bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Echt oder gefärbt
Authors: Schwägele Fredi , Kleinhenz Silvia
Published: July 2010

In Lebensmitteln sind Azofarbstoffe verboten, dennoch finden die Überwachungs‐ behörden sie immer wieder in Paprika‐ und Chilipulver. Diese Gewürze werden in Fleischerzeugnissen eingesetzt und können sie mit den Farbstoffen kontaminieren, bislang war dies aber nicht nachzuweisen. Jetzt liegt eine Methode für die quantitative Analyse vor.
Sicherheit in 30 Minuten
Authors: Mencwel Ramona , Kunze Peter
Published: July 2010

Geschwindigkeit, Quantifizierbarkeit und Genauigkeit der Real‐time‐PCR‐Analytik ergeben gegenüber konventionellen Tests in der Nahrungsmittelindustrie einen unmittelbaren Kosten‐ und Wettbewerbsvorteil.
Gemeinsame Stellungnahme zu Lehrprofessuren und Lecturer‐Positionen
Authors: Begitt Kurt
Published: July 2010

Nein von GDCh, DBG, MNFT, ADUC, KFC und KMathF zu Professuren mit Schwerpunkt Lehre.
In Ulm und um Ulm herum
Authors: Böddinghaus Bele
Published: July 2010

Das GDCh‐Wissenschaftsforum Chemie 2007 findet vom 16. bis 19. September in Ulm statt. Die Stadt hat in diesen Tagen noch mehr zu bieten als Vorträge, Diskussionen und die Donau.
Wirtschaften und Erhalten
Authors: Metzger Jürgen O.
Published: July 2010

Den Beitrag der Chemie zu einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung schätzt die GDCh immer höher ein. Bioenergie, katalysierte Reaktionen und die Berücksichtigung solcher Themen in der Lehre gehören zu den Schwerpunkten der neuen Arbeitsgemeinschaft Nachhaltige Chemie.
Die Jungchemiker öffnen das Tor nach Europa
Authors: Döker. Michael
Published: July 2010

Die Idee eines Netzwerkes unter jungen europäischen Chemikern wurde am 31. März in Berlin zum Leben erweckt. Ein Wochenende lang arbeiteten Repräsentanten von 13 chemischen Gesellschaften innerhalb der EuCheMS an der Satzung des European Young Chemists' Network EYCN.
Participation when using cognitive assistive devices – from the perspective of people with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Wennberg Birgitta , Kjellberg Anette
Published: July 2010

The aim of the study was to describe how people with intellectual disabilities experienced their participation in everyday activities when using cognitive assistive devices. The purpose of cognitive assistive devices is to compensate for cognitive problems, to enhance independence when performing activities and to support decision making in daily life. Nine persons, 17–37 years old, with mild intellectual disability were selected by purposive sampling. Data collection was conducted by semi‐structured interviews. The results showed that participation in everyday activities increased when using cognitive assistive devices. The persons experienced having more control and health benefits using cognitive assistive devices in daily activities. There were participation restrictions related to attitudes from the social network towards participation, and attitudes towards the use of cognitive assistive devices from the persons themselves and from the social network. Occupational therapists should be aware of the social factors that may influence a client's participation in everyday activities when using cognitive assistive devices. There is a need for more research with clients with intellectual disabilities and further research concerning long‐time use of cognitive assistive devices. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Regional variations of private prescriptions for the non‐benzodiazepine hypnotics zolpidem and zopiclone in Germany
Authors: Hoffmann Falk , Hies Markus , Glaeske Gerd
Published: July 2010

Purpose

Although evidence is lacking, there is general perception that zolpidem and zopiclone (‘Z‐drugs’) are more effective and safer than benzodiazepines leading to an increased prescribing of Z‐drugs. In Germany, 85% of the inhabitants are covered by statutory health insurance (SHI), the rest is privately insured. Z‐drugs are covered by SHIs but physicians can also provide private prescriptions for SHI insured persons, who then have to pay for these out of pocket. Since private prescriptions are not documented in SHI claims data, physicians might prescribe drugs associated with abuse as private prescriptions. We aim to quantify SHI versus private prescriptions of Z‐drugs and analyze regional variations.

Methods

We studied a sample of 2500 community pharmacies located across Germany from 2006 to 2008. We analyzed the amount of private prescriptions in numbers of packages. Drug utilization was expressed in defined daily doses (DDDs) per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID).

Results

The proportions of private prescriptions ranged between 36.7% and 36.9% per annum for zopiclone, this was significantly higher for zolpidem (49.4–49.6% per annum). There are substantial regional variations for zolpidem (28.8–82.6%) and zopiclone (22.5–68.6%). In all federal states the proportion of zolpidem not reimbursed by SHIs is higher than that of zopiclone (6.3–15.4%). The nation‐wide outpatient consumption was 2.5 DID for zolpidem and 2.7 DID for zopiclone with large regional variations.

