bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combination testing of cediranib (AZD2171) against childhood cancer models by the pediatric preclinical testing program
Authors: Morton Christopher L. , Maris John M. , Keir Stephen T. , Gorlick Richard , Kolb E. Anders , Billups Catherine A. , Wu Jianrong , Smith Malcolm A. , Houghton Peter J.
Published: April 2011

Background

Cediranib (AZD2171) is a potent small molecule inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors. Cediranib has demonstrated single agent activity in several adult cancers and is being studied in combination with standard cytotoxic agents in multiple disease settings.

Procedures

Cediranib was tested in vivo against six childhood tumor xenograft models (four sarcomas, one glioblastoma, one neuroblastoma) alone or combined with cyclophosphamide (two models), vincristine (three models) or cisplatin (one model), each administered at its maximum tolerated dose, or rapamycin (six models).

Results

The combination of cediranib with standard cytotoxic agents was superior to the cytotoxic agent used alone for a single xenograft (one of the three xenografts evaluated for the vincristine–cediranib combination). The cediranib–cyclophosphamide combination was inferior to single agent cyclophosphamide in time to event for both models studied and was significantly inferior for one of the models. Cediranib combined with rapamycin was superior to each of the agents used alone in two of the six models and was determined to be additive or supra‐additive with rapamycin in four models, although the effects were not large.

Conclusions

Cediranib combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy agents demonstrated little or no benefit (and in one case was significantly inferior) compared to chemotherapy alone for the six pediatric cancer xenografts studied. By contrast, the combination of cediranib with rapamycin was additive or supra‐additive in four of the six models in terms of prolongation of time to event, though tumor regressions were not observed for this combination. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 58: 566–571. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Near real‐time vaccine safety surveillance with partially accrued data
Authors: Greene Sharon K. , Kulldorff Martin , Yin Ruihua , Yih W. Katherine , Lieu Tracy A. , Weintraub Eric S. , Lee Grace M.
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) Project conducts near real‐time vaccine safety surveillance using sequential analytic methods. Timely surveillance is critical in identifying potential safety problems and preventing additional exposure before most vaccines are administered. For vaccines that are administered during a short period, such as influenza vaccines, timeliness can be improved by undertaking analyses while risk windows following vaccination are ongoing and by accommodating predictable and unpredictable data accrual delays. We describe practical solutions to these challenges, which were adopted by the VSD Project during pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccine safety surveillance in 2009/2010.

Methods

Adjustments were made to two sequential analytic approaches. The Poisson‐based approach compared the number of pre‐defined adverse events observed following vaccination with the number expected using historical data. The expected number was adjusted for the proportion of the risk window elapsed and the proportion of inpatient data estimated to have accrued. The binomial‐based approach used a self‐controlled design, comparing the observed numbers of events in risk versus comparison windows. Events were included in analysis only if they occurred during a week that had already passed for both windows.

Results

Analyzing data before risk windows fully elapsed improved the timeliness of safety surveillance. Adjustments for data accrual lags were tailored to each data source and avoided biasing analyses away from detecting a potential safety problem, particularly early during surveillance.

Conclusions

The timeliness of vaccine and drug safety surveillance can be improved by properly accounting for partially elapsed windows and data accrual delays. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proteomic characterization of the human sperm nucleus
Authors: de Mateo Sara , Castillo Judit , Estanyol Josep Maria , Ballescà José Luis , Oliva Rafael
Published: April 2011

Generating a catalogue of sperm nuclear proteins is an important first step towards the clarification of the function of the paternal chromatin transmitted to the oocyte upon fertilization. With this goal, sperm nuclei were obtained through CTAB treatment and isolated to over 99.9% purity without any tail fragments, acrosome or mitochondria as assessed by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The nuclear proteins were extracted and separated in 2‐D and 1‐D gels and the 2‐D spots and 1‐D bands were excised and analysed to identify the proteins through LC‐MS/MS. With this approach, 403 different proteins have been identified from the isolated sperm nuclei. The most abundant family of proteins identified are the histones, for which several novel members had not been reported previously as present in the spermatogenic cell line or in the human mature spermatozoa. More than half (52.6%) of the proteins had not been detected in the previous human whole sperm cell proteome reports. Of relevance, several chromatin‐related proteins, such as zinc fingers and transcription factors, so far not known to be associated with the sperm chromatin, have also been detected. This provides additional information about the nuclear proteins that are potentially relevant for epigenetic marking, proper fertilization and embryo development.
Solubilization of C60 by micellization with a thermoresponsive block copolymer in water: Characterization, singlet oxygen generation, and DNA photocleavage
Authors: Yusa Shin‐Ichi , Awa Shigeki , Ito Masanori , Kawase Takeshi , Takada Tadao , Nakashima Kenichi , Liu Dian , Yamago Shigeru , Morishima Yotaro
Published: April 2011

