bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypertension in children: new trends and challenges
Authors: Feber Janusz , Ahmed Maheen
Published: May 2010

Childhood HTN (hypertension) has become a widely investigated topic within the last decade due to its increasing prevalence. In the present review, we examine new developments and trends that have significantly contributed to aetiology, diagnosis, evaluation and management of childhood HTN. Many recent reports document an increasing prevalence of HTN, mainly essential HTN, in children worldwide. This is probably related to the increase of childhood obesity, although obesity is not the only factor. Evidence has been accumulating to suggest a rather complex interplay between obesity, uric acid level, dietary sodium intake, inflammation, inheritance and other factors, which lead to increased risk of developing HTN in childhood and adulthood. The detection and monitoring of HTN has significantly improved with the use of ABPM (ambulatory blood pressure monitoring), which allows not only for a more accurate classification and staging of HTN, but also for the calculation of more sophisticated parameters such as the AASI (ambulatory arterial stiffness index). Measurement of arterial stiffness enables assessment of arterial dysfunction, which may precede structural vascular changes evaluated by carotid intima media thickness. Sustained HTN eventually leads to end-organ damage [LVH (left ventricular hypertrophy), central nervous system], which in turn increases the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. New developments in childhood HTN, as outlined in the present review, will hopefully contribute to better screening and management of HTN in children.
The use of statins potentiates the insulin-sensitizing effect of exercise training in obese males with and without Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Meex Ruth C. R. , Phielix Esther , Schrauwen-Hinderling Vera B. , Moonen-Kornips Esther , Schaart Gert , Schrauwen Patrick , Hesselink Matthijs K. C.
Published: May 2010

Exercise training is advocated in insulin resistance and statins are used to treat hyperlipidaemia, two cardiometabolic risk factors often presenting concurrently. Statin intake may blunt mitochondrial function and the adaptive response to exercise training. Thus combining exercise training with statin administration may have adverse effects. We examined whether improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors, insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial function mediated by progressive exercise training are affected by statin use. A group of 14 obese elderly males on statins (ST) and 22 matched control subjects (C) were examined. Results on in vivo mitochondrial function [MRS (magnetic resonance spectroscopy)], mitochondrial density (Western blotting), insulin sensitivity (clamp) and metabolic flexibility (indirect calorimetry) were compared before and after a 12-week combined progressive exercise training programme (3×per week; 45 min per session). Except for LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, all pre-training values were comparable between statin users and control subjects. In vivo mitochondrial function and mitochondrial density improved by training in both groups. Interestingly, blood-lipid profile, insulin sensitivity (+72%), non-oxidative and oxidative glucose disposal (+38% and +112%) and insulin-mediated suppression of fat oxidation (−62%) improved only in the ST group. We conclude that statin treatment did not impede exercise performance or tolerance, mitochondrial function or mass. In addition, training-induced improvements in glucose homoeostasis were preserved in the ST group. Strikingly, the insulin-sensitizing effect of training was more prominent in the ST group than in the C group. The combined prescription of statins along with exercise training is safe and should be considered for subjects prone to develop insulin resistance.
Magnetic properties of Nd–Fe–B thick film magnets prepared by using arc deposition
Authors: Nakano M. , Sahara M. , Yamawaki K. , Yanai T. , Fukunaga H.
Published: May 2010

Nd–Fe–B thick film magnets with the thickness of several 10 μm were prepared by using an arc-deposition method with the high vacuum of 2×10−5 Pa. Good transference for the compositions could be confirmed between a Nd–Fe–B target and a film. In addition, the highest deposition rate reached approximately 10 μm/h. The structure of as-deposited films was amorphous, therefore a pulse-annealing method was adopted as a high-speed crystallization method. The average grain diameters of crystallized films prepared under the annealing time for approximately 3.5 s were 35 nm. The values of coercivity, remanence, and (BH)max for a Nd–Fe–B thick film with a stoichiometric composition were approximately 710 kA/m, 0.75 T, and 56 kJ/m3, respectively.
Exploring magneto-optical properties of biofunctionalized magnetic chains for developing label-free immunoassays
Authors: Park Sang Yoon , Ko Pil Joo , Handa Hiroshi , Sandhu Adarsh
Published: May 2010

We describe a magneto-optical transmittance read-out method for bioassays utilizing rotating chains in a solution composed of biotinylated superparamagnetic magnetic nanobeads. Highly sensitive and fast optical transmission signals from ultradiluted magnetic fluids containing biomolcules were obtained by rotating the magnetic chains, which acted as microstirring devices. Interaction of biomolecules with functionalized magnetic nanobeads yielded longer chains of self-assembled magnetic nanobeads, resulting in an increase in the optical transmittance compared to magnetic chains formed by only magnetic dipolar interactions without biomolecules in the solution.
Internal magnetic structure of magnetite nanoparticles at low temperature
Authors: Krycka K. L. , Borchers J. A. , Booth R. A. , Hogg C. R. , Ijiri Y. , Chen W. C. , Watson S. M. , Laver M. , Gentile T. R. , Harris S. , Dedon L. R. , Rhyne J. J. , Majetich S. A.
Published: May 2010

