± 2.5 (group 2); the mean numbers of tablets used after 3 months of placebo were 5.3 ± 2.2 (group 1) and 6.0 ± 2.6 (group 2) (P = 0.001 for both).

Conclusion

Supplementation with omega‐3 fatty acids reduced the symptom intensity of primary dysmenorrhea. Supplementation efficacy was sufficient to decrease the ibuprofen rescue dose.
Multiple‐dose vaginal misoprostol and single‐dose misoprostol plus oxytocin for termination of second‐trimester pregnancy
Authors: Zangeneh Maryam , Malek‐Khosravi Shohreh , Veisi Firoozeh , Rezavand Negin , Rezaee Mansour , Rajatee Mozhgan
Published: January 2012

Objective

To compare 2 different methods—multiple doses of misoprostol and a combination of misoprostol and oxytocin—for termination of pregnancy in the second trimester.

Methods

Between 2006 and 2008, 120 women undergoing termination of second‐trimester pregnancy in 2 hospitals in Kermanshah, Iran, were enrolled in a randomized trial comparing 2 treatments. In each treatment group, an initial vaginal dose of 600 μg of misoprostol was placed in the posterior fornix. After 6 hours, an intravenous infusion of concentrated oxytocin was given to women in group A, and 400 μg of vaginal misoprostol was given every 6 hours to women group B, up to a maximum of 4 doses. The outcomes were compared via χ2 and independent t tests.

Results

Within 30 hours, 96.7% of women in group A and 96.7% of women in group B delivered successfully. The average duration between induction and delivery time was 12.3 ± 6.0 hours in group A and 12.1 ± 6.0 hours in group B (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

The use of misoprostol with oxytocin, and multiple doses of misoprostol gave similar results for termination of pregnancy in the second trimester.
Gesundheitsförderung bei älteren Langzeitarbeitslosen
Authors: Mühlpfordt Susann , Rothländer Katrin , Richter Peter
Published: January 2012

Einleitung

Das hier beschriebene Projekt richtete sich speziell an ältere Langzeitarbeitslose (50 - 65 Jahren) als besonders benachteiligte und in ihrer Gesundheit gefährdete Gruppe. Ziel war es, verhaltens- und verhältnisorientierte Ansätze zur Gesundheitsförderung älterer Erwerbsloser zu evaluieren. Dabei standen die Stabilisierung und Stärkung psychosozialer Ressourcen, wie Selbstwirksamkeitserwartung (Schwarzer und Jerusalem, 1999) und wahrgenommene körperliche, psychische und soziale Gesundheit (Manz, 1998) im Vordergrund.
Können Mobilität und Sicherheit bei Menschen mit Demenz in Pflegeheimen gefördert werden?
Authors: Schäufele Martina , Hoell Andreas , Hendlmeier Ingrid , Weyerer Siegfried
Published: January 2012

Einleitung

Hochaltrige Menschen mit Demenz in Pflegeheimen sind eine Hochrisikogruppe für Einschränkungen der Mobilität und Sicherheit. Abgesehen davon, dass solche Einschränkungen die Lebenserwartung und Lebensqualität im höheren Alter nachweislich bedeutsam mindern, sind sie mit erheblichen ökonomischen Folgekosten verbunden. Vor diesem Hintergrund wurden in 20 Pflegeheimen interdisziplinäre Leitlinien zur Förderung von Mobilität und Sicherheit demenzkranker Bewohner implementiert und auf ihre Wirksamkeit hin untersucht (Schäufele et al., 2011).
Fit50+: Gezielte Gesundheitsförderung bei Langzeiterwerbslosen
Authors: Kreuzfeld Steffi , Stoll Regina
Published: January 2012

Einleitung

Die negativen Folgen von Erwerbslosigkeit auf die physische und psychische Gesundheit sind seit langem belegt. Neben finanziellen Einschränkungen sind der Verlust sozialer Kontakte, persönlicher Anerkennung und der Wegfall der Lebensperspektive gravierende Faktoren, die sowohl das subjektive Gesundheitserleben als auch das Gesundheitsverhalten und die objektive Gesundheit beeinflussen. Gezielte Gesundheitsförderung ist notwendig und sinnvoll, um Reintegrationsprozesse zu unterstützen.
Desiccation cracks in Zhoushan Archipelago, East China Sea, developed during Heinrich event 3
Authors: Jia Nan , Wang Yuhong , Sun Liguang
Published: January 2012