Water‐soluble diblock copolymer, poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐block‐poly(N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrroridone) (PNIPAMm‐b‐PNVPn), was found to associate with fullerene (C60), and thus C60 can be solubilized in water. The 63C60/PNIPAMm‐b‐PNVPn micelle formed a core‐shell micelle‐like aggregate comprising a C60/PNVP hydrophobic core and a thermoresponsive PNIPAM shell. The C60‐containing polymer micelle formation and its thermoresponsive behavior were characterized using light scattering and 1H NMR techniques. The hydrodynamic radius (Rh) of the C60‐bound polymer micelle increased with increasing temperature, which was ascribed to the hydrophobic association between dehydrated PNIPAM shells above lower critical solution temperature (LCST). 1H NMR data suggest that the motion of the PNIPAM block is restricted above LCST due to the dehydration of the PNIPAM shell in water. The generation of singlet oxygen by photosensitization by the C60‐bound polymer micelle was confirmed from photooxidation of 9,10‐anthracenedipropionic acid. Furthermore, DNA was found to be cleaved by visible light irradiation in the presence of the C60‐bound polymer micelle. Therefore, there may be a hope for a pharmaceutical application of the C60‐bound polymer micelle to cancer photodynamic therapy. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011.
Statistical analysis of protein structures suggests that buried ionizable residues in proteins are hydrogen bonded or form salt bridges
Authors: Bush Jeffrey , Makhatadze George I.
Published: April 2011

It is well known that nonpolar residues are largely buried in the interior of proteins, whereas polar and ionizable residues tend to be more localized on the protein surface where they are solvent exposed. Such a distribution of residues between surface and interior is well understood from a thermodynamic point: nonpolar side chains are excluded from the contact with the solvent water, whereas polar and ionizable groups have favorable interactions with the water and thus are preferred at the protein surface. However, there is an increasing amount of information suggesting that polar and ionizable residues do occur in the protein core, including at positions that have no known functional importance. This is inconsistent with the observations that dehydration of polar and in particular ionizable groups is very energetically unfavorable. To resolve this, we performed a detailed analysis of the distribution of fractional burial of polar and ionizable residues using a large set of ˜2600 nonhomologous protein structures. We show that when ionizable residues are fully buried, the vast majority of them form hydrogen bonds and/or salt bridges with other polar/ionizable groups. This observation resolves an apparent contradiction: the energetic penalty of dehydration of polar/ionizable groups is paid off by favorable energy of hydrogen bonding and/or salt bridge formation in the protein interior. Our conclusion agrees well with the previous findings based on the continuum models for electrostatic interactions in proteins. Proteins 2011; © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Protein–protein interactions: Analysis of a false positive GST pulldown result
Authors: Wissmueller Sandra , Font Josep , Liew Chu Wai , Cram Edward , Schroeder Thilo , Turner Jeremy , Crossley Merlin , Mackay Joel P. , Matthews Jacqueline M.
Published: April 2011

One of the most common ways to demonstrate a direct protein–protein interaction in vitro is the glutathione‐S‐transferse (GST)‐pulldown. Here we report the detailed characterization of a putative interaction between two transcription factor proteins, GATA‐1 and Krüppel‐like factor 3 (KLF3/BKLF) that show robust interactions in GST‐pulldown experiments. Attempts to map the interaction interface of GATA‐1 on KLF3 using a mutagenic screening approach did not yield a contiguous binding face on KLF3, suggesting that the interaction might be non‐specific. NMR experiments showed that the proteins do not interact at protein concentrations of 50–100 μM. Rather, the GST tag can cause part of KLF3 to misfold. In addition to misfolding, the fact that both proteins are DNA‐binding domains appears to introduce binding artifacts (possibly nucleic acid bridging) that cannot be resolved by the addition of nucleases or ethidium bromide (EtBr). This study emphasizes the need for caution in relying on GST‐pulldown results and related methods, without convincing confirmation from different approaches. Proteins 2011; © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A machine learning approach for the prediction of protein surface loop flexibility
Authors: Hwang Howook , Vreven Thom , Whitfield Troy W. , Wiehe Kevin , Weng Zhiping
Published: April 2011

Proteins often undergo conformational changes when binding to each other. A major fraction of backbone conformational changes involves motion on the protein surface, particularly in loops. Accounting for the motion of protein surface loops represents a challenge for protein–protein docking algorithms. A first step in addressing this challenge is to distinguish protein surface loops that are likely to undergo backbone conformational changes upon protein–protein binding (mobile loops) from those that are not (stationary loops). In this study, we developed a machine learning strategy based on support vector machines (SVMs). Our SVM uses three features of loop residues in the unbound protein structures—Ramachandran angles, crystallographic B‐factors, and relative accessible surface area—to distinguish mobile loops from stationary ones. This method yields an average prediction accuracy of 75.3% compared with a random prediction accuracy of 50%, and an average of 0.79 area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve using cross‐validation. Testing the method on an independent dataset, we obtained a prediction accuracy of 70.5%. Finally, we applied the method to 11 complexes that involve members from the Ras superfamily and achieved prediction accuracy of 92.8% for the Ras superfamily proteins and 74.4% for their binding partners. Proteins 2011; © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficient mapping of ligand migration channel networks in dynamic proteins
Authors: Lin Tu‐Liang , Song Guang
Published: April 2011

For many proteins such as myoglobin, the binding site lies in the interior, and there is no obvious route from the exterior to the binding site in the average structure. Although computer simulations for a limited number of proteins have found some transiently open channels, it is not clear if there exist more channels elsewhere or how the channels are regulated. A systematic approach that can map out the whole ligand migration channel network is lacking. Ligand migration in a dynamic protein resembles closely a well‐studied problem in robotics, namely, the navigation of a mobile robot in a dynamic environment. In this work, we present a novel robotic motion planning inspired approach that can map the ligand migration channel network in a dynamic protein. The method combines an efficient spatial mapping of protein inner space with a temporal exploration of protein structural heterogeneity, which is represented by a structure ensemble. The spatial mapping of each conformation in the ensemble produces a partial map of protein inner cavities and their inter‐connectivity. These maps are then merged to form a super map that contains all the channels that open dynamically. Results on the pathways in myoglobin for gaseous ligands demonstrate the efficiency of our approach in mapping the ligand migration channel networks. The results, obtained in a significantly less amount of time than trajectory‐based approaches, are in agreement with previous simulation results. Additionally, the method clearly illustrates how and what conformational changes open or close a channel. Proteins 2011; © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optical monitoring of nonequilibrium carrier diffusion in single crystalline CVD and HPHT diamonds under high optical excitation
Authors: Ščajev P. , Malinauskas T. , Lubys L. , Ivakin E. , Nesladek M. , Haenen K. , Jarašiūnas K.
Published: April 2011