Small-angle neutron scattering with polarization analysis reveals that Fe3O4 nanoparticles with 90 Å diameters have ferrimagnetic moments significantly reduced from that of bulk Fe3O4 at 10 K, nominal saturation. Combined with previous results for an equivalent applied field at 200 K, a core-disordered shell picture of a spatially reduced ferrimagnetic core emerges, even well below the bulk blocking temperature. Zero-field cooling suggests that this magnetic morphology may be intrinsic to the nanoparticle, rather than field induced, at 10 K.
Laplacian in polar coordinates, regular singular function algebra, and theory of distributions
Authors: Cantelaube Y. C. , Khelif A. L.
Published: May 2010

In polar coordinates, if f∊C2(Rn/{0}), the expression ∂2f/∂r2+(n−1)r−1(∂f/∂r)+(1/r2)Δσf, where Δσ is the Laplace–Beltrami operator, is the Laplacian of f in the sense of the functions in Rn/{0}. It is the Laplacian of f in the sense of the functions in Rn if and only if its extension by continuity in Rn exists and f is twice differentiable in Rn. Otherwise, in particular, if f is a singular function in Rn, its Laplacian must be taken in the sense of the distributions. Now, this expression is generally considered as the Laplacian of f in Rn whatever f is. This is why, although the Laplace and Helmoltz equations are solved by substituting this expression of the Laplacian, and although half of the solutions are singular functions in R3, the latter is generally considered as solutions in R3, which leads to contradictions with the theory of distributions. They are solved by introducing the algebra of the real-valued regular singular functions u/rs, where u∊C∞(Rn), s is a non-negative real, and with the help of the operator Pf. These functions as also their Laplacian Δ(u/rs), which are defined in Rn/{0}, define in Rn the distributions Pf.(u/rs) and Pf.Δ(u/rs) called pseudofunctions. We first show that the general solutions fL and fH to the Laplace and Helmoltz equations in R3/{0} are solutions in R3, not of these equations, but to the equations Pf.ΔfL=0 and Pf.(Δ+k2)fH=0, which can thus be regarded as extensions of the former in R3. Then we show that fL and fH, or more exactly the distributions Pf.fL and Pf.fH, are distribution solutions in R3 to the Poisson and Helmoltz equations, ΔPf.fL=TL and (Δ+k2)Pf.fH=TH, where TL and TH are linear combinations of partial derivatives of the Dirac mass at the origin δ0. The confusion between the Laplacians in Rn/{0} and in Rn, or/and between the Laplacians in the sense of the functions and in the sense of the distributions, amounts in terms of the distributions to identify the operators ΔPf. and Pf.Δ, and hence to take no account of the noncommutation of the operators Pf. and Δ.
Origin of room temperature ferromagnetic moment in Rh-rich [Rh/Fe] multilayer thin films
Authors: Kande Dhishan , Laughlin David , Zhu Jian-Gang
Published: May 2010

B2 ordered FeRh thin films switch from antiferromagnetic (AFM) to ferromagnetic (FM) state on heating above 350 K and switch back on cooling, with a hysteresis. This property makes FeRh a very attractive choice as a write-assist layer material for low temperature heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) media. Studies have shown that as we decrease the thickness of the FeRh films, the B2 phase is no longer AFM even below 350 K and there is a thickness dependant FM stabilization of the B2 phase. It was also proved that slightly Rh-richer compositions (>50 at. % Rh) were more preferable to stabilize the AFM phase. The current study focuses on growing highly ordered FeRh films by alternate layer rf sputtering of thin layers of iron and rhodium onto a heated substrate. It has been shown that films with rhodium content beyond 55 at. % contain a disordered bcc FM phase which gives rise to residual moment at room temperature even for thicker films.
Ring-type electric current sensor based on ring-shaped magnetoelectric laminate of epoxy-bonded Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.92 short-fiber/NdFeB magnet magnetostrictive composite and Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 piezoelectric ceramic
Authors: Leung Chung Ming , Or Siu Wing , Zhang Shengyao , Ho S. L.
Published: May 2010

A ring-type electric current sensor operated in vortex magnetic field detection mode is developed based on a ring-shaped magnetoelectric laminate of an axially polarized Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 (PZT) piezoelectric ceramic ring bonded between two circumferentially magnetized epoxy-bonded Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.92 (Terfenol-D) short-fiber/NdFeB magnet magnetostrictive composite rings. The electric current sensitivity of the sensor was evaluated, both theoretically and experimentally. The sensor showed a high nonresonance sensitivity of ∼12.6 mV/A over a flat frequency range of 1 Hz–30 kHz and a large resonance sensitivity of 92.2 mV/A at the fundamental shape resonance of 67 kHz, besides an excellent linear relationship between the input electric current and the output magnetoelectrically induced voltage. The power-free, bias-free, high-sensitive, and wide-bandwidth natures of the sensor make it great potential for real-time condition monitoring of engineering systems having electric current-carrying cables or conductors.
Effect of shape of Fe particles on their electromagnetic properties within 1–18 GHz range
Authors: Han Mangui , Tang Wei , Chen Wenbing , Zhou Hao , Deng Longjiang
Published: May 2010

