bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Business Process Management—Are You Ready for the Future?
Authors: Minonne Clemente , Turner Geoff
Published: May 2012

Business process management is the discipline that encompasses the analysis, modelling, implementation, execution, monitoring/control and continuous improvement of business processes. Methods and models developed for this management activity offer wide‐ranging assistance to, and potential for, most organisations, yet even a general awareness of them seems to be non‐existent in many organisations. An empirical study, conducted in the German‐speaking region of Europe, gathered useful data on issues relating to current and future investment in business process management, including initiatives in the field of business process outsourcing. Analysis of that data allows for the critical interpretation of the current viewpoint of this business discipline as well as providing some interesting new insights into applications in use, level of maturity, realised benefits and outsourcing opportunities. A bright future exists for business process management as long as the most significant hurdle, the failure to link the discipline with organisational strategy, is overcome. The pathway to achieve this lies in the development of a reliable and effective performance measurement system that, for the most part, will be unique to each organisation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MODELLING THE EFFECT OF VEGETATION COVER AND DIFFERENT TILLAGE PRACTICES ON SOIL EROSION IN VINEYARDS: A CASE STUDY IN VRÁBLE (SLOVAKIA) USING WATEM/SEDEM
Authors: Lieskovský J. , Kenderessy P.
Published: May 2012

Vineyards represent one of the most erosion‐prone types of cultivated land. Because of this, cultivation practices are very important in reducing the soil erosion risk in vineyard regions. The aim of this paper was to assess the impact of various management practices on soil loss in vineyards. Effects of tillage, hoeing, rotavating and grass cover were evaluated in small vineyards located in southwestern Slovakia in the Vráble viticultural district. Erosion and deposition rates were estimated using the levelling method. This method is based on an evaluation of variability of the soil surface against vineyard poles measured between the year of pole insertion and the year of measurement. On the basis of the measured data, a WATEM/SEDEM distributed soil erosion model was calibrated, and the total soil loss from the vineyards under different management conditions was estimated. The model shows rather good performance in modelling soil erosion, but at the same time, it shows lower reliability in modelling soil deposition. Downslope tilled vineyards were the most eroded; the erosion in rotavated vineyards is somewhat reduced. The most protective tillage system is hoeing. Considerably lower soil loss was estimated with the use of vegetation cover between vine rows, which is in accordance with agro‐environmental schemes supporting use of grass cover as an erosion prevention measure in vineyards. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Block Copolymer Templating as a Path to Porous Nanostructured Carbons with Highly Accessible Nitrogens for Enhanced (Electro)chemical Performance
Authors: McGann John P. , Zhong Mingjiang , Kim Eun Kyung , Natesakhawat Sittichai , Jaroniec Mietek , Whitacre Jay F. , Matyjaszewski Krzysztof , Kowalewski Tomasz
Published: May 2012

The design of carbon materials for improved electrochemical systems should combine the preferential occurrence of pyridinic functionalities and a structure that maximizes their exposure to the surface. The carbonization of nitrogen‐rich polyacrylonitrile (PAN) retains a high level of nitrogen content, with a large percentage of the functionalities taking the form of pyridinic species at the graphene edges. A block copolymer precursor containing PAN and a second thermally sacrificial block can be converted to a nitrogen‐rich carbon material with a mesoporous network mimicking that of the precursor. Here, we highlight the structural advantages of this templating approach and their improvement in several electrochemical systems.
Hyperglycemia of tumor microenvironment modulates stage‐dependent tumor progression and multidrug resistance: implication of cell survival regulatory molecules and altered glucose transport
Authors: Vishvakarma Naveen Kumar , Kumar Anjani , Singh Vivek , Singh Sukh Mahendra
Published: May 2012

Using a murine tumor model, we demonstrate that tumor cells display a tumor stage‐dependent differential glucose utilization associated with an altered GLUT‐1 expression. Hyperglycemic tumor microenvironment modulates the tumorigenic ability, survival, apoptosis, and glucose utilization of tumor cells in late tumor‐bearing stage accompanied by an altered tumor acidosis and expression of cell survival regulatory molecules: HIF‐1α, p53, Bcl2, caspase‐activated DNase, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐10, IFN‐γ, TGF‐β, and VEGF. Glucose‐exposed tumor cells of late tumor‐bearing stage also show a declined susceptibility to the cytotoxic action of chemotherapeutic drugs: cisplatin and methotrexate, accompanied by an increased expression of MDR‐1 gene. Taken together the results show that hyperglycemic tumor microenvironment differentially alters tumor growth depending on the stage of tumor progression. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Toxicity, biodistribution, and ex vivo MRI detection of intravenously injected cationized ferritin
Authors: Beeman Scott C. , Georges Joseph F. , Bennett Kevin M.
Published: May 2012