We report on a novel approach for the contactless, all‐optical study of ambipolar carrier diffusion in single‐crystalline diamond layers. Using interband two‐photon and single photon absorption (at 351 nm and 213 nm), we created a spatially‐modulated free‐carrier light‐induced transient grating and monitored the in‐plane carrier diffusion in a wide range of injected carrier densities (1015cm–3 to 1018cm–3) and temperatures (80 K to 800 K). A drastic decrease of the ambipolar diffusion coefficient from ∼50 cm2/s at low injections to 6–10 cm2/s at high ones was observed at room temperature and even stronger at lower temperatures. The modelling based on bandgap renormalization and electron–hole scattering provided a fit to the injection‐dependent diffusivity. The determined low‐injection ambipolar mobility data for CVD layer were found in a good agreement with electrical time‐of‐flight measurements. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Intravascular catheter navigation using path planning and virtual visual feedback for oral cancer treatment
Authors: Wang Junchen , Ohya Takashi , Liao Hongen , Sakuma Ichiro , Wang Tianmiao , Tohnai Iwai , Iwai Toshinori
Published: April 2011

Background

It is tedious and difficult to position a flexible catheter in a target vessel branch within complicated‐shaped vessels owing to the lack of real‐time visual feedback. Digital subtraction angiography and fluoroscopic guidance are currently used for catheter placement.

Methods

The proposed method employs an electromagnetic (EM) tracking system to track a sensor‐attached catheter. Vessel centerlines are extracted from the CT angiography image, based on which a navigational information tree is built to facilitate catheter manipulation. A virtual endoscopy technique is adopted to generate virtual intravascular video as visual feedback. Unscented Kalman filtering based image registration is performed to align the EM tracker frame with the anatomical atlas and to envision the target registration error.

Results

Preliminary experimental results showed the feasibility and effectiveness of the new method, with navigation accuracy of 1.80 ± 0.85 mm.

Conclusions

The proposed method can provide continuous virtual visual feedback to facilitate catheter placement and has the potential for clinical use, with significant reduction in X‐ray radiation exposure and doses of contrast agents. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An approach for testing pointcut descriptors in AspectJ
Authors: Delamare Romain , Baudry Benoit , Ghosh Sudipto , Gupta Shashank , Le Traon Yves
Published: April 2011

Aspect‐oriented programming (AOP) promises better software quality through enhanced modularity. Crosscutting concerns are encapsulated in separate units called aspects and are introduced at specific points in the base program at compile time or runtime. However, aspect‐oriented mechanisms also introduce new risks for reliability that must be tackled by specific testing techniques in order to fully benefit from the use of AOP. This paper focuses on the pointcut descriptor (PCD) that declares the set of points in the base program's execution where the crosscutting concern must be woven. A fault in the PCD can have a ripple effect and result in many different faults. New behavior may be added in unexpected places, or places where new behavior should be added may be missed. When implementing aspect‐oriented programs with AspectJ, JUnit is most commonly used to test the program. However, JUnit does not offer any mechanism to look for faults specifically located in the PCD. As a consequence, these faults can be detected only through complex test scenarios and side effects that are difficult to trigger and observe. This paper proposes to monitor the execution of advices in an aspect‐oriented program and use this information to build test cases that target faults in PCDs. The AdviceTracer tool has been developed to automatically monitor and store all information related to advice executions. It also offers a set of operations that can be used to check the presence or absence of advices at specific points in the execution. These operations improve the definition of an oracle for PCD test cases. An empirical study is performed to compare JUnit and AdviceTracer for testing PCDs in terms of the complexity of test cases and their ability to detect faults. The study is performed on a Healthwatcher system that has 93 classes and 19 PCDs. It reveals that test cases that use AdviceTracer to test PCDs are easier to write (shorter test cases and written in less time than with JUnit) and detect more faults. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evolution and personal religious belief: Christian university biology‐related majors' search for reconciliation
Authors: Winslow Mark W. , Staver John R. , Scharmann Lawrence C.
Published: April 2011

The goal of this study was to explore Christian biology‐related majors' perceptions of conflicts between evolution and their religious beliefs. This naturalistic study utilized a case study design of 15 undergraduate biology‐related majors at or recent biology‐related graduates from a mid‐western Christian university. The broad sources of data were interviews, course documents, and observations. Outcomes indicate that most participants were raised to believe in creationism, but came to accept evolution through evaluating evidence for evolution, negotiating the literalness of Genesis, recognizing evolution as a non‐salvation issue, and observing professors as Christian role models who accept evolution. This study lends heuristic insight to researchers and educators seeking to understand the complex processes by which Christian biology‐related majors approach learning about evolution. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 48: 1026–1049, 2011
Crustal structure across the central Alaska Range: Anatomy of a Mesozoic collisional zone
Authors: Brennan Patrick R. K. , Gilbert Hersh , Ridgway Kenneth D.
Published: April 2011

