bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metal – Fluorocarbon Pyrolants: XI. Radiometric Performance of Pyrolants Based on Magnesium, Perfluorinated Tetrazolates, and Viton A
Authors: Koch Ernst‐Christian , Hahma Arno , Klapötke Thomas M. , Radies Hendrik
Published: May 2010

Pyrolants containing magnesium and guanidinium 5‐(perfluoropropyl)‐5H‐tetrazolate (1) and ammonium 5‐(perfluoropropyl)‐5H‐tetrazolate (2) as oxidizers yield superior spectral efficiency compared to MTV. This is assumed to be due to the expansion of the radiating core zone with nitrogen which reduces the optical thickness in comparison to the core zone of MTV. In addition, the exothermal decomposition of the tetrazolate entity favors a burn rate that is dependent on heat feedback from the gas phase and thus proves to be a function of the flame temperature thus facilitating high burn rates at low Mg contents which is contrary to common metal based pyrolants. For part X., see Ref. [25].
NS5‐branes, holography and CFT deformations
Authors: Fotopoulos A. , Petropoulos M.P. , Prezas N. , Sfetsos K.
Published: May 2010

A few supergravity solutions representing configurations of NS5‐branes admit exact conformal field theory (CFT) description. Deformations of these solutions should be described by exactly marginal operators of the corresponding theories. We briefly review the essentials of these constructions and present, as a new case, the operators responsible for turning on angular momentum.
Theoretical investigations of polytypism in AlN thin films
Authors: Ito Tomonori , Ito Takumi , Ammi Daisuke , Akiyama Toru , Nakamura Kohji
Published: May 2010

The polytypism in AlN is theoretically investigated using ab initio pseudopotential, empirical interatomic potential, and Monte Carlo simulation. In bulk form, 2H‐AlN is stable without polytypes because of its large energy profit to 3C, 6H, and 4H structures. On the Si(001) substrate, the AlN thin films varies their structures from 3C at the film thickness h ≤ 4 monolayers (MLs) to (0001)‐oriented 2H tilted 5° at the h ≥ 2345 MLs via (0001)‐oriented 2H with two misfit dislocations. This reveals that the large lattice mismatch system destabilizes the metastable 3C‐AlN(001) to make the stable 2H‐AlN appear with different orientation. The 4H‐AlN can be stably formed on the 4H‐SiC(11‐20) under Al‐rich condition, whereas the 2H‐AlN may appear under N‐rich condition. This results from the distinctive behavior of Al (N) after N (Al) pre‐depositions. These results are consistent with experimental findings for the polytypism in AlN thin films grown on various substrates.
Structural and solvent effects on the spectroscopic properties of 1, 8‐naphthalimide derivatives: A density functional study
Authors: Qi Qi , Ha Yongquan , Sun Yueming
Published: May 2010

The molecular structures of 1, 8‐naphthalimide derivatives were investigated at density functional theory level within framework of PBE1PBE/6‐31G*. The vertical ionization potential and their delocalization energy of the X‐ray solid structure and gas‐phase optimized structure were explored. The configuration difference between them was attributed to the π‐π interaction of the solid effect, which has negligible effect on their absorption spectra. Solid effect also weakens the intramolecular interaction. Their absorption and luminescent spectra in gas and solvent phase were calculated by time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and conductor polarizable continuum models (CPCM)‐TDDFT approaches. Obvious red shifts from the solvent effect were found. Substituents on the imides will not improve their spectra properties a lot, whereas substituents on the naphthalene of naphthalimide would modify their properties to emit different spectra. Systematical deviation of vertical excitation energy from absorption and emission spectra, obtained by CPCM‐PBEPBE/6‐31G* and CIS‐CPCM‐PBEPBE/6‐31G* models, were about 0.05 eV and 0.02 eV compared with the experimental values. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Absorption spectra of recently synthesised organic dyes: A TD‐DFT study
Authors: Jacquemin Denis , Preat Julien , Perpète Eric A. , Adamo Carlo
Published: May 2010

We use a time‐dependent density functional theory approach to investigate the absorption spectra of a panel of organic dyes synthesised and characterised during 2009. Several chemical modifications (solid‐state packing, oxidation, variation of acidity…) are tackled, and both successes and failures of theory are highlighted and discussed. The obtained deviations are compared to the errors reported previously for traditional families of organic dyes. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010
A theoretical study of the sulfenate–sulfoxide rearrangement. Effect of the hydrogen bond complexation
Authors: Zborowski Krzysztof K. , Alkorta Ibon , Elguero José
Published: May 2010

A DFT study of the thermal and radical sulfenate–sulfoxide rearrangement of derivatives of 3‐propenyl sulfoxide has been carried out. The effect of the substitution and hydrogen bond complexation has been analyzed. The results show that without external factors the radical breakdown path is the one preferred by the alkyl and aromatic derivatives while the unsubstituted system proceeds preferentially through a two‐step series of [1,3]‐ and [2,3]‐sigmatropic shifts. The inclusion of a hydrogen bond donor interacting with the oxygen atom increases the stability of all the species except the radical and the final products. Thus, in the dimethyl derivative the radical and two‐step processes present similar limiting steps. The analysis of the electron density of the systems provides some relationships between the properties at the bond critical point and the interatomic distances for the S···C and H···O cases. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 110:2391–2397, 2010
Semi‐local density functional for the exchange‐correlation energy of electrons in two dimensions
Authors: Räsänen E. , Pittalis S. , Vilhena J. G. , Marques M. A. L.
Published: May 2010