Conclusions

In addition to large regional variations, zolpidem is more often prescribed as a private prescription than zopiclone. This might be a signal for a higher abuse potential of zolpidem. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Risk of serious ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death in a cohort of users of domperidone: a nested case‐control study
Authors: Johannes Catherine B. , Varas‐Lorenzo Cristina , McQuay Lisa J. , Midkiff Kirk D. , Fife Daniel
Published: July 2010

Purpose

Limited information from spontaneous reports and results of two case‐control studies raised concern about the cardiotoxicity of oral domperidone therapy. This case‐control study nested in a retrospective cohort evaluated the combined risk of serious ventricular arrhythmia (SVA) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in users of domperidone compared with users of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), or non‐users of these medications.

Methods

A cohort of users of domperidone or a PPI from 1990 to 2005 was identified from existing electronic databases of Saskatchewan Health. Possible cases of SVA/SCD were identified using hospital discharge and vital statistics codes. SVA cases were validated by cardiologist review of abstracted hospital medical charts. Up to four controls were matched to each case by index date, year of birth, sex, and diabetes status. The odds ratio (OR) of current domperidone exposure relative to non‐use or to current PPI exposure was estimated and adjusted for possible confounding variables using conditional logistic regression.

Results

From 83 212 individuals in the exposure cohort we identified 1608 cases, 49 SVA and 1559 SCD (mean age 79.4 years, females 52.9%, diabetes 22.3%) and 6428 matched controls. The adjusted OR for SVA/SCD with current domperidone use compared with non‐use was (1.59, 95%CI: 1.28–1.98), or compared with current PPI use was (1.44, 95%CI: 1.12–1.86). In stratified analyses adjusted ORs were numerically higher in males, older subjects, and non‐diabetics.

Conclusions

The increased risk of SVA/SCD for current domperidone users remained after adjustment for multiple covariates. The risk may vary among subgroups of exposed individuals. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of simultaneous boron and phosphorus diffusion gettering in silicon
Authors: Schön J. , Schubert M. C. , Warta W. , Savin H. , Haarahiltunen A.
Published: July 2010

We studied the simultaneous phosphorus and boron diffusion gettering (BDG) of iron in silicon by physical modeling. We present improvements to the previously used models for BDG and phosphorus diffusion gettering (PDG). We show that the improved model is suitable for analyzing the gettering efficiency in advanced solar cell structures with phosphorus doped (n+) and boron doped (p+) layers by comparing simulations with experimental results. The simulations indicate that during a low temperature step with high iron concentration, an additional p+ layer reduces the time needed for an effective gettering, whereas under low supersaturation segregation to the n+ layer is the dominating gettering mechanism.
Ionic adsorbates on metal surfaces
Authors: Bagus P. S. , Wieckowski A. , Wöll Ch.
Published: July 2010

We present a detailed study of the ionicity of Cs and I adsorbates on a Cu(111) surface and of the consequences of this ionicity for changes in the work function, Δϕ. In particular, a novel aspect of the present work is that we model coverage changes and we are able to determine how coverage increases affect the ionicity and the Δϕ. We use wavefunctions for finite clusters to model the adsorption, where normally only isolated adsorbates are studied. Techniques to simulate coverage were developed. We find and explain unexpected features for the adsorption of I, an excellent electron donor. For I adsorbed at a three‐fold site, we confirm earlier results, for I at an on‐top site, that the adsorbed Iodine is dominantly anionic with a minor covalent donation from I− to the surface. For the initial increases of coverage, we find that Δϕ has a stronger than linear dependence on the number of adsorbates. We are able to identify the main origin of this super‐linear behavior of Δϕ with coverage as changes in the way that the substrate charge polarizes in response to the presence of a higher coverage of adsorbates than to an isolated adsorbate. In particular, the polarization of surface charge at the periphery of the I adsorbate, a kind of pillow effect, is suppressed by the higher density of adsorbates. We present results for different charges of a cluster model for I/Cu that may be relevant for the interpretation of electrochemical measurements of charge flow induced by adsorption of ionic species. Our work presents information relevant for the adsorption of electron donors and acceptors on metal surfaces in general. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 000:000–000, 2010
Robotic vascular surgery, 150 cases
Authors: Štádler P. , Dvoracek L. , Vitasek P. , Matous P.
Published: July 2010

Background

Based on their experience of 150 robot‐assisted vascular reconstructions, the authors not only reflect on the current uses of the da Vinci robotic system in vascular surgery, but also discuss options for the further expansion of this cutting‐edge technology in their area of expertise.

Methods

To date there has not been the same level of development in laparoscopy in vascular surgery as in general surgery and, despite the numbers of published studies showing interesting results, laparoscopic vascular surgery has never been generally accepted. Robot‐assisted surgery represents a new stage of progress in mini‐invasive methods. During the period November 2005–September 2009, the authors performed 150 robot‐assisted vascular reconstructions in the aortoiliac area. The most significant include aortofemoral reconstructions and surgery on aneurysms of the abdominal aorta, the pelvic arteries and the splenic artery, as well as their first attempts to perform hybrid interventions.

Results

Four cases (2.7%) required conversion to standard surgery and four patients (2.7%) experienced more serious postoperative complications. On one occasion (0.7%) the robotic equipment broke down during the operation and surgery had to be completed laparoscopically. In one case (0.7%) the operation had to be abandoned because the finding on the aorta proved to be inoperable. In the cohort under consideration, the median operating time was 228 min, the median time taken to suture the anastomosis was 27 min and the median clamp time was 39 min.

