bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ovarian carcinoma presenting with axillary lymph node metastasis: A case diagnosed by fine‐needle aspiration and brief review of the literature
Authors: Skagias Lazaros , Ntinis Apostolos , Vasou Olympia , Kondi‐Pafiti Agathi , Politi Ekaterini
Published: October 2008

Ovarian carcinoma is a lethal disease and a main cause of morbidity and mortality among gyneocological malignancies. Metastatic ovarian carcinoma to the axillary node is an expectionally infrequent pathological entity. We report a case of ovarian carcinoma, which presented with axillary lymph node metastasis and review the previously documented cases. A 63‐year‐old woman with a medical history of stage IIIb ovarian carcinoma was admitted to our hospital complaining of a mass in her right axilla. Fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy was performed. Cytological examination revealed a poorly differentiated carcinoma with immunocytochemical features consistent with metastatic ovarian carcinoma. This case illustrates a rare presentation of ovarian carcinoma and underlines the need to consider it in the differential diagnosis of axillary lesions. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pharmacogenetics of the neurodevelopmental impact of anticancer chemotherapy
Authors: Robaey Philippe , Krajinovic Maja , Marcoux Sophie , Moghrabi Albert
Published: October 2008

Pharmacogenetics holds the promise of minimizing adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes of cancer patients by identifying patients at risk, enabling the individualization of treatment and the planning of close follow‐up and early remediation. This review focuses first on methotrexate, a drug often implicated in neurotoxicity, especially when used in combination with brain irradiation. The second focus is on glucocorticoids that have been found to be linked to adverse developmental effects in relation with the psychosocial environment. For both examples, we review how polymorphisms of genes encoding enzymes involved in specific mechanisms of action could moderate adverse neurodevelopmental consequences, eventually through common final pathways such as oxidative stress. We discuss a multiple hit model and possible strategies required to rise to the challenge of this integrative research. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Dev Disabil Res Rev 2008;14:211–220.
Comparative expression analysis of the murine palladin isoforms
Authors: Wang Hao‐Ven , Moser Markus
Published: October 2008

Palladin fulfils a crucial function as a molecular scaffold in organizing and stabilizing the actin cytoskeleton. At least four major palladin isoforms exist due to different promoter usage and alternative splicing: a 200‐kDa isoform, a 140‐kDa isoform, and two isoforms with a size of 90–92 kDa. Here, we describe their expression during mouse development and in adult tissues. The 200‐kDa isoform is predominantly expressed in developing heart and skeletal muscle. The 140‐kDa isoform is expressed in various mesenchymal tissues, and also represents the major isoform of the brain. The 90–92‐kDa isoforms are almost ubiquitously expressed with the highest levels in smooth muscle‐rich tissues. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorecence staining with an anti‐200‐kDa isoform‐specific antiserum localizes the large isoform to the Z‐discs of cardiac and skeletal muscle cells. Interestingly, the expression of this isoform is initiated and increasing during in vitro differentiation and fusion of C2C12 myoblasts, suggesting that the 200‐kDa palladin isoform may play a scaffolding role during sarcomeric organization. Developmental Dynamics 237:3342–3351, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A 4.3−mΩcm2, 1100‐V normally‐off IEMOSFET on SiC
Authors: Harada Shinsuke , Okamoto Mitsuo , Yatsuo Tsutomu , Fukuda Kenji , Arai Kazuo
Published: October 2008

The channel mobility in the SiC MOSFET degrades on the rough surface of the p‐well formed by ion implantation. Recently, we have developed a double‐epitaxial MOSFET (DEMOSFET), in which the p‐well comprises two stacked epitaxially grown p‐type layers and n‐type region between the p‐wells is formed by ion implantation. This device exhibited a low on‐resistance of 8.5 mΩcm2 with a blocking voltage of 600 V. In this study, to further improve the performance, we newly developed a device structure that we named implantation and epitaxial MOSFET (IEMOSFET). In this device, the p‐well is formed by selective high‐concentration p+ implantation and following low‐concentration p− epitaxial growth. Fabricated IEMOSFET with a buried channel exhibited superior characteristics than DEMOSFET. The extremely low specific on‐resistance of 4.3 mΩcm2 was achieved with a blocking voltage of 1100 V. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 91(3): 9– 14, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10068
Training and oblivion characteristics of modulated vibration stimulus
Authors: Mizuno Tota , Nozawa Akio , Uchida Masafumi , Ide Hideto
Published: October 2008

The purpose of this study is tactile presentation of figure information by means of modulated vibration based on a short‐cycle component Ts−1 (40 to 1000 Hz) and a long‐cycle component Tl−1 (2 to 40 Hz). An effective method for training of the modulated vibration stimulus is proposed and the experimental results on the training and oblivion characteristics of figure discrimination are presented. A training method that integrates tactile and visual stimuli is found to be effective, and it is shown that the association with the frequency change of the long‐cycle component is retained in memory longer than that of the short‐cycle component. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 91(4): 27– 33, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience(www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10078
Micromachining of inorganic materials using plasma soft x‐rays
Authors: Makimura Tetsuya , Uchida Satoshi , Fujimori Takashige , Niino Hiroyuki , Murakami Kouichi
Published: October 2008