The goal of the work was to establish the toxicity and biodistribution of the superparamagnetic protein cationized ferritin (CF) after intravenous injection. Intravenously injected CF has been used to target the extracellular matrix with high specificity in the kidney glomerulus, allowing measurements of individual glomeruli using T‐weighted MRI. For the routine use of CF as an extracellular matrix‐specific tracer, it is important to determine whether CF is toxic. In this work, we investigated the renal and hepatic toxicity, leukocyte count, and clearance of intravenously injected CF. Furthermore, we studied CF labeling in several organs using MRI and immunohistochemistry. Serum measurements of biomarkers suggest that intravenous injection of CF is neither nephrotoxic nor hepatotoxic and does not increase leukocyte counts in healthy rats at a dose of 5.75 mg/100 g. In addition to known glomerular labeling, confocal and MRI suggest that intravenously injected CF labels the extracellular matrix of the hepatic sinusoid, extracellular glycocalyx of alveolar endothelial cells, and macrophages in the spleen. Liver T values suggest that CF is cleared by 7 days after injection. These results suggest that CF may serve as a useful contrast agent for detection of a number of structures and functions with minimal toxicity. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quantitative susceptibility mapping of small objects using volume constraints
Authors: Liu Saifeng , Neelavalli Jaladhar , Cheng Yu‐Chung N. , Tang Jin , Mark Haacke E.
Published: May 2012

Microbleeds have been implicated to play a role in many neurovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. The diameter of each microbleed has been used previously as a possible quantitative measure for grading microbleeds. We propose that magnetic susceptibility provides a new quantitative measure of extravasated blood. Recently, a Fourier‐based method has been used that allows susceptibility quantification from phase images for any arbitrarily shaped structures. However, when very small objects, such as microbleeds, are considered, the accuracy of this susceptibility mapping method still remains to be evaluated. In this article, air bubbles and glass beads are taken as microbleed surrogates to evaluate the quantitative accuracy of the susceptibility mapping method. We show that when an object occupies only a few voxels, an estimate of the true volume of the object is necessary for accurate susceptibility quantification. Remnant errors in the quantified susceptibilities and their sources are evaluated. We show that quantifying magnetic moment, rather than the susceptibility of these small structures, may be a better and more robust alternative. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rapid error reduction for block Gauss–Seidel based on p‐hierarchical basis
Authors: Le Borne S. , Ovall J.S.
Published: May 2012

We consider a two‐level block Gauss–Seidel iteration for solving systems arising from finite element discretizations employing higher‐order elements. A p‐hierarchical basis is used to induce this block structure. Using superconvergence results normally employed in the analysis of gradient recovery schemes, we argue that a massive reduction of the H1‐error occurs in the first iterate, so that the discrete solution is adequately resolved in very few iterates—sometimes a single iteration is sufficient. Numerical experiments on uniform and adapted meshes support these claims. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of a social dependency scale
Authors: Benoliel Jeanne Q. , McCorkle Ruth , Young Katherine
Published: May 2012

Social dependence was defined in terms of three capacities identified as necessary for the performance of an adult role. The three capacities are everyday self‐care competence, mobility competence, and social competence. Measurement of these concepts was facilitated through the use of 12 6‐point scales (4 for each capacity). Scores were then computed for each capacity (range 4–24) and for all three capacities together (range 12–72). Operationally, social dependence was defined as the sum of the individual's scores in the three areas: everyday self‐care competence, mobility competence, and social competence. The revised instrument was tested on 60 subjects with advanced diseases to determine its reliability. The reliability coefficient alpha was .90, and the standardized‐item alpha was .91.
Life events, emotional support, and health of older people
Authors: Fuller Sarah S. , Larson Sandra B.
Published: May 2012

The effects of life events, emotional support, interaction of life events and emotional support, and age on indices of physical and psychological health were examined within a hierarchical multiple‐regression design. Fifty older people who were randomly selected from among the residents of a high‐rise apartment building provided retrospective data on their life events and emotional support. These same subjects provided more recent data on their functional health, distress arising from chronic health problems, and four indices of morale (agitation, attitude toward own aging, lonely dissatisfaction, and a combined index of the morale dimensions). As expected, significant multivariate effects were demonstrated on all but two measures: distress arising from chronic health problems and attitude toward own aging. Examination of the independent contributions to these effects showed variations depending on the health index of focus. Expected moderations of the effects of life events by emotional support effects were not demonstrated. Results are discussed in relationship to previous research and the theoretical expectation that emotional support would moderate the effects of life events on health.
Social support sources and psychological well‐being in older women with heart disease
Authors: Friedman Maureen M.
Published: May 2012

A test of the compensatory hierarchical model of social support sources was conducted in a sample of 80 older women with heart disease. Relationships of support sources to measures of psychological well‐being also were investigated. Emotional and tangible support sources fit the model with the exception that unmarried women without children named friends more often than extended family as emotional support sources. Receipt of emotional support from nonfamily members rather than from sources including family members was related to lower positive affect. Similarly, receipt of tangible support from nonfamily members rather than from sources including family members was related to less satisfaction with life. Factors that disrupt the family relationships of older women with illness are worthy of further exploration.
Attitudes of practicing nurses as predictors of intended care behavior with persons who are HIV positive: Testing the Ajzen—Fishbein theory of reasoned action
Authors: Laschinger Heather K. Spence , Goldenberg Dolly
Published: May 2012