Conclusions

Robotic operating systems improve the precision, control and dexterity of the surgical procedure and offer patients a higher quality of operating interventions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An agile process model for product derivation in software product line engineering
Authors: O'Leary Pádraig , McCaffery Fergal , Thiel Steffen , Richardson Ita
Published: July 2010

Software product lines (SPL) and Agile practices have emerged as new paradigms for developing software. Both approaches share common goals; such as improving productivity, reducing time to market, decreasing development costs and increasing customer satisfaction. These common goals provide the motivation for this research. We believe that integrating Agile practices into SPL can bring a balance between agility and formalism. However, there has been a little research on such integration. We have been researching the potential of integrating Agile approaches in one of the key SPL process areas, product derivation (PD). In this paper, we present an outline of our Agile process model for PD that was developed through industry‐based case study research. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pancreatic β-Cell Neogenesis by Direct Conversion from Mature α-Cells
Authors: Chung Cheng-Ho , Hao Ergeng , Piran Ron , Keinan Ehud , Levine Fred
Published: July 2010

Because type 1 and type 2 diabetes are characterized by loss of β-cells, β-cell regeneration has garnered great interest as an approach to diabetes therapy. Here, we developed a new model of β-cell regeneration, combining pancreatic duct ligation (PDL) with elimination of pre-existing β-cells with alloxan. In this model, in which virtually all β-cells observed are neogenic, large numbers of β-cells were generated within 2 weeks. Strikingly, the neogenic β-cells arose primarily from α-cells. α-cell proliferation was prominent following PDL plus alloxan, providing a large pool of precursors, but we found that β-cells could form from α-cells by direct conversion with or without intervening cell division. Thus, classical asymmetric division was not a required feature of the process of α- to β-cell conversion. Intermediate cells coexpressing α-cell- and β-cell-specific markers appeared within the first week following PDL plus alloxan, declining gradually in number by 2 weeks as β-cells with a mature phenotype, as defined by lack of glucagon and expression of MafA, became predominant. In summary, these data revealed a novel function of α-cells as β-cell progenitors. The high efficiency and rapidity of this process make it attractive for performing the studies required to gain the mechanistic understanding of the process of α- to β-cell conversion that will be required for eventual clinical translation as a therapy for diabetes.
Three‐dimensional ultrasound in monitoring progression of labor: a reproducibility study
Authors: Ghi T. , Contro E. , Farina A. , Nobile M. , Pilu G.
Published: July 2010

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility of measurements, obtained from stored ultrasound volumes, related to fetal head progression in the birth canal.

Methods

From January to September 2009, serial ultrasound volumes were obtained from women in labor, stored and separately evaluated by two different operators using the SonoVCAD™ labor software. Volumes were aligned using the pubic bone and the urethra as references. In the sagittal plane of the pelvis, the following data were calculated: head progression distance (the distance between the infrapubic line and the lowest part of the fetal skull), head direction (the angle between the infrapubic line and the major longitudinal axis of the fetal head) and head progression angle (the angle between the longitudinal axis of the pubic bone and a line joining the lowest edge of the pubis to the lowest convexity of the fetal skull). In the transverse plane, the angle formed by the midline with the anteroposterior axis of the maternal pelvis (midline angle) was also measured. For each measurement, intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility was determined.

Results

We analyzed 30 ultrasound volumes. For all parameters, interobserver variation was significantly higher than intraobserver variation. Reproducibility was good for all parameters, except for the midline angle. Among the different ultrasound measurements, the progression angle presented the highest reproducibility.

Conclusions

Measurements obtained from stored ultrasound volumes to assess fetal head progression in the second stage of labor have good reproducibility, with progression distance and progression angle being the most reproducible parameters. Copyright © 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Saturated Fats: A Perspective from Lactation and Milk Composition
Authors: German J. Bruce , Dillard Cora J.
Published: July 2010

For recommendations of specific targets for the absolute amount of saturated fat intake, we need to know what dietary intake is most appropriate? Changing agricultural production and processing to lower the relative quantities of macronutrients requires years to accomplish. Changes can have unintended consequences on diets and the health of subsets of the population. Hence, what are the appropriate absolute amounts of saturated fat in our diets? Is the scientific evidence consistent with an optimal intake of zero? If not, is it also possible that a finite intake of saturated fats is beneficial to overall health, at least to a subset of the population? Conclusive evidence from prospective human trials is not available, hence other sources of information must be considered. One approach is to examine the evolution of lactation, and the composition of milks that developed through millennia of natural selective pressure and natural selection processes. Mammalian milks, including human milk, contain 50% of their total fatty acids as saturated fatty acids. The biochemical formation of a single double bond converting a saturated to a monounsaturated fatty acid is a pathway that exists in all eukaryotic organisms and is active within the mammary gland. In the face of selective pressure, mammary lipid synthesis in all mammals continues to release a significant content of saturated fatty acids into milk. Is it possible that evolution of the mammary gland reveals benefits to saturated fatty acids that current recommendations do not consider?
Moments of Disparate Peaks: Race-Gender Wage Gaps among Mature Persons, 1965–2007
Authors: Mason Patrick L.
Published: July 2010

