bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiplex PCR for identification of herpes virus infections in adolescents
Authors: Durzyńska Julia , Pacholska‐Bogalska Joanna , Kaczmarek Maria , Hanć Tomasz , Durda Magdalena , Skrzypczak Magdalena , Goździcka‐Józefiak Anna
Published: December 2010

The aim of the study was to develop a multiplex PCR (mPCR) for a rapid and simultaneous detection of herpes simplex 1 (HSV‐1), herpes simplex 2 (HSV‐2), and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA in squamous oral cells obtained from adolescents. Accuracy of the method was tested in a group of 513 adolescents, almost 11% of subjects were positive for infection with herpes viruses. Correlations with gender, age, and place of residence were sought. A similar incidence of HSV‐2 and HCMV was found (4.3% and 5.4%, respectively) and the incidence of HSV‐1 was the lowest (1%) in the study group. Conversely to HSV‐2, HCMV was detected mostly in the youngest individuals. The same occurrence of all viruses was observed in boys and girls. The mPCR method described is suggested as a useful tool for epidemiologic studies of active herpes infections. J. Med. Virol. 83:267–271, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The use of dried blood spots for assessing antibody response to hepatitis A virus after natural infection and vaccination
Authors: Melgaço J.G. , Pinto M.A. , Rocha A.M. , Freire M. , Gaspar L.P. , Lima S.M.B. , Cruz O.G. , Vitral C.L.
Published: December 2010

During recent years, vaccination against hepatitis A has been implemented in several countries. It is expected that the increase in mass vaccination against hepatitis A will eventually result in a decreased prevalence of anti‐HAV antibodies in the general population. For this reason, a suitable clinical sample for diagnosis of hepatitis A must be sufficiently sensitive to enable detection of lower antibodies titers. In this study, the feasibility of using dried blood spots (DBS) was assessed for the detection of anti‐HAV antibodies after a natural infection and vaccination. Seventy‐four DBS and paired plasma samples were obtained from a group of college students for a cross‐sectional hepatitis A seroepidemiological study. Forty‐six students seronegative for anti‐HAV were selected randomly and immunized with an inactivated hepatitis A vaccine using an 0–6 month schedule. Seroconversion was monitored in paired plasma and DBS samples 6 months after the first dose followed by a period of 8 and 24 months after the second dose. A strong correlation between OD/CO rates of paired plasma and DBS samples for the detection of anti‐HAV was observed. The sensitivity and specificity of the DBS compared with plasma for the detection of anti‐HAV antibodies after natural infection was 100%. The sensitivity of DBS in samples collected 24 months after the second dose of hepatitis A vaccine was 95.4%. The results showed that DBS samples can be used for the detection of anti‐HAV antibodies both after natural infection or vaccination. J. Med. Virol. 83:208–217, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Full genomic analysis of a G8P[1] rotavirus strain isolated from an asymptomatic infant in Kenya provides evidence for an artiodactyl‐to‐human interspecies transmission event
Authors: Ghosh Souvik , Gatheru Zipporah , Nyangao James , Adachi Noriaki , Urushibara Noriko , Kobayashi Nobumichi
Published: December 2010

Group A rotavirus (GAR) G8P[1] strains, found sometimes in cattle, have been reported rarely from humans. Therefore, analysis of the full genomes of human G8P[1] strains are of significance in the context of studies on interspecies transmission of rotaviruses. However, to date, only partial‐length nucleotide sequences are available for the 11 genes of a single human G8P[1] strain, while the partial sequences of two other strains have been reported. The present study reports the first complete genome sequence of a human G8P[1] strain, B12, detected from an asymptomatic infant in Kenya in 1987. By nucleotide sequence identities and phylogenetic analyses, the full‐length nucleotide sequences of VP7‐VP4‐VP6‐VP1‐VP2‐VP3‐NSP1‐NSP2‐NSP3‐NSP4‐NSP5 genes of strain B12 were assigned to G8‐P[1]‐I2‐R2‐C2‐M2‐A3‐N2‐T6‐E2‐H3 genotypes, respectively. Each of the 11 genes of strain B12 appeared to be more related to cognate genes of artiodactyl (ruminant and/or camelid) and/or artiodactyl‐derived human GAR strains than those of most other rotaviruses. Strain B12 exhibited low levels of genetic relatedness to canonical human GAR strains, such as Wa and DS‐1, ruling out the possibility of its origin from reassortment events between artiodactyl‐like human and true human strains. These observations suggest that strain B12 might have been directly transmitted from artiodactyls to humans. Unhygienic conditions and close proximity of humans to livestock at the sampling site might have facilitated this rare event. This is the first report on a full genomic analysis of a rotavirus strain from Kenya. To our knowledge, strain B12 might be the oldest G8 strain characterized molecularly from the Africa continent. J. Med. Virol. 83:367–376, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Usefulness of sonazoid–ultrasonography during hepatectomy in patients with liver tumors: A preliminary study
Authors: Nanashima Atsushi , Tobinaga Syuuichi , Abo Takafumi , Kunizaki Masaki , Takeshita Hiroaki , Hidaka Shigekazu , Taura Naota , Ichikawa Tatsuki , Sawai Terumitsu , Nakao Kazuhiko , Nagayasu Takeshi
Published: December 2010

Background and Objectives

To improve diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS), we investigated the usefulness of new contrast medium of microbubble agent, Sonazoid as a preliminary study.