Large desiccation cracks were discovered in the intertidal zone of Zhoushan archipelago, East China Sea. Radiocarbon dating showed that desiccation cracks were formed around 31.2–30.4 cal ka BP. Palynological, mineralogical, and elemental geochemical analyses indicated that the cracks were formed as the result of an abrupt climate shift event. The climate changed from warm and humid, to cold and arid, and back to warm and humid again. This climate event is quite likely linked to Heinrich event 3 via the East Asian Monsoon. Desiccation cracks may provide a new proxy material for studying paleoclimate and paleoenvironment in the Quaternary.
Intermittent dynamics of turbulence hibernation in Newtonian and viscoelastic minimal channel flows
Authors: Xi Li , Graham Michael D.
Published: January 2012

Maximum drag reduction (MDR), the asymptotic upper limit of reduction in turbulent friction drag by polymer additives, is the most important unsolved problem in viscoelastic turbulence. Recent studies of turbulence in minimal flow units have identified time intervals showing key features of MDR. These intervals, denoted ‘hibernating turbulence’ are found in both Newtonian and viscoelastic flows. The present study provides a comprehensive examination of this turbulence hibernation phenomenon in the minimal channel geometry, and discusses its impact on the turbulent dynamics and drag reduction. Similarities between hibernating turbulence and MDR are established in terms of both flow statistics (an intermittency factor, mean and fluctuating components of velocity) and flow structure (weak vortices and nearly streamwise-invariant kinematics). Hibernation occurs more frequently at high levels of viscoelasticity, leading to flows that increasingly resemble MDR. Viscoelasticity facilitates the occurrence of hibernation by suppressing the conventional ‘active’ turbulence, but has little influence on hibernation itself. At low Weissenberg number$\mathit{Wi}$, the average duration of active turbulence intervals is constant, but above a critical value of$\mathit{Wi}$, the duration decreases dramatically, and accordingly, the fraction of time spent in hibernation increases. This observation can be explained with a simple mathematical model that posits that the lifetime of an active turbulence interval is the time that it takes for the turbulence to stretch polymer molecules to a certain threshold value; once the molecules exceed this threshold, they exert a large enough stress on the flow to suppress the active turbulence. This model predicts an explicit form for the duration as a function of$\mathit{Wi}$and the simulation results match this prediction very closely. The critical point where hibernation frequency becomes substantially increased coincides with the point where qualitative changes are observed in overall flow statistics – the transition between ‘low-drag-reduction’ and ‘high-drag-reduction’ regimes. Probability density functions of important variables reveal a much higher level of intermittency in the turbulent dynamics after this transition. It is further confirmed that hibernating turbulence is a Newtonian structure during which polymer extension is small. Based on these results, a framework is proposed that explains key transitions in viscoelastic turbulence, especially the convergence toward MDR.
Influence of gum tragacanth on the physicochemical and rheological properties of kashk
Authors: Shiroodi Setareh Ghorban , Mohammadifar Mohammad Amin , Gorji Elham Ghorbani , Ezzatpanah Hamid , Zohouri Nilofar
Published: January 2012

In this study, the physicochemical properties of a low-fat dried yogurt paste (kashk) were determined, and the effects of different concentrations (0, 0·1, 0·3 and 0·5% w/w) of gum tragacanth exudates from Astragalus gossypinus on the stability and texture of the samples were investigated by measuring amount of syneresis, turbidity, particle size distribution (PSD), flow behaviour and viscoelastic properties. The flow behaviour index was not very sensitive to the concentration of gum, while a remarkable concentration dependency of the power-law consistency coefficient and Herschel–Bulkley yield stress was observed. The initial increase in the gum concentration at 0·1 and 0·3% levels led to a higher degree of syneresis, which was related to the depletion flocculation mechanism. However, the reduced amount of syneresis in samples containing 0·5% gum tragacanth was attributed to the significant increase in viscosity of the continuous phase, which is also accompanied by trapping of the aggregated casein particles. The presence of 3% salt in the samples may have led to the neutralization of charges on the surface of gum tragacanth; consequently, the non-adsorbing behaviour of high-ionic-strength polysaccharides inhibited the formation of electrostatic protein–polysaccharide complexes. Furthermore, maximum values of polydispersity, syneresis and tan δ at high frequencies were found in samples containing 0·1% gum tragacanth.
Slow entropy and differentiable models for infinite-measure preserving ℤk actions
Authors: HOCHMAN MICHAEL
Published: January 2012