The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to examine practicing nurses' attitudes, subjective norms, and intentions to care for HIV positive patients, using the Theory of Reasoned Action. One hundred and forty‐one subjects completed a questionnaire developed according to guidelines described by Ajzen and Fishbein (1980). Consistent with the theory, nurses' attitudes and subjective norms were found to be significant predictors of intentions to care for persons who are HIV positive (R2 = 0.27). Personal beliefs found to discriminate between intenders and nonintenders were those related to possible consequences for self, family, and friends, but not job‐related consequences. Normative beliefs which discriminated between groups were also related to nonprofessional referents' expectations. In addition, qualitative data showed persistent concerns about occupational risk for contracting AIDS. Based on the results of this research, it is recommended that nurse educators in both clinical and academic settings, target specific educational/training interventions to include transmission, prevention, as well as exploration of feelings, attitudes, beliefs, and behavioral intentions about HIV‐related topics. Further theory‐based research and testing of interventions to change practicing nurses' attitudes and beliefs about HIV disease are advocated.
Innovation Inducement Prizes: Connecting Research to Policy
Authors: Williams Heidi
Published: May 2012

Innovation inducement prizes have been used for centuries. In the United States, a recent federal policy change—the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010—clarified and simplified a path by which all federal agencies can offer innovation inducement prizes, thus intensifying interest in how government agencies can most effectively design and apply such prizes. This paper aims to review and synthesize the academic literature on innovation inducement prizes, to clarify what has been learned that is relevant to current policy discussions, and to highlight unresolved questions that would be fruitful areas for future academic research and policy experimentation. Relative to the existing literature, this paper aims to bridge two gaps. First, I synthesize the academic literature in this area with an eye toward drawing lessons for the types of innovation inducement prizes under consideration by federal agencies under the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act. Second, I discuss the problem of how to evaluate the success or failure of innovation inducement prizes, arguing that careful empirical evaluations of innovation inducement prizes are needed in order to provide guidance to federal agencies (and others) on how to most effectively apply and design innovation inducement prizes.
Epithelial–mesenchymal crosstalk alteration in kidney fibrosis
Authors: Prunotto Marco , Budd David C , Gabbiani Giulio , Meier Matthias , Formentini Ivan , Hartmann Guido , Pomposiello Silvia , Moll Solange
Published: May 2012

The incidence of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) is constantly rising, reaching epidemic proportions in the western world and leading to an enormous threat, even to modern health‐care systems, in industrialized countries. Therapies of CKD have greatly improved following the introduction of drugs targeting the renin–angiotensin system (RAAS) but even this refined pharmacological approach has failed to stop progression to end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) in many individuals. In vitro historical data and recent new findings have suggested that progression of renal fibrosis might occur as a result of an altered tubulo–interstitial microenvironment and, more specifically, as a result of an altered epithelial‐mesenchymal crosstalk. Here we the review biological findings that support the hypothesis of an altered cellular crosstalk in an injured local tubulo‐interstitial microenvironment leading to renal disease progression. Copyright © 2012 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of high‐frequency oscillation and percussion versus conventional ventilation in a piglet model of meconium aspiration
Authors: Renesme Laurent , Elleau Christophe , Nolent Paul , Fayon Michael , Marthan Roger , Dumas De La Roque Eric
Published: May 2012

Background

Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) remains a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in term newborns. Our objective was to compare two modes of high‐frequency ventilation, high‐frequency oscillation (HFOV), and high‐frequency percussive ventilation (HFPV) with conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) in a piglet model of MAS.

Methods

Fifteen newborn piglets were anesthetized, paralyzed, and intubated. Following the instillation of a 3 ml/kg solution of meconium diluted to 30%, the piglets were randomized to one of three groups: high‐frequency oscillation (HFOV; Sensormedics®), HFPV (Percussionaire®), or CMV (Siemens®). Animals were ventilated for 6 hr to maintain arterial blood gases within a normal range, that is, pH 7.35–7.45, PaO2 10–16 kPa, PaCO2 4–6.6 kPa. Arterial blood gas measurements, dynCrs and dynRrs, ventilator settings, and vital signs (heart rate, arterial blood pressure, transcutaneous pulse oxygen saturation, and temperature) were collected at 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 min after meconium instillation. Oxygenation index (OI) ([(fraction of inspired oxygen)(mean airway pressure)(100)]/PaO2), mean airway pressure, dynamic lung function, secretions cleared and histological alterations were studied in all groups.

Results

Mean airway pressure and OI were significantly lower in the CV and HFPV groups compared to the HFOV group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between groups regarding lung function, amount of secretions and histological alterations.