Method

We examined IOUS in 50 patients with liver tumors who underwent hepatectomy. Sonazoid was administrated intravenously and Kupffer‐phase images of the tumor were observed before hepatectomy. Sonazoid was reinjected to observe the tumor vasculature.

Results

The tumors included hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 25 patients, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in 3, colorectal liver metastasis in 14, gastrointestinal stromal tumor in 1, and benign hematoma in 1. Liver tumors were clearly detected as perfusion defect in most cases. Small lesions (<1 cm), extra‐capsular tumor growth, and portal vein tumor thrombus were also clearly detected on the Sonazoid–IOUS. Small occult tumors were detected in five cases. Differential diagnosis with suspicious non‐tumorous lesions and benign mass was possible based on vascular findings at the early phase. In comparison with hepatectomy for HCC under conventional IOUS, the proportion of patients with positive surgical margin (0%) tended to be lower than that of the control group (P = 0.073).

Conclusion

Sonazoid–IOUS is a promising useful tool to detect the precise tumor margin and small tumors, hence allowing curative hepatectomy or intraoperative ablation. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011; 103:152–157. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prognostic factors after early recurrence in patients who underwent curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Chun Jae Min , Kwon Hyung Jun , Sohn Junho , Kim Sang Geol , Park Ji‐Young , Bae Han Ik , Yun Young Kook , Hwang Yoon Jin
Published: December 2010

Background

The prognosis of the patients with early recurrence after curative hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is usually dismal.

Methods

One hundred twenty‐four patients underwent curative resection for HCC at Kyungpook National University Hospital from January 2002 to December 2006. An early recurrence was defined as a recurrence within 2 years after a curative resection. The risk factors associated with an early recurrence were analyzed as well as other risk factors correlated with survival after early recurrence.

Results

Early disease recurrence developed in 56 patients (45.2%). The risk factors associated with an early recurrence were a tumor size larger than 5 cm (P = 0.001) and the presence of tumor micrometastasis (P < 0.001). The 1 year/2 year overall survival, after early recurrence, was 57.0%/41.0% and the preoperative α‐fetoprotein, C‐reactive protein (CRP), tumor size, macroscopic vascular invasion, and number of tumors were associated with survival on the univariate analysis. The multivariate analysis showed that the independent risk factors for survival, after early disease recurrence, were a preoperative CRP >1.0 mg/dl and macroscopic vascular invasion. (P = 0.004, P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

The preoperative CRP and macroscopic vascular invasion were associated with the aggressiveness of early recurrent HCC. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011; 103:148–151. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Endoscopic endonasal dissection of the infratemporal fossa: Anatomic relationships and importance of eustachian tube in the endoscopic skull base surgery
Authors: Falcon Ramon Terre , Rivera‐Serrano Carlos M. , Miranda Juan Fernandez , Prevedello Daniel M. , Snyderman Carl H. , Kassam Amin B. , Carrau Ricardo L.
Published: December 2010

Objectives:

Endoscopic endonasal approaches to the pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossae are technically challenging due to the complex anatomy of these areas. This project attempts to develop an anatomic and surgical model to enhance the understanding of these spaces from the endonasal endoscopic perspective.

Methods:

Eight pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossae were dissected in four adult human specimens in accordance with institutional protocols. All specimens were prepared with vascular injections using colored latex. Both the pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossae were accessed using a transpterygoid approach, which included a medial maxillectomy. Rod lens endoscopes (with 0°, 30°, and 45° lenses), surgical microscope, microsurgical and endoscopic instruments were used to complete the dissections.

Results:

Endoscopic endonasal approaches provided adequate access to the pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossae. Dissection of the internal maxillary artery and its terminal branches, and detachment of the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles were critical steps to access deeper structures of the infratemporal fossa. The lateral pterygoid plate was the most useful landmark to locate foramen ovale, and the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve. The Eustachian tube, medial pterygoid plate, and styloid process were the most useful landmarks to locate parapharyngeal poststyloid structures (parapharyngeal segment of the internal carotid artery, internal jugular vein, cranial nerves IX and X).

Conclusions:

A medial maxillectomy coupled with a transpterygoid endoscopic approach, provides adequate access to the pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossae. The complex anatomy of the infratemporal fossa requires precise identification of surgical landmarks to assure preservation of neurovascular structures. Laryngoscope, 2011
NMR measurement of free and esterified sterols
Authors: Dais Photis
Published: December 2010

This short account describes a novel analytical technique for the determination of total, free and esterified sterols in olive oil developed in our laboratory. This methodology is based on 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy. The latter spectroscopic analysis requires first the derivatization of the sterolic hydroxyl groups with a phosphitylating reagent. This NMR method shows a number of advantages over conventional methods for sterols determination, amongst which speed and simplicity are the most beneficial ones. The possibility of applying the NMR spectroscopy to other food matrices is discussed.
Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) oil as a biofuels feedstock: Golden opportunity or false hope?
Authors: Moser Bryan R.
Published: December 2010

Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) is a promising sustainable alternative energy crop belonging to the Brassicaceae (mustard) family. Camelina has several favorable agronomic characteristics which give it potential to significantly enhance domestic biofuels production. With high seed oil content as well as high yield of oil per hectare, camelina can be efficiently processed into high quality renewable fuels such as biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters) as well as renewable diesel and jet fuels using existing technologies. This review summarizes the attributes of camelina along with conversion of the lipid fraction into advanced renewable biofuels.
Synthesis and Drug‐Delivery Behavior of Chitosan‐Functionalized Graphene Oxide Hybrid Nanosheets
Authors: Rana Vijay Kumar , Choi Myeon‐Cheon , Kong Jin‐Yeon , Kim Gwang Yeon , Kim Mi Ju , Kim Sun‐Hee , Mishra Satyendra , Singh Raj Pal , Ha Chang‐Sik
Published: December 2010

Chitosan‐functionalized graphene oxides (FGOCs) were successfully synthesized. FGOCs were found to significantly improve the solubility of the GO in aqueous acidic media. The presence of organic groups was confirmed by means of XPS and TGA. Restoration of the sp2 carbon network and exfoliation of graphene sheets were confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, UV‐visible spectroscopy and WAXD. The SEM and AFM investigations of the resultant FGOCs showed that most of the graphene sheets were individual and few were layered. Controlled release behavior of Ibuprofen and 5‐fluorouracil was then investigated. We found that FGOCs are a promising new material for biological and medical applications.

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A multistart heuristic for the equality generalized traveling salesman problem
Authors: Cacchiani Valentina , Muritiba Albert Einstein Fernandes , Negreiros Marcos , Toth Paolo
Published: December 2010

We study the equality generalized traveling salesman problem (E‐GTSP), which is a variant of the well‐known traveling salesman problem. We are given an undirected graph G = (V,E), with set of vertices V and set of edges E, each with an associated cost. The set of vertices is partitioned into clusters. E‐GTSP is to find an elementary cycle visiting exactly one vertex for each cluster and minimizing the sum of the costs of the traveled edges. We propose a multistart heuristic, which iteratively starts with a randomly chosen set of vertices and applies a decomposition approach combined with improvement procedures. The decomposition approach considers a first phase to determine the visiting order of the clusters and a second phase to find the corresponding minimum cost cycle. We show the effectiveness of the proposed approach on benchmark instances from the literature. On small instances, the heuristic always identifies the optimal solution rapidly and outperforms all known heuristics; on larger instances, the heuristic always improves, in comparable computing times, the best known solution values obtained by the genetic algorithm recently proposed by Silberholz and Golden. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2011
An experimental study of maximum profit wavelength assignment in WDM rings
Authors: Bampas Evangelos , Pagourtzis Aris , Potika Katerina
Published: December 2010

We are interested in the problem of satisfying a maximum‐profit subset of undirected communication requests in an optical ring that uses the Wavelength Division Multiplexing technology. We present four deterministic and purely combinatorial algorithms for this problem, and give theoretical guarantees for their worst‐case approximation ratios. Two of these algorithms are novel, whereas the rest are adaptation of earlier approaches. An experimental evaluation of the algorithms in terms of attained profit and execution time reveals that the theoretically best algorithm performs only marginally better than one of the new algorithms, while at the same time being several orders of magnitude slower. Furthermore, an extremely fast greedy heuristic with nonconstant approximation ratio performs reasonably well and may be favored over the other algorithms whenever it is crucial to minimize execution time. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2011
Initial testing (stage 1) of the IGF‐1 receptor inhibitor BMS‐754807 by the pediatric preclinical testing program
Authors: Kolb E. Anders , Gorlick Richard , Lock Richard , Carol Hernan , Morton Christopher L. , Keir Stephen T. , Reynolds C. Patrick , Kang Min H. , Maris John M. , Billups Catherine , Smith Malcolm A. , Houghton Peter J.
Published: December 2010

Background

BMS‐754807 is a small molecule ATP‐competitive inhibitor of the type‐1 insulin‐like growth factor receptor currently in phase 1 clinical trials.

Procedures

BMS‐754807 was tested against the Pediatric Preclinical Testing Program (PPTP) in vitro panel at concentrations ranging from 1.0 nM to 10 µM and was tested against the PPTP in vivo panels at a dose of 25 mg/kg administered orally BID for 6 days, repeated for 6 weeks.

Results

In vitro BMS‐754807 showed a median EC50 value of 0.62 µM against the PPTP cell lines. The median EC50 for the four Ewing sarcoma cell lines was less than that for the remaining PPTP cell lines (0.19 µM vs. 0.78 µM, P = 0.0470). In vivo BMS‐754807 induced significant differences in EFS distribution compared to controls in 18 of 32 evaluable solid tumor xenografts (56%) tested, but in none of the ALL xenografts studied. Criteria for intermediate activity for the time to event activity measure (EFS T/C > 2) were met in 7 of 27 solid tumor xenografts evaluable for this measure. The best response was PD2 (progressive disease with growth delay), which was observed in 18 of 32 solid tumor xenografts. PD2 responses were most commonly observed in the rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and Wilms tumor panels.