We have investigated nanomachining of inorganic materials using laser plasma soft X‐rays. The soft X‐rays were generated by irradiating Ta targets with pulsed Nd:YAG laser light. The laser plasma soft X‐rays were focused using an ellipsoidal mirror, which is designed so as to focus soft X‐rays at around 10 nm efficiently. The focused soft X‐rays were incident to the surfaces of inorganic materials such as silica glass, LiF, CaF2, and LiNbO3. It is found that these materials are ablated by soft X‐ray irradiation. In particular, silica glass can be ablated at rates of 0.2 to 150 nm/shot, which can be controlled by the intensity of soft X‐rays. It is remarkable that silica can be ablated smoothly with a roughness of 1 nm after 10 shots of soft X‐ray irradiation at a rate of 50 nm/shot. In order to demonstrate nanomachining of silica glass, we used contact masks on top of silica glass plates fabricated by electron beam lithography technique. The silica glass plates were irradiated with laser plasma soft X‐rays through the windows of the contact masks. We found that nanofabrication of trenches with a width of 70 nm was performed clearly. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 91(4): 45– 51, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10080
Image reconstruction of buried multiple conductors by genetic algorithms
Authors: Huang Chung‐Hsin , Lu Hung‐Cheng , Chiu Chien‐Ching , Wysocki Tadeusz A. , Wysocki Beata J.
Published: October 2008

This paper presents an inverse scattering problem for recovering the shapes of multiple conducting cylinders with the immersed targets in a half‐space by genetic algorithm. Two separate perfectly conducting cylinders of unknown shapes are buried in one half‐space and illuminated by transverse magnetic (TM) plane wave from the other half‐space. Based on the boundary condition and the measured scattered field, a set of nonlinear integral equations are derived, and the electromagnetic imaging problem is reformulated into an optimization problem. The improved steady state genetic algorithm is used to find out the global extreme solution. Numerical results are given to demonstrate the performance of the inverse algorithm. Good reconstruction can be obtained even when the initial guesses are far different from the exact shapes, and then the multiple scattered fields between two conductors are serious. In addition, the effect of Gaussian noise on the reconstruction is investigated. We can find that the effect of noise is negligible for the normalized standard deviations below 0.01. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 18, 276–281, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com).
Block‐based recursive motion filtering for preserving true motion vectors in time‐varying texture objects
Authors: Sohn Young Wook , Kang Moon Gi
Published: October 2008

True motion estimation is necessary for deinterlacing, frame‐rate conversion, and film judder compensation. There have been several block‐based approaches to find true motion vectors by tracing minimum sum‐of‐absolute‐difference values by considering spatial and temporal consistency. However, the algorithms cannot find robust motion vectors when the texture of objects is changed. To find the robust motion vectors in the region, a recursive vector selection scheme and an adaptive weighting parameter are proposed. Previous frame vectors are recursively averaged to be utilized for motion error region. The weighting parameter controls fidelity to input vectors and the recursively averaged ones, where the input vectors come from the conventional estimators. If the input vectors are not reliable, then the mean vectors of the previous frame are used for temporal consistency. Experimental results show more robust motion vectors than those of the conventional methods in time‐varying texture objects. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 18, 265–275, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com).
[5‐14C]‐4‐methyltriazolepyridines via facile preparation of methyl‐[14C]‐isothiocyanate
Authors: Ström Peter , Malmquist Jonas
Published: October 2008

A fast and convenient microwave assisted one‐pot synthesis of methyl‐[14C]‐isothiocyanate 4 was shown. The continued one‐pot synthesis with 4 to a highly refined material like [5‐14C]‐dimethylsulfanyltriazolepyridines 8 and 13 without any intermediate purification, six steps in the same pot from [14C]KCN. Oxidation of the sulfur provided access to triazole‐ethers upon reaction with alcohols. The triazole‐ethers, 15, were obtained at fair to good yields and specific activities above 2 GBq/mmol. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of risedronate in a minipig cartilage defect model with allograft
Authors: Muehleman Carol , Li Jun , Abe Yumiko , Pfister Brian , Sah Robert L. , Phipps Roger , Masuda Koichi
Published: October 2008