Spherical magnetic iron particles were milled into different flake shapes, and their permittivity, permeability dispersion behaviors have been investigated within the frequency range of 1–8 GHz range. The results show that both permittivity and permeability values depend on the particle shapes. These flake particles also demonstrate better microwave absorption performances.
Infinitely many shape-invariant potentials and cubic identities of the Laguerre and Jacobi polynomials
Authors: Odake S. , Sasaki R.
Published: May 2010

We provide analytic proofs for the shape invariance of the recently discovered [Odake and Sasaki, Phys. Lett. B 679, 414 (2009)] two families of infinitely many exactly solvable one-dimensional quantum mechanical potentials. These potentials are obtained by deforming the well-known radial oscillator potential or the Darboux–Pöschl–Teller potential by a degree ℓ (ℓ=1,2,…) eigenpolynomial. The shape invariance conditions are attributed to new polynomial identities of degree 3ℓ involving cubic products of the Laguerre or Jacobi polynomials. These identities are proved elementarily by combining simple identities.
Comment on “General nonlocality in quantum fields” [J. Math. Phys. 49, 033513 (2008)]
Authors: Wang Hai-Jun
Published: May 2010

In a recent paper [H.-J. Wang, J. Math. Phys. 49, 033513 (2008)] a complex-geometry model was proposed to interpret the interaction of electromagnetism and the interaction between quarks while the nonlocal effects are involved. In that theoretical frame, from the metric matrix one can obtain a determinant-form condition to describe qualitatively the typical characteristics for the aforementioned interactions. In this comment we attempt to extend this kind of qualitative description to weak interaction by finding out an appropriate metric tensor for it.
Thermodynamic limit for isokinetic thermostats
Authors: Gallavotti G. , Presutti E.
Published: May 2010

Thermostat models in space dimension d=1,2,3 for nonequilibrium statistical mechanics are considered and it is shown that, in the thermodynamic limit, the motions of frictionless thermostats and isokinetic thermostats coincide.
Quantum drift-diffusion modeling of spin transport in nanostructures
Authors: Barletti Luigi , Méhats Florian
Published: May 2010

We consider a two-dimensional electron gas with a spin-orbit interaction of Bychkov and Rashba type. Starting from a microscopic model, represented by the von Neumann equation endowed with a suitable Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook collision term, we apply the Chapman–Enskog method to derive a quantum diffusive model. Such model is then semiclassically expanded up to second order, leading to nonlinear quantum corrections to the zero-order diffusive models of the literature.
Sub-Alfvénic velocity limits in magnetohydrodynamic rotating plasmas
Authors: Teodorescu C. , Clary R. , Ellis R. F. , Hassam A. B. , Romero-Talamas C. A. , Young W. C.
Published: May 2010

Magnetized plasmas in shaped fields rely on large, supersonic rotation to effect centrifugal confinement of plasma along magnetic field lines. The results of experiments on the Maryland Centrifugal Experiment (MCX) [R. F. Ellis et al., Phys. Plasmas 12, 055704 (2005)] to document velocity limits are reported. Previous results have shown a limit at the Alfvén speed, consistent with equilibrium limits from ideal magnetohydrodynamic theory. Another speed limit, previously reported as possibly related to a critical ionization phenomenon and depending only on the ion species and the shape of the confining magnetic field, is investigated here for a broad range of the applied parameters. We show that this speed limit manifests at sub-Alfvénic levels and that, as externally applied torques on the plasma are increased, the extra momentum input shows up as enhanced plasma density or lower momentum confinement time, accompanied by an increase in the neutral radiation level. Several key parameters are scanned, including the mirror ratio, the length between insulators, and the species mass. We show that this velocity limit is consistent with the species-dependent critical ionization velocity postulated by Alfvén.
Vibrational wave packet induced oscillations in two-dimensional electronic spectra. I. Experiments
Authors: Nemeth Alexandra , Milota Franz , Mančal Tomáš , Lukeš Vladimír , Hauer Jürgen , Kauffmann Harald F. , Sperling Jaroslaw
Published: May 2010

This is the first in a series of two papers investigating the effect of electron-phonon coupling in two-dimensional Fourier transformed electronic spectroscopy. We present a series of one- and two-dimensional nonlinear spectroscopic techniques for studying a dye molecule in solution. Ultrafast laser pulse excitation of an electronic transition coupled to vibrational modes induces a propagating vibrational wave packet that manifests itself in oscillating signal intensities and line shapes. For the two-dimensional electronic spectra we can attribute the observed modulations to periodic enhancement and decrement of the relative amplitudes of rephasing and nonrephasing contributions to the total response. Different metrics of the two-dimensional signals are shown to relate to the frequency-frequency correlation function which provides the connection between experimentally accessible observations and the underlying microscopic molecular dynamics. A detailed theory of the time-dependent two-dimensional spectral line shapes is presented in the accompanying paper [T. Mančal et al., J. Chem. Phys. 132, 184515 (2010)].
Vibrational wave packet induced oscillations in two-dimensional electronic spectra. II. Theory
Authors: Mančal Tomáš , Nemeth Alexandra , Milota Franz , Lukeš Vladimír , Kauffmann Harald F. , Sperling Jaroslaw
Published: May 2010