This paper examines intertemporal changes in racial disparity among mature Americans during the post-Jim Crow era, that is, 1965–2006. For a large nationally representative sample of American households, we pay special attention to differences between the South and other national regions, as the majority of African Americans do now and always have resided in the South. Historically, periods of progress in African American wellbeing have been followed by periods of regress that are often initiated by some combination of social change, government policy, and macroeconomic instability. Accordingly, we construct an overlapping series of five synthetic intertemporal cohorts of new seniors (ages 50–64). Cohorts are separated by the troughs of recessions. Finally, we note that regardless of race, men and women experience dissimilar opportunities in the market and in society; hence, gender dissimilarity is incorporated into our analysis. We find 1) large reductions in Post-Jim Crow contemporary disparity; 2) we also find large continuing disparity among the most recent cohorts; and, 3) changes in Southern racial weekly wage inequality (especially among men) have been especially important for determining the national pattern.
Local Lipschitz regularity for degenerate elliptic systems
Authors: Duzaar Frank , Mingione Giuseppe
Published: July 2010

We start presenting an

L^{\infty }

-gradient bound for solutions to non-homogeneous
p
-Laplacean type systems and equations, via suitable non-linear potentials of the right-hand side. Such a bound implies a Lorentz space characterization of Lipschitz regularity of solutions which surprisingly turns out to be independent of
p
, and that reveals to be the same classical one for the standard Laplacean operator. In turn, the a priori estimates derived imply the existence of locally Lipschitz regular solutions to certain degenerate systems with critical growth of the type arising when considering geometric analysis problems.
Hypothyroidism following developmental iodine deficiency reduces hippocampal neurogranin, CaMK II and calmodulin and elevates calcineurin in lactational rats
Authors: Dong Jing , Liu Wanyang , Wang Yi , Xi Qi , Chen Jie
Published: July 2010

Developmental iodine deficiency (ID) leads to inadequate thyroid hormone that impairs learning and memory with an unclear mechanism. Here, we show that hippocampal neurogranin, calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), calmodulin (CaM) and calcineurin (CaN) are implicated in the brain impairment in lactational rat hippocampus following developmental ID and hypothyroidism. Three developmental rat models were created by administrating dam rats with either iodine‐deficient diet or propylthiouracil (PTU, 5 ppm or 15 ppm)‐added drinking water from gestational day (GD) 6 till postnatal day (PN) 21. Then, the neurogranin, CaMKII, CaM and CaN in the hippocampus were detected with immunohistochemistry and western blotting on PN14 and PN21. The iodine‐deficient and hypothyroid pups showed significantly lower level of neurogranin, CaMKII and CaM and significantly increased CaN in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions than the controls on PN14 and PN21 (P < 0.05, respectively). Data indicate that, in lactational rats, hippocampal neurogranin, CaMKII, CaM and CaN are involved in the brain impairment by developmental ID and hypothyroidism.
Levator ani injury in primiparous women with forceps delivery for fetal distress, forceps for second stage arrest, and spontaneous delivery
Authors: Kearney Rohna , Fitzpatrick Myra , Brennan Sandra , Behan Michael , Miller Janis , Keane Declan , O'Herlihy Colm , DeLancey John O.L.
Published: July 2010

Objective

To compare levator ani muscle injury rates in primiparous women who had a forceps delivery owing to fetal distress with women delivered by forceps for second stage arrest; and to compare these injury rates with a historical control group of women who delivered spontaneously.

Methods

Primiparous women who delivered by forceps were recruited retrospectively into 2 groups: forceps for fetal distress with short second stage (25 ± 11 minutes; n = 19); and forceps delivery for second stage arrest (137 ± 26 minutes; n = 19). MR images of the levator ani muscles were compared with a historical control group of women from a previous study who had delivered spontaneously (n = 129).

Results

Major defect rates were: 42% for forceps and short second stage; 63% for forceps and second stage arrest; and 6% for spontaneous delivery. The odds ratios for major injury were: 11.0 for forceps and short second stage compared with spontaneous delivery; 25.9 for forceps and second stage arrest compared with spontaneous delivery; and 2.3 for forceps and second stage arrest compared with short second stage (P = 0.07).