Cartilage/chondrocyte transplantation is frequently utilized in the repair of focal chondral defects. It has been proposed that failure of subchondral bone maintenance or restoration is a factor contributing to the failure of cartilage‐forming transplants. Some studies reveal that the transplant is associated with subchondral bone resorption, often leading to deep pits beneath the presumptive cartilage repair site. Thus, the question is raised as to the utility of agents, such as bisphosphonates, to inhibit bone remodeling at the transplant site. In the present study we show that oral administration (three times weekly) of the bisphosphonate, risedronate, inhibited the subchondral bone loss deep to the cultured allogeneic graft tissue site in attempted repair of surgically created chondral defects in a minipig model. In addition, the graft tissue, characterized by type II collagen, was retained in the majority of treated animals. Untreated minipigs displayed a deep bone resorption pit, beneath the graft region, filled with type I collagen tissue as determined through immunohistochemical staining. This fibrous tissue appeared well integrated with the host tissue in the majority of cases. In the transplanted cartilage region, the overall histological score for tissue quality was significantly (p < 0.05) better for the treated animals which displayed better matrix staining, cell clustering, tidemark integrity, and subchondral bone integrity (p < 0.05 in each category). However, the integration of allograft with host tissue did not always occur completely. Thus, bisphosphonates might be considered in clinical treatment strategies for such procedures. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27:360–365, 2009
Dual NPD/ECD detection in comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography for multiclass pesticide analysis
Authors: Khummueng Weeraya , Morrison Paul , Marriott Philip J.
Published: October 2008

A comprehensive 2‐D GC (GC×GC) dual detection system, coupled to nitrogen‐phosphorus detection (NPD) and electron capture detection (ECD) has been developed for multiclass pesticide analysis in vegetable sample matrices. The second dimension column was connected to the parallel detectors via a microfluidic splitting device. The sample set comprised 17 organochlorine pesticides, 15 organophosphorus insecticides and 9 N‐containing fungicides. Selective detection of vegetable sample extracts provides increased information content through simultaneous, correlated GC×GC plots for both ECD and NPD, which demonstrated improved separation of pesticide standards from each other, and from the sample matrix. The efficiency of NPD and ECD modes was investigated and compared; the ECD produced broader peaks, with the ECD generating greater response as measured by S/N ratio. Accuracy and precision of the approach were determined as repeatability and reproducibility for selected pesticides. The RSDs of the intraday (n = 5) and interday (3 days) analyses of the selected pesticides are less than 2.5 and 10%, respectively. The relative ratio of the ECD/NPD response is proposed to offer additional identification of individual pesticides, in addition to the 1tR and 2tR retention coordinates; ratios vary from 19 to over 1000 for selected pesticides that also exhibit ECD and NPD activities.
Application of comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometry and different types of data analysis for the investigation of cigarette particulate matter
Authors: Gröger Thomas , Welthagen Werner , Mitschke Stefan , Schäffer Marion , Zimmermann Ralf
Published: October 2008

In tobacco research, the comparison of different tobacco blends as well as the puff‐dependent behaviour of cigarettes is a matter of particular interest. For the investigation of smoke characteristics, GC×GC offers different ways for data analysis, namely, compound target analysis, automated peak‐based compound classification and comprehensive pixel‐based data analysis. This study will show the application as well as the pros and cons of these types of data analysis for very complex matrices like cigarette particulate matter. In addition, new aspects about the recently discovered puff‐dependent behaviour of compounds in cigarette smoke will be presented. Automated peak‐based compound classification including mass spectrometric pattern recognition is used for the classification of tobacco particulate matter samples and the puff‐dependent investigation of different compound classes. This compound group specific analysis is further reinforced by applying an even more comprehensive pixel‐based analysis. This kind of analysis is used to generate fingerprints of different types of cigarettes. The combination of fast feature reduction methods like analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t‐test with multivariate feature transformation methods like partial least squares discriminate analysis (PLSDA) for feature selection provides a powerful tool for a detailed inspection of different types of cigarettes.
The link between board composition and board objectives: an empirical analysis on Flemish non‐profit schools
Authors: Du Bois Cind , Caers Ralf , Jegers Marc , De Cooman Rein , De Gieter Sara , Pepermans Roland
Published: October 2008

Flemish non‐profit schools have no legally imposed composition rules with respect to their board of directors. Hence, large variation exists in their size and composition. We argue that these differences in board composition can result in different policies followed by the board. To empirically test this hypothesis we question the board's chairpersons of Flemish non‐profit schools about the objectives set forward by the board. Ordered probit regressions on the importance attached to different educational objectives provide support for our hypothesis and thus alert policy makers to account for the linkages between objectives and board characteristics when formulating legislation with respect to school board composition. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multi‐unit pricing
Authors: McCannon Bryan C.
Published: October 2008

A price takes the form of a cost for either one unit (single‐unit pricing) or multiple units (multi‐unit pricing). I consider a monopolist selling units of a good to a population of homogeneous consumers to explain why one is preferred to the other. A mental cost arises if the division problem a multi‐unit price causes is done. If marginal utility remains high multiple units are desired. Multi‐unit pricing is preferred since it creates a cost if fewer units are purchased. If utility exhibits strong diminishing returns single‐unit pricing is used to avoid the calculation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Matrix proteins of basement membrane of intrahepatic bile ducts are degraded in congenital hepatic fibrosis and Caroli's disease
Authors: Yasoshima Mitsue , Sato Yasunori , Furubo Shinichi , Kizawa Kazuo , Sanzen Takahiro , Ozaki Satoru , Harada Kenichi , Nakanuma Yasuni
Published: October 2008

Congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF) and Caroli's disease are though to result from ductal plate malformation, and the basal laminar components play important roles in biliary differentiation during development. To clarify the involvement of basal laminar components in the ductal plate malformation, this study examined the immunohistochemical expression of laminin and type IV collagen in the livers of CHF and Caroli's disease. Using the polycystic kidney (PCK) rat, an animal model of Caroli's disease with CHF, in vivo and in vitro experiments were also performed. Immunostaining showed that basement membrane expression of laminin and type IV collagen around intrahepatic bile ducts was degraded in CHF, Caroli's disease, and the PCK rats. The degradation of laminin and type IV collagen around bile ducts was also observed in foci of cholangiocarcinoma in situ of Caroli's disease. In vitro, PCK cholangiocytes were found to overexpress plasminogen and a serine proteinase, the tissue‐type plasminogen activator (tPA). When PCK cholangiocytes were cultured in Matrigel™, the amounts of laminin and collagen in the gel were significantly reduced, and addition of α2‐antiplasmin in the culture medium inhibited the degradation of laminin and collagen in Matrigel™. These results suggest that biliary overexpression of plasminogen and tPA leads to the generation of excessive amounts of plasmin, and subsequent plasmin‐dependent lysis of the extracellular matrix molecules may contribute to the biliary dysgenesis in CHF and Caroli's disease, including progressive cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts in Caroli's disease. In addition, it is suggested that once cholangiocarcinoma in situ develops in the biliary epithelium of CHF and Caroli's disease, it tends to transform into invasive carcinoma, due to instability of the basement membrane of the bile ducts. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prospective experience with integrated prenatal screening and first trimester combined screening for trisomy 21 in a large Canadian urban center
Authors: Okun Nanette , Summers Anne M. , Hoffman Barry , Huang Tianhua , Winsor Elizabeth , Chitayat David , Staines A. , Johnson Jo‐Ann
Published: October 2008

Objectives

To evaluate the performance of integrated prenatal screening (IPS) and first trimester combined screening (FTS) for trisomy 21 in a large Canadian urban center.

Method

Prospective data collection on women having FTS at one center from 1 November 2003 to 31 December 2005, or IPS at another from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2005. A positive screen was defined as adjusted risk for trisomy 21 ≥ 1/200 at term or nuchal translucency ≥ 3.5 mm.

Results

32 227 and 14 487 women were screened in the IPS and FTS programs, respectively. Detection rates (DRs) and positive rates (PRs) for trisomy 21 were 88.4% (95% CI: 81.6–91.5) and 3.3% (95% CI: 3.1–3.5) for IPS, and 83.9% (95% CI: 74.7–93.0) and 4.0% (95% CI: 3.7–4.3) for FTS. DR adjusted for viability bias was 85.2% for IPS and 78.6% for FTS. Applying both the screens to the 78 134 women who submitted prenatal screens in Ontario in 2005, thereby eliminating the effect of differences in the distribution of maternal age between screens, gave a DR (corrected for viability bias) and PR of 81 and 3.1% for IPS, and 76 and 3.4% for FTS.

Conclusions

Both IPS and FTS perform well and are feasible in a practical clinical setting. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diamniotic twin pregnancies with a single placental mass; prediction of chorionicity at 11 to 14 weeks of gestation
Authors: Moon Min Hoan , Park Su Yeon , Song Mi Jin , Yang Jae Hyug , Kim Moon Young , Hong Sung Ran , Park Seong Ho
Published: October 2008

Objective

To assess the accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound (US) in the prediction of the chorionicity of diamniotic twin pregnancies with a single placental mass at 11 to 14 weeks of gestation.

Method

From June 2006 to April 2007, we determined chorionicities by depiction of the amnion and chorion at the membrane‐to‐placental interface using transvaginal US. Pregnancies were classified as monochorionic when two layers of the amnion were identified as dichorionic when either one layer of the chorion and two layers of the amnion or one layer of the chorion and one layer of the amnion were seen.

Results

In 65 out of 70 (92.9%) diamniotic twin pregnancies with a single placental mass, we were able to determine the chorionicity by depiction of the amnion and chorion at the membrane‐to‐placental interface using transvaginal US. The predictive accuracy was 100% (95% confidence interval: 92–100%) for 52 twin pregnancies considered to be dichorionic by transvaginal US and 100% (95% CI: 73–100%) for 13 twin pregnancies considered to be monochorionic.

Conclusion

The chorionicity of diamniotic twin pregnancies with a single placental mass can be reliably predicted by transvaginal US depiction of the amnion and chorion at 11 to 14 weeks of gestation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vildagliptin: alternative add‐on therapy for oral glycaemic control
Authors: Chaplin Steve , Campbell Ian
Published: October 2008

Vildagliptin, an oral DPP‐4 inhibitor, is licensed as an add‐on therapy when adequate glycaemic control has not been achieved with metformin, a sulphonylurea or a glitazone. In our New products review Steve Chaplin presents the clinical data relating to its efficacy and adverse effects, and Professor Ian Campbell comments on its place in type 2 diabetes therapy. Copyright © 2008 Wiley Interface Ltd
Recommended management of acute and recurrent gout
Authors: Gibson Terence
Published: October 2008