A first‐order process in the growth of continents is the collision and accretion of terranes against continental margins. Collision leads to the formation of a suture zone between the accreted terrane and the former continental margin. New insights on the suturing process are observed from two receiver function transects across the Mesozoic Alaska Range suture zone. Three distinct crustal sections are identified from observations of crustal thickness, intracrustal discontinuities, and Vp/Vs: a northern section with ∼27 km thick crust of felsic to intermediate composition, a central section that is ∼37 km thick that exhibits intracrustal discontinuities and has felsic to intermediate composition, and a southern section that is ∼30 km thick and has a more mafic composition. We interpret these sections to correspond with the former continental margin (Yukon composite terrane), the suture zone proper, and the allochthonous oceanic terrane (Wrangellia composite terrane). The boundary between the Yukon composite terrane and the suture zone appears to be a subhorizontal discontinuity that accommodated underthrusting of crust from the suture zone beneath the former continental margin. The boundary between the suture zone and the Wrangellia composite terrane, in contrast, appears to be a relatively discrete, vertical boundary. The observed variability in the crust across the Alaska Range suture zone is likely controlled by the differing compositions of the terranes involved, which influences how each section responds to precollisional, syncollisional, and postcollisional deformation.
Corrigendum to: Two new species and one reapplied name in Sesbania Scop. (Fabaceae, Sesbanieae) for Australia
Authors: Gross C. L.
Published: April 2011

For over 40 years, the names Sesbania benthamiana Domin, S. javanica Miq. and S. sesban (L.) Merr. have been applied to Australian plant specimens. A review of the types assigned to these taxa has resolved that the names S. javanica Miq. and S. sesban (L.) Merr. do not apply to species native to Australia and S. benthamiana has been misapplied. The name S. burbidgei is proposed to account for specimens previously identified as S. sesban and S. muelleri is proposed to account for specimens previously assigned as S. benthamiana. The name S. benthamiana is reapplied to material previously known as S. javanica.
Miocene Astelia (Asparagales: Asteliaceae) macrofossils from southern New Zealand
Authors: Maciunas Elizabeth , Conran John G. , Bannister Jennifer M. , Paull Rosemary , Lee Daphne E.
Published: April 2011

The discovery of Early Miocene Asteliaceae fossils at Foulden Maar in southern New Zealand provided a good opportunity to assess the usefulness of cuticular information for identifying members in this family. On the basis of cuticular morphology, the Foulden specimens are assigned to Astelia Banks & Sol. ex R.Br. and described as a new species, A. antiquua Maciunas et al. They are shown to have some affinities with A. alpina, A. linearis and also an apparently unnamed Astelia taxon from southern Westland, New Zealand. Although cuticular characteristics alone were of help in identifying individual species, the addition of gross morphological characters facilitated the differentiation between Asteliaceae genera, greatly improving the phylogenetic placement of the fossil. On the basis of analysis of the combined data, Astelia and Collospermum formed a clade and were sister to a Milligania and Neoastelia clade, albeit with most branches showing little overall bootstrap support.
Synopsis of the tribe Chloantheae and new nomenclatural combinations in Pityrodia s.lat. (Lamiaceae)
Authors: Conn B. J. , Henwood M. J. , Streiber N.
Published: April 2011

An overview of the tribe Chloantheae (Lamiaceae) is presented. Nomenclatural changes associated with reinstating Dasymalla Endl. and Quoya Gaudich. as distinct genera from Pityrodia s.lat. are provided. The genus Dasymalla consists of five species previously in Pityrodia, whereas seven species of the latter genus are transferred to Quoya. The circumscription of Hemiphora F.Muell. is expanded to include four species previously included in Pityrodia and Hemiphora lanata (Munir) B.J.Conn & M.J.Henwood is formally recognised as a species, based on Pityrodia exserta (Benth.) Munir var. lanata Munir. The new genus Muniria N.Streiber & B.J.Conn is described and consists of four species occurring in the Northern Territory (Australia) that were previously in Pityrodia. A summary of the diagnostic features of Dasymalla, Hemiphora, Muniria and Quoya is presented. The synapomorphies supporting the genera of ‘Physopsideae’ sensu Munir are described, whereas no synapomorphies for Newcastelia or Physopsis were found in the data. A key distinguishing the genera of the tribe is included.
Solid-state
2
H NMR relaxation illuminates functional dynamics of retinal cofactor in membrane activation of rhodopsin
Authors: Struts Andrey V. , Salgado Gilmar F. J. , Brown Michael F.
Published: April 2011

Rhodopsin is a canonical member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors, which transmit signals across cellular membranes and are linked to many drug interventions in humans. Here we show that solid-state
2
H NMR relaxation allows investigation of light-induced changes in local ps–ns time scale motions of retinal bound to rhodopsin. Site-specific
2
H labels were introduced into methyl groups of the retinal ligand that are essential to the activation process. We conducted solid-state
2
H NMR relaxation (spin-lattice,
T