We present a practical and accurate density functional for the exchange‐correlation energy of electrons in two dimensions. The exchange part is based on a recent two‐dimensional generalized‐gradient approximation derived by considering the limits of small and large density gradients. The fully local correlation part is constructed following the Colle‐Salvetti scheme and a Gaussian approximation for the pair density. The combination of these expressions is shown to provide an efficient density functional to calculate the total energies of two‐dimensional electron systems such as semiconductor quantum dots. Excellent performance of the functional with respect to numerically exact reference data for quantum dots is demonstrated. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010
Fukui functions for atoms and ions: Polarizability justified approach
Authors: Szarek Paweł , Komorowski Ludwik , Lipiński Józef
Published: May 2010

Recently proposed Fukui function has been tested for a collection of atoms and atomic ions. The key point of the analysis is an approximation for the softness kernel, as an extended and parameterized version of the local approximation s(r,r′) = s(r)δ(r − r′). The new Fukui functions lead to exact reproduction of global electronic dipole polarizability and atomic softness. The global hardness calculated with the classic definition using new Fukui functions and the hardness kernel |r − r′|−1 matches the η = I − A value with linear correlation superior to any other published hitherto. Applied approximations for the softness and hardness kernels were proved to be in perfect coherence. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010
Hydrogen bond complexes of hydantoin: A theoretical study
Authors: Nadvorny Daniela , Da Silva João Bosco P.
Published: May 2010

The chemical compound hydantoin is commonly used in the synthesis of broad‐spectrum medicaments with multiple pharmacological activities. There are several papers in literature describing hydantoin derivates, yet few are related to the isolated molecule. In this work, we have performed B3LYP and MP2 calculations with the 6‐31++G(d,p) basis set in order to obtain the geometric, energetic, and electronic parameters of the isolated hydantoin and its dimers. We have performed a complete energetic analysis of these complexes considering corrections from the basis set superposition error (BSSE) and zero‐point energy (ZPE) approaches. On the basis of these results, we have proposed and tested an additive model which has successfully predicted the complexation energies of larges hydantoin complexes. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010
A restrictive condition on approximate forms of the kinetic energy functional of the pair density functional theory
Authors: Higuchi M. , Miyasita M. , Higuchi K.
Published: May 2010

By using the N‐representability condition and the Hohenberg‐Kohn theorem on the pair density (PD), we have derived a property of the kinetic energy functional of the PD functional theory. This property can be regarded as a restrictive condition on approximate forms of the kinetic energy functional, and gives a useful guideline to develop them. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010
Calculated rotational and vibrational g factors of LiH X 1Σ+ and evaluation of parameters in radial functions from rotational and vibration‐rotational spectra
Authors: Sauer S. P. A. , Paidarová I. , Oddershede J. , Bak K. L. , Ogilvie J. F.
Published: May 2010

The vibrational g factor, that is, the nonadiabatic correction to the vibrational reduced mass, of LiH has been calculated for internuclear distances over a wide range. Based on multiconfigurational wave functions with a large complete active space and an extended set of gaussian type basis functions, these calculations yielded also the rotational g factor, the electric dipolar moment, and its gradient with internuclear distance for LiH in its electronic ground state X 1Σ+. The vibrational g factor gv exhibits a pronounced minimum near internuclear distance R = 3.65 × 10−10 m; the derivative of electric dipolar moment and the nonadiabatic matrix element coupling the electronic ground state to the first electronically excited state exhibit extrema near the same location that is also near the avoided crossing of the curves for potential energy for the electronic ground state and excited state A 1Σ+. The irreducible contribution g(R) to the rotational g factor increases monotonically over the calculated domain, whereas the irreducible contribution g(R) to the vibrational g factor has a minimum at the same location as that of gv itself. From these calculated radial functions, we derived values of the rotational g factor and electric dipolar moment for LiH in vibrational states v = 0 and 1, and the corresponding rotational dependences, in satisfactory agreement with experimental values. These calculated data of rotational g factor served as constraints in new fits of 1000 vibration‐rotational spectral data of LiH in four isotopic variants, which yield estimates of adiabatic corrections for comparison with published data and of the vibrational g factor for comparison with our calculated results. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Global stabilization of a class of upper‐triangular systems with unbounded or uncontrollable linearizations
Authors: Ding Shihong , Qian Chunjiang , Li Shihua , Li Qi
Published: May 2010

In this paper, we consider the problem of global stabilization for a class of upper‐triangular systems which have unbounded or uncontrollable linearizations around the origin. The explicit formula of the control law is designed in two steps: First, we use the generalized adding a power integrator technique to design a homogeneous controller which locally stabilizes the upper‐triangular systems. Then, we integrate a series of nested saturation functions with the homogeneous controller and adjust the saturation level to ensure global asymptotic stability of the closed‐loop systems. Owing to the versatility of the generalized adding a power integrator technique, our controller not only can be used to stabilize more general upper‐triangular systems by relaxing the current conditions used in existing results, but also is able to lead to a stronger result of finite‐time stabilization under appropriate conditions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An algorithmic mitigation of large spurious interprocedural cycles in static analysis
Authors: Oh Hakjoo , Yi Kwangkeun
Published: May 2010