Conclusions

BMS‐754807 activity in vitro is consistent with a specific IGF‐1R effect that has half‐maximal response in the 0.1 µM range and that is observed in a minority of the PPTP cell lines. In vivo intermediate activity was most commonly observed in the neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma panels. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011;56:595–603. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
IgA‐mediated autoimmune hemolytic anemia in an infant
Authors: McGann Patrick T. , McDade Jenny , Mortier Nicole A. , Combs Martha R. , Ware Russell E.
Published: December 2010

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies, most frequently of the IgG isotype, directed against erythrocyte surface antigens. The direct antiglobulin test (DAT) is the critical laboratory test for the diagnosis of AIHA, but is negative in 3–11% of cases. In these cases of DAT negative AIHA, a wider spectrum of clinical data including more specialized testing for erythrocyte autoantibodies may be required. We describe the unique and challenging case of an infant with corticosteroid‐responsive, DAT negative AIHA, in which specialized gel card testing identified an isolated IgA autoantibody on the erythrocyte surface. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011;56:837–839. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Construction of multiple generation nitriloacetates from poly(PEGMA) brushes on planar silicon surface for enhancement of protein loading
Authors: Liu Xiang , Liu Hong‐Bo , Guo Peng‐Feng , Xiao Shou‐Jun
Published: December 2010

We constructed multiple generation nitriloacetates from poly(poly(ethylene glycol)monomethacrylate) brushes on a planar silicon surface (Si‐g‐P(PEGMA)) to improve the capacity of binding proteins and the biofouling repellence. Firstly the freshly etched Si(111)H reacted with 10‐undecen‐1‐ol under an optimized microwave irradiation condition to produce hydroxyl‐terminated substrates. Secondly surface initiators for atom transfer radical polymerization were introduced by means of esterification between 2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropionyl bromide and surface hydroxyl groups. Thirdly polymer brushes of Si‐g‐P(PEGMA) were grown from surface initiators; then their side chain hydroxyls were carboxylated with succinic anhydride to become polymer brushes of Si‐g‐P(PEGMA‐COOH). Finally multiple generation nitriloacetates were obtained by iterative esterification of carboxylic acids with N‐hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)/N,N′‐dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, yielding amino‐reactive NHS esters, and successive amidation with aminobutyl nitrilotriacetic acid. After coordinated with Ni(II), the first to third generation nitriloacetates were applied to bind histidine‐tagged thioredoxin‐urodilatin. All stepwise conversions were monitored with multiple transmission‐reflection infrared spectroscopy (MTR‐IR). The highly sensitive MTR‐IR spectra provide clear stretching bands of amide v(NH) at 3441 and 3345 cm−1, whose integrated peak areas were used to estimate the enhancement ratios of protein loading by multiple generation nitriloacetates as first generation:second generation:third generation = 1:1.7:2.3.
Fluctuation properties of phonons generated by ultrafast optical excitation of a quantum dot
Authors: Reiter D. E. , Wigger D. , Daniels J. M. , Papenkort T. , Vagov A. , Axt V. M. , Kuhn T.
Published: December 2010

In this paper, the fluctuation properties of phonons after the optical excitation of a quantum dot with an ultrashort laser pulse are studied theoretically. When a single pulse with pulse area π creates an exciton in the system, a coherent phonon state builds up. Fluctuations of coherent states are time independent and equal to the vacuum fluctuations. By an excitation with a π/2 pulse a superposition of ground and exciton state is created. In this case the phonon system becomes entangled with the electronic system. In the phonon subsystem this leads to the formation of a statistical mixture of the vacuum and the coherent state. The fluctuations of this mixture oscillate in time with both the single and the double phonon frequency, but never exhibit squeezing. The discrepancies with the predictions made in a Raman tensor model are briefly discussed. All scenarios are illustrated using the Wigner function.
Microscopic theory of the extremely nonlinear terahertz response of semiconductors
Authors: Golde Daniel , Kira Mackillo , Meier Torsten , Koch Stephan W.
Published: December 2010

The extreme nonlinear terahertz response of initially unexcited intrinsic semiconductor nanostructures is studied theoretically by solving extended semiconductor Bloch equations numerically. The coupled dynamics of intraband acceleration and multiphoton interband transitions leads to high‐harmonic generation up to several tens of the exciting terahertz frequency. It is shown that the actual cut‐off frequency is determined by the band structure and not by the excitation strength.
Lifetime and DLTS studies of interstitial Fe in p‐type Si
Authors: Syre M. , Monakov E. , Holt A. , Svensson B. G.
Published: December 2010

Fe is one of the most prominent metallic impurities in solar‐grade Si. In this work we have investigated the kinetics of in‐diffusion and formation of the interstitial fraction (Fei). P‐type Cz‐Si with a resistivity of 10 Ω‐cm has been intentionally contaminated with Fe by in‐diffusion from a surface layer of FeCl3 at 700 °C followed by cooling with a rate of ∼ 3.3 K/s. The concentration of Fei has been measured both by microwave photo conductance decay (μ‐PCD) and deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). In the μ‐PCD measurements, the Fei concentration has been determined using the ef‐ fect of light‐induced splitting of the iron‐boron pairs (FeB), while in the DLTS measurements Fei has been monitored by the donor electronic state at 0.43 eV above the valence band.