The management of gout includes the treatment of pain and inflammation and the reduction of raised uric acid levels. Our Drug review describes the choice of drugs available, followed by sources of further information in Resources. Copyright © 2008 Wiley Interface Ltd
Electron spin precession observed in bulk CdTe at room temperature
Authors: Ito Tetsu , Shichi Wataru , Okami Yoshitaka , Ichida Masao , Gotoh Hideki , Kamada Hidehiko , Ando Hiroaki
Published: October 2008

We report on spin precession observed in CdTe and GaAs bulks at room temperature by means of time‐resolved Kerr rotation measurements under a high magnetic field. Electron g‐factor in CdTe obtained from the spin precession measurements was significantly different from that in GaAs having similar band gap because of stronger spin‐orbital interaction in CdTe. Theoretical analysis on temperature dependence of the g‐factor was also conducted, based on 3‐band k·p perturbation theory, to estimate the effects of remote bands other than the 3 bands. The dependence of the electron g‐factor on temperature was numerically reproduced in low temperature region by considering thermal distribution of electrons. The effects of the remote bands are discussed in relation to the discrepancy between experiments and theoretical analysis in higher temperature region. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Triplet‐triplet absorption transitions in self‐trapped exciton and F2 centers in alkali halides
Authors: Lisitsyna Liudmila
Published: October 2008

The results of comparative analysis of triplet‐triplet absorption spectra, optical binding energy, the lifetime of self‐trapped excitons (STE) and F2 centers in KCl, KBr, KI and NaCl are presented. The coincidence of triplet–triplet absorption spectra of F2 centers and of STE in the spectral interval of 1‐3 eV in one and the same crystal was discovered. It is true for each crystal under consideration in spite of that the calculated value of axial shift of STE Vk core varies in a wide range of 0.9–4.3 Å. It was revealed that the value of optical binding energy of the both STE and F2 center coincides in one and the same crystal. Consequently the depth of the well in which the electron of STE is trapped seems to be defined by the lattice energy only. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Time‐resolved photoinduced Kerr rotation in semiconductor microcavity
Authors: Mitsumori Y. , Kato N. , Kosaka H. , Edamatsu K. , Yamamoto N. , Akahane K.
Published: October 2008

We studied photoinduced Kerr effect in cavity polaritons in a semiconductor microcavity by carefully measuring the time‐resolved Kerr rotation and ellipticity spectra. The Kerr rotation angle of the microcavity polaritons is a hundred times larger than a conventional single quantum well. A spectral shape analysis of the observed spectra suggests that the photoindeced Kerr effect mainly results from a line broadening of the polarions due to spin‐polarized polariton‐polariton scattering. Enhancement in oscillator strength also contributes to the large rotation angle. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Asymmetric temporal profile of optical Kerr signal from GaAs/AlAs multilayer with λ/2 phase shift layer
Authors: Morita Ken , Kanbara Toshiyuki , Shinsuke Yano , Kitada Takahiro , Isu Toshiro
Published: October 2008

Optical Kerr response for a short‐input‐pulse of a GaAs/AlAs multilayer cavity which has a narrow cavity mode width was measured by an optical pump and probe technique. We observed a strong asymmetric temporal profile of the optical Kerr signal in the vicinity of Δt = 0. The initial rising time of the signal was 1.0 ps for Δt < 0, while the decay time was 0.25 ps for Δt > 0. The asymmetric profile of the Kerr signal was analyzed with the pulse shapes of the pump and probe pulses in the cavity. We found that the decay of the Kerr signal for Δt > 0 was faster than that of the profile explained by the pump and probe pulses. This suggests that the strong asymmetric profile of the Kerr signal was occurred by the strong phase shift due to the higher order term of the susceptibility. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Literature overview: Emerging organic contaminants in water and their remediation
Authors: Husain Saleha
Published: October 2008

Emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) are widespread in the environment, and concentrations above the acceptable limits are being detected due to improved detection methods, technologies, and regulations for their monitoring. Increasing use of new consumer, pharmaceutical, and scientific products has introduced EOCs, such as nanomaterials and siloxanes, into the environment. The releases of EOCs into the environment can lead to surface‐water, soil, and groundwater contamination. The presence of pharmaceuticals and their enantiomers can lead to resistant algal strains and, thus, more persistent algal toxins. This review discusses some of the prominent EOCs and the methods for their remediation. This is useful for assessing current remediation technologies and for developing new technologies to treat EOCs in water. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Plasma vasopressin and oxytocin concentrations increase simultaneously during suckling in goats
Authors: Olsson Kerstin , Högberg Madeleine
Published: October 2008