Conclusion

In our model of MAS in piglets, whilst effective gas exchange with a lower mean airway pressure was possible with both CMV and HFPV compared with HFOV there was no apparent difference in lung histology or secretions. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2013; 48:257–264. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Combustion Characteristics of Silicon‐Based Nanoenergetic Formulations with Reduced Electrostatic Discharge Sensitivity
Authors: Thiruvengadathan Rajagopalan , Belarde Gianetta Maria , Bezmelnitsyn Andrey , Shub Maxim , Balas‐Hummers Wendy , Gangopadhyay Keshab , Gangopadhyay Shubhra
Published: May 2012

This paper details the synthesis and combustion characteristics of silicon‐based nanoenergetic formulations. Silicon nanostructured powder (with a wide variety of morphologies such as nanoparticles, nanowires, and nanotubes) were produced by DC plasma arc discharge route. These nanostructures were passivated with oxygen and hydrogen post‐synthesis. Their structural, morphological, and vibrational properties were investigated using X‐ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen adsorption‐desorption analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry and Raman spectroscopy. The silicon nanostructured powder (fuel) was mixed with varying amounts of sodium perchlorate (NaClO4) nanoparticles (oxidizer) to form nanoenergetic mixtures. The NaClO4 nanoparticles with a size distribution in the range of 5–40 nm were prepared using surfactant in a mixed solvent system. The combustion characteristics, namely (i) the combustion wave speed and (ii) the pressure‐time characteristics, were measured. The observed correlation between the basic material properties and the measured combustion characteristics is presented. These silicon‐based nanoenergetic formulations exhibit reduced sensitivity to electrostatic discharge (ESD).
A structural view on spider silk proteins and their role in fiber assembly
Authors: Hagn Franz
Published: May 2012

Spider silk is the toughest known biomaterial and even outrivals modern synthetic high‐performance materials. The question of understanding fiber formation is how the spider can prevent premature and fatal aggregation processes inside its own body and how the chemical and mechanical stimuli used to induce the fiber formation process translate into structural changes of the silk material, finally leading to controlled and irreversible aggregation. Here, the focus will be on the structure and function of the highly conserved N‐domains and C‐terminal domains of spider dragline silk which, unlike the very long repetitive sequence elements, adopt a folded conformation in solution and are therefore able to control intermolecular interactions and aggregation between other spider silk molecules. The structures of these domains add valuable details for the construction of a molecular picture of the complicated and highly optimized silk assembly process that might be beneficial for large‐scale in vitro fiber formation attempts with recombinant silk material. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Raman scattering characterization of Zn1‐x‐yMgyBexSe mixed crystals
Authors: Dumcenco Dumitru , Wu Jiun‐De , Huang Ying‐Sheng , Hsu Hung‐Pin , Firszt Franciszek , Tiong Kwong‐Kau
Published: May 2012

The results of Raman scattering of zinc‐blende Zn1‐x‐yMgyBexSe mixed crystals are reported. From analyzing the polarized Raman spectra, longitudinal and transverse phonon modes corresponding to ZnSe‐like, MgSe‐like and BeSe‐like optical phonon modes are identified. The observed optical phonon modes of the mixed crystals in the BeSe‐like spectral region provides experimental evidence that the 1‐bond → 2‐mode percolation scheme may apply to the investigated quaternary mixed crystals. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Circular polariscopic analysis of a ZnO wafer for highly sensitive and speedy evaluation of residual strains: Its relation with X‐ray diffraction pattern and topography
Authors: Takeuchi Hideo
Published: May 2012

We have explored the effectiveness of applying the circular polariscopic measurement to the mapping of the strains in a ZnO wafer. Initially, monochromatic X‐ray topography, which is regarded as a fundamental evaluation technique for wafers, is applied. The measured monochromatic X‐ray topograph shows that the image contrast is remarkably inhomogeneous; namely, the bark patterns exist in various regions. In order to clarify the origin of the above‐mentioned dark patterns, we apply the circular polariscopic measurement, which is sensitive to strains through the photoelastic effect. The brightness of the circular polariscopic wafer map reveals that the dark pattern in the monochromatic X‐ray topograph results from the strain. Thus, we conclude that the circular polariscopic analysis has the ability to compliment the information obtained by the monochromatic X‐ray topographic measurement. The presence of the relatively large strains is confirmed from the fact that the forbidden reflection lines are observed in the θ ‐2θ X‐ray diffraction pattern. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Epitaxial growth of high‐quality Mgx Zn1‐xO films by a plasma‐assisted reactive evaporation method using ZnMg alloys as a source material
Authors: Abe T. , Nakagawa A. , Tanaka M. , Nakagawa M. , Endo H. , Meguro K. , Kashiwaba Y. , Chiba S. , Ojima T. , Aota K. , Takahashi S. , Daibo M. , Osada H. , Fujiwara T. , Yamaguchi K. , Niikura I. , Kashiwaba Y.
Published: May 2012