We have observed a linear dependence between the minority carrier lifetime (τ) and the inverse Fei concentration. This confirms Fei as the dominating recombination centre. In the present investigations we use a material relevant for solar cells with a resistivity of 10 Ω‐cm. We have found that the concentration of interstitial iron decreases with increasing time for in‐diffusion of Fe, provided identical cooling condition. This decreasing con‐ centration of Fei is believed to be due to formation of more iron precipitates that serve as sinks for fast diffusing Fei. A high temperature anneal at 1000 °C for 1 minute followed by fast cooling (∼ 33 K/s) results in dissolution of the precipitates and freezing Fe into interstitial positions, where the concentration of Fei increases with increasing in‐diffusion time. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Interaction of point defects with impurities in the Si‐SiO2 system and its influence on the interface properties
Authors: Kropman Daniel , Kärner Tiit , Dolgov Sergei , Heinmaa Ivo , Laas Tõnu , Londos Charalampos A.
Published: December 2010

Dedicated to the memory of Prof. Ulrich Gösele

It has been shown by means of EPR and NMR technique that at the Si‐SiO2 interface at appropriate oxidation temperature (time) local dynamical equilibrium may be achieved. At oxidation temperature 1130 °C the dencity of point defects is less than at lower and higher temperature (1100 °C and 1200 °C) and the content of absorbed impurities (hydrogen, oxygen) diminishes (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Material effects in manufacturing of silicon based solar cells and modules
Authors: Schieferdecker Anja , Sachse Jens‐Uwe , Mueller Torsten , Seidel Ulf , Bartholomaeus Lars , Germershausen Sven , Perras Reinhold , Meissner Rita , Hoebbel Helmut , Schenke Andreas , Bhatti A. K. , Küsters Karl Heinz , Richter Hans
Published: December 2010

The performance and efficiency of solar cells depends strongly on influence of materials. Key topics for solar cell optimisation are presently silicon material properties and materials for cell metallisation. Optimisation of silicon is focussed e.g. on material properties such as impurity content, density of dislocation and grain boundaries in multi‐crystalline silicon which influence parameters like carrier lifetime, and therefore the cell efficiency. Improved characterisation methods of solar cells like electroluminescence and photoluminescence are combined with techniques such as thermography and LBIC to improve production process and materials. As a result cell efficiency will be increased. Optimisation of cell metallisation and module interconnects is strongly related to progress in paste materials for front side metallisation. Improved materials enable the use of higher emitter resistance and the printing of smaller metal lines, while reducing the series resistance of the solar cell. Progress in paste materials leads to increased solar cell efficiency for the standard cell process. The introduction of new metal pastes has to be combined with careful optimisation of the process window in soldering during module built‐up. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Observation of mechanical fracture and corresponding domain structure changes of polycrystalline PbTiO3 nanotubes
Authors: Choi Hyunwoo , Hong Seungbum , Kim Yunseok , Kim Myungjun , Sung Tae‐Hyun , Shin Hyunjung , No Kwangsoo
Published: December 2010

PbTiO3 (PTO) nanotubes (NTs) were synthesized at various temperatures by gas phase reaction between PbO gas and anatase TiO2 NTs and characterized by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). PTO ferroelectric phase was synthesized at as low as 400 °C as evidenced by PFM domain images and piezoresponse hysteresis loop measurement. Furthermore, the PTO NTs fabricated at above 500 °C underwent mechanical fracture through development of nanocracks due to grain growth, leading to ferroelectric domains with larger size and lower aspect ratio. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Synthesis and Characterization of Ratiometric Ion‐Sensitive Polyelectrolyte Capsules
Authors: del Mercato Loretta L. , Abbasi Azhar Z. , Parak Wolfgang J.
Published: December 2010

Micrometer‐sized polyelectrolyte capsules are synthesized, which have ion‐sensitive fluorophores embedded in their cavities. As the membranes of the capsules are permeable to ions, the fluorescence of the capsules changed with the ion concentration. In particular, capsules sensitive to protons, sodium, potassium, and chloride ions are fabricated and their fluorescence response analyzed. In order to allow for ratiometric measurements, additional fluorophores whose emission do not depend on the ion concentration and which emit a different wavelength are co‐embedded in the capsule cavities.
Effect of Temperature, Strain rate, Manganese and Carbon Content on flow Behavior of three Ternary Fe‐Mn‐C (Fe‐Mn23‐C0.3, Fe‐Mn23‐C0.6, Fe‐Mn28‐C0.3) High‐Manganese Steels
Authors: Wietbrock B. , Xiong W. , Bambach M. , Hirt G.
Published: December 2010

In this work compression tests were performed to characterize the flow behavior of three different high manganese austenitic steels (HMS) in dependence of temperature (300–1200 °C) and strain rate (0.1‐10 s−1). True stress‐true strain curves were calculated from the experimental data. Temperature compensation was applied to remove the effects of adiabatic heating. At 300 °C the influence of strain rate is small but rapidly increases with temperature. DRX can be observed above 1100 °C for all HMS with 23 wt% Mn starting from the smaller strain rates. Higher Mn contents seem to promote DRX which occurs first for a 28 wt% Mn steel at 1000°C. While an increasing Mn content decreases the maximum flow stress at smaller temperatures, the opposite is found at temperatures above 700 °C. Carbon influences the stress‐strain curves mainly at temperatures below 700 °C as it raises the maximum stress levels. At temperatures above 1100 °C all three investigated HMS show similar flow curves. By increasing the temperature from 300 °C to 1200 °C the initial flow stresses are reduced by a factor of ten. The maximum flow stress levels are decreased by a factor of eight (Fe‐Mn28‐C0.3), ten (Fe‐Mn23C0.3) and eleven (Fe‐Mn23C0.6).
The Savoy Hotel enhancement Part II: the dome
Authors: Bieker Cornelia
Published: December 2010

The Savoy is London’s landmark hotel located on the Thames Embankment between Waterloo Bridge and Westminster. It was closed in December 2007 for a complete refurbishment and will reopen soon.