We define ‘slow’ entropy invariants for ℤd actions on infinite measure spaces, which measure growth of itineraries at subexponential scales. We use this notion to construct infinite-measure preserving ℤ2 actions which cannot be realized as a group of diffeomorphisms of a compact manifold preserving a Borel measure, in contrast to the situation for ℤ actions, where every infinite-measure preserving action can be realized in this way.
A stable adaptive force/position controller for a C5 parallel robot: a neural network approach
Authors: Achili B. , Daachi B. , Amirat Y. , Ali-Cherif A. , Daâchi M. E.
Published: January 2012

This paper presents an adaptive force/position controller for a parallel robot executing constrained motions. This controller, based on an MLPNN (or Multi-Layer Perceptron Neural Network), does not require the inverse dynamic model of the robot to derive the control law. A neural identification of the dynamic model of the robot is proposed to determine the principal components of the MLPNN input vector. The latter is used to compensate the dynamic effects arising from the robot–environment interaction and its parameters are adjusted according to an adaptation law based on the Lyapunov-analysis methodology. The proposed controller is evaluated experimentally on the C5 parallel robot. This method is capable of tracking accurately the force/position trajectories and its stability robustness is proved.
Guidelines for the New Nordic Diet
Authors: Mithril Charlotte , Dragsted Lars Ove , Meyer Claus , Blauert Emil , Holt Mathias Krog , Astrup Arne
Published: January 2012

Objective

Diet has a significant impact on health, and ensuring that the population eats a healthy diet remains a public health challenge. Research is needed in order to improve the palatability of a healthy diet and make it attractive to the consumer. It has also been suggested that dietary recommendations should be tailored to regional conditions. The OPUS (Optimal well-being, development and health for Danish children through a healthy New Nordic Diet) project investigates whether it is possible to develop a healthy New Nordic Diet (NND) that is palatable, environmentally friendly and based on foods originating from the Nordic region. The present paper describes the overall guidelines for the NND, developed and investigated in the multidisciplinary, 5-year OPUS research project. All guidelines are described in relation to the key principles: health, gastronomic potential and Nordic identity, and sustainability.

Results

The NND is described by the overall guidelines: (i) more calories from plant foods and fewer from meat; (ii) more foods from the sea and lakes; and (iii) more foods from the wild countryside. These overall guidelines result in a set of proposed dietary components which will be presented in a subsequent paper.

Conclusions

Both the guidelines and the diet are composed taking the potential health-promoting properties and Nordic identity of the NND into account, as well as concern for environmental issues and gastronomic potential.
TRANSITIVITY AND INTRANSITIVITY IN EVIDENTIAL SUPPORT: SOME FURTHER RESULTS
Authors: ROCHE WILLIAM
Published: January 2012

Igor Douven establishes several new intransitivity results concerning evidential support. I add to Douven’s very instructive discussion by establishing two further intransitivity results and a transitivity result.
Translating democracy: how activists in the European Social Forum practice multilingual deliberation
Authors: Doerr Nicole
Published: January 2012

Linguistic barriers may pose problems for politicians trying to communicate delicate decisions to a European-wide public, as well as for citizens wishing to protest at the European level. In this article I present a counter-intuitive position on the language question, one that explores how grassroots activists in social movements use translation as a novel practice to debate political alternatives in the European Union's (EU) multilingual public sphere. In recent years, new cross-European protest movements have created the multilingual discursive democracy arena known as the European Social Forum (ESF). I compare deliberative practices in the multilingual ESF preparatory meetings with those in monolingual national Social Forum meetings in three Western European countries. My comparison shows that multilingualism does not reduce the inclusivity of democratic deliberation as compared to the national context. In the ESF, grassroots deliberators work using a novel practice of translation that has the potential to include marginalized groups. It is, however, a distinct kind of translation that activists use. Translation, compared to EU-official practices of multilingualism, affects a change in institutionalizedhabitsand norms of deliberation. Addressing democratic theorists, my findings suggest that translation could be a way to think about difference not as a hindrance but as a resource for democracy in linguistically heterogeneous societies and public spaces,withoutpresupposing a shared language orlingua franca, nor a national identity.
Cassini observations of ionospheric photoelectrons at large distances from Titan: Implications for Titan's exospheric environment and magnetic tail
Authors: Wellbrock A. , Coates A. J. , Sillanpää I. , Jones G. H. , Arridge C. S. , Lewis G. R. , Young D. T. , Crary F. J. , Aylward A. D.
Published: January 2012