Conclusion

Women delivered by forceps have a higher rate of levator ani injury compared with spontaneous delivery controls; the difference between the forceps groups did not reach significance.
Applying Open-Source Software to Laboratory Data Management
Authors: Murray Glenn A. , Crocker David P.
Published: July 2010

The rise of new experimental techniques, such as high-throughput combinatorial methods, and the availability of large data sets by means of the Internet have greatly increased the amount of data that must be managed by relatively small projects. Scientific data management systems developed for large projects are often not available, suitable, nor affordable for projects with lesser resources. Increasing numbers of open-source frameworks have made available numerous options for smaller facilities to build for themselves effective and robust data management solutions. We will present considerations of these options and a case study.
Evaluation of a Sugar-Based Edible Adhesive Using a Tensile Strength Tester
Authors: Doll Kenneth M. , Erhan Sevim Z.
Published: July 2010

A method to evaluate adhesives has been developed and used to reformulate a recently patented adhesive which is based on sugar and citric acid. Factors affecting adhesive performance were uncovered, such as an optimal curing temperature of 60 °C. The addition of maltodextrin and soy protein at optimized levels was shown to nearly double the bonding strength of the adhesive, from 0.46 ± 0.076 to 0.74 ± 0.26 kN, under our test conditions. Also discussed is the potential for this method to be automated using commercially available equipment.
The Future of Health Journalism
Authors: Schwitzer Gary
Published: July 2010

The HealthNewsReview.org project finds that many news stories reflect an overly optimistic view of progress in medical research. This may lead citizens to develop unrealistic expectations of their health care system, raising undue demand for costly and unproven approaches that may, in the end, cause more harm than good. The future of health journalism will be determined by which roles journalists choose for themselves: cheerleader or watchdog, fear-mongerer or evidence-based reporter, part of the solution or part of the problem.
Electrophysiological and diffusion tensor imaging evidence of delayed corollary discharges in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Whitford T. J. , Mathalon D. H. , Shenton M. E. , Roach B. J. , Bammer R. , Adcock R. A. , Bouix S. , Kubicki M. , De Siebenthal J. , Rausch A. C. , Schneiderman J. S. , Ford J. M.
Published: July 2010

Background

Patients with schizophrenia (SZ) characteristically exhibit supranormal levels of cortical activity to self-induced sensory stimuli, ostensibly because of abnormalities in the neural signals (corollary discharges, CDs) normatively involved in suppressing the sensory consequences of self-generated actions. The nature of these abnormalities is unknown. This study investigated whether SZ patients experience CDs that are abnormally delayed in their arrival at the sensory cortex.

Method

Twenty-one patients with SZ and 25 matched control participants underwent electroencephalography (EEG). Participants' level of cortical suppression was calculated as the amplitude of the N1 component evoked by a button press-elicited auditory stimulus, subtracted from the N1 amplitude evoked by the same stimulus presented passively. In the three experimental conditions, the auditory stimulus was delivered 0, 50 or 100 ms subsequent to the button-press. Fifteen SZ patients and 17 healthy controls (HCs) also underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and the fractional anisotropy (FA) of participants' arcuate fasciculus was used to predict their level of cortical suppression in the three conditions.

Results

While the SZ patients exhibited subnormal N1 suppression to undelayed, self-generated auditory stimuli, these deficits were eliminated by imposing a 50-ms, but not a 100-ms, delay between the button-press and the evoked stimulus. Furthermore, the extent to which the 50-ms delay normalized a patient's level of N1 suppression was linearly related to the FA of their arcuate fasciculus.

Conclusions

These data suggest that SZ patients experience temporally delayed CDs to self-generated auditory stimuli, putatively because of structural damage to the white-matter (WM) fasciculus connecting the sites of discharge initiation and destination.
Outbreak of gastroenteritis caused byYersinia pestisin Afghanistan
Authors: LESLIE T. , WHITEHOUSE C. A. , YINGST S. , BALDWIN C. , KAKAR F. , MOFLEH J. , HAMI A. S. , MUSTAFA L. , OMAR F. , AYAZI E. , ROSSI C. , NOORMAL B. , ZIAR N. , KAKAR R.
Published: July 2010

Plague, which is most often caused by the bite ofYersinia pestis-infected fleas, is a rapidly progressing, serious disease that can be fatal without prompt antibiotic treatment. In late December 2007, an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis occurred in Nimroz Province of southern Afghanistan. Of the 83 probable cases of illness, 17 died (case fatality 20·5%). Being a case was associated with consumption or handling of camel meat (adjusted odds ratio 4·4, 95% confidence interval 2·2–8·8,P<0·001). Molecular testing of patient clinical samples and of tissue from the camel using PCR/electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry revealed DNA signatures consistent withYersinia pestis. Confirmatory testing using real-time PCR and immunological seroconversion of one of the patients confirmed that the outbreak was caused by plague, with a rare gastrointestinal presentation. The study highlights the challenges of identifying infectious agents in low-resource settings; it is the first reported occurrence of plague in Afghanistan.
Prolonged in-hospital exposure to an infant with active pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: ATTI M. L. CIOFI DEGLI , GATTINARA G. CASTELLI , CILIENTO G. , LANCELLA L. , RUSSO C. , COLTELLA L. , VINCI M. R. , ZAFFINA S. , RAPONI M.
Published: July 2010

Active pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed in a 4-month-old infant 16 days after hospitalization; 186 exposed individuals were traced and one conversion detected. Although the risk of tuberculosis transmission in paediatric hospitals is low, paediatricians in low-incidence countries should maintain a high level of alert for timely identification of cases.
Interactive Workshop Discusses Nonlinear Waves and Chaos: Eighth International Nonlinear Wave Workshop; La Jolla, California, 1–5 March 2010
Authors: Tsurutani Bruce , Morales George , Passot Thierry
Published: July 2010

Nonlinear waves and chaos were the focus of a weeklong series of informal and interactive discussions at the Eighth International Nonlinear Wave Workshop (NWW8), held in California. The workshop gathered nonlinear plasma and water wave experts from the United States, France, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Holland, India, and Japan. Attendees were from the fields of space, laboratory, and fusion plasma physics, astrophysics, and applied mathematics.