Epitaxial growth of high‐quality Mgx Zn1‐xO films on Zn faces of single crystal ZnO substrates was achieved by a plasma‐assisted reactive evaporation method using ZnMg alloys. The composition of Mg of Mgx Zn1‐xO films grown by using this method strongly depended on the composition of Mg of ZnMg alloys. Mg composition of Mgx Zn1‐xO films increased with increase in the composition of Mg of ZnMg alloys with 7.5‐30 wt%. The maximum value of (x) of the Mgx Zn1‐xO films was 0.24. The peak position of XRD from Mgx Zn1‐xO (0002) of a wurtzite structure shifted to a high angle with increase of Mg composition of Mgx Zn1‐xO films. The full‐width at half‐maximum value of the XRD pattern of ω scans of Mg0.17Zn00.83O (0002) was 40 arcsec. The root mean square roughness of the surface of Mgx Zn1‐xO films was 1.0 nm or less, and flat terraces and steps with a height of two monolayers were observed. Room temperature photoluminescence spectra of Mgx Zn1‐xO films showed a strong near band‐edge (NBE) emission and very weak emission in visible regions. The peak of NBE emissions of Mgx Zn1‐xO films shifted to higher energy with increase of Mg composition of Mgx Zn1‐x O films. The band‐gap energy estimated from reflectance spectra increased from 3.38 to 3.83 eV with increase of composition (x) of Mgx Zn1‐xO films from 0.01 to 0.24. This new growth method is useful for preparation of devices based on ZnO and its related compounds. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
X‐ray pole figure analysis of ZnTe layers grown on lattice mismatched substrates
Authors: Kobayashi Masakazu , Kumagai Yuki , Baba Toshiaki , Imada Shota
Published: May 2012

The electro‐optical effect of ZnTe is recently highlighted, and various device structures utilizing ZnTe are explored. ZnTe substrates are recently commercially available, and high quality homoepitaxial layers can be grown. On the other hand, the cost of the substrate could be a concern for the practical device application. In this study, Si and Al2O3 substrates were used since they are widely used for many kinds of device applications. The lattice mismatch between those substrate materials and ZnTe is above 10% and those mismatch strain should be carefully considered. ZnTe layers were nucleated on chemically treated substrate surfaces. (111), (110), (211) oriented Si substrates and (0001), (11‐20), and (10‐10) planes of Al2O3 were used. By taking the pole figure data and studying the crystal symmetry of the domain, detail information associated with the formation of domains in the layer was discussed. The pole figure analysis revealed that several kinds of (110) oriented ZnTe domains rotated 60 degrees each other were formed on (110) oriented Si surface. On the other hand, preferentially oriented single domain of (111) was confirmed for the layer grown on the (0001) plane of Al2O3. ZnTe layers grown on (10‐10) plane Al2O3exhibited a unique domain formation. Pole figure data combined with the conventional theta‐2theta measurement indicated that (211) oriented plane of ZnTe was a dominant domain formed on the (10‐10) plane Al2O3. These crystallographic features would be related to the interface valency as well as the interfacial bond structure. X‐ray pole figure method was a useful and powerful method to study the domain formation of the severely lattice mismatched structures. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Interface inversion asymmetry in Cd1–xMnxTe quantum wells
Authors: Rice C. , Wolverson D. , Moskalenko A. , Bending S. J. , Karczewski G. , Wojtowicz T.
Published: May 2012

Spin‐flip Raman spectroscopy (SFRS) reveals an intrinsic in‐plane anisotropy of the conduction band spin splitting in dilute magnetic semiconductor quantum wells based on cadmium telluride, containing a twodimensional electron gas, and intended for studies of extrinsic anisotropies induced through nanomagnets.

We consider various possible sources of this intrinsic anisotropy (interface, bulk or structural inversion asymmetries) and we ascribe the present results to an interface‐related inversion asymmetry of the quantum wells. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Active‐layer‐thickness dependence of Rabi splitting energies in ZnO microcavities
Authors: Kawase Toshiki , Kim DaeGwi , Nakayama Masaaki
Published: May 2012

We have investigated the active‐layer‐thickness dependence of Rabi splitting energies in ZnO microcavities. We fabricated ZnO microcavities using rf magnetron sputtering for the HfO2/SiO2 distributed Bragg reflector and pulsed‐laser deposition for the ZnO active layer. In order to control of the Rabi splitting energies, the active layer thickness was changed from λ/2 to 3λ/2. In angle‐resolved reflectance spectra at 10 K, the cavity polaritons resulting from the strong coupling between A, B, and C excitons peculiar to ZnO and the cavity photon were clearly detected. We estimated the energies of the exciton‐photon interaction, the so‐called Rabi splitting energies, from the analysis of the cavity polariton dispersions using the phenomenological Hamiltonian for the strong exciton‐photon coupling. The Rabi splitting energies markedly increase with an increase in the active layer thickness. The active‐layer‐thickness dependence of the Rabi splitting energies are explained by a semi‐quantitatively analysis. Consequently, we have succeeded in the control of the Rabi splitting energies in the ZnO microcavities. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Influence of source transport rate upon phosphorus doping of ZnTe layers grown by MOVPE method
Authors: Nishio M. , Han X. , Saito K. , Tanaka T. , Guo Q. X.
Published: May 2012