1
Z

, and quadrupolar-order,
T

1
Q

) experiments in the dark, Meta I, and Meta II states of the photoreceptor. Surprisingly, we find the retinylidene methyl groups exhibit site-specific differences in dynamics that change upon light excitation—even more striking, the C9-methyl group is a dynamical hotspot that corresponds to a crucial functional hotspot of rhodopsin. Following 11-
cis
to
trans
isomerization, the
2
H NMR data suggest the
β
-ionone ring remains in its hydrophobic binding pocket in all three states of the protein. We propose a multiscale activation mechanism with a complex energy landscape, whereby the photonic energy is directed against the E2 loop by the C13-methyl group, and toward helices H3 and H5 by the C5-methyl of the
β
-ionone ring. Changes in retinal structure and dynamics initiate activating fluctuations of transmembrane helices H5 and H6 in the Meta I–Meta II equilibrium of rhodopsin. Our proposals challenge the Standard Model whereby a single light-activated receptor conformation yields the visual response—rather an ensemble of substates is present, due to the entropy gain produced by photolysis of the inhibitory retinal lock.
Retention mechanism of Cu-doped SiO2-based resistive memory
Authors: Liu Chih-Yi , Huang Yung-Hung , Ho Jen-Yen , Huang Chun-Chieh
Published: April 2011

Cu/SiO2/Pt structures were fabricated to investigate their resistive switching behaviour and retention mechanisms. The device resistance can be reversibly switched between a high-resistance state (HRS) and a low-resistance state (LRS) by dc voltages, which can be explained using the conducting filament model with an electrochemical reaction. The HRS retention time was found to be much shorter than the LRS retention time. The HRS retention property degraded because of Cu diffusion within the SiO2 layer and from the top Cu electrode; conversely, it was enhanced using an NH3 plasma treatment which suppressed Cu diffusion. The HRS retention time was also influenced by the Cu concentration of the SiO2 layer and the device area.
Optical and structural properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) films embedded with citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles
Authors: Mahendia Suman , Tomar A K , Chahal Rishi Pal , Goyal Parveen , Kumar Shyam
Published: April 2011

Hydrosol of Au nanoparticles was prepared by citrate reduction of chloroauric acid. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV–Visible spectroscopy. The prepared nanoparticles were almost spherical in shape with their mean diameter ∼6 nm and possessed face-centred-cubic (fcc) structure. The absorption spectrum of the as-prepared nanoparticles shows the SPR peak at 530 nm in agreement with that predicted from calculations based on Mie theory. These nanoparticles were dispersed in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) using the sol–gel method to prepare PVA–Au nanocomposite films with different concentrations of Au. Optical and structural properties of these nanocomposites were studied using UV–Visible spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and FTIR spectroscopy. The value of optical band gap deduced from the UV–Visible absorption spectroscopy is found to be reduced from 4.98 eV (for pure PVA) to 3.85 eV after embedding 0.074 wt% of Au nanoparticles. Further, the refractive index behaviour for pure PVA and PVA–Au nanocomposite films was studied through transmission and reflection behaviour. The induced structural changes, revealed through XRD and FTIR spectroscopy, are responsible for the observed changes in optical behaviour of PVA after embedding Au nanoparticles in it.
Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy of
and absolute density calibration by Rayleigh scattering in capacitively coupled rf discharges
Authors: Nemschokmichal S , Bernhardt F , Krames B , Meichsner J
Published: April 2011

Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (LIF) was applied to measure absolute densities of the first metastable
state in capacitively coupled rf discharges at 13.56 MHz. The metastable state was transferred to the B 
3Πg, v = 3 state with a dye laser at 687.44 nm and the fluorescence of the transition to the
state was observed at 762 nm. The time-depending LIF signal was investigated and the effective lifetime of the B 
3Πg, v = 3 state was determined by eliminating the delay due to the photomultiplier circuit. The absolute density calibration was done by comparison with Rayleigh scattering at the laser wavelength of 687 nm. Therewith, axial density profiles were measured and their dependence on pressure and power was investigated. The metastable densities vary between 1012 and 1013 cm−3 for pressures from 40 to 1000 Pa. Furthermore, small amounts of oxygen (0.5–2%) were added and the influence on the metastable density is discussed.
Obtaining reactor-relevant divertor conditions in tokamaks
Authors: Stangeby P.C. , Leonard A.W.
Published: April 2011

It is argued that the paramount boundary plasma issue for DT reactors is likely to be the erosion wear of the plasma facing components, PFCs, and that a number of potential solutions all require the achievement of not only low temperature (≲10 eV) but also high density (≳1021 m−3) in the divertor. Estimates are made of the minimum heating power, P
heat, required to achieve a divertor target temperature of T
t = 5 eV and density n
t > 1021 m−3, based on four recent hypotheses or scalings for the width of the power footprint on the target, λ
qt. Each of these result in predictions of how the required minimum P
heat depends on device size, namely as R, R
3/2 or R
2. The absolute magnitude for the required values of minimum P
heat is found not to vary significantly among the four power scalings; for the most part a factor of order ∼2 for a significant range of R. The four hypotheses/scalings for λ
qt are empirically based; however, they draw on measurements made in tokamaks that did not have divertors operating primarily under these conditions. In order to establish if any of these power scalings are applicable, they are compared with measurements from a set of DIII-D discharges with high n
t ∼ 0.35 × 1021 at 5 eV. It is found that all four power scalings match the experimental measurements to within the uncertainties. The main objective is to determine what power is needed to achieve the required divertor conditions in future devices, for both reactor and simulator tokamaks, and therefore the approximate agreement of the four, strongly empirical, power scalings increases confidence that this may be possible.
Using mixed gases for massive gas injection disruption mitigation on Alcator C-Mod
Authors: Bakhtiari M. , Olynyk G. , Granetz R. , Whyte D.G. , Reinke M.L. , Zhurovich K. , Izzo V.
Published: April 2011