We present a simple algorithmic extension of the approximate call‐strings approach to mitigate substantial performance degradation caused by spurious interprocedural cycles. Spurious interprocedural cycles are, in a realistic setting, the key reasons for why approximate call‐return semantics in both context‐sensitive and ‐insensitive static analysis can make the analysis much slower than expected. In the approximate call‐strings‐based context‐sensitive static analysis, because the number of distinguished contexts is finite, multiple call‐contexts are inevitably joined at the entry of a procedure and the output at the exit is propagated to multiple return‐sites. We found that these multiple returns frequently create a single large cycle (we call it ‘butterfly cycle’) covering almost all parts of the program and such a spurious cycle makes analyses very slow and inaccurate. Our simple algorithmic technique (within the fixpoint iteration algorithm) identifies and prunes these spurious interprocedural flows. The technique's effectiveness is proven by experiments with a realistic C analyzer to reduce the analysis time by 7–96%. As the technique is algorithmic, it can be easily applicable to existing analyses without changing the underlying abstract semantics, it is orthogonal to the underlying abstract semantics' context‐sensitivity, and its correctness is obvious. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dynamic rheological properties of rice flour‐starch blends
Authors: Oh Jun‐Hwan , Kim Mi‐Jung , Yoo Byoungseung
Published: May 2010

The dynamic rheological properties of blends of rice flour (RF) with six different commercial starches (sweet potato starch, potato starch, tapioca starch, waxy corn starch, hydroxypropylated potato starch, and hydroxypropylated tapioca starch) were evaluated. The magnitudes of storage modulus (G′) of all blend samples were higher than those of loss modulus (G′′) over most of the frequency range (0.63–62.8 rad · s−1). In general, the dynamic moduli results of all blend samples showed that changes in G′ values were relatively greater than changes in G″ values after adding the starches when compared to RF. tan δ (ratio of G′′/G′) values (0.21–0.22) of the RF‐potato starch and RF‐hydroxypropylated potato starch blends were much lower than those (0.25–0.33) of other blends and RF, indicating that there is a more pronounced synergistic effect on the elastic properties of RF‐starch blend systems in the presence of potato starches.
Direct conversion of starch to hydroxymethylfurfural in the presence of an ionic liquid with metal chloride
Authors: Chun Jae‐An , Lee Jin‐Woo , Yi Young‐Byung , Hong Seong‐Sig , Chung Chung‐Han
Published: May 2010

Starch can be exploited as an abundant resource for sustainable production of diverse chemical intermediates such as hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). We present a simple process of producing HMF from starches using an ionic liquid, 1‐octyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([OMIM]Cl), and CrCl2 catalyst. The addition of HCl and CrCl2 significantly affected the yields of HMF on the whole. CrCl2 increased the yields of HMF by approximately two‐folds on average. The synthesis of HMF was most effective between 60 and 90 min reaction time at both concentrations of 0.3 and 0.5 M HCl. Starch concentration had influence on the productivity of HMF. At 20% starch concentration with 0.3 and 0.5 M HCl, its productivity was greatest (2.8 folds high). Eight starch sources (corn, wheat, rice, potato tuber, sweet potato, tapioca, acorn, and kudzu starch) were tested for the synthesis of HMF. The highest yields of HMF (73.0 ± 3.8 wt%) were obtained in tapioca starch dissolved in 0.5 M HCl.
NCTU‐VT: a freeware for wireless VoIP performance measurement
Authors: Sung Ya‐Chin , Lin Yi‐Bing , Liou Ren‐Huang , Shieh Lon‐Fon
Published: May 2010

Voice over IP (VoIP) is a promising low‐cost voice communication over the wireless IP network. To provide satisfactory VoIP services, the Quality of Service (QoS) of the wireless network should be guaranteed. This paper proposes a VoIP performance measurement freeware called NCTU VoIP Testing Tool (NCTU‐VT). We compare NCTU‐VT with two commercial tools SmartVoIPQoS and IxChariot in terms of packet loss, latency, and Mean Opinion Score (MOS) of the VoIP sessions in Wi‐Fi network. Our study indicates that these three tools can accurately measure VoIP performance in Wi‐Fi environment. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the generalized Helmholtz conditions for Lagrangian systems with dissipative forces
Authors: Crampin M. , Mestdag T. , Sarlet W.
Published: May 2010

In two recent papers necessary and sufficient conditions for a given system of second‐order ordinary differential equations to be of Lagrangian form with additional dissipative forces were derived. We point out that these conditions are not independent and prove a stronger result accordingly.
Approximation of finite rigid body motions from velocity fields
Authors: Müller A.
Published: May 2010