Special focus was placed on nonlinear waves and turbulence in the terrestrial environment as well as in the interstellar medium from observational, laboratory, and theoretical perspectives. Discussions covered temperature anisotropies and related instabilities, the properties and origin of the so‐called dissipation range, and various coherent structures of electromagnetic as well as electrostatic nature. Reconnection and shocks were also topics of discussion, as were properties of magnetospheric whistler and chorus waves. Examples and analysis techniques for superdiffusion and subdiffusion were identified. On this last topic, a good exchange of ideas and results occurred between a water wave expert and a plasma expert, with the rest of the audience listening intently.
Change, Growth, and the New AGU
Authors: McPhaden Mike
Published: July 2010

This is an exciting period of change for AGU, and I am honored to be your president at this pivotal time in our history.

I know that many of you have followed our journey of change over the past 2 years, beginning with the strategic planning process and culminating with a historic leadership conference held in early June of this year.
Gravity wave flux retrievals using meteor radars
Authors: Vincent R. A. , Kovalam S. , Reid I. M. , Younger J. P.
Published: July 2010

The ability of all‐sky interferometric meteor radars to measure mean wind and high‐frequency gravity wave wind perturbations from meteor radial velocities is assessed. A Monte‐Carlo technique that models line‐of‐sight meteor wind measurements with realistic errors in angle‐of‐arrival and range is used to investigate uncertainties in mean wind and gravity wave wind parameters as a function of meteor echo rate. It is shown that mean horizontal wind speeds are recovered with reasonable accuracy at meteor rates as low as 10 hr−1. Mean‐square horizontal wind perturbation can be derived with relatively little averaging, but momentum fluxes are recovered with much less accuracy, which means that considerable averaging is required to produce meaningful values. Results are illustrated using meteor wind radar observations taken over a 30‐day period in January–February 2006 in Northern Australia.
Competitive interactions in Escherichia coli populations: the role of bacteriocins
Authors: Majeed Hadeel , Gillor Osnat , Kerr Benjamin , Riley Margaret A
Published: July 2010

Explaining the coexistence of competing species is a major challenge in community ecology. In bacterial systems, competition is often driven by the production of bacteriocins, which are narrow-spectrum proteinaceous toxins that serve to kill closely related species, providing the producer better access to limited resources. Bacteriocin producers have been shown to competitively exclude sensitive, nonproducing strains. However, the dynamics between bacteriocin producers, each lethal to its competitor, are largely unknown. In this study, we used in vitro, in vivo and in silico models to study competitive interactions between bacteriocin producers. Two Escherichia coli strains were generated, each carrying a DNA-degrading bacteriocin (colicins E2 and E7). Using reporter-gene assays, we showed that each DNase bacteriocin is not only lethal to its opponent but, at lower doses, can also induce the expression of its opponent's toxin. In a well-mixed habitat, the E2 producer outcompeted its adversary; however, in structured environments (on plates or in mice colons), the two producers coexisted in a spatially ‘frozen’ pattern. Coexistence occurred when the producers were initiated with a clumped spatial distribution. This suggests that a ‘clump’ of each producer can block invasion of the other producer. Agent-based simulation of bacteriocin-mediated competition further showed that mutual exclusion in a structured environment is a relatively robust result. These models imply that colicin-mediated colicin induction enables producers to successfully compete and defend their niche against invaders. This suggests that localized interactions between producers of DNA-degrading toxins can lead to stable coexistence of heterogeneously distributed strains within the bacterial community and to the maintenance of diversity.
Obesity and Medicare Expenditure: Accounting for Age‐Related Height Loss
Authors: Onwudiwe Nneka C. , Stuart Bruce , Zuckerman Ilene H. , Sorkin John D.
Published: July 2010

To determine the relationship between BMI and Medicare expenditure for adults 65‐years and older and determine whether this relationship changes after accounting for misclassification due to age‐related height loss. Using a cross sectional study design, the relationship between BMI and fee‐for‐service Medicare expenditure was examined among beneficiaries who completed the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) in 2002, were not enrolled in Medicare Health Maintenance Organization, had a self‐reported height and weight, and were 65 and older (n = 7,706). Subjects were classified as underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese (obese I), and severely obese (obese II/III). To adjust BMI for the artifactual increase associated with age‐related height loss, the reported height was transformed by adding the sex‐specific age‐associated height loss to the reported height in MCBS. The main outcome variable was total Medicare expenditure. There was a significant U‐shaped pattern between unadjusted BMI and Medicare expenditure: underweight $4,581 (P < 0.0003), normal weight $3,744 (P < 0.0000), overweight $3,115 (reference), obese I $3,686 (P < 0.0039), and obese II/III $4,386 (P < 0.0000). This pattern persisted after accounting for height loss: underweight $4,640 (P < 0.0000), normal weight $3,451 (P < 0.0507), overweight $3,165 (reference), obese I $3,915 (P < 0.0010), and obese II/III $4,385 (P < 0.0004) compared to overweight. In older adults, minimal cost is not found at “normal” BMI, but rather in overweight subjects with higher spending in the obese and underweight categories. Adjusting for loss‐of‐height with aging had little affect on cost estimates.
Matrix pencils and entanglement classification
Authors: Chitambar Eric , Miller Carl A. , Shi Yaoyun
Published: July 2010

