bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laser Assisted Molecular Beam Deposition of Thin Films for Gate Dielectrics Applications
Authors: DeLeon Robert L. , Garvey James F. , Tompa Gary S. , Moore Richard , Efstathiadis Harry
Published: August 2011

High dielectric constant (k), the thermal stability and the chemical stability with respect to reaction with silicon of hafnium oxide (HfO2), and zirconium oxide (ZrO2) places them among the leading candidates for an alternative gate dielectric material. High dielectric constant HfO2 and ZrO2 thin films have successfully been deposited on silicon substrates at a temperature of 27 °C by Laser Assisted Molecular Beam Deposition (LAMBD). The LAMBD process is related to conventional Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD). In the PLD process, the ablation plume impinges directly upon the substrate to deposit the thin film, whereas in the LAMBD process, the ablation material is expanded within a concurrently pulsed stream of a reactive gas. The gas pulse serves both to create the desired material and to transport the material to the substrate for deposition of the thin film. One advantage of the LAMBD process is that a chemically reactive carrier gas can be selected to produce the desired chemical products. Depositions yielded 35 nm to 135 nm thick HfO2, and ZrO2 films.

Structural and chemical characterization of the films were performed by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), Rutherford back-scattering (RBS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Film surface was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) while optical characterization was also performed by means of spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). Within the process window investigated, the film Hf/O and Zr/O ratios was found to be in the range 0.6 to 1.2. The as deposited films were amorphous with refraction index (RI) at 623 nm wavelength films in the range of 1.22 to 1.27 for the HfO2 and in the range of 1.23 to 1.19 for the ZrO2 films.
Automatic characterisation of primary, secondary and mixed sludge inflow in terms of the mathematical generalised sludge digester model
Authors: de Gracia M. , Huete E. , Beltrán S. , Grau P. , Ayesa E.
Published: August 2011

This paper presents the characterisation procedure of different types of sludge generated in a wastewater treatment plant to be reproduced in a mathematical model of the sludge digestion process. The automatic calibration method used is based on an optimisation problem and uses a set of mathematical equations related to the a priori knowledge of the sludge composition, the experimental measurements applied to the real sludge, and the definition of the model components. In this work, the potential of the characterisation methodology is shown by means of a real example, taking into account that sludge is a very complex matter to characterise and that the models for digestion also have a considerable number of model components. The results obtained suit both the previously reported characteristics of the primary, secondary and mixed sludge, and the experimental measurements specially done for this work. These three types of sludge have been successfully characterised to be used in complex mathematical models.
Registration of ‘Duclair’ Hard Red Spring Wheat
Authors: Lanning S. P. , Carlson G. R. , Lamb P. F. , Nash D. , Wichman D. M. , Kephart K. D. , Stougaard R. N. , Miller J. , Kushnak G. D. , Eckhoff J. L. , Grey W. E. , Blake N. K. , Talbert L. E.
Published: August 2011

‘Duclair’ hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Reg. No. CV‐1060, PI 660981) was developed by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and released in 2011. The objective for the development of Duclair was to provide a solid‐stemmed, semidwarf cultivar for areas infested by the wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus Nort.). Duclair was developed through initial generations of single seed descent of F2 seed from a ‘Choteau’/MT0249 cross. Progeny lines were selected to have solid stems from Choteau, and extended green leaf duration from MT0249. Duclair was tested as MT0832 at sites across Montana in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Stem solidity of Duclair is similar to the solid‐stemmed cultivar ‘Fortuna’ and slightly less than ‘Choteau’. Duclair has shown good yield potential throughout Montana and its height is more desirable for dry conditions than Choteau. Duclair has grain protein levels similar to other hard red spring wheat cultivars and acceptable milling and baking characteristics. Duclair will be of interest to wheat growers in sawfly‐infested areas of Montana and adjoining regions.
A morphological and molecular study in theDeschampsia cespitosacomplex (Poaceae; Poeae; Airinae) in northern North America
Authors: Chiapella Jorge O. , DeBoer Veronica L. , Amico Guillermo C. , Kuhl Joseph C.
Published: August 2011

•Premise of the study:In the North American Arctic, the existence of one or several taxa closely related toDeschampsia cespitosavar.cespitosahas remained a puzzle for many years. Extreme morphological variation, lack of clear limits between alleged forms, and an extended geographic range often render identification keys incomplete, and raise the question of how many species this taxon represents.