Discrete peaks near 24.1 eV are seen in electron spectra measured in Titan's ionosphere by the ELS (Electron Spectrometer), part of the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS), and are interpreted as photoelectrons. These photoelectrons are generated as a result of ionization of N2 by the strong solar He II (30.4 nm) line. They are generally observed in the dayside ionosphere, because this is where neutral N2 particles can be ionized by solar radiation. Coates et al. (2007) discussed initial observations of photoelectrons in Titan's distant tail during the T9 encounter. Here, we describe additional photoelectron peak observations at large distances from Titan, where they are unlikely to have originated because of low neutral N2 densities. We consider the tail structures during the encounters T15, T17, and T40. We infer that the distant photoelectrons may have traveled to the observation sites by means of a magnetic connection from lower altitudes in the dayside ionosphere, where they could have been produced. This idea is supported by results of hybrid modeling. Thus photoelectrons may be used as tracers of magnetic field lines and further improve our understanding of Titan's complex plasma environment.
Uncertainties in terrestrial carbon budgets related to spring phenology
Authors: Jeong Su‐Jong , Medvigy David , Shevliakova Elena , Malyshev Sergey
Published: January 2012

In temperate regions, the budburst date of deciduous trees is mainly regulated by temperature variation, but the exact nature of the temperature dependence has been a matter of debate. One hypothesis is that budburst date depends purely on the accumulation of warm temperature; a competing hypothesis states that exposure to cold temperatures is also important for budburst. In this study, variability in budburst is evaluated using 15 years of budburst data for 17 tree species at Harvard Forest. We compare two budburst hypotheses through reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo. We then investigate how uncertainties in budburst date mapped onto uncertainties in ecosystem carbon using the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory's LM3 land model. For 15 of 17 species, we find that more complicated budburst models that account for a chilling period are favored over simpler models that do not include such dependence. LM3 simulations show that the choice of budburst model induces differences in the timing of carbon uptake commencement of ∼11 days, in the magnitude of April–May carbon uptake of ∼1.03 g C m−2day−1, and in total ecosystem carbon stocks of ∼2 kg C m−2. While the choice of whether to include a chilling period in the budburst model strongly contributes to this variability, another important factor is how the species‐dependent field data gets mapped onto LM3's single deciduous plant functional type (PFT). We conclude budburst timing has a strong impact on simulated CO2fluxes, and uncertainty in the fluxes can be substantially reduced by improving the model's representation of PFT diversity.
Pathogenicity and proteomic signatures of autoantibodies to Ro and La
Authors: Lindop Rhianna , Arentz Georgia , Thurgood Lauren A , Reed Joanne H , Jackson Michael W , Gordon Tom P
Published: January 2012

Ro/SSA and La/SSB comprise a linked set of autoantigens that are clinically important members of the extractable nuclear antigen family and key translational biomarkers for lupus and primary Sjögren's syndrome. Autoantibodies directed against the Ro60 and La polypeptide components of the Ro/La ribonucleoprotein complex, and the structurally unrelated Ro52 protein, mediate tissue damage in the neonatal lupus syndrome, a model of passively acquired autoimmunity in humans in which the most serious manifestation is congenital heart block (CHB). Recent studies have concentrated on two distinct pathogenic mechanisms by which maternal anti‐Ro/La autoantibodies can cause CHB: by forming immune complexes with apoptotic cells in developing fetal heart; and/or by acting as functional autoantibodies that cross‐react with and inhibit calcium channels. Although the precise role of the individual autoantibodies is yet to be settled, maternal anti‐Ro60 and anti‐Ro52 remain the most likely culprits. This article will discuss the molecular pathways that culminate in the development of CHB, including the recent discovery of β2 glycoprotein I as a protective factor, and present a proteomic approach based on direct mass spectrometric sequencing, which may give a more representative snapshot of the idiotype repertoire of these autoantibodies than genomic‐based technologies.
Changes in enzyme activities and in the functional diversity of actinomycetes due to long term agricultural management
Authors: Eckstein Yvonne , Tarkka Mika , Gutknecht Jessica , Schulz Elke , Vemula Venukumar , Schmidt Jana , Henning Gabi , Rose Jackie
Published: January 2012