Mixed gases are used for massive gas injection disruption mitigation on Alcator C-Mod in order to optimize radiation efficiency, halo current reduction and response time. Gas mixtures of helium and argon (argon fraction 0–50%) are investigated in detail, as well as mixtures of deuterium, argon, krypton and helium. Experiments show that injecting He/Ar mixtures leads to faster thermal and current quenches than with pure helium or argon injection, thus improving the time response of the disruption mitigation system and reducing the halo current. Small fractions of argon (∼5–10%) in helium also lead to optimized radiation fractions with large electron density increases in the core plasma. These results are consistent with the expectation that small fractions of argon will be entrained with the faster helium in the early phases of gas flow. The gas mixing allows one to simultaneously exploit the fast particle delivery rate of light helium gas and the large radiation capability of argon.
A NAIVE BAYES SOURCE CLASSIFIER FOR X-RAY SOURCES
Authors: Broos Patrick S. , Getman Konstantin V. , Povich Matthew S. , Townsley Leisa K. , Feigelson Eric D. , Garmire Gordon P.
Published: April 2011

The Chandra Carina Complex Project (CCCP) provides a sensitive
X-ray survey of a nearby starburst region over >1 deg2 in extent.
Thousands of faint X-ray sources are found, many concentrated into rich young
stellar clusters. However, significant contamination from unrelated Galactic and
extragalactic sources is present in the X-ray catalog. We describe the use of a
naive Bayes classifier to assign membership probabilities to individual sources,
based on source location, X-ray properties, and visual/infrared properties. For
the particular membership decision rule adopted, 75% of CCCP sources are
classified as members, 11% are classified as contaminants, and 14% remain
unclassified. The resulting sample of stars likely to be Carina members is used
in several other studies, which appear in this special issue devoted to the
CCCP.
GLOBAL X-RAY PROPERTIES OF THE O AND B STARS IN
CARINA
Authors: Nazé Y. , Broos P. S. , Oskinova L. , Townsley L. K. , Cohen D. , Corcoran M. F. , Evans N. R. , Gagné M. , Moffat A. F. J. , Pittard J. M. , Rauw G. , ud-Doula A. , Walborn N. R.
Published: April 2011

The key empirical property of the X-ray emission from O stars is a strong
correlation between the bolometric and X-ray luminosities. In the framework of
the Chandra Carina Complex Project, 129 O and B stars have been
detected as X-ray sources; 78 of those, all with spectral type earlier than B3,
have enough counts for at least a rough X-ray spectral characterization. This
leads to an estimate of the
L
X–L
BOL ratio for an
exceptional number of 60 O stars belonging to the same region and triples the
number of Carina massive stars studied spectroscopically in X-rays. The derived
log(L
X/L
BOL) is
−7.26 for single objects, with a dispersion of only 0.21 dex. Using the
properties of hot massive stars listed in the literature, we compare the X-ray
luminosities of different types of objects. In the case of O stars, the
L
X–L
BOL ratios are
similar for bright and faint objects, as well as for stars of different
luminosity classes or spectral types. Binaries appear only slightly harder and
slightly more luminous in X-rays than single objects; the differences are not
formally significant (at the 1% level), except for the
L
X–L
BOL ratio in the
medium (1.0–2.5 keV) energy band. Weak-wind objects have similar X-ray
luminosities but they display slightly softer spectra compared with “normal” O
stars with the same bolometric luminosity. Discarding three overluminous
objects, we find a very shallow trend of harder emission in brighter objects.
The properties of the few B stars bright enough to yield some spectral
information appear to be different overall (constant X-ray luminosities, harder
spectra), hinting that another mechanism for producing X-rays, besides wind
shocks, might be at work. However, it must be stressed that the earliest and
X-ray brightest among these few detected objects are similar to the latest O
stars, suggesting a possibly smooth transition between the two processes.
X-RAY STAR CLUSTERS IN THE CARINA COMPLEX
Authors: Feigelson Eric D. , Getman Konstantin V. , Townsley Leisa K. , Broos Patrick S. , Povich Matthew S. , Garmire Gordon P. , King Robert R. , Montmerle Thierry , Preibisch Thomas , Smith Nathan , Stassun Keivan G. , Wang Junfeng , Wolk Scott , Zinnecker Hans
Published: April 2011

The distribution of young stars found in the Chandra Carina
Complex Project (CCCP) is examined for clustering structure. X-ray surveys are
advantageous for identifying young stellar populations compared to optical and
infrared surveys in suffering less contamination from nebular emission and
Galactic field stars. The analysis is based on smoothed maps of a spatially
complete subsample of ∼3000 brighter X-ray sources classified as Carina members
and ∼10,000 stars from the full CCCP sample. The principal known clusters are
recovered, and some additional smaller groups are identified. No rich embedded
clusters are present, although a number of sparse groups are found. The CCCP
reveals considerable complexity in clustering properties. The Trumpler 14 and 15
clusters have rich stellar populations in unimodal, centrally concentrated
structures several parsecs across. Non-spherical internal structure is seen, and
large-scale low surface density distributions surround these rich clusters.
Trumpler 16, in contrast, is comprised of several smaller clusters within a
circular boundary. Collinder 228 is a third type of cluster which extends over
tens of parsecs with many sparse compact groups likely arising from triggered
star formation processes. A widely dispersed, but highly populous, distribution
of X-ray stars across the ∼50 pc CCCP mosaic supports a model of past
generations of star formation in the region. Collinder 234, a group of massive
stars without an associated cluster of pre-main-sequence stars, may be part of
this dispersed population.
2-adic properties of modular functions associated to Fermat curves
Authors: Kazalicki Matija
Published: April 2011