•Methods:Morphological and molecular analysis, including multivariate statistics, ITS and the cpDNA markertrnK‐rps16, was conducted onD. cespitosavar.cespitosaand related taxa using 201 herbarium specimens from northern North America (Alaska, Canada, and Greenland). Fifty‐three morphological centeracters were recorded from all specimens, while sequences were retrieved from 167 specimens.

•Key results:Results show thatDeschampsia cespitosa(L.) P. Beauv. var.cespitosa,D. cespitosasubsp.alpina(L.) Tzvelev,D. cespitosasubsp.beringensis(Hultén) W. E. Lawr.,D. brevifoliaR. Br.,D. cespitosa(L.) P. Beauv. subsp.glauca(Hartm.) C. Hartm.,D. mackenzieanaRaup,D. cespitosasubsp.orientalisHultén, andD. pumila(Griseb.) Ostenf. differed significantly in a few morphological variables, but molecularly are a closely related group with several sequences and haplotypes that are nearly identical.

•Conclusions:Overall, the evidence points to the existence of a single species,Deschampsia cespitosa. The occurrence of slightly different morphological types related to specific geographical distributions allows recognition of three additional taxa at the infraspecific level,D. cespitosasubsp.alpina,D. cespitosasubsp.beringensis, andD. brevifolia. All studied taxa showed morphological variation in a gradient, suggesting the existence of phenotypic plasticity.
A Biomechanical Comparison of Patellar Tendon Repair Materials in a Bovine Model
Authors: Flanigan David C. , Bloomfield Michael , Koh Jason
Published: August 2011

We evaluated the biomechanical properties of FiberWire (Arthrex, Inc, Naples, Florida), a new suture material, for both repair and augmentation as compared to standard Ethibond suture (Ethicon, Inc, Somerville, New Jersey), hypothesizing that primary repair and cerclage augmentation with the new suture material would have similar biomechanical properties as a standard repair with wire augmentation.

Forty-five fresh bovine knees were placed in 3 groups of equal size: (1) #5 Ethibond tendon repair plus 18-gauge wire augmentation; (2) #5 FiberWire repair plus #5 FiberWire augmentation; and (3) #5 Ethibond repair plus #5 FiberWire augmentation. A straight static pullout test was performed, randomly alternating between the different groups. Gap formation was measured at the center of the repair by a metric ruler, with the examiner blinded to the developing force-tension readout. For each millimeter of gap formation (1–10 mm), the force on the repair was recorded, as well as the force at the ultimate failure of the repair, designated by breakage of any repair material. Analysis showed no significant difference between the standard Ethibond/wire repair and the FiberWire/FiberWire repair. The Ethibond/FiberWire repair was shown to be significantly weaker than the other 2 groups. Ultimate failure data indicated that the Ethibond/wire repair was significantly stronger than both other groups. No significant differences were found between the FiberWire/FiberWire repair and the Ethibond/FiberWire repair. Newer, stronger suture material for both primary repair and augmentation may provide equivalent biomechanical strength at clinically significant levels.
Myopic LASIK and LASEK in Patients With Preoperative Mean Central Keratometry ≥47.50 D
Authors: Ortega-Usobiaga Julio , Martín-Reyes Clara , Llovet-Osuna Fernando , Beltrán-Sanz Jaime , Caro Manuel , Baviera-Sabater Julio
Published: August 2011

PURPOSE:

To evaluate whether patients who undergo myopic LASIK or laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) with preoperative central keratometry ≥47.50 diopters (D) are at higher risk for developing corneal ectasia postoperatively.