Long-term agricultural management alters soil organic matter, nutrient status, and potentially the decomposer community. We measured the abundance and activity of cellulose, chitin, and protease degrading bacteria, and total soil extra-cellular enzyme activity for cellulose (β-glucosidase), chitinase (N-acetyl-glucosaminidase), xylosidase, and phosphatase activity. By combining these methods, we could determine how bacterial decomposer abundance and function were altered by long-term management, and how the bacterial decomposer community relates to overall soil enzyme activity. We also measured microbial total fungal and bacterial biomass, soil organic carbon pools, and extractable nitrogen for supplementary comparisons. Soil samples were taken in June of 2010 from the Bad Lauchstädt field station’s Static Fertilization Experiment, under treatment for 108 years. Treatments include mineral (NPK) fertilizer (none or added at 140, 60, and 230 kg ha-1 yr-1) and manure addition (none, 20 T ha-1 2yr-1, and 30 T ha-1 2yr-1) in a full factorial experiment. We found that total cellulase activity and the abundance of cellulase degrading bacteria were higher in plots with manure addition. We observed the same pattern for total phosphatase activity, total chitinase activity, and the abundance of chitin degrading bacteria, although the trend was not statistically significant for total chitinase activity. These results suggest that long-term management does alter decomposition and that total soil enzyme activity reflects the abundance of decomposer bacteria.
Multifunctional silicon inspired by a wing of male Papilio ulysse
Authors: Yun Sang H. , Lee Hyung-Seok , Ha Kwon Young , Göthelid Mats , Mo Koo Sang , Wågberg Lars , Karlsson Ulf O. , Linnros Jan
Published: January 2012

Effective entrapment of air and light is a key element for maintaining stable superhydrophobicity and enhancing anti-reflection or absorption. Inspired by a wing of male Papilio ulysse having a unique structure for enabling effective trapping of air and light, we demonstrate that the structure consisting of well-defined multilayer decorated by nanostructures can be obtained on a silicon wafer by a simple microelectromechanical process, consequently resulted in stable superhydrophobocity under static and dynamic conditions, and strong wideband optical absorption.
Enhanced thermoelectric properties of Mg2Si by addition of TiO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Cederkrantz D. , Farahi N. , Borup K. A. , Iversen B. B. , Nygren M. , Palmqvist A. E. C.
Published: January 2012

The effects on the thermoelectric properties of Mg2Si when adding TiO2 nanoparticles have been evaluated experimentally. A batch of Mg2Si was prepared through direct solid state reaction and divided into portions which were mechanically mixed with different amounts of TiO2 nanoparticles ranging from 0.5 to 3 vol% and subsequently sintered to disks. All materials showed n-type conduction and the absolute value of the Seebeck coefficient was reduced with increasing amount of TiO2 added, while the electrical resistivity was greatly reduced. The thermal conductivity was surprisingly little affected by the addition of the nanoparticles. An optimum value of the thermoelectric figure-of-merit ZT = TS2σ/k was found for the addition of 1 vol% TiO2, showing almost three times higher ZT value than that of the pure Mg2Si. Larger TiO2 additions resulted in lower ZT values and with 3 vol% added TiO2 the ZT was comparable to the pure Mg2Si. The sintering process resulted in reduction or chemical reaction of all TiO2 to TiSi2 and possibly elemental titanium as well as reduced TiOx. The increased electrical conductivity and the decreased Seebeck coefficient were found due to an increased charge carrier concentration, likely caused by the included compounds or titanium-doping of the Mg2Si matrix. The low observed effect on the thermal conductivity of the composites may be explained by the relatively higher thermal conductivity of the included compounds, counter-balancing the expected increased grain boundary scattering. Alternatively, the introduction of compounds does not significantly increase the concentration of scattering grain boundaries.
Movable magnetic probe system in the T-10 tokamak
Authors: Savrukhin P. V. , Shestakov E. A.
Published: January 2012

New magnetic probe system is installed on the T-10 tokamak to investigate fast-scale magnetic perturbations (f up to 2 MHz). The system is based on vertical and horizontal magnetic probes made by nickel wire in glass enamel isolation (effective area 20–250 cm2) separated from the support structures by ceramic spacers (5–10 mm). The probe system is mounted on the top of movable rode allowing positioning along vertical axis close to the plasma boundary at the low field side of the torus. Additional positioning system allows rotation of the probes around the vertical axis on pulse-to-pulse basis. The probes are directly connected to the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) module (acquisition rate 60 MHz) through short (∼4 m) coaxial cables. The system allowed identification of the fast-scale magnetic oscillations (0.2–0.5 MHz) during energy quench phase of the disruption instability in plasma with high density. Amplitude of the fast-scale magnetic oscillations decays with distance from the plasma boundary 2–10 times faster than one of the standard magnetohydrodynamic modes.
Compound transfer matrices: Constructive and destructive interference
Authors: Boonserm Petarpa , Visser Matt
Published: January 2012