We present a theory of vibrational modulation of two-dimensional coherent Fourier transformed electronic spectra. Based on an expansion of the system’s energy gap correlation function in terms of Huang–Rhys factors, we explain the time-dependent oscillatory behavior of the absorptive and dispersive parts of two-dimensional spectra of a two-level electronic system, weakly coupled to intramolecular vibrational modes. The theory predicts oscillations in the relative amplitudes of the rephasing and nonrephasing parts of the two-dimensional spectra, and enables to analyze time-dependent two-dimensional spectra in terms of simple elementary components whose line shapes are dictated by the interaction of the system with the solvent only. The theory is applicable to both low and high energy (with respect to solvent induced line broadening) vibrations. The results of this paper enable to qualitatively explain experimental observations on low energy vibrations presented in the preceding paper [A. Nemeth et al., J. Chem. Phys. 132, 184514 (2010)] and to predict the time evolution of two-dimensional spectra in ultrafast ultrabroadband experiments on systems with high energy vibrations.
Koopmans’s theorem in the restricted open-shell Hartree–Fock method. II. The second canonical set for orbitals and orbital energies
Authors: Davidson Ernest R. , Plakhutin Boris N.
Published: May 2010

A treatment of the validity of Koopmans’s theorem (KT) in the restricted open-shell Hartree–Fock (ROHF) method can be separated into two essentially different cases. The first of them involves the one-electron processes X→Xj± in which the spin state of an ion Xj± having a hole or an extra electron in the closed, open or virtual orbital ϕj is correctly described by a one-determinant wave function. This case was analyzed using different methods by Plakhutin et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 125, 204110 (2006)] and by Plakhutin and Davidson [J. Phys. Chem. A 113, 12386 (2009)]. In the present work we analyze more complex processes where the state of an ion cannot be described by a single determinant. An example of such processes is the removal of an alpha electron from the closed shell of a high-spin half-filled open-shell system X. For this case we give a slightly generalized formulation of KT in both the “frozen” orbital approximation (i.e., within the canonical ROHF method) and the limited configuration interaction approach for ionized systems. We also show that a simultaneous treatment of KT for all one-electron ionization processes possible leads to the necessity of introducing in the canonical ROHF method two different sets of orbitals and two respective sets of orbital energies. The theory developed is compared with the previous formulations of KT in the restricted (ROHF) and unrestricted Hartree-Fock methods, and in the unrestricted density functional theory. The practical applicability of the theory is verified by comparing the KT estimates of the vertical ionization potentials in molecules O2 and NO2 with the respective experimental data.
Spectral singularities for non-Hermitian one-dimensional Hamiltonians: Puzzles with resolution of identity
Authors: Andrianov A. A. , Cannata F. , Sokolov A. V.
Published: May 2010

We examine the completeness of biorthogonal sets of eigenfunctions for non-Hermitian Hamiltonians possessing a spectral singularity. The correct resolutions of identity are constructed for deltalike and smooth potentials. Their form and the contribution of a spectral singularity depend on the class of functions employed for physical states. With this specification there is no obstruction to completeness originating from a spectral singularity.
Theory of spinodal decomposition assisted crystallization in binary mixtures
Authors: Mitra Mithun K. , Muthukumar M.
Published: May 2010

We propose a general theory of crystallization of one component from an unstable mixture of two components by addressing the coupling between the spinodal decomposition associated with concentration fluctuations in the mixture and the nucleation kinetics for the crystallization. We propose that the domains created spontaneously by spinodal decomposition then present interfaces on which heterogeneous nucleation of the crystallizable component takes place with a much reduced nucleation barrier. Combining the theories of heterogeneous nucleation and spinodal decomposition kinetics, we present an analytic calculation of the nucleation rate as a function of the allowed duration of spinodal decomposition as well as the spinodal quench depth. In the present theory, shorter time evolution of spinodal decomposition or, equivalently, larger propensity of heterogeneous nucleation, results in faster crystallization. This is in contrast to the expectation of faster nucleation in more pure phases at later stages of spinodal decomposition. The analytic formula is found to correspond well with the recent experimental results on polymer mixtures for the late stage of spinodal decomposition kinetics. More detailed experiments are required to verify our prediction for the nucleation rate for early times and for different quench depths.
Density fitting and Cholesky decomposition approximations in symmetry-adapted perturbation theory: Implementation and application to probe the nature of π-π interactions in linear acenes
Authors: Hohenstein Edward G. , Sherrill C. David
Published: May 2010

Density fitting (DF) approximations have been used to increase the efficiency of several quantum mechanical methods. In this work, we apply DF and a related approach, Cholesky decomposition (CD), to wave function-based symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT). We also test the one-center approximation to the Cholesky decomposition. The DF and CD approximations lead to a dramatic improvement in the overall computational cost of SAPT, while introducing negligible errors. For typical target accuracies, the Cholesky basis needed is noticeably smaller than the DF basis (although the cost of constructing the Cholesky vectors is slightly greater than that of constructing the three-index DF integrals). The SAPT program developed in this work is applied to the interactions between acenes previously studied by Grimme [Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 47, 3430 (2008)], expanding the cases studied by adding the pentacene dimer. The SAPT decomposition of the acene interactions provides a more realistic picture of the interactions than that from the energy decomposition analysis previously reported. The data suggest that parallel-displaced and T-shaped acene dimers both feature a special stabilizing π-π interaction arising from electron correlation terms which are significantly more stabilizing than expected on the basis of pairwise −C6R−6 estimates. These terms are qualitatively the same in T-shaped as in parallel-displaced geometries, although they are roughly a factor of 2 smaller in T-shaped geometries because of the larger distances between the intermolecular pairs of electrons.
Obtaining point spread function of penumbral encoding aperture with “expectation maximization” algorithm based on matched source-image pair experiment
Authors: Wu Y. L. , Hu H. S. , Zhang T. K. , Li Z. H. , Chen D.
Published: May 2010