It is well‐known that there is no integrable relation between the twist of a rigid body and its finite motion. Moreover, the reconstruction of the body's motion requires to solve a set of differential equations on the rigid body motion group. This is usually avoided by introducing local parameters (e.g. Euler angles) so that the problem becomes an ordinary differential equation on a vector space (e.g. kinematic Euler equations). In this paper the original problem on the motion group is treated. A family of approximation formulas is presented that allow reconstructing large rigid body motions from a given velocity field up to a desired order, where a k‐th order reconstruction requires the first k ‐ 1 time derivatives of the velocity. Such reconstruction formulas could be used whenever the velocity field is accessible. As an example the formulas are applied to the rotation update in a momentum preserving time stepping scheme for the dynamic Euler equations.
Changes in the surgical approach to hilar cholangiocarcinoma during an 18‐year period in a Western single center
Authors: Ercolani Giorgio , Zanello Matteo , Grazi Gian Luca , Cescon Matteo , Ravaioli Matteo , Del Gaudio Massimo , Vetrone Gaetano , Cucchetti Alessandro , Brandi Giovanni , Ramacciato Giovanni , Pinna Antonio Daniele
Published: May 2010

Background

Liver resection is the only potential curative treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. In this article, we evaluate mortality, survival, prognostic factors, and changes in surgical approach during the last two decades at a Western hepato‐biliary center.

Methods

Fifty‐one patients undergoing liver resections constitute the study population. Patients undergoing palliative procedures were considered as a control group for comparison to the resected group. After 1997, a more aggressive surgical approach was applied that is based on the experience of Japanese surgeons.

Results

Curative resections were achieved in 37 (72.5%) patients, and R1 resections were performed in 14 (27.5%). The overall 3‐ and 5‐year survival rates were 47.3 and 34.1%, respectively. The 3‐ and 5‐year survival rates were 38 and 19% in the R1 resection group, and 15% and 0 in the non‐resected group, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that lymph node and perineural invasion, R1 resection, and a bilirubin level >10 mg/dl affected long‐term survival. Multivariate analysis showed that only perineural invasion was significant in affecting long‐term survival. Univariate analysis showed that the mean preoperative bilirubin levels and mean blood transfusion were related to the mortality rate. The resectability rate significantly increased from 25 to 75.6% after 1997 following implementation of the new surgical approach.

Conclusions

An aggressive surgical approach increases the resectability rate and may improve long‐term survival even after R1 resection. Severe hyperbilirubinemia should be preoperatively drained, possibly by the percutaneous approach.
Intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasms of the pancreas and bile ducts: a description of five new cases and review based on a systematic survey of the literature
Authors: Liszka Łukasz , Pająk Jacek , Zielińska‐Pająk Ewa , Krzych Łukasz , Gołka Dariusz , Mrowiec Sławomir , Lampe Paweł
Published: May 2010

Background

Intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasms (IOPN) are rare tumors of the pancreatic and biliary ductal system. It is not absolutely clear if the molecular and clinicopathologic characteristics of IOPN differ significantly from other related lesions, namely intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN). Therefore it is not clear if it is reasonable to consider IOPN as a separate diagnostic and clinical entity.

Methods

In order to describe the clinicopathologic characteristics of IOPN and to compare them with the IPMN profile, we performed a systematic review of the literature and additionally studied five previously unreported IOPN cases.

Results

IOPN differ from IPMN by lack of K‐ras gene mutations in all studied cases. Several differences in the clinical and biological profile between IOPN and IPMN exist, but they are of quantitative rather than of qualitative nature. Additionally, pancreaticobiliary or gastric‐foveolar IPMN components may coexist with IOPN component within a single lesion, which suggests at least a partial relation of the pathogenetic pathways of IPMN and IOPN. Importantly, the pathogenesis of accumulation of mitochondria and oxyphilic appearance of IOPN remains unknown.

Conclusions

At present, there are no reliable criteria other than histopathological picture and K‐ras gene status to differentiate IOPN from IPMN. In particular, no clear differences in optimal treatment options and prognosis between these tumors are known. Further studies are needed to clarify the biology of IOPN and to establish their position in clinicopathologic classifications of pancreatic tumors.
The genetics of affective disorder and suicide
Authors: McGuffin P. , Perroud N. , Uher R. , Butlera A. , Aitchison K.J. , Craig I. , Lewis C. , Farmer A.
Published: May 2010

Suicidal behaviour shows evidence of familial clustering and the twin data on completed suicide suggest moderate heritability. The extent to which the genetics of suicidal behaviour overlaps with the genetics of affective disorders is unclear but there is overwhelming evidence that both bipolar and unipolar disorder are substantially influenced by genes. So far, candidate gene studies of suicidality have provoked much interest, but recently, attention has also turned to candidate gene approaches to suicidal ideation emerging during antidepressant treatment. The advent of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has had a major impact on studies of affective disorder with some provocative new findings. The GWAS approach is also beginning to be applied in the search for genes that underlie suicidal ideation and behaviour.
Adiponectin Gene SNP276 Variants and Central Obesity Confer Risks for Hyperglycemia in Indigenous Taiwanese
Authors: Huang Meng‐Chuan , Wang Tsu‐Nai , Lee King‐Teh , Wu Yu‐Ju , Tu Hung‐Pin , Liu Chih‐Shan , Chiang Hung‐Che , Ko Ying‐Chin
Published: May 2010