One major part of the refurbishment — the underpinning of the existing cantilevering lattice trusses, from which the south façade is suspended — was published in ”The Savoy Hotel enhancement part I: south façade” in the 2/2010 issue of this journal. Other key parts of the refurbishment are the installation of a new lift above Savoy Way, including extending the lifts up to the 8th floor, and the installation of a large ornate glass dome above the hotel’s ”Thames Foyer”. To incorporate the dome, the existing pitched truss roof had to be temporarily supported, the tension member had to be severed and a new box structure, supporting the huge glass ornate dome, had to be inserted. The structural work undertaken is described here.
Laparoscopic Liver Resection
Authors: Reddy Srinevas K. , Tsung Allan , Geller David A.
Published: December 2010

More than 3,000 laparoscopic liver resections (LLR) are performed worldwide for benign disease, malignancy, and living donor hepatectomy. Minimally invasive hepatic resection approaches include pure laparoscopic, hand‐assisted laparoscopic, and a laparoscopic‐assisted open “hybrid” approach, where the operation is started laparoscopically to mobilize the liver and begin the dissection, followed by a small laparotomy for completion of the parenchymal transection. Surgeons should have an advanced understanding of hepatic anatomy, extensive experience in open liver surgery, and technical skill to control major vascular and biliary structures laparoscopically before embarking on LLR. Although there is no absolute size criterion, smaller, peripheral lesions (<5 cm) that lie far from major vessels and anticipated transection planes are most amenable to LLR. Although the majority of reported LLR are non‐anatomic resections or segmentectomies, several surgical groups are now performing laparoscopic major hepatic resections with excellent safety profiles. Patient benefits from LLR include less operative blood loss, less postoperative pain and narcotic requirement, and a shorter length of hospital stay, with comparable postoperative morbidity and mortality to open liver resection. Comparison studies between LLR and open resection have revealed no differences in width of resection margins for malignant lesions or overall survival after resection for hepatocellular cancer or colorectal cancer liver metastases. Advantages of LLR for HCC in particular include avoidance of collateral vessel ligation, decreased postoperative hepatic insufficiency, and fewer postoperative adhesions, all of which are features that enhance subsequent liver transplantation.
Determination of Seasonal Changes in Olive Oil by Using Differential Scanning Calorimetry Heating Thermograms
Authors: Ilyasoglu Huri , Ozcelik Beraat
Published: December 2010

Thermal properties (upon heating) of extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) from Aegean cultivars were determined to evaluate the possibility of using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as a tool for monitoring seasonal changes in chemical composition. Chemical properties of the samples were analyzed to assess the relationship between the thermal properties and chemical properties as well. The thermal properties of Aegean cultivars were found to be influenced by major components (palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, triolein and palmitodiolein). The melting offset temperature, the temperature range of melting and the melting enthalpy of Aegean cultivars presented significant differences with respect to crop season (p < 0.05). DSC may be utilized to evaluate compositional changes with respect to crop season.
Pain perceived in a national community sample of German children and adolescents
Authors: Dul Yong , Knopf Hildtraud , Zhuang Wanli , Ellert Ute
Published: December 2010

Background: Pain among children is common, yet far less studied compared to that among adults. Little has been reported regarding various types of pain in a national community sample of German children.

Methods: We examined pain experienced within a 3 month timeframe among 14,836 children and adolescents aged 3–17 years old, who participated in the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) 2003–2006.

Results: The 3‐month prevalence rate was 71% for any pain, 47% for recurrent pain, 55% for pain at multiple (≥2) locations and 27% for recurrent pain at multiple locations. Headache and abdominal pain were the most frequently reported (44.2%, 40.8%) either as recurrent (22.8%, 20.3%) or as the most bothersome pain (MBP) (19.6%, 14.7%). Children from immigrant vs. non‐immigrant families and children from lower vs. upper social‐class families showed significantly higher prevalence rates for tooth (14% vs. 10%), lower abdomen (10% vs. 7%), chest (9% vs. 7%), arm (9% vs. 6%) and eye pain (9% vs. 5%). Of children with repeated MBP, only 10% of them used medications or consulted a doctor about the pain ‘often/always,’ while the majority of them did not act at all. In general, older age groups, females, poor health status and urban residence were associated with pain in children.