A source penumbral image reconstruction method with linear mapping principle for geometrical optics is established. The ideal binary point spread function (PSF) can be obtained using a geometrical optics model. The system PSF with certain sharpness was obtained using a Monte Carlo (MC) model. Considering other factors besides the transportation of the x (γ)-rays or particles (fusion neutrons) in the penumbral encoding aperture in MC model, such as the scattering background and the systematic error, the PSF from MC model “source-image pair matching” experiments with a large area standard oval shape source were processed. A method for correcting and calibrating the PSF by the expectation maximization adaptive algorithm was established and the optimized PSF with 22.30 μm sharpness was achieved. This is more consistent with the real system PSF despite the increased noise level of the two-dimensional PSF and large irregularity in the PSF profile.
Intrinsic biochemical noise in crowded intracellular conditions
Authors: Grima R.
Published: May 2010

Biochemical reactions inside cells occur in conditions which are very different than those found in vitro. Two of the main characteristic features are the inherently stochastic nature of the reactions and the complex nondilute spatial environment in which they occur. In particular, it is known that the cell interior is crowded by a diverse range of macromolecules which though not participating in a given reaction they will necessarily influence the kinetics through the excluded volume effect and reduction of diffusion coefficients. Current approaches either totally ignore both characteristics of intracellular reactions or else they solely take into account the noisiness via the use of chemical master equations. The latter are valid for a well-stirred gas-phase chemical system and hence are not generally suited to probe kinetics in crowded conditions. We postulate a novel modification of the chemical master equation which enables us to calculate the effects of low to intermediate crowding on the magnitude of the intrinsic noise of intracellular biochemical reactions. The approach is validated for a reversible dimerization reaction in a simple model of a crowded membrane by means of Brownian dynamics. For the typical parameter values characteristic of crowding inside cells, we find that the lack of available volume induces a reduction in the noise intensity of the end products of the reaction and a simultaneous increase in the temporal correlations. This suggests that cells may exert some degree of control on the level of noise in biochemical networks via a purely physical nonspecific effect and that crowding is a source of intracellular colored noise.
Nonlocal injection of spin current into a superconducting Nb wire
Authors: Ohnishi K. , Kimura T. , Otani Y.
Published: May 2010

Pure spin current injection into a superconductive Nb was demonstrated experimentally by employing a nonlocal spin absorption technique in a multiterminal lateral structure. From the reduction in spin signals, we found the absorption efficiency remained almost unchanged even after superconducting transition. The Nb/Cu interface properties were also complementarily examined by using a Nb/Cu/Nb junction incorporated in the same device, revealing superconductivity below the transition temperature. These experimental results support that the pure spin current can be absorbed into a superconductive Nb wire with almost the same efficiency as in a normal state.
High-mobility low-temperature ZnO transistors with low-voltage operation
Authors: Bong Hyojin , Lee Wi Hyoung , Lee Dong Yun , Kim Beom Joon , Cho Jeong Ho , Cho Kilwon
Published: May 2010

Low voltage high mobility n-type thin film transistors (TFTs) based on sol-gel processed zinc oxide (ZnO) were fabricated using a high capacitance ion gel gate dielectric. The ion gel gated solution-processed ZnO TFTs were found to exhibit excellent electrical properties. TFT carrier mobilities were 13 cm2/V s, ON/OFF current ratios were 105, regardless of the sintering temperature used for the preparation of the ZnO thin films. Ion gel gated ZnO TFTs are successfully demonstrated on plastic substrates for the large area flexible electronics.
Controllable magnetic property of SiC by anion-cation codoping
Authors: Pan Hui , Zhang Yong-Wei , Shenoy Vivek , Gao Huajian
Published: May 2010

We present that the magnetic property of SiC can be controlled by anion-cation codoping based on first-principles calculations. The anion-cation codoped SiC can be either ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic by controlling the codoping configurations. The Ferromagnetic SiC with a high exchange energy can be achieved by nitrogen-transition metal (TM: Cr, Mn, Fe, and Co) codoping, while oxygen-TM codoped SiC is antiferromagnetic or non-magnetic, regardless of whether TM-doped SiC is ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, or nonmagnetic. The ferromagnetism was attributed to carrier-mediated interactions because of the coupling between the spin-polarized d and p electrons.
Effects of vacuum ultraviolet and ultraviolet irradiation on ultrathin hafnium-oxide dielectric layers on (100)Si as measured with electron-spin resonance
Authors: Ren H. , Cheng S. L. , Nishi Y. , Shohet J. L.
Published: May 2010