Quantum entanglement plays a central role in quantum information processing. A main objective of the theory is to classify different types of entanglement according to their interconvertibility through manipulations that do not require additional entanglement to perform. While bipartite entanglement is well understood in this framework, the classification of entanglements among three or more subsystems is inherently much more difficult. In this paper, we study pure state entanglement in systems of dimension 2⊗m⊗n. Two states are considered equivalent if they can be reversibly converted from one to the other with a nonzero probability using only local quantum resources and classical communication (SLOCC). We introduce a connection between entanglement manipulations in these systems and the well-studied theory of matrix pencils. All previous attempts to study general SLOCC equivalence in such systems have relied on somewhat contrived techniques which fail to reveal the elegant structure of the problem that can be seen from the matrix pencil approach. Based on this method, we report the first polynomial-time algorithm for deciding when two 2⊗m⊗n states are SLOCC equivalent. We then proceed to present a canonical form for all 2⊗m⊗n states based on the matrix pencil construction such that two states are equivalent if and only if they have the same canonical form. Besides recovering the previously known 26 distinct SLOCC equivalence classes in 2⊗3⊗n systems, we also determine the hierarchy between these classes.
Resummed thermodynamic perturbation theory for central force associating potential: One-patch model
Authors: Kalyuzhnyi Y. V. , Docherty H. , Cummings P. T.
Published: July 2010

A resummed thermodynamic perturbation theory for associating fluids with multiply bondable central force associating potential is proposed. We consider a simple one-patch model for associating fluids. The model is represented by the hard-sphere system with a circular attractive patch on the surface of each hard-sphere. Resummation is carried out to account for the blocking effects, i.e., when the bonding of a particle restricts (blocks) its ability to bond with other particles. Closed form analytical expressions for thermodynamical properties (Helmholtz free energy, pressure, internal energy, and chemical potential) of the model with a doubly bondable patch at all degrees of the blockage are presented. In the limiting case of total blockage, when the particles become only singly bondable, our theory reduces to Wertheim’s thermodynamic perturbation theory for dimerizing fluids. To validate the accuracy of the theory we compare to exact values, for the thermodynamical properties of the system, as determined by Monte Carlo computer simulations. In addition we compare the fraction of multiply bonded particles at different values of the density and temperature. Very good agreement between predictions of the theory, corrected for ring formation, and Monte Carlo computer simulation values was found in all cases studied. Less accurate are the original versions of the theory and Wertheim’s thermodynamic perturbation theory for dimerization, especially at lower temperatures and larger sizes of the attractive patch.
Exciton localization in disordered poly(3-hexylthiophene)
Authors: Barford William , Lidzey David G. , Makhov Dmitry V. , Meijer Anthony J. H.
Published: July 2010

Singlet exciton localization in conformationally disordered poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is investigated via configuration interaction (singles) calculations of the Pariser–Parr–Pople model. The P3HT structures are generated by molecular dynamics simulations. The lowest-lying excitons are spatially localized, space filling, and nonoverlapping. These define spectroscopic segments or chromophores. The strong conformational disorder in P3HT causes breaks in the π-conjugation. Depending on the relative values of the disorder-induced localization length and the distances between the π-conjugation breaks, these breaks sometimes serve to pin the low-lying localized excitons. The exciton confinement also causes a local spectrum of low-lying exciton states. Coulomb-induced intra- or interchain interactions between spectroscopic segments in close spatial proximity can delocalize an exciton across these segments, in principle causing phase coherent transition dipole moments.
Compact three-dimensional terahertz resonators based on periodically corrugated metallic slit waveguides
Authors: Gerhard M. , Imhof C. , Zengerle R.
Published: July 2010

We present a compact terahertz filter design realized as a short inhomogeneous Bragg grating formed by variation in the slot width of a three-dimensional (3D) metallic slit waveguide. By introducing a phase-shift into the grating, a narrowband 3D waveguide transmission resonator is created. The functionality of the filter as well as the influence of parameter variations on the performance of the device are analyzed by detailed numerical 3D simulations. By tapering the depth of the grooves in the modulated region the radiation loss is minimized. The simulation results are verified by measurements of the transmission characteristic of a realized structure and show excellent agreement.
Quantum-dot-array diffraction grating with single order diffraction property for soft x-ray region
Authors: Kuang Longyu , Wang Chuanke , Wang Zhebin , Cao Leifeng , Zhu Xiaoli , Xie Changqing , Liu Shenye , Ding Yongkun
Published: July 2010