METHODS:

Records of 32 patients (54 eyes) who underwent myopic LASIK or LASEK between May 2002 and July 2005 with preoperative mean central keratometry ≥47.50 D were retrospectively reviewed. Patients eligible for the study were offered free follow-up. Last follow-up was at least 3 years after surgery. All procedures were performed with the Technolas Keracor 217z excimer laser (Bausch & Lomb).

RESULTS:

Twenty-four patients (40 eyes) had LASIK and 8 patients (14 eyes) had LASEK. At last follow-up, no patient had developed ectasia.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study suggests that patients with preoperative central keratometry ≥47.50 D as the only parameter evaluated should not be excluded from corneal refractive surgery due to increased risk of postoperative ectasia. However, when this preoperative finding is accompanied by other topographic abnormalities, treatment options should be carefully evaluated.
Wω2,p -Solvability of the Cauchy–Dirichlet Problem for Nondivergence Parabolic Equations with BMO Coefficients
Authors: Tang Lin
Published: August 2011

In this paper, we establish the regularity of strong solutions to nondivergence parabolic equations with BMO coefficients in nondoubling weighted spaces.
Requirement of Glycosylation of West Nile Virus Envelope Protein for Infection of, but Not Spread within, Culex quinquefasciatus Mosquito Vectors
Authors: Moudy Robin M. , Payne Anne F. , Dodson Brittany L. , Kramer Laura D.
Published: August 2011

Most of sequenced West Nile virus (WNV) genomes encode a single N-linked glycosylation site on their envelope (E) proteins. We previously found that WNV lacking the E protein glycan was severely inhibited in its ability to replicate and spread within two important mosquito vector species, Culex pipiens and Cx. tarsalis. However, recent work with a closely related species, Cx. pipiens pallens, found no association between E protein glycosylation and either replication or dissemination. To examine this finding further, we expanded upon our previous studies to include an additional Culex species, Cx. quinquefasciatus. The non-glycosylated WNV-N154I virus replicated less efficiently in mosquito tissues after intrathoracic inoculation, but there was little difference in replication efficiency in the midgut after peroral infection. Interestingly, although infectivity was inhibited when WNV lacked the E protein glycan, there was little difference in viral spread throughout the mosquito. These data indicate that E protein glycosylation affects WNV–vector interactions in a species-specific manner.
Sequential Reductive Amination‐Hydrogenolysis: A One‐Pot Synthesis of Challenging Chiral Primary Amines
Authors: Nugent Thomas C. , Negru Daniela E. , El‐Shazly Mohamed , Hu Dan , Sadiq Abdul , Bibi Ahtaram , Umar M. Naveed
Published: August 2011

Difficult‐to‐access chiral primary amines were formed in good to high yield and ee using a rare example of a one‐pot synthesis from prochiral ketones (sequential reductive amination‐hydrogenloysis). As a highlight we also demonstrate a one‐pot reductive amination‐hydrogenolysis‐reductive amination (five reactions) of ortho‐methoxyacetophenone resulting in the chiral diamine 1‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)ethyl‐(2‐pyridylmethyl)‐amine (4) (58% overall yield, >99% ee), a new organocatalyst for aqueous enantioselective aldol reactions.
Clinical Syndromes, Personality Disorders, and Neurocognitive Differences in Male and Female Inmates
Authors: Coolidge Frederick L. , Marle Peter D. , Van Horn Stephanie A. , Segal Daniel L.
Published: August 2011

This study examined clinical syndromes, personality disorders, and neurocognitive problems in adult male (n = 523) and female inmates (n = 523) and a sample of unincarcerated adult women (n = 523). Inmates were administered the Coolidge Correctional Inventory (CCI), and the unincarcerated sample was given an