The effects of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) (7.2 eV) and UV (4.9 eV) irradiation on hafnium-oxide dielectric layers were studied with electron-spin resonance to detect defect states. Silicon dangling-bond defects (Pb centers) and positively charged oxygen vacancies (E′ centers) were detected with g-factor fitting. VUV irradiation increases the level of Pb states, while UV decreases the level of Pb states but increases the level of E′ states significantly. Rapid thermal annealing appears to mitigate these effects. Absolute values of the defect-state concentrations are presented.
Adiabatic compression of terahertz waves using metal flares
Authors: Theuer Michael , Beigang René , Grischkowsky Daniel R.
Published: May 2010

We report on the adiabatic free-space coupling of broadband terahertz (THz) radiation through a subwavelength gap using metal flares. Amplitude coupling ratios better than 30% are obtained by optimizing the curvature. This scheme shows a large potential for increasing the sensitivity in THz spectroscopy using high spatial confinement without the need of transmission optics or high precision components. The intrinsic curvature of metal sheets is already sufficient to carry out experiments downsizing the microwave approach.
Wear and care of the SILCS diaphragm: experience from three countries
Authors: Coffey Patricia S. , Kilbourne-Brook Maggie
Published: May 2010

Background: Women have been regularly underestimated in their ability to care for and wear cervical barrier devices such as diaphragms appropriately. Methods: Data from two non-randomised, non-blinded, non-significant risk acceptability studies of a novel cervical barrier device, the SILCS diaphragm, conducted in the Dominican Republic (n = 20), South Africa (n = 21) and Thailand (n = 20), are used to provide insights into the fundamental question of how women actually use an intravaginal device within the constraints of low-resource settings. In all sites, couples not at risk of pregnancy and at low risk of sexually transmissible infections used the SILCS diaphragm four times and provided feedback on acceptability, care and use of the device via product use questionnaires and gender-specific debriefing interviews. Results: Data from user acceptability studies in these three countries provide an intimate view of how women care for and store the SILCS diaphragm, and both female and male perceptions about handling and re-using it. Results support the view that women are able to wear and care for diaphragms successfully in a variety of settings. In general, male partners were also supportive of care and reuse of the diaphragm. Conclusions: While the results from these studies indicate that women are able to find ways to cope successfully with the logistics of wearing and caring for an intravaginal device, further supportive evidence from a woman-centred perspective is crucial for reproductive health policymakers and program managers. The authors contend that it is time to reassess perceived constraints to barrier protection.
Preference and practices relating to lubricant use during anal intercourse: implications for rectal microbicides
Authors: Javanbakht Marjan , Murphy Ryan , Gorbach Pamina , LeBlanc Marc-André , Pickett Jim
Published: May 2010

Background: The importance of the acceptability of rectal microbicides for HIV and sexually transmissible infections (STIs) prevention is widely recognised. Given relatively consistent use of lubricants for anal intercourse (AI) and the potential for lubricant-like rectal microbicides, understanding barriers to lubricant use may help inform hurdles likely to be encountered once a rectal microbicide becomes available. Methods: We conducted an internet-based survey using a 25-item questionnaire to assess AI and lubricant use, including lubricant preferences and barriers to use. Results: The majority of the 6124 respondents who reported AI were male (93%), 25 years or older (80%) and from North America (70%). Consistent condom use during AI was reported by a minority (35%) and consistent lubricant use was reported by over half of respondents. Reasons for non-use differed by age and region. Among men, those <25 years were more likely to report barriers around cost compared with those 45 and older (odds ratio (OR) = 6.64; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.14–14.03). European men (OR = 1.92; 95% CI 1.50–2.45), Latin American women (OR = 3.69; 95% CI 1.27–10.75) and Asian women (OR = 4.04; 95% CI 1.39–11.78) were more likely to report sexual preference as a reason for non-use. Conclusions: Rectal lubricants are widely used, but barriers to use vary by age and region for dry sex. A lubricant-like rectal microbicide would potentially be acceptable and such a product may be useful as a method of HIV prevention. However, targeted marketing and educational approaches may be needed to enhance use and acceptability of such a product.
Associations of sexual risk-taking with having intercourse before 15 years in adolescent females in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada
Authors: Langille Donald B. , Asbridge Mark , Flowerdew Gordon , Allen Michael
Published: May 2010

Background: This study was carried out to determine whether having first vaginal intercourse before 15 years of age is independently associated with sexual risk behaviours in Canadian female adolescents aged from 15 to 19 years. Methods: Self-completion surveys which included questions about sexual risk behaviours were carried out at three high schools in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, in May 2006. The survey also contained questions asking about socioeconomic status, substance use and depression. Associations of early intercourse with risk behaviours were assessed using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression. Results: The survey response rate was 92.5%. Of the 797 females aged 15–19 years responding, 475 had had vaginal intercourse in the previous year; 132 of these (27.8%) had intercourse before the age of 15 years. In adjusted analysis, early vaginal intercourse was associated with not using a condom at last intercourse (odds ratio (OR) 2.22; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40–3.54), unplanned intercourse in the previous year due to substance use (OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.49–4.04), having a casual partner at last intercourse (OR 2.10; 95% CI 1.23–3.56) and having three or more partners for vaginal intercourse in the previous year (OR 5.11; 95% CI 2.86–9.14). Conclusions: A history of having first intercourse before 15 years is associated with subsequent sexual risk-taking behaviours in adolescent females. These associations have clinical importance because the occurrence of early intercourse can alert health care providers to the possible presence of these risk behaviours. They also underscore the need to develop and assess programs which can delay the onset of sexual debut.
Three years on: a review of medical terminations of pregnancy performed in a sexual health service
Authors: Downing Sandra , McNamee Heather , Penney Debbie , Leamy Joanne , de Costa Caroline , B. Russell Darren
Published: May 2010