This cross‐sectional study analyzed the effects of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the adiponectin gene, SNP45 and SNP276, on hyperglycemia in indigenous Taiwanese, and whether central obesity modulates the effects of these SNPs. Overall, 550 indigenous Taiwanese were recruited for this cross‐sectional study. The subjects were categorized into a hyperglycemic group if fasting plasma glucose was > 126 mg/dL (n = 88) or the control group if fasting plasma glucose was < 100 mg/dL (n = 462). The SNP276 TT homozygote carried greater hyperglycemia risk than SNP276 GG [odds ratio (OR) = 2.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05–6.78], but not heterozygote (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 0.95–2.50). SNP45 T > G was not associated with hyperglycemia risk. In multivariate‐adjusted modeling, we found a significant relationship between SNP276 T carriers (GT + TT) (OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.10–3.88) and central obesity (OR = 4.50, 95% CI = 1.91–10.61) with hyperglycemia. Compared with non‐central‐obese carriers of SNP276 GG, non‐central‐obese SNP276 T carriers, and central obese subjects with SNP276 GG and SNP276 T carriers had 5.50, 8.31 and 13.76‐fold, respectively, higher risks for hyperglycemia; obese carriers of the T‐containing variants experienced a combined risk for hyperglycemia. Furthermore, the hyperglycemic risks were more pronounced in leaner (non‐central‐obese) individuals carrying the T variant than the central‐obese individuals. The adiponectin SNP276 T variant and central obesity had independent and additive effects on hyperglycemia risks. These findings may provide valuable information regarding preventive strategies that might be useful to prevent or treat diabetes and its related complications.
Optical Coherence Tomography of a Coexisting Optic Nerve Cyst and Optic Disc Pit: A Case Report
Authors: Huang Tzu‐Lun , Lin Kuan‐Hung , Sheu Min‐Muh , Tsai Rong‐Kung
Published: May 2010

We describe a rare case of an optic pit located over the nasal portion of the disc that was independent of a coexisting optic nerve cyst. A healthy 35‐year‐old patient was referred to our clinic seeking alternative treatment options because his previous ophthalmologist had suggested evisceration and orbital surgery for a suspected orbital malignancy. Our examinations revealed a gray lesion located within the right disc cup that was associated with a round lesion at the retrobulbar optic nerve. Based on optical coherence tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings, we believe that our patient exhibited an optic disc pit coexisting with a congenital optic nerve cyst. Because the patient had very good central vision and the lesions were benign, we recommended continued observation for this patient.
Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia With Eosinophilia Developing on an Antecedent Welding Burn: A Case Report
Authors: Tseng Hui‐Wen , Chien Sou‐Hsin , Wu Chieh‐Shan , Tseng Hui‐Hwa , Tseng Chih‐En
Published: May 2010

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) describes a group of benign anomalous vascular hyperplasias which consist of epithelioid‐like endothelial cells attached to dilated blood vessels, and infiltration of inflammatory cells, predominantly lymphocytes and some eosinophils. Here, we describe a healthy 34‐year‐old man, who had 10 well‐defined, non‐tender, red‐to‐brownish papules and subcutaneous nodules of 0.3–1.0 cm in diameter on his left forearm. The lesions started to appear about 4 months after an earlier electric welding rod burn had healed. The histopathologic diagnosis of the lesions was ALHE. Because the new lesions developed progressively and malignancy could not be excluded, the patient underwent a wide elliptical excision and received a split‐thickness skin graft from his left thigh. His postoperative recovery was successful and has showed no evidence of recurrence after 5 years of follow‐up. The forearm is an unusual site for ALHE; the antecedent burn was the key trigger for ALHE onset in this case.
Biotransformed blueberry juice protects neurons from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway alterations
Authors: Vuong Tri , Matar Chantal , Ramassamy Charles , Haddad Pierre S.
Published: May 2010

A growing body of evidence supports the therapeutic effects of blueberry in neurodegenerative disorders. Biotransformation of blueberry juice by Serratia vaccinii bacteria increases its phenolic content and antioxidant activity. In neuronal cell culture, biotransformed blueberry juice (BJ) significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, namely catalase and superoxide dismutase. Moreover, BJ protected neurons against H2O2-induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner. This associated with the upregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family enzymes p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation, as well as with the protection of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK1/2) activity loss induced by H2O2. The present studies demonstrate that BJ can protect neurons against oxidative stress possibly by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities and activating p38- and JNK-dependent survival pathways while blocking MEK1/2- and ERK1/2-mediated cell death. Thus, BJ may represent a novel approach to prevent and to treat neurodegenerative disorders, and it may represent a source of novel therapeutic agents against these diseases.
Alcohol craving and the dimensionality of alcohol disorders
Authors: Keyes K. M. , Krueger R. F. , Grant B. F. , Hasin D. S.
Published: May 2010

Background

ICD-10 includes a craving criterion for alcohol dependence while DSM-IV does not. Little is known about whether craving fits with or improves the DSM-IV criteria set for alcohol-use disorders.

Method

Data were derived from current drinkers (n=18 352) in the 1991–1992 National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey (NLAES), a nationally representative survey of US adults >17 years of age. The Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule was used to assess the eleven DSM-IV dependence and abuse criteria, and alcohol craving. Exploratory factor, item response theory, and regression analyses were used to evaluate the psychometric properties and concurrent validity of DSM-based alcohol disorder criteria with the addition of alcohol craving.