Photoluminescence and electrical properties of P‐doped ZnTe layers grown on (100) and (111)Te‐ oriented substrates by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy have been investigated as a function of source transport rate under a fixed transport rate ratio of source to dopant. The free‐to‐bound emission related to P acceptor becomes dominant, and the shift of P acceptor‐related excitonic emission peak toward longer wavelength side together with the broadening of the peak are observed as the source transport rate increases. In accordance with the photoluminescence behavior, the carrier concentration increases and the mobility decreases monotonically with increasing the source transport rate for both as‐grown and annealed P‐doped ZnTe layers. Temperature dependences of the carrier concentration and mobility have been clarified for several layers. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Infrared radiation detection by a piezoelectric heterostructure at room temperature
Authors: Kryshtab T. , Savkina R. , Sizov F. , Smirnov A. , Kladkevich M. , Samoylov V.
Published: May 2012

We proposed a HgCdTe‐based infrared imaging device, operating in the middle (3–5 μm) and long wavelength (8–14 μm) infrared spectral range without cryogenic cooling to achieve useful performance on a level D* = 2.6×109 W‐1cmHz1/2. The principle of operation of the IR detector, investigated in this study, is based on the generation of piezoelectric charge produced by mechanical stresses in compound semiconductor heterostructure heated due to absorption of IR light. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Reducing Effect of a Combination of Phaseolus vulgaris and Cynara scolymus Extracts on Food Intake and Glycemia in Rats
Authors: Loi Barbara , Fantini Noemi , Colombo Giancarlo , Gessa Gian Luigi , Riva Antonella , Bombardelli Ezio , Morazzoni Paolo , Carai Mauro A. M.
Published: May 2012

Extracts from Phaseolus vulgaris and Cynara scolymus may reduce food intake and/or postprandial glycemia. This study investigated the effect of standardized extracts of P. vulgaris and C. scolymus and their combination on food intake and glycemia in rats. P. vulgaris and C. scolymus extracts, and their 1:2 combination, were administered acutely to rats (a) given access to regular food and water, (b) given access to regular food, water, and a chocolate‐flavored beverage, or (c) infused with a starch bolus. P. vulgaris extract and the combination produced comparable reductions in intake of regular food and chocolate‐flavored beverage; conversely, C. scolymus extract was ineffective on both parameters. P. vulgaris and C. scolymus extracts additively contributed to the reducing effect of the combination on glycemic rise. These results suggest that a mixture of P. vulgaris and C. scolymus extracts is preferable over each single extract, as it combines the anorectic effect of the P. vulgaris extract with the hypoglycemic effect of both extracts. These data support the recent clinical use of the combination of P. vulgaris and C. scolymus extracts in the control of appetite, food intake, and postprandial glycemia and represent a successful example of translational research in the nutraceutical field. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
HPLC Analysis of Stephania rotunda Extracts and Correlation with Antiplasmodial Activity
Authors: Bory Sothavireak , Bun Sok‐Siya , Baghdikian Béatrice , Dumètre Aurélien , Hutter Sébastien , Mabrouki Fathi , Bun Hot , Elias Riad , Azas Nadine , Ollivier Evelyne
Published: May 2012

Stephania rotunda (Menispermaceae), a creeper commonly found in the mountainous areas of Cambodia, has been mainly used for the treatment of fever and malaria. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the chemical composition and antiplasmodial activity of different samples of S. rotunda and compare their antiplasmodial activity with their alkaloid content. Sixteen samples from different parts (roots, stem, and tuber) of S. rotunda were collected from four regions of Cambodia (Battambang, Pailin, Siem Reap, and Kampot). Reversed‐phase HPLC was used to determine the content of three bioactive alkaloids (cepharanthine, tetrahydropalmatine, and xylopinine). These three alkaloids have been found in all samples from Battambang and Pailin (samples I–IX), whereas only tetrahydropalmatine was present in samples from Siem Reap and Kampot (samples X–XVI). The analyzed extracts were evaluated for their antiplasmodial activity on W2 strain of Plasmodium falciparum. Among them, 13 extracts were significantly active with inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) from 1.2 to 3.7 µg/mL and 2 extracts were moderately active (IC50 = 6.1 and 10 µg/mL, respectively), whereas sample XI was not active (IC50 = 19.6 µg/mL). A comparison between antiplasmodial activity and concentration of the three bioactive alkaloids in S. rotunda extracts has been realized. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sulfuric and hydrochloric acid adsorption on the reconstructed sulfur terminated (001) chalcopyrite surface
Authors: de Lima Guilherme Ferreira , de Oliveira Cláudio , de Abreu Heitor Avelino , Duarte Hélio Anderson
Published: May 2012

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations using localized numerical basis sets were used to investigate the interaction of HCl and H2SO4 with the reconstructed (001) chalcopyrite surface. The Cl−, SO, and HSO species are adsorbed on the iron sites. The proton is adsorbed preferentially on the disulfides present on the reconstructed surface leading to the SS bond breaking. Different configurations for all adsorption sites have been calculated and the geometric and energetic properties are discussed. The HCl and H2SO4 are leaching reactants normally used to extract copper from the chalcopyrite using the hydrometallurgical route. However, the leaching process became very slow after the first initial stages. It has been argued that the low kinetics is due to a passivation mechanism which involves polysulfides and jarosite formation on the surface. The interaction of the chemical species with the reconstructed chalcopyrite surfaces is investigated aiming to contribute to the knowledge of the chemical reactivity of the chalcopyrite surface at a molecular level. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Semi‐supervised Eigenbasis novelty detection
Authors: Thompson David R. , Majid Walid A. , Reed Colorado J. , Wagstaff Kiri L.
Published: May 2012