Access to abortion services is often limited in parts of regional Australia, including north Queensland. Since March 2006, the Cairns Sexual Health Service (CSHS) has provided medical termination of pregnancy (MToP) services for women up to 9 weeks gestation, using a regimen of methotrexate and misoprostol. We conducted a retrospective chart audit of all women undergoing an MToP at the CSHS between 1 March 2006 and 31 March 2009. In total, 147 medical terminations in 136 women were performed during this 3-year period. At the time of first presentation, the mean age was 27 years, 77 (57%) of the 136 women were of less than 7 weeks gestation and 86 (63%) had not had a previous termination. A successful medical termination of pregnancy was achieved in 69 of 85 (81%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 72, 88) women at less than 7 weeks gestation and in 43 of 62 (69%, 95% CI: 57, 80) women with gestation between 7 and 9 weeks. Provision of medical termination of pregnancy through sexual health services is one strategy to address access inequity in regional areas. Demand for this service in Cairns continues to rise; however, since late August 2009 MToP in Queensland is no longer available pending legal reform.
Temperature dependence of protein motions in a thermophilic dihydrofolate reductase and its relationship to catalytic efficiency
Authors: Oyeyemi Olayinka A. , Sours Kevin M. , Lee Thomas , Resing Katheryn A. , Ahn Natalie G. , Klinman Judith P.
Published: May 2010

We report hydrogen deuterium exchange by mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) as a function of temperature in a thermophilic dihydrofolate reductase from
Bacillus stearothermophilus
(Bs-DHFR). Protein stability, probed with circular dichroism, established an accessible temperature range of 10 °C to 55 °C for the interrogation of HDX-MS. Although both the rate and extent of HDX are sensitive to temperature, the majority of peptides showed rapid kinetics of exchange, allowing us to focus on plateau values for the maximal extent of exchange at each temperature. Arrhenius plots of the ratio of hydrogens exchanged at 5 h normalized to the number of exchangeable hydrogens vs. 1/T provides an estimate for the apparent enthalpic change of local unfolding, ΔH°
unf(avg)
. Most regions in the enzyme show ΔH°
unf(avg)
 ≤ 2.0 kcal/mol, close to the value of
k
T; by contrast, significantly elevated values for ΔH°
unf(avg)
are observed in regions within the core of protein that contain the cofactor and substrate-binding sites. Our technique introduces a new strategy for probing the temperature dependence of local protein unfolding within native proteins. These findings are discussed in the context of the demonstrated role for nuclear tunneling in hydride transfer from NADPH to dihydrofolate, and relate the observed enthalpic changes to two classes of motion, preorganization and reorganization, that have been proposed to control the efficiency of hydrogenic wave function overlap. Our findings suggest that the enthalpic contribution to the heavy atom environmental reorganizations controlling the hydrogenic wave function overlap will be dominated by regions of the protein proximal to the bound cofactor and substrate.
Near-isotropic 3D optical nanoscopy with photon-limited chromophores
Authors: Tang Jianyong , Akerboom Jasper , Vaziri Alipasha , Looger Loren L. , Shank Charles V.
Published: May 2010

Imaging approaches based on single molecule localization break the diffraction barrier of conventional fluorescence microscopy, allowing for bioimaging with nanometer resolution. It remains a challenge, however, to precisely localize photon-limited single molecules in 3D. We have developed a new localization-based imaging technique achieving almost isotropic subdiffraction resolution in 3D. A tilted mirror is used to generate a side view in addition to the front view of activated single emitters, allowing their 3D localization to be precisely determined for superresolution imaging. Because both front and side views are in focus, this method is able to efficiently collect emitted photons. The technique is simple to implement on a commercial fluorescence microscope, and especially suitable for biological samples with photon-limited chromophores such as endogenously expressed photoactivatable fluorescent proteins. Moreover, this method is relatively resistant to optical aberration, as it requires only centroid determination for localization analysis. Here we demonstrate the application of this method to 3D imaging of bacterial protein distribution and neuron dendritic morphology with subdiffraction resolution.
The Incompatibility of Economic Development Policies for Rural Areas in England
Authors: Curry Nigel
Published: May 2010

Four different and incommensurate economic development policies currently pertain in rural England: the pursuit of productivity, well-being, endogenous development and income support. This paper describes these policies as they pertained in 2007 in different Government Departments and evaluates salient changes in Departmental positions in respect of these policies since that time to the end of 2009. The impacts of these policies, and their shifts, on rural areas are assessed.
Limits to ‘The Learning Region’: What University-centered Economic Development Can (and Cannot) do to Create Knowledge-based Regional Economies
Authors: Christopherson Susan , Clark Jennifer
Published: May 2010