For an odd integer

N
N

, we study the action of Atkin’s

U
(
2
)

U(2)

-operator on the modular function

x
(
τ
)

x(\tau )

associated to the Fermat curve:

X
N

+

Y
N

=
1

X^N+Y^N=1

. The function

x
(
τ
)

x(\tau )

is modular for the Fermat group

Φ
(
N
)

\Phi (N)

, generically a noncongruence subgroup. If
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="x left-parenthesis tau right-parenthesis equals q Superscript negative 1 Baseline plus sigma-summation Underscript i equals 1 Overscript normal infinity Endscripts a left-parenthesis i upper N minus 1 right-parenthesis q Superscript i upper N minus 1">

x
(
τ
)
=

q

−
1

+

∑

i
=
1

∞

a
(
i
N
−
1
)

q

i
N
−
1

x(\tau )=q^{-1}+\sum _{i=1}^\infty a(iN-1)q^{iN-1}

, we essentially prove that

lim

n
→
0

a
(
n
)
=
0

\lim _{n \rightarrow 0}a(n)=0

in the

2
2

-adic topology.
Groups of banded matrices with banded inverses
Authors: Strang Gilbert
Published: April 2011

A product

A
=

F
1

…

F
N

A=F_1\,\ldots \,F_N

of invertible block-diagonal matrices will be banded with a banded inverse:

A
i

j
=
0

A_ij=0

and also

(

A

−
1

)

i
j

=
0

(A^{-1})_{ij}=0

for

|

i
−
j

|

>
w

|i-j|>w

. We establish this factorization with the number

N
N

controlled by the bandwidths

w
w

and not by the matrix size

n
.

n.

When

A
A

is an orthogonal matrix, or a permutation, or banded plus finite rank, the factors

F
i

F_i

have

w
=
1

w=1

and we find generators of that corresponding group. In the case of infinite matrices, the

A
=
L
P
U

A=LPU

factorization is now established but conjectures remain open.
Families of elliptic curves over quartic number fields with prescribed torsion subgroups
Authors: Jeon Daeyeol , Kim Chang Heon , Lee Yoonjin
Published: April 2011

We construct infinite families of elliptic curves with given torsion group structures over quartic number fields. In a 2006 paper, the first two authors and Park determined all of the group structures which occur infinitely often as the torsion of elliptic curves over quartic number fields. Our result presents explicit examples of their theoretical result. This paper also presents an efficient way of finding such families of elliptic curves with prescribed torsion group structures over quadratic or quartic number fields.
Facial pain and palsy
Authors: Sylla Patricia
Published: April 2011

Anatomy and physiology of pain 186

Anatomy and physiology of oro-facial pain 187

Oro-facial (idiopathic) pain syndromes 188

Overview of oro-facial pain 190

Assessment and measurement of pain 192

Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMJPDS) 196

Atypical facial pain 202

Trigeminal neuralgia ('tic douloureux') 204

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia 206...
The eye
Authors: Sylla Patricia
Published: April 2011

Basic anatomy and physiology 314

History taking 320

Basic eye examination 322

Quick reference list 326

Vision-threatening injuries 328

Eyelid lumps 336

Foreign bodies 337

Sore and itchy eyes 337

Tear film insufficiency 338

Blepharitis 339

Contact lens related problems 340

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) ...
The ear
Authors: Sylla Patricia
Published: April 2011

Applied anatomy 360

Otalgia ('earache') 362

Otorrhoea 362

Mastoiditis 364

Otitis media 365

Deafness 366

Dizzyness/'vertigo' 368

Tinnitus 368

Structurally there are three parts:

• External ear: pinna, external auditory meatus (EAM), and tympanum. The skin on the outer part of the EAM contains hair follicles and wax-producing glands. These are absent on the inner part. The ear is a self-cleansing organ. Cotton buds should not be used—all they do is impact wax within the canal....
The mouth, lips, and teeth
Authors: Sylla Patricia
Published: April 2011

Bleeding from the mouth 370

Bleeding gums (non-traumatic) 372

Dry socket 373

The acutely swollen mouth 374

Oral hygiene 375

Mucosal infections 376

White patches in the mouth 382

Red patches in the mouth 384

Pigmented lesions 386

Ulcers 388

Blisters—vesicles and bullae 390

Dental emergencies ...
Clinical	syndromes
Authors: Török M. Estée , Cooke Fiona J. , Moran Ed
Published: April 2011

Abstracts and keywords to be supplied.
Oxford Handbook of Acute Medicine
Authors: Ramrakha Punit , Moore Kevin , Sam Amir
Published: April 2011

The Oxford Handbook of Acute Medicine is the essential guide to the management of the acutely ill patient. It features expanded material on practical procedures and new information on common presentations.
Cardiac emergencies
Authors: Ramrakha Punit S. , Moore Kevin P. , Sam Amir
Published: April 2011

Adult basic life support 4

Adult advanced life support 6

Universal treatment algorithm 8

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) 10

ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) 12

STEMI: diagnosis 1 14

STEMI: diagnosis 2 16

STEMI: general measures 18

STEMI: reperfusion therapy (thrombolysis) 1 20

STEMI: thrombolysis 2 ...
Renal emergencies
Authors: Ramrakha Punit S. , Moore Kevin P. , Sam Amir
Published: April 2011