Goats are often kept on small farms where they suckle kids and are hand milked for human consumption. Our first objective was to investigate whether vasopressin secretion increases together with oxytocin during hand milking and suckling in seven goats 6–8 weeks after parturition. Four goats suckled and three were hand milked on the first day and the treatments were reversed on the next day. Blood samples were taken via a semi-permanent catheter. Plasma concentrations of vasopressin and oxytocin increased during suckling, but not during hand milking. Plasma cortisol concentration was elevated for 10 min after both treatments. These results initiated a second series in which the objectives were to measure vasopressin and oxytocin concentrations during hand milking in a larger number of goats and to investigate whether the rise in cortisol concentration was due to the experimental conditions or to milking, by adding a no-milking treatment. Nine goats in lactation weeks 4–10 were studied. Heart rate and arterial blood pressure were registered in eight of the goats. Oxytocin concentration did not change during hand milking and the vasopressin concentration was below the detection limit. Heart rate and blood pressure were elevated during milking and for about 10 min thereafter. Cortisol concentration increased after milking, as above. None of the variables changed in the no-milking treatment. This suggests that the rise in cortisol concentration was due to milk excretion and was not a stress reaction. In conclusion, suckling increased plasma concentrations of vasopressin and oxytocin, but hand milking did not. In a mixed system, presence of the kids may be necessary to stimulate release of the peptides and thereby contraction of the myoepithelial cells. However, milk stored in the udder cisterns can be obtained by hand milking without presence of oxytocin or vasopressin.
The role of teat skin contamination in the epidemiology ofStaphylococcus aureusintramammary infections
Authors: Piccinini Renata , Cesaris Lorenza , Daprà Valentina , Borromeo Vitaliano , Picozzi Claudia , Secchi Camillo , Zecconi Alfonso
Published: October 2008

Knowledge of the epidemiological pattern and the potential sources of infections is important to controlStaphylococcus aureusin dairy herds. This paper reports the results of a study applying both pulse field gel electrophoresis (PGFE) and the assessment of a selected number of virulence genes to investigate the role of teat skin onStaph. aureustransmission among cows and on the contamination of milk. Overall 61 isolates were considered, 23 from teat skin, 33 from milk samples and 5 from curd samples. Teat swabs were taken in five herds, but in only three of them couldStaph. aureusbe isolated. Curd was sampled in three herds, butStaph. aureuscould be isolated in only two herds. The distribution of isolates among herds confirmed the presence of herd-specificStaph. aureusstrain in most of the herds. The same pattern was observed in teat skin samples, in quarter milk samples, and in the curd samples. Our findings are consistent with other studies showing the role of teat skin as a potential reservoir. Moreover,Staph. aureuswas isolated from teat skin of confirmedStaph. aureus-negative cows that were segregated from infected ones. Our findings also suggest that some strains have higher chances to survive on teat skin and therefore to increase the risk for contamination of milk and milk products due to the persistence of intramammary infections.
Instability of the salinity profile during the evaporation of saline groundwater
Authors: IL'ICHEV ANDREJ T. , TSYPKIN GEORGE G. , PRITCHARD DAVID , RICHARDSON CHRIS N.
Published: October 2008

In this paper we investigate salt transport during the evaporation and upflow of saline groundwater. We describe a model in which a sharp evaporation–precipitation front separates regions of soil saturated with an air–vapour mixture and with saline water. We then consider two idealized problems. We first investigate equilibrium configurations of the freshwater system when the depth of the soil layer is finite, obtaining results for the location of the front and the upflow of water induced by the evaporation. We then develop a solution for a propagating front in a soil layer of infinite depth and investigate the gravitational stability of the salinity profile which develops below the front, obtaining marginal linear stability conditions in terms of a Rayleigh number and a dimensionless salt saturation parameter. Applying our findings to realistic parameter regimes, we predict that salt fingering is unlikely to occur in low-permeability soils, but is likely in high-permeability (sandy) soils under conditions of relatively low evaporative upflow.
Integral moments of automorphic L-functions
Authors: Diaconu Adrian , Garrett Paul
Published: October 2008

We obtain second integral moments of automorphic L-functions on adele groups GL2 over arbitrary number fields, by a spectral decomposition using the structure and representation theory of adele groups GL1 and GL2. This requires reformulation of the notion of Poincaré series, replacing the collection of classical Poincaré series over GL2(ℚ) or GL2(ℚ(i)) with a single, coherent, global object that makes sense over a number field. This is the first expression of integral moments in adele-group terms, distinguishing global and local issues, and allowing uniform application to number fields. When specialized to the field of rational numbers ℚ, we recover the classical results on moments.
Proxies for overshooting above a convection zone
Authors: Chan Kwing L. , Singh Harinder P.
Published: October 2008

Due to the up/down asymmetry caused by stratification, overshooting above differs from overshooting below a convection zone. The flux of kinetic energy, frequently used as a proxy of overshooting below a convection zone, cannot be used for the upward problem.
A new two-columns description for convective transport in stars
Authors: Stökl Alexander
Published: October 2008

Assuming that the largest convective patterns generate the majority of convective transport, we devise a numerical scheme simplifying the convective velocity field using two parallel radial columns to represent up- and downstream flows. Horizontal exchange is described by fluid flow and radiation over the interface between those two columns. The main parameters of this convective description have a straightforward geometrical meaning, namely the diameter of the columns (representing the size of the convective cells) and the ratio of cross section between up- and downdrafts. For this geometrical setup, the equations of radiation hydrodynamics are solved time-dependently using an implicit scheme which has the advantage of being devoid of any time step limits. In order to demonstrate our approach, we present comparisons with detailed 2D hydrodynamics computations for the example of convection zones in Cepheids.
Thermohaline mixing in low-mass giants
Authors: Cantiello M. , Langer N.
Published: October 2008