We present a semi‐supervised online method for novelty detection and evaluate its performance for radio astronomy time series data. Our approach uses sparse, adaptive eigenbases to combine (1) prior knowledge about uninteresting signals with (2) online estimation of the current data properties to enable highly sensitive and precise detection of novel signals. We apply Semi‐Supervised Eigenbasis Novelty Detection (SSEND) to the problem of detecting fast transient radio anomalies and compare it to current alternative algorithms. Tests based on observations from the Parkes Multibeam Survey show both effective detection of interesting rare events and robustness to known false alarm anomalies. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining 6: 195–204, 2013
The Role of Nanoscale Architecture in Supramolecular Templating of Biomimetic Hydroxyapatite Mineralization
Authors: Newcomb Christina J. , Bitton Ronit , Velichko Yuri S. , Snead Malcolm L. , Stupp Samuel I.
Published: May 2012

Understanding and mimicking the hierarchical structure of mineralized tissue is a challenge in the field of biomineralization and is important for the development of scaffolds to guide bone regeneration. Bone is a remarkable tissue with an organic matrix comprised of aligned collagen bundles embedded with nanometer‐sized inorganic hydroxyapatite (HAP) crystals that exhibit orientation on the macroscale. Hybrid organic–inorganic structures mimic the composition of mineralized tissue for functional bone scaffolds, but the relationship between morphology of the organic matrix and orientation of mineral is poorly understood. Herein the mineralization of supramolecular peptide amphiphile templates, that are designed to vary in nanoscale morphology by altering the amino acid sequence, is reported. It is found that 1D cylindrical nanostructures direct the growth of oriented HAP crystals, while flatter nanostructures fail to guide the orientation found in biological systems. The geometric constraints associated with the morphology of the nanostructures may effectively control HAP nucleation and growth. Additionally, the mineralization of macroscopically aligned bundles of the nanoscale assemblies to create hierarchically ordered scaffolds is explored. Again, it is found that only aligned gel templates of cylindrical nanostructures lead to hierarchical control over hydroxyapatite orientation across multiple length scales as found in bone.
Defining the Integration Capacity of Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Photoreceptor Precursors
Authors: West Emma L. , Gonzalez-Cordero Anai , Hippert Claire , Osakada Fumitaka , Martinez-Barbera Juan Pedro , Pearson Rachael A. , Sowden Jane C. , Takahashi Masayo , Ali Robin R.
Published: May 2012

Retinal degeneration is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in the developed world. Differentiation of retinal cells, including photoreceptors, from both mouse and human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), potentially provide a renewable source of cells for retinal transplantation. Previously, we have shown both the functional integration of transplanted rod photoreceptor precursors, isolated from the postnatal retina, in the adult murine retina, and photoreceptor cell generation by stepwise treatment of ESCs with defined factors. In this study, we assessed the extent to which this protocol recapitulates retinal development and also evaluated differentiation and integration of ESC-derived retinal cells following transplantation using our established procedures. Optimized retinal differentiation via isolation of Rax.GFP retinal progenitors recreated a retinal niche and increased the yield of Crx+ and Rhodopsin+ photoreceptors. Rod birth peaked at day 20 of culture and expression of the early photoreceptor markers Crx and Nrl increased until day 28. Nrl levels were low in ESC-derived populations compared with developing retinae. Transplantation of early stage retinal cultures produced large tumors, which were avoided by prolonged retinal differentiation (up to day 28) prior to transplantation. Integrated mature photoreceptors were not observed in the adult retina, even when more than 60% of transplanted ESC-derived cells expressed Crx. We conclude that exclusion of proliferative cells from ESC-derived cultures is essential for effective transplantation. Despite showing expression profiles characteristic of immature photoreceptors, the ESC-derived precursors generated using this protocol did not display transplantation competence equivalent to precursors from the postnatal retina.
Soluble CCL5 Derived from Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Activated by Amyloid β Ameliorates Alzheimer's Disease in Mice by Recruiting Bone Marrow-Induced Microglia Immune Responses
Authors: Lee Jong Kil , Schuchman Edward H. , Jin Hee Kyung , Bae Jae-Sung
Published: May 2012