Acute kidney injury (AKI) 1 282

AKI 2 284

AKI: investigations 286

AKI: management 288

AKI: further management 290

Anuria 292

Interstitial nephritis 293

Rhabdomyolysis 294

Hepatorenal syndrome 296

Acute upper urinary tract infections 298

Renal colic and renal stones 300

Haematuria 302

Renovascular disease ...
Shock
Authors: Ramrakha Punit S. , Moore Kevin P. , Sam Amir
Published: April 2011

Shock 310

Shock: assessment 312

Shock: management 314

Sepsis syndrome and septic shock 316

Septic shock: management 318

Sepsis syndrome/septic shock: antibiotics 320

Toxic shock syndrome 321

Anaphylaxis 322

Lactic acidosis 324

Appendix 1: haemodynamic calculations 326

Appendix 2: understanding circulatory failure 327

Appendix 3: inotrope support ...
Haematological emergencies
Authors: Ramrakha Punit S. , Moore Kevin P. , Sam Amir
Published: April 2011

Blood transfusion reactions 574

Sickle cell crisis: presentation 576

Sickle cell crisis: management 578

Bleeding disorders: general approach 580

Abnormal coagulation 1 582

Abnormal coagulation 2 584

Circulating inhibitors of coagulation 584

Abnormal platelets 586

Anticoagulant therapy 588

Bleeding with fibrinolytic therapy 589

Bleeding in liver disease ...
Overview
Authors: Corbridge Rogan , Steventon Nicholas
Published: April 2011

Using this book 2

ENT as a subject and career 3

Student ENT 4

ENT learning aims and objectives for clinical medical students 5

Student ENT curriculum 6

Research 8

The aim of this book, like all the other Oxford Handbooks, is to provide a compact but comprehensive guide to medical practice. It has been designed to slip inside the pocket of a white coat and to be rapidly retrieved for reference. There are many blank facing pages for notes, and for amending or annotating the text to fit in with local practice....
The middle ear
Authors: Corbridge Rogan , Steventon Nicholas
Published: April 2011

Structure and function of the middle ear 90

Congenital abnormalities of the middle ear 92

Acute otitis media 94

Complications of acute otitis media 96

Glue ear/otitis media with effusion 97

Chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma 98

Chronic suppurative otitis media with cholesteatoma 100...
The nose and sinuses
Authors: Corbridge Rogan , Steventon Nicholas
Published: April 2011

Structure and function of the nose 160

Rhinitis 164

Types of rhinitis 165

Medical treatment of rhinitis 166

Surgical treatment of rhinitis 168

Sinusitis 169

Acute sinusitis 170

Recurrent acute sinusitis 171

Chronic sinusitis 172

Surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis 174

Complications of sinusitis 176

Nasal polyps ...
The oesophagus
Authors: Corbridge Rogan , Steventon Nicholas
Published: April 2011

Introduction 244

Globus 246

Chronic cough/throat clearing/laryngeal spasm 248

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and hiatus hernia 250

Neurological causes of swallowing problems 251

Postcricoid web 252

Achalasia 253

Pharyngeal pouch 254

Oesophageal tumours 256

The oesophagus is a muscular tube connecting the pharynx to the stomach. In adults it is 25cm long. It starts at the level of C6, the cricoid cartilage, and it ends at the gastro-oesophageal junction, or the diaphragm. The cricopharyngeus muscle acts as an upper oesophageal sphincter....
Practical procedures
Authors: Corbridge Rogan , Steventon Nicholas
Published: April 2011

How to cauterize the nose 358

How to pack the nose 360

How to remove foreign bodies 362

How to syringe an ear 366

How to dry mop an ear 367

How to instil ear drops 368

How to drain a haematoma of the pinna ...
Inspiratory Oxygen Fraction and Postoperative Complications in Obese Patients
Authors: Stæhr Anne K. , Meyhoff Christian S. , Rasmussen Lars S.
Published: April 2011

Background

Obese patients are at a high risk of postoperative complication, including surgical site infection (SSI). Our aim was to evaluate the effect of a high inspiratory oxygen fraction (80%) on SSI and pulmonary complications in obese patients undergoing laparotomy.

Methods

This study was a planned analysis of the obese patients (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m²) recruited in the Danish multicenter, patient- and observer-blinded, PROXI Trial of 1,400 patients undergoing acute or elective laparotomy. Patients were randomized to receive either 80% or 30% oxygen during and for 2 h after surgery. The primary outcome was SSI within 14 days. Secondary outcomes were atelectasis, pneumonia, and respiratory failure.

Results

Two hundred thirteen patients had a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m². The median (5-95% range) body mass index was 34 kg/m² (30-44) and 33 kg/m² (30-41) in patients allocated to the 80% and 30% oxygen group. SSI occurred in 32 of 102 (31%) versus 29 of 111 (26%) patients given 80% and 30% oxygen, respectively (odds ratio, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.71-2.34; P = 0.40). In addition, the incidence of pulmonary complications was not significantly different, with atelectasis occurring in 9% versus 6%, pneumonia in 6% versus 5%, and respiratory failure in 8% versus 5% in patients given 80% and 30% oxygen, respectively.

Conclusion

Administration of 80% oxygen, compared with 30% oxygen, did not reduce the frequency of SSI in obese patients. Moreover, no significant association was found between oxygen fraction and the risk of pulmonary complications.