Thermohaline mixing has recently been proposed to occur in low mass red giants, with large consequences for the chemical yields of low mass stars. We investigate the role of thermohaline mixing during the evolution of stars between 1 M⊙ and 3 M⊙, in comparison to other mixing processes acting in these stars. We confirm that thermohaline mixing has the potential to destroy most of the 3He which is produced earlier on the main sequence during the red giant stage. In our models we find that this process is working only in stars with initial mass M ≲ 1.5 M⊙. Moreover, we report that thermohaline mixing can be present during core helium burning and beyond in stars which still have a 3He reservoir. While rotational and magnetic mixing is negligible compared to the thermohaline mixing in the relevant layers, the interaction of thermohaline motions with differential rotation and magnetic fields may be essential to establish the time scale of thermohaline mixing in red giants.
Asteroseismic constraints on the OPAL opacity interpolation
Authors: Yang W. M. , Li M.
Published: October 2008

There is a difference of a few Kelvins in the effective temperature between a model used only two-point interpolation of opacity and a model used piecewise linear interpolation of opacity. However the frequency difference between the models is of the order of several microHertz at a certain stage, which is almost 10 times worse than the observational precision of p-modes of solar-like stars. Therefore, the two-point interpolation of opacity is unsuitable in modelling of solar-like stars with element diffusion.
Radio Star Candidates from FIRST and 2MASS Databases
Authors: Zhang Yanxia , Zhao Yongheng
Published: October 2008

We positionally cross-identified FIRST (the Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty centimeters) catalogue with 2MASS (the Two Micron All Sky Survey) pointed-source database and collected the data from radio band and near infrared band. Then the data were cross-matched with the Véron-Cetty & Véron 2006 catalog and the Tycho-2 catalog, respectively. Therefore the known samples of quasars and stars are obtained. We applied principal component analysis (PCA) on the known sample. The overall sample may be projected in the principal component space. From the space, we can easily locate the area that radio stars occupy, and select out radio star candidates. With the follow-up observation of these candidates, the properties of radio stars may be studied.
Hydrodynamic simulations of the core helium flash
Authors: Mocák Miroslav , Müller Ewald , Weiss Achim , Kifonidis Konstantinos
Published: October 2008

We desribe and discuss hydrodynamic simulations of the core helium flash using an initial model of a 1.25 M⊙ star with a metallicity of 0.02 near at its peak. Past research concerned with the dynamics of the core helium flash is inconclusive. Its results range from a confirmation of the standard picture, where the star remains in hydrostatic equilibrium during the flash (Deupree 1996), to a disruption or a significant mass loss of the star (Edwards 1969; Cole & Deupree 1980). However, the most recent multidimensional hydrodynamic study (Dearborn et al. 2006) suggests a quiescent behavior of the core helium flash and seems to rule out an explosive scenario. Here we present partial results of a new comprehensive study of the core helium flash, which seem to confirm this qualitative behavior and give a better insight into operation of the convection zone powered by helium burning during the flash. The hydrodynamic evolution is followed on a computational grid in spherical coordinates using our new version of the multi-dimensional hydrodynamic code HERAKLES, which is based on a direct Eulerian implementation of the piecewise parabolic method.
Solar-like oscillations in red giant ϵ Ophiuchi
Authors: Bi S. L. , Gai N.
Published: October 2008

Asteroseismology is a powerful tool to help determining the internal structure of the stars. Solar-like oscillations have been discovered in the G9.5 red giant ϵ Ophiuchi, and it opened up a new part of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to be explored with asteroseismic techniques. We present the detailed study of the properties of ϵ Oph including convective overshooting and extra-mixing.
Massive star evolution: from the early to the present day Universe
Authors: Meynet Georges , Ekström Sylvia , Georgy Cyril , Maeder André , Hirschi Raphael
Published: October 2008

Mass loss and axial rotation are playing key roles in shaping the evolution of massive stars. They affect the tracks in the HR diagram, the lifetimes, the surface abundances, the hardness of the radiation field, the chemical yields, the presupernova status, the nature of the remnant, the mechanical energy released in the interstellar medium, etc. . . In this paper, after recalling a few characteristics of mass loss and rotation, we review the effects of these two processes at different metallicities. Rotation probably has its most important effects at low metallicities, while mass loss and rotation deeply affect the evolution of massive stars at solar and higher than solar metallicities.
The single degenerate channel for the progenitors of Type Ia supernovae
Authors: Meng Xiangcun , Chen Xuefei , Han Zhanwen
Published: October 2008

We have carried out a detailed study of the single-degenerate channel for the progenitors of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). In the model, a carbon-oxygen white dwarf (CO WD) accretes hydrogen-rich material from an unevolved or a slightly evolved non-degenerate companion to increase its mass to Chandrasekhar mass limit. Incorporating the prescription of Hachisuet al. (1999a) for the accretion efficiency into Eggleton's stellar evolution code and assuming that the prescription is valid for all metallicities, we performed binary stellar evolution calculations for more than 25,000 close WD binary systems with various metallicities. The initial parameter spaces for SNe Ia are presented in an orbital period-secondary mass (logPi,M2i) plane for eachZ.