Results

The past 12-month prevalence of craving was 1.3%. Craving formed part of a unidimensional latent variable that included existing DSM-IV criteria. Craving demonstrated high severity on the alcohol-use disorder continuum, resulting in an improved dimensional model with greater discriminatory ability compared with current DSM-IV criteria. Correlates of the diagnosis did not change with the addition of craving, and past 12-month craving was associated with prior alcohol dependence, depression, and earlier age of alcohol disorder onset among those with current DSM-IV alcohol dependence.

Conclusions

The addition of craving to the existing DSM-IV criteria yields a continuous measure that better differentiates individuals with and without alcohol problems along the alcohol-use disorder continuum. Few individuals are newly diagnosed with alcohol dependence given the addition of craving, indicating construct validity but redundancy with existing criteria.
Psychiatric ‘diseases’versusbehavioral disorders and degree of genetic influence
Authors: Bienvenu O. J. , Davydow D. S. , Kendler K. S.
Published: May 2010

Background

Psychiatric conditions in which symptoms arise involuntarily (‘diseases’) might be assumed to be more heritable than those in whichchoicesare essential (behavioral disorders). We sought to determine whether psychiatric ‘diseases’ (Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and mood and anxiety disorders) are more heritable than behavioral disorders (substance use disorders and anorexia nervosa).

Method

We reviewed the literature for recent quantitative summaries of heritabilities. When these were unavailable, we calculated weighted mean heritabilities from twin studies meeting modern methological standards.

Results

Heritability summary estimates were as follows: bipolar disorder (85%), schizophrenia (81%), Alzheimer's disease (75%), cocaine use disorder (72%), anorexia nervosa (60%), alcohol dependence (56%), sedative use disorder (51%), cannabis use disorder (48%), panic disorder (43%), stimulant use disorder (40%), major depressive disorder (37%), and generalized anxiety disorder (28%).

Conclusions

No systematic relationship exists between the disease-like character of a psychiatric disorder and its heritability; many behavioral disorders seem to be more heritable than conditions commonly construed as diseases. These results suggest an error in ‘common-sense’ assumptions about the etiology of psychiatric disorders. That is, among psychiatric disorders, there is no close relationship between the strength of genetic influences and the etiologic importance of volitional processes.
Current Developments in Language Curriculum Design: An Australian Perspective
Authors: Burton Jill
Published: May 2010

The past decade in language curriculum in Australia has been a time of exploration and innovation, and also a time of consolidation. During this period, curriculum planning reflected, first, a swing within the teaching profession to greater teacher responsibility in curriculum (a responsive curriculum), then a swing back to teacher accountability (an explicit curriculum) due to demands external to the teaching profession. In addition, language curriculum in Australia was strongly influenced by communicative language teaching theory (CLT) and the related developments of task-based learning (TBL), needs-based programming, and language as discourse theory.
Inspection games with long-run inspectors
Authors: ANDREOZZI LUCIANO
Published: May 2010

The inspection game has been widely used as a model for crime deterrence. In this article, we shall present a broad review of the literature and an original result. The original result concerns the interaction between a single, long-run inspector and a population of short-run, boundedly rational would-be criminals. This approach gives rise to an optimal control problem that can be solved explicitly. We show that a forward-looking inspector obtains the same payoff he would obtain if he could commit to a probability of inspection. The consequences of this result for the economics of crime deterrence are also explored.
Rapid burial has differential effects on germination and emergence of small- and large-seeded herbaceous plant species
Authors: Burmeier Sandra , Donath Tobias W. , Otte Annette , Eckstein R. Lutz
Published: May 2010

The dynamics of many plant populations essentially depend upon seed and seedling stages, and a persistent seed bank may give species an opportunity to disperse through time. Seed burial is a decisive prelude to persistence and may strongly influence seed-bank dynamics. The fate of buried seeds depends on species-specific traits, environmental conditions and possibly also burial mode. We tested seed germination, seedling emergence and growth of the co-occurring herbaceous flood-meadow speciesArabis nemorensis,Galium wirtgenii,Inula salicina,Sanguisorba officinalisandSelinum carvifoliain response to the experimental manipulation of burial depth (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 cm) and substrate type (sand, clay). Increasing burial depth led to decreased germination, emergence and growth in all species studied, and seedling growth differed significantly between substrate types. The responses of species differed on an individual basis, but also showed a higher-ranking pattern based on seed size. Larger-seeded species were able to emerge from greater depths and experienced less depth-mediated growth inhibition than smaller-seeded species, which, in turn, had higher survival rates during burial and were less likely to experience fatal germination. Based on these results, we suggest that herbaceous flood-meadow species have developed two different seed-size based strategies for coping with the extreme recruitment conditions prevailing in flood meadows, the balance of which seems to be maintained by disturbance events.
REPRESENTATIONS OF REAL BANACH ALGEBRAS
Authors: ALBIAC F. , BRIEM E.
Published: May 2010

A commutative complex unital Banach algebra can be represented as a space of continuous complex-valued functions on a compact Hausdorff space via the Gelfand transform. However, in general it is not possible to represent a commutative real unital Banach algebra as a space of continuous real-valued functions on some compact Hausdorff space, and for this to happen some additional conditions are needed. In this note we represent a commutative real Banach algebra on a part of its state space and show connections with representations on the maximal ideal space of the algebra (whose existence one has to prove first).
Treatment of varicose tributaries with sclerotherapy with polidocanol 0.5 % foam
Authors: Reich-Schupke  , Weyer  , Altmeyer  , Stücker
Published: May 2010