Conclusions: The rather high pain prevalence suggests pain among children may be a potential public health issue. Further studies are required to investigate the characteristics and correlational attributes of children suffering most frequently from pain and children from families with low socioeconomic status.
Thickness and surface‐properties of different sea‐ice regimes within the Arctic Trans Polar Drift: Data from summers 2001, 2004 and 2007
Authors: Rabenstein L. , Hendricks S. , Martin T. , Pfaffhuber A. , Haas C.
Published: December 2010

Large‐scale sea‐ice thickness and surface property data were obtained in three summers and in three different sea‐ice regimes in the Arctic Trans‐Polar Drift (TPD) by means of helicopter electromagnetic sounding. Distribution functions P of sea‐ice thickness and of the height, spacing, and density of sails were analyzed to characterize ice regimes of different ages and deformations. Results suggest that modal ice thickness is affected by the age of a sea‐ice regime and that the degree of deformation is represented by the shape of P. Mean thickness changes with both age and deformation. Standard error calculations showed that representative mean and modal thickness could be obtained with transect lengths of 15 km and 50 km, respectively, in less deformed ice regimes such as those around the North Pole. In heavier deformed ice regimes closer to Greenland, 100 km transects were necessary for mean thickness determination and a representative modal thickness could not be obtained at all. Mean sail height did not differ between ice regimes, whereas sail density increased with the degree of deformation. Furthermore, the fraction of level ice, open melt ponds, and open water along the transects were determined. Although overall ice thickness in the central TPD was 50% thinner in 2007 than in 2001, first‐year ice (FYI) was not significantly thinner in 2007 than FYI in 2001, with a decrease of only 0.3 m. Thinner FYI in 2007 only occurred close to the sea‐ice edge, where open water covered more than 10% of the surface. Melt pond coverage retrieved from laser measurements was 15% in both the 2004 MYI regime and the 2007 FYI regime.
Isotopic characteristics of Indian precipitation
Authors: Kumar Bhishm , Rai S. P. , Kumar U. Saravana , Verma S. K. , Garg Pankaj , Kumar S. V. Vijaya , Jaiswal Rahul , Purendra B. K. , Kumar S. R. , Pande N. G.
Published: December 2010

Hydrogen (2H/1H) and oxygen (18O/16O) isotopic ratios were measured in precipitation (900 samples) collected from several locations in India during the period 2003–2006 (12 locations in 2003 and 18 locations in 2004–2006). The amount of rainfall along with air temperature and humidity were also measured. The meteoric water line developed for India using isotopic data of precipitation samples, namely, δ2H = 7.93(±0.06) × δ18O + 9.94(±0.51) (n = 272, r2 = 0.98), differs slightly from the global meteoric water line. Regional meteoric water lines were developed for several Indian regions (i.e., northern and southern regions of India, western Himalayas) and found to be different from each other (southern Indian meteoric water line, slope is 7.82, intercept or D excess is 10.23; northern Indian meteoric water line, slope is 8.15, intercept is 9.55) which is attributed to differences in their geographic and meteorological conditions and their associated atmospheric processes (i.e., ambient temperature, humidity, organ, and source of vapor masses). The local meteoric water lines developed for a number of locations show wide variations in the slope and intercept. These variations are due to different vapor sources such as the northeast (NE) monsoon that originates in the Bay of Bengal; the southwest monsoon (SW) that originates in the Arabian Sea; a mixture of NE and SW monsoons; retreat of NE and SW monsoons and western disturbances that originate in the Mediterranean Sea. The altitude effect in the isotopic composition of precipitation estimated for western Himalayan region also varies from month to month.
Coseismic gravity changes of the 2010 earthquake in central Chile from satellite gravimetry
Authors: Heki Kosuke , Matsuo Koji
Published: December 2010

The first map of coseismic changes in gravity and geoid height has been drawn using the data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites for the 2004 Sumatra‐Andaman earthquake. Here we present the second case of coseismic gravity change observation by satellite gravimetry, i.e., the change caused by an interplate thrust earthquake that occurred on 27 February, 2010 in Central Chile (Mw = 8.8). Gravity showed a negative jump with the largest drop of ∼5 μgal on the back‐arc side. The observed changes agree with those calculated assuming the realistic earth and fault parameters inferred from coseismic displacements of Global Positioning System (GPS) stations. Gravity in this area shows large seasonal and inter‐annual variability, and postseismic gravity changes could be isolated only by carefully removing hydrological signals.
Statistical study of low‐frequency magnetic field fluctuations near Venus under the different interplanetary magnetic field orientations
Authors: Du J. , Zhang T. L. , Baumjohann W. , Wang C. , Volwerk M. , Vörös Z. , Guicking L.
Published: December 2010

The magnetic field fluctuations near Venus are investigated in the frequency range 0.03–0.3 Hz on the basis of the measurements observed by Venus Express from April 2006 to December 2008. The data are sorted by the angle between interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and solar wind flow. The spatial distributions of fluctuation properties under the different IMF orientations are presented and a comparative study is performed. In the mantle and tail regions, the magnetic field is fairly quiet and the fluctuations are almost linearly polarized. There are two possible sources for the fluctuations in the magnetosheath: convection from the upstream foreshock and local generation. When the IMF is nearly perpendicular to the solar wind flow, the fluctuations in the magnetosheath are mainly generated locally by an ion cyclotron instability due to planetary ion pickup. The wave intensity is relatively low and the transverse component is dominant. The waves are left‐handed, elliptically polarized, and propagating parallel to the mean magnetic field. When the IMF is nearly aligned to the solar wind flow, foreshock waves are convected into the magnetosheath. The fluctuations in the magnetosheath become more intensive. Their polarization properties are very mixed and there is no clear tendency. It indicates that the waves convected from the foreshock may be the mixture of multiple wave types and incoherent noise.
Automatic measurement of shear wave splitting and applications to time varying anisotropy at Mount Ruapehu volcano, New Zealand
Authors: Savage M. K. , Wessel A. , Teanby N. A. , Hurst A. W.
Published: December 2010