Microglia have the ability to eliminate amyloid β (Aβ) by a cell-specific phagocytic mechanism, and bone marrow (BM) stem cells have shown a beneficial effect through endogenous microglia activation in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice. However, the mechanisms underlying BM-induced activation of microglia have not been resolved. Here we show that BM-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) induced the migration of microglia when exposed to Aβ in vitro. Cytokine array analysis of the BM-MSC media obtained after stimulation by Aβ further revealed elevated release of the chemoattractive factor, CCL5. We also observed that CCL5 was increased when BM-MSCs were transplanted into the brains of Aβ-deposited AD mice, but not normal mice. Interestingly, alternative activation of microglia in AD mice was associated with elevated CCL5 expression following intracerebral BM-MSC transplantation. Furthermore, by generating an AD-green fluorescent protein chimeric mouse, we ascertained that endogenous BM cells, recruited into the brain by CCL5, induced microglial activation. Additionally, we observed that neprilysin and interleukin-4 derived from the alternative microglia were associated with a reduction in Aβ deposition and memory impairment in AD mice. These results suggest that the beneficial effects observed in AD mice after intracerebral SC transplantation may be explained by alternative microglia activation. The recruitment of the alternative microglia into the brain is driven by CCL5 secretion from the transplanted BM-MSCs, which itself is induced by Aβ deposition in the AD brain.
Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Template Complexes
Authors: A. M. Gad Aleya
Published: May 2012

Novel neutral polynuclear NiII chelates of L‐cysteine (L‐cyst) or D‐penicillamine (D‐pen) with dicyandiamide (dcda) were synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, UV, CD, reflectance, and IR spectroscopy and/or thermogravimetric and X‐ray analysis. The obtained dinuclear compounds add important information about the chemistry of nickel(II) ions, which form types of bonds that cannot be obtained with other metal ions such as CoII. These dinuclear nickel compounds contain four‐membered rings with two sulfur and two nickel atoms. Electronic transitions were elucidated from reflectance, CD and absorbance spectroscopy and confirm a distorted square planar arrangement of the nickel ions. Because the same structure with CoII ions could not be obtained directly, dimethylglyoxime was added to a suspension of the template complex with D‐pen in water to separate the nickel ions. The separation of the ligand was confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. It reacted with CoII to give a different mononuclear crystalline complex that was studied by X‐ray single crystal diffraction. The crystals are orthorhombically with space group C2221, a = 0.11769(4) pm, b = 0.13632(4) pm, c = 0.25239(8) pm, V = 0.0040490(2) pm3, and Z = 8.
The False‐Negative Rate of Sentinel Node Biopsy in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Pesek Sarah , Ashikaga Taka , Krag Lars Erik , Krag David
Published: May 2012

Background

In sentinel node surgery for breast cancer, procedural accuracy is assessed by calculating the false‐negative rate. It is important to measure this since there are potential adverse outcomes from missing node metastases. We performed a meta‐analysis of published data to assess which method has achieved the lowest false‐negative rate.

Methods

We found 3,588 articles concerning sentinel nodes and breast cancer published from 1993 through mid‐2011; 183 articles met our inclusion criteria. The studies described in these 183 articles included a total of 9,306 patients. We grouped the studies by injection material and injection location. The false‐negative rates were analyzed according to these groupings and also by the year in which the articles were published.

Results

There was significant variation related to injection material. The use of blue dye alone was associated with the highest false‐negative rate. Inclusion of a radioactive tracer along with blue dye resulted in a significantly lower false‐negative rate. Although there were variations in the false‐negative rate according to injection location, none were significant.

Conclusions

The use of blue dye should be accompanied by a radioactive tracer to achieve a significantly lower false‐negative rate. Location of injection did not have a significant impact on the false‐negative rate. Given the limitations of acquiring appropriate data, the false‐negative rate should not be used as a metric for training or quality control.
Antibiotics as First‐line Therapy for Acute Appendicitis: Evidence for a Change in Clinical Practice
Authors: Hansson Jeanette , Körner Ulla , Ludwigs Karin , Johnsson Erik , Jönsson Claes , Lundholm Kent
Published: May 2012

Background

Randomized studies have indicated that acute appendicitis may be treated by antibiotics without the need of surgery. However, concerns have been raised about selection bias of patients in such studies. Therefore, the present study was aimed to validate previous findings in randomized studies by a full‐scale population‐based application.

Methods

All patients with acute appendicitis at Sahlgrenska University Hospital (May 2009 and February 2010) were offered intravenous piperacillin plus tazobactam according to our previous experience, followed by 9 days out‐hospital oral ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole. Endpoints were treatment efficacy and complications. Efficient antibiotic treatment was defined as recovery without the need of surgery beyond 1 year of follow‐up.

Results

A total of 558 consecutive patients were hospitalized and treated due to acute appendicitis. Seventy‐nine percent (n = 442) received antibiotics as first‐line therapy and 20 % (n = 111) had primary surgery as the second‐line therapy. Seventy‐seven percent of patients on primary antibiotics recovered while 23 % (n = 100) had subsequent appendectomy due to failed initial treatment on antibiotics. Thirty‐eight patients (11 %) of the 342 had experienced recurrent appendicitis at 1‐year follow‐up. Primary antibiotic treatment had fewer complications compared to primary surgery.

Conclusions

This population‐based study confirms previous results of randomized studies. Antibiotic treatment can be offered as the first‐line therapy to a majority of unselected patients with acute appendicitis without medical drawbacks other than the unknown risk for long‐term relapse, which must be weighed against the unpredicted but well‐known risk for serious major complications following surgical intervention.