Background: Although foam sclerotherapy of varicose tributaries is common in daily practice, scientific evidence for the optimal sclerosant-concentration and session-frequency is still low. This study aimed to increase the knowledge on foam sclerotherapy of varicose tributaries and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of foam sclerotherapy with 0.5 % polidocanol in tributaries with 3-6 mm in diameter. Patients and methods: Analysis of 110 legs in 76 patients. Injections were given every second or third day. A maximum of 1 injection / leg and a volume of 2ml / injection were administered per session. Controls were performed approximately 6 months and 12 months after the start of therapy. Results: 110 legs (CEAP C2-C4) were followed up for a period of 14.2 ± 4.2 months. Reflux was eliminated after 3.4 ± 2.7 injections per leg. Insufficient tributaries were detected in 23.2 % after 6.2 ± 0.9 months and in 48.2 % after 14.2 ± 4.2 months, respectively. Only 30.9 % (34 / 110) of the legs required additional therapy. In 6.4 % vein surgery was performed, in 24.5 % similar sclerotherapy was repeated. Significantly fewer sclerotherapy-sessions were required compared to the initial treatment (mean: 2.3 ± 1.4, p = 0.0054). During the whole study period thrombophlebitis (8.2 %), hyperpigmentation (14.5 %), induration in the treated region (9.1 %), pain in the treated leg (7.3 %) and migraine (0.9 %) occurred. One patient with a history of thrombosis developed thrombosis of a muscle vein (0.9 %). After one year there were just hyperpigmentation (8.2 %) and induration (1.8 %) left. No severe adverse effect occurred. Conclusions: Foam sclerotherapy with injections of 0.5 % polidocanol every 2nd or 3rd day, is a safe procedure for varicose tributaries. The evaluation of efficacy is difficult, as it can hardly be said whether the detected tributaries in the controls are recurrent veins or have recently developed in the follow-up period. The low number of retreated legs indicates a high efficacy and satisfaction of the patients.
Changes in active layer thickness over the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau from 1995 to 2007
Authors: Wu Qingbai , Zhang Tingjun
Published: May 2010

The active layer over permafrost plays a significant role in surface energy balance, hydrologic cycle, carbon fluxes, ecosystem, and landscape processes and on the human infrastructure in cold regions. Over a period from 1995 to 2007, a systematic soil temperature measurement network of 10 sites was established along the Qinghai‐Tibetan Highway. Soil temperatures up to 12 m depth were continuously measured semimonthly. In this study, we investigate spatial variations of active layer thickness (ALT) and its change over the period of record. We found that ALT can be estimated with confidence using semimonthly soil temperature profiles compared to those determined from available daily soil temperature profiles over the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau. The primary results demonstrate that long‐term and spatially averaged ALT is ∼2.41 m with a range of 1.32–4.57 m along the Qinghai‐Tibetan Highway. All monitoring sites show an increase in ALT over the period of their records. The mean increasing rate of ALT is ∼7.5 cm/yr. ALT shows a closely positive correlation with the thawing index of air temperature on the plateau. We estimated ALT using the thawing index over a period from 1956 to 2005 near the Wudaoliang Meteorological Station in the northern plateau. ALT had no or very limited change from 1956 to 1983 and a sharp increase of ∼39 cm from 1983 to 2005. The magnitude of ALT increase is greater in the warm permafrost region than in the cold permafrost region. The primary control of increase in ALT is caused by an increase in summer air temperature, whereas changes in the winter air temperature and snow cover condition play no or a very limited role.
Reaction Attempts Book
Authors: Bradley Jean-Claude , Mirza Khalid , Lang Andrew , Bohinski Tim , Bulger David , Merchant Alisha , Messner Emily , Moritz Marshall , Oseback Shannon , Parikh Rikesh , Shah Mitesh
Published: May 2010

This book is a compilation of Ugi reactions attempted for the UsefulChem Project mainly in the Bradley laboratory at Drexel University. This includes failed, inconclusive or in progress reactions as well as those where a product was successfully isolated and characterized. The entries are sorted alphabetically based on reactants. Links are provided to the relevant lab notebook pages. Future editions will include contributions from other sources as well.
Magnetocaloric effect in NaZn13-type La1−xPrxFe11.44Si1.56 melt-spun ribbons
Authors: Ding M. Z. , Liu Z. , Chen R. J. , Yan A. R.
Published: May 2010

The influence of Pr content on structure, magnetic properties, and magnetic entropy changes of La1−xPrxFe11.44Si1.56 was investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the 1:13 phase with cubic NaZn13-type structure was obtained by a short time annealing (1300 K and 3 h) in melt-spun ribbons, which in contrast requires much longer time annealing at high temperature to develop in the bulk alloy. The field-induced first-order transition was observed in the as-annealed ribbons, leading to the large magnetic entropy changes. The maximum magnetic entropy changes under a magnetic field of 5 T were about 14.3, 19.2, and 19 J/kg K for the ribbons with x=0, 0.1, and 0.2, respectively.
Control of magnetic ordering by altering Co–Co distances in La0.9R0.1Co2P2 (R=Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm) phases with ThCr2Si2-type structures
Authors: Thompson Corey M. , Arico Alexandra A. , Kovnir Kirill , Shatruk Michael
Published: May 2010