We present an automatic shear wave splitting measurement tool for local earthquakes, with the sole manual step of choosing an S arrival time. We apply the technique to three data sets recorded on Mount Ruapehu volcano in New Zealand that have previously been determined to have fast polarizations that vary in time and with earthquake depth. The technique uses an eigenvalue minimization technique, applied over multiple measurement windows. The dominant period of each waveform sets minimum and maximum window lengths. Cluster analysis determines the best solution among all the windows, and quality grading criteria assess the results automatically. When the same filters are used for events determined to be high quality from manual studies, the automatic technique returns virtually identical results. Scatter increases when the automatic technique chooses the best filter, but the average automatic results remain consistent with the manual results. When the automatic technique is used on sets that include data previously judged as poor quality, some stations yield distributions of fast polarizations that include peaks that were not present in previously published results. The difference may stem from two factors: automatic grading lets through some measurements that independent analysts consider poor quality, but also unconscious bias in the manual selection process may downgrade measurements that do not fit expectations. Nonetheless, the new objective analysis confirms changes in the average fast polarizations between 1994 and 2002 and between shallow and deep events. Therefore, this new technique is valuable for objective assessment of anisotropy and its variation in time.
Collocated measurements of boundary layer cloud microphysical and radiative properties: A feasibility study
Authors: Henrich F. , Siebert H. , Jäkel E. , Shaw R. A. , Wendisch M.
Published: December 2010

First data from collocated, helicopter‐based measurements of boundary layer cloud microphysical properties (effective droplet radius Reff, droplet number concentration N) and spectral radiative quantities (cloud optical thickness τ, cloud top albedo ρ, reflectivity ) are presented. The in situ measurements of the microphysical cloud properties were collected by the Airborne Cloud Turbulence Observation System (ACTOS) attached to a helicopter by a 145 m long rope. Cloud spectral reflectivity was derived from radiances measured by grating spectrometers combined with downward looking optical inlets installed underneath the helicopter. Correlations between cloud microphysics and reflected radiation are presented for two cloud cases with different optical and geometrical thicknesses. On the basis of common retrieval techniques, τ and Reff are derived using a radiative transfer model. The results of the retrieval are compared to the collocated in situ measurements and data from the Moderate‐Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Within the limitations of the relatively small data set, the feasibility of closely collocated microphysics and radiation data and their benefits were demonstrated.
Optimized fractional cloudiness determination from five ground‐based remote sensing techniques
Authors: Boers R. , de Haij M. J. , Wauben W. M. F. , Baltink H. Klein , van Ulft L. H. , Savenije M. , Long C. N.
Published: December 2010

A 1 year record of fractional cloudiness at 10 min intervals was generated for the Cabauw Experimental Site for Atmospheric Research (CESAR) (51°58′N, 4°55′E) using an integrated assessment of five different observational methods. The five methods are based on active as well as passive systems and use either a hemispheric or column remote sensing technique. The 1 year instrumental cloudiness data were compared against a 30 year climatology of Observer data in the vicinity of CESAR (1971–2000). In the intermediate 2–6 octa range, most instruments, but especially the column methods, report lower frequency of occurrence of cloudiness than the absolute minimum values from the 30 year Observer climatology. At night, the Observer records fewer clouds in the 1–2 octa range than during the day, while the instrumental techniques registered more clouds. During daytime the Observer also records much more 7 octa cloudiness than the instruments. A reference algorithm was designed to derive a continuous and optimized record of fractional cloudiness. Output from individual instruments were weighted according to the cloud base height reported at the observation time; the larger the height, the lower the weight. The algorithm was able to provide fractional cloudiness observations every 10 min for 99.92% of the total period of 12 months (15 May 2008 to 14 May 2009).
Distribution of three arbovirus antibodies among monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) in the Philippines
Authors: Inoue S. , Morita K. , Matias R.R. , Tuplano J.V. , Resuello R.R.G. , Candelario J.R. , Cruz D.J.M. , Mapua C.A. , Hasebe F. , Igarashi A. , Natividad F.F.
Published: December 2010

Serum samples from 54 monkeys were collected from healthy individuals in a monkey farm in Luzon island, Philippines, in 1999, and examined by IgM‐capture ELISA and indirect IgG ELISA for the presence of dengue (DEN), Japanese encephalitis (JE) and chikungunya (CHIK) viruses. The positive rates for IgM ELISA were 3.7, 35.2 and 14.8% against DEN, JE and CHIK, respectively. Higher positive rates were obtained when indirect IgG ELISA was used: 100% against flaviviruses (JE or DEN) and 59.3% against CHIK virus. The results indicate a high prevalence of flavivirus infections such as JE and DEN, and a lesser prevalence of CHIK virus infections, among monkeys in the Philippines. These findings suggest possible sylvatic transmission cycles of these viruses.