A gold transmission grating is used routinely to disperse the x-ray spectrum at the Z soft x-ray facility to measure the spectrum and temporal history of the absolute soft x-ray power emitted from z-pinch and hohlraum radiation sources. A quantum-dot-array diffraction grating (QDADG) of 250 lines/mm for soft x-ray is designed and fabricated for the first time according to the principle of binary sinusoidal transmission grating. The diffraction efficiencies of the grating are measured in the 150–300 eV photon energy range on the Beamline 3W1B of Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility. This article describes the basic concept and calibration techniques and presents calibration results. It is shown that the 250 lines/mm QDADG can be used to disperse light without higher-order diffractions in soft x-ray range, and the diffraction efficiencies of this grating are nearly constant (about 25%), which is beneficial in the spectrum analysis.
Analysis of dynamic magnetics and high effective permeability of exchange-biased multilayers fabricated onto ultrathin flexible substrates
Authors: Phuoc Nguyen Nguyen , Hung Le Thanh , Xu Feng , Ong C. K.
Published: July 2010

A detailed investigation of the influence of substrate thickness on the static and dynamic properties of exchange-biased FeCo/MnIr multilayers fabricated onto flexible substrates by sputtering technique was performed together with the analyses based on Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation. Reducing the substrate thickness to lower than 3 μm significantly enhances the exchange bias field which is attributed to the deformation of the substrates creating more pinned antiferromagnetic spins at the interface. The effect of substrate thickness on effective magnetization, effective damping coefficient, frequency linewidth, ferromagnetic resonance frequency, and static permeability is also discussed. The observed difference between static and dynamic magnetic anisotropies is attributed to the contribution of rotatable magnetic anisotropy presumably arising from the changes in the antiferromagnetic domain which also results in the enhancement of coercivity. It is evidently suggested that by using ultrathin flexible substrates one can obtain high effective permeability which is useful for microwave applications.
Role of Yb3+ and Er3+ concentration on the tunability of green-yellow-red upconversion emission of codoped ZrO2:Yb3+–Er3+ nanocrystals
Authors: Solis D. , De la Rosa E. , Meza O. , Diaz-Torres L. A. , Salas P. , Angeles-Chavez C.
Published: July 2010

Strong green and red visible emissions were obtained from ZrO2:Yb3+–Er3+ nanocrystals synthesized by sol-gel method and annealed at 1000 °C for 5 h. The average crystallite size was ∼70 nm with tetragonal phase for total concentration lower than 3 mol % and cubic phase for concentration higher than 5 mol %. The color coordinate of the upconverted signal was tailored by controlling the dopant composition that change the red/green ratio dominated by the cross relaxation and energy back transfer process as was demonstrated theoretically and confirmed experimentally. Both coefficients were calculated, C51∼1.02×10−16 and C5b∼6.04×10−17, from the theoretical model based on the rate equations. The highest energy transfer efficiency was η∼64% for 2 mol % of Yb and 2 mol % of Er3+. However, for the highest upconverted signal was only η∼29% obtained for 2 mol % Yb and 1 mol % Er with effective decay time τeff∼438 μs for red and τeff∼290 μs for green band.
Temperature dependent thermoelectric material power factor measurement system
Authors: D’Angelo Jonathan , Downey Adam , Hogan Timothy
Published: July 2010

Thermoelectric materials can be used for cooling/heating applications, or converting waste heat into electricity. Novel thermoelectric materials have been discovered in recent years. Characterization of an electrical conductivity and thermopower of a sample from room temperature to ≥900 K is often necessary for thermoelectric materials. This paper describes a system built for measurement of the power factor of thermoelectric materials from 300 to 1273 K. Characterization results of the system are also presented.
Effect of thermal treatment on the performance of ZnO based metal-insulator-semiconductor ultraviolet photodetectors
Authors: Ali Ghusoon M. , Chakrabarti P.
Published: July 2010

The article reports fabrication, characterization, and testing of the performance of ZnO-based metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) Schottky barrier ultraviolet photodetectors under varying thermal treatment. The ZnO thin film was grown on p-type Si ⟨100⟩ substrate by using sol-gel technique. The electrical and optical characteristics of MIS photodetector were studied. The study revealed that the performance of the device improves with increasing postmetal deposition annealing temperature up to 250 °C approximately. For annealing temperature beyond 250 °C the performance of the device degrades drastically. The variation in the electrical and photoresponse properties of MIS photodetector can be attributed to combined effects of interfacial reaction and phase transition during the annealing process.
Strong spin-lattice coupling in multiferroic hexagonal manganite YMnO3 probed by ultrafast optical spectroscopy
Authors: Jang Kyeong-Jin , Lee Han-gyoel , Lee Sangkyung , Ahn Jaewook , Ahn Jai Seok , Hur Namjung , Cheong Sang-Wook
Published: July 2010

We report the observation of spin-lattice coupling in multiferroic YMnO3 by femtosecond near-infrared pump and probe spectroscopy. A coherent 31 GHz acoustic phonon was detected above the magnetic ordering temperature, and a higher frequency coherent mode was observed in the antiferromagnetic phase. This temperature-dependent measurement demonstrates that the acoustic phonon excitation is coupled to spin ordering.