To clarify the origins of different magnetic behavior in ferromagnetic LaCo2P2 and antiferromagnetic RCo2P2 (R=Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm), quaternary phases La0.9R0.1Co2P2 have been investigated. While LaCo2P2 orders ferromagnetically at 132 K, the introduction of the small amount of R into the La sublattice increases the ferromagnetic ordering temperature, which correlates with the size of the R3+ ion (TC=144 K, 150 K, 161 K, and 165 K for Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm, respectively). This change is attributed to the increasing Co–Co separation within the [Co2P2] layer, which results in higher spin polarization of the Co 3d subband. The low-temperature magnetism of La0.9R0.1Co2P2 strongly depends on the nature of the rare-earth metal.
Structural, magnetic, and magnetoelectric properties of NiO.Fe2O3 and NiO.Fe1.925Sm0.075O3 thin films
Authors: Bharathi K. Kamala , Dwevedi Sandhya , Venkatesh S. , Markandeyulu G.
Published: May 2010

NiFe 2 O 3 and NiOFe1.925Sm0.075O3 thin films were prepared by rf magnetron sputtering on oxidized silicon and lead zirconate titanate (PZT) substrates. Both the films were found to crystallize in inverse spinel structure after the annealing was carried out at 1073 K for two hours. Small hysteresis was observed in both the films at 300 K as well as 1.8 K. The magnetoelectric coefficient αE is seen to have the largest value at 500 Oe and is 4.07 and 3.57 mV cm−1 Oe−1 in NiOFe1.925Sm0.075O3–PZT and NiOFe2O3–PZT composite films, respectively.
Refraction indices of spatially nonuniform magnetic systems and nanostructures from the first principles
Authors: Pozhar Liudmila A.
Published: May 2010

An equilibrium two-time temperature Green’s function (TTGF)-based, quantum statistical mechanical approach has been used to derive from the first principles an explicit expression for the tensor of “local” refraction indices of spatially nonuniform systems in weak external electromagnetic (EM) fields in the linear approximation with regard to the field magnitudes. Written in terms of the TTGF-based, first-principle tensorial dielectric and magnetic susceptibilities, the obtained formula for the local tensor of refraction indices (TRI) is applicable to any system, including individual nanoscale objects, such as quantum dots and wires, magnetic nanostructures, composite materials, or spatially nonuniform, bulk magnetic materials. An explicit expression for the space-time Fourier transform (STFT) of the dielectric susceptibility tensor used in TRI is derived in terms of STFTs of the charge density—charge density TTGFs, while the corresponding STFT of the magnetic susceptibility tensor also includes STFTs of the microcurrent—microcurrent TTGFs. The STFTs of the equilibrium TTGFs featuring in the susceptibilities, and thus necessary to calculate TRI, can be obtained by equilibrium quantum statistical mechanical means, modeling and simulations, or from experimental data. Two TRI regimes of significant interest for applications that can be realized in spatially inhomogeneous magnetic systems have been identified.
Gain curves and hydrodynamic modeling for shock ignition
Authors: Lafon M. , Ribeyre X. , Schurtz G.
Published: May 2010

Ignition of a precompressed thermonuclear fuel by means of a converging shock is now considered as a credible scheme to obtain high gains for inertial fusion energy. This work aims at modeling the successive stages of the fuel time history, from compression to final thermonuclear combustion, in order to provide the gain curves of shock ignition (SI). The leading physical mechanism at work in SI is pressure amplification, at first by spherical convergence, and by collision with the shock reflected at center during the stagnation process. These two effects are analyzed, and ignition conditions are provided as functions of the shock pressure and implosion velocity. Ignition conditions are obtained from a non-isobaric fuel assembly, for which we present a gain model. The corresponding gain curves exhibit a significantly lower ignition threshold and higher target gains than conventional central ignition.
Long-time asymptotic states of forced two-dimensional barotropic incompressible flows on a rotating sphere
Authors: Obuse Kiori , Takehiro Shin-ichi , Yamada Michio
Published: May 2010

This study re-examines a long-time asymptotic state of a two-dimensional barotropic incompressible flow with a small-scale, Markovian random forcing on a rotating sphere. Numerical simulations with different rotation rates of the sphere and different wavenumbers of the forcing are performed from zero initial condition. The integration time is extended to around 100–500 times that of the previous study by Nozawa and Yoden [Phys. Fluids 9, 2081 (1997)]. At an early stage of the time integration, a multiple zonal-band structure or a structure with westward circumpolar jets emerges. However, in the course of time development, a multiple zonal-band structure is found to appear in all cases. The multiple zonal-band structure then enters quasisteady state, showing little energy increase with nearly steady energy spectrum. This is followed by a sudden merger/disappearance of the jets, accompanying an energy increase, and at the final stage of the time integration, a zonal-band structure with only two or three jets is realized in all cases. The characteristic total wavenumber of this asymptotic state is far lower than the Rhines wavenumber of the zonal flow, which suggests that the inverse energy cascade is not totally stopped by the β effect.