Proponents of the learning region assert that investments should be made in the infrastructure that supports regionally-located innovative firms and that both institutional and governmental resources should be directed to drive the success of the regional innovation system. In this paper, we look at critical limitations to the realization of the learning region and at potential conflicts arising from the relative power of private and public interests in determining the learning region agenda. We draw on examples from Europe and the US, but pay special attention to the US case where the divide between regional economic development goals and the incentives driving the research university are particularly dramatic.
Saving a Town-centre Project in the Recession: How Bury Council in Greater Manchester used Smart Financing through a Limited Liability Partnership
Authors: Sanders Mark
Published: May 2010

Bury is a Metropolitan Borough situated in north Manchester. Whilst the centre and south of the Manchester conurbation have benefited from notable economic growth, this has not been so in the north due to its continued reliance on a depleting manufacturing base. Bury in particular has become suburbanised with few significant private sector employers, and with low income domestic employment contrasting with relatively high income, out-commuting, city-centre based jobs. The town has a good transport infrastructure, but low inward investment except for housing. Bury's main assets are high achievement levels in its schools and colleges, the famous Bury Market, which attracts 12 million visitors per year, and a pleasant environment. The Times described it as ‘a friendly town, with plenty of character, and very convenient for Manchester’.
In Pursuit of the ‘Third Mission’: Strategic Focus on Regional Economic Development by a Business School in the USA
Authors: Cash Pamela R. , Bhadury Joyendu , McCrickard Donald L. , Weeks James K.
Published: May 2010

Academic institutions are being increasingly expected to play a significant role in economic development. This paper describes how a doctoral-granting business school at a state university in USA is achieving this by maintaining a strategic focus on aligning its activities with regional economic development.
Desistance from Sex Offending: Motivating Change, Enriching Practice
Authors: Ward Tony , Laws D.Richard
Published: May 2010

In this article we draw from desistance research and a strength-based rehabilitation theory, the Good Lives Model (GLM), to present a richer way of intervening with sex offenders. First, we define the concept of desistance and outline some of the major research findings concerning the factors that help offenders to cease offending. Second we briefly describe current best practice sex offender treatment and discuss its efficacy. Third, we explore the relationship between desistance research and the GLM, arguing that the GLM provides a useful conduit for desistance ideas into sex offender treatment programs. Fourth, we briefly consider the treatment implications of an integrated desistance-GLM approach.
Recommendations for Forensic Evaluators Conducting Interpreter-Mediated Interviews
Authors: Maddux Jemour
Published: May 2010

Courts and forensic psychologists are more frequently working with interpreters as a result of the increasing linguistic diversity in the United States. This article reviews the published literature on how interpreter-mediated communication impacts the reliability and validity of forensic evaluation. Until there are sufficient numbers of multilingual forensic psychologists, the use of interpreters in forensic practice is unavoidable. Therefore, this article provides forensic psychologists with empirically-based recommendations to improve the reliability and validity of interpreter-mediated evaluations.
The Comparative Risk of Mistreatment for Juveniles in Detention Facilities and State Prisons
Authors: Levitt Lacey
Published: May 2010

Little research exists on the prevalence of victimization among young people in juvenile correctional facilities and adult jails and prisons. The limited extant research suggests that youth incarcerated in adult prisons and jails are at greater risk for physical and sexual abuse ( Redding, 1999 ) compared to both adult inmates in the same facilities and youths in juvenile detention centers. Yet thousands of juveniles pass through jails and prisons each year, particularly in America. Advocates of juvenile justice reform argue that the risks inherent in incarcerating juveniles in adult jails and prisons, in terms of both their victimization and recidivism rates, call into question the legislation that allow youth to intermingle with more sophisticated criminals.
Juvenile Delinquency: Father Absence, Conduct Disorder, and Substance Abuse as Risk Factor Triad
Authors: Kofler-Westergren Birgitta , Klopf Johannes , Mitterauer Bernhard
Published: May 2010

This study investigated risk factors for juvenile delinquency within family structure, personality, and diagnostic variables in 75 juvenile delinquents referred for forensic assessment. A considerable amount of detrimental family characteristics were demonstrated: 66% of all juveniles had experienced father deprivation, 20% had never been living with the father, and 25% had an alcoholic father. The most negative effects were registered in 32 juvenile delinquents growing up without a father and also reporting a negative relationship to their mother. Here, conduct disorder, alcohol abuse as comorbidity, and paternal alcoholism were diagnosed more often as compared to juveniles experiencing father deprivation but who reported a positive relationship with their mothers. In a comparison between violent and nonviolent offender subgroups, a significantly higher frequency of substance abuse was obtained in the violent offenders. Moreover, trends towards more father deprivation and conduct disorder were registered in the violent offenders. Finally, results from multivariate analyses of all variable sets pointed to a triad of risk factors involved in juvenile violent offending: a diagnosis of conduct disorder, family psychopathology, especially father deprivation, and substance abuse. The role of protective influences and implications for intervention programs and prognosis are discussed.