Adopting the results above, we studied the birth rate of SNe Ia for variousZvia binary population synthesis. From the study, we see that for a highZ, SNe Ia occur systemically earlier and the peak value of the birth rate is larger if a single starburst is assumed. The Galactic birth rate from the channel is lower than (but comparable to) that inferred from observations.

We also showed the distributions of the parameters of the binary systems at the moment of supernova explosion and the distributions of the properties of companions after supernova explosion. The former provides physics input to simulate the interaction between supernova ejecta and its companion, and the latter is helpful for searching the companions in supernova remnants.
Modelling the evolution and nucleosynthesis of carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars
Authors: Pols O. R. , Izzard R. G. , Lugaro M. , de Mink S. E.
Published: October 2008

We present the results of binary population simulations of carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars. We show that nitrogen and fluorine are useful tracers of the origin of CEMP stars, and conclude that the observed paucity of very nitrogen-rich stars puts strong constraints on possible modifications of the initial mass function at low metallicity. The large number fraction of CEMP stars may instead require much more efficient dredge-up from low-metallicity asymptotic giant branch stars.
The Effect of Binary Interactions in Infrared Passbands
Authors: Zhang F. , Li L. , Han Z.
Published: October 2008

We present the integrated J, H, K, L, M and N magnitudes and the colours involving infrared bands, for an extensive set of instantaneous-burst binary stellar populations (BSPs) by using evolutionary population synthesis (EPS). By comparing the results for BSPs WITH and WITHOUT binary interactions we show that the inclusion of binary interactions makes the magnitudes of populations larger (fainter) and the integrated colours smaller (bluer) for τ ≥ 1 Gyr. Also, we compare our model magnitudes and colours with those of Bruzual & Charlot (2003, hereafter BC03) and Maraston (2005, hereafter M05). At last, we compare these model broad colours with Magellanic Clouds globular clusters (GCs) and Milky Way GCs. In (V − R)−[Fe/H] and (V − I)−[Fe/H] diagrams it seems that our models match the observations better than those of BC03 and M05.
Conference summary
Authors: Langer Norbert
Published: October 2008

To summarize 54 mostly excellent and innovative talks, plus 57 interesting posters, is an impossible task, which I will not even try. This the more as the focus of this meeting was extraordinarily broad. We discussed many different processes in stars, from mixing to pulsations and mass transfer. And we discussed the whole spectrum of stellar types, up an down the main sequence, including the Sun, and into many branches of evolved states of single and binary stars. As we are all working on more or less particular niches in the field of stellar physics, this meant an extraordinary learning experience for most of us. Indeed, this conference offered a stellar physics course at the highest level, which can not be obtained in any other way.
How Should Politicians Justify Reforms to Avoid Psychological Reactance, Negative Attitudes, and Financial Dishonesty?
Authors: Traut-Mattausch Eva , Jonas Eva , Förg Michael , Frey Dieter , Heinemann Friedrich
Published: October 2008

Necessary changes through political reforms meant to solve current problems can be justified in different ways. Politicians can focus on the communication of increased limitations resulting from the changes (limitation justification) or they can communicate improvements of the institutional setting, e.g., with respect to more equitable rules (improvement justification). Based on reactance theory we argued that a limitation justification threatens one’s freedoms, and, therefore, leads to direct and indirect reactance effects compared to an improvement justification. Study 1 showed that the participants reacted with more negative attitudes when the changes were justified through limitations compared to improvements. This difference was mediated by the experience of reactance. Study 2 revealed that a limitation justification had a negative impact on financial honesty through a lower identification with one’s country. The implications of our results for the communication of political reforms are discussed.
Total ozone and solar erythemal irradiance in southwestern Spain: Day‐to‐day variability and extreme episodes
Authors: Antón M. , Serrano A. , Cancillo M. L. , García J. A.
Published: October 2008

This paper focuses on the influence of short‐term changes in total ozone column (TOC) on the variability of ultraviolet erythemal irradiance (UVER) at Badajoz (southwestern Spain). The study is performed on clear sky cases when the contribution of cloudiness and aerosols can be neglected. The period of study extends from 2001 to 2005. The results show that a reduction of 5% in TOC between two consecutive days may cause an increase of about 10% in UVER. The UVER variability associated to day‐to‐day changes in TOC presents a clear seasonal cycle with minimum values in summer and maximum in winter. Considering the monthly mean TOC value plus/minus two standard deviation as thresholds for identifying extreme events, the number of episodes with extreme low and high ozone amount was 54 and 9, respectively. The low ozone events occurred mainly in winter, causing a maximum increase of 30% in UVER.