Scattering from a compound barrier, one composed of a number of distinct non-overlapping sub-barriers, has a number of interesting and subtle mathematical features. If one is scattering classical particles, where the wave aspects of the particle can be ignored, the transmission probability of the compound barrier is simply given by the product of the transmission probabilities of the individual sub-barriers. In contrast, if one is scattering waves (whether we are dealing with either purely classical waves or quantum Schrodinger wavefunctions) each sub-barrier contributes phase information (as well as a transmission probability), and these phases can lead to either constructive or destructive interference, with the transmission probability oscillating between nontrivial upper and lower bounds. In this article, we shall study these upper and lower bounds in some detail, and also derive bounds on the closely related process of quantum excitation (particle production) via parametric resonance.
Effects of electron-phonon coupling and electron diffusion on ripples growth on ultrafast-laser-irradiated metals
Authors: Colombier J. P. , Garrelie F. , Faure N. , Reynaud S. , Bounhalli M. , Audouard E. , Stoian R. , Pigeon F.
Published: January 2012

Metals exposed to ultrafast laser irradiation close to ablative regimes show often a submicron-scale (near 0.5 μm) periodic organization of the surface as ripples. Using two classes of metallic materials (transition and noble), we have determined that the ripples amplitude is strongly correlated to the material transport properties, namely electron-phonon relaxation strength, electronic diffusion, and to the energy band characteristics of the electronic laser excitation. This particularly depends on the topology of the electronic structure, including d-band effects on electronic excitation. Comparing the effects of electron-phonon nonequilibrium lifetimes for the different metals under similar irradiation conditions, we indicate how the electron-phonon coupling strength affects the electronic thermal diffusion, the speed of phase transformation and impacts on the ripples contrast. The highest contrast is observed for ruthenium, where the electron-phonon coupling is the strongest, followed by tungsten, nickel, and copper, the latter with the least visible contrast. The dependence of surface patterns contrast with fluence is linked to the dependence of the relaxation characteristics with the electronic temperature.
Influence of Dy3+ coactivator on the luminescence properties of Gd2O2S:Tb3+ phosphor
Authors: Wang Fei , Liu Dachun , Yang Bin , Zhang Jinchao , Dai Yongnian
Published: January 2012

Gd2O2S:Tb, Dy phosphor were synthesized by co-precipitation method combined with solid-state reactions. The crystal structure and luminescent properties were investigated in this paper. It was confirmed that no new phase was introduced by the analysis of X-ray diffractions (XRD) and fluorescence spectroscopy. It was also illustrated that the lattice size was decreased by doping Dy3+ ions. The results showed that the Dy3+ coactivator had a remarkable influence on the spectral properties of the Gd2O2S:Tb phosphor and can be taken as rare earth ion detector to determine the micro-structure of phosphors. Especially the cross relaxation between Tb3+ and Dy3+ may take place to form the non-radiative energy transfer. Dy3+ as the coactivator added in Gd2O2S:Tb could enhance the luminescence and not disturb its other primary properties. With Dy3+ concentration increased, the intensity of 4F9/2—H13/2 transition at 578 nm was increased further and the emission of 5D4—7FJ transition was highly improved to cause greener emission.
Triggering voltage for post-breakdown random telegraph noise in HfLaO dielectric metal gate metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors and its reliability implications
Authors: Liu W. H. , Pey K. L. , Raghavan N. , Wu X. , Bosman M.
Published: January 2012

We report a triggering voltage Vtrig for observing gate leakage current (Ig) random telegraph noise (RTN) in the post-breakdown regime of HfLaO dielectric metal gate stacks. Vtrig, the onset voltage to observe RTN in degraded dielectrics, is highly dependent on breakdown hardness, which is controlled by the leakage current compliance (Igl). This dependence is qualitatively analyzed using a percolation dilation model, where generation of additional traps either at different energy levels or spatial locations gives lower Vtrig at higher Igl. The magnitude of Vtrig can be used as a direct indication of the impact of RTN on the performance of the transistor at device level, when Vtrig is evaluated by comparing with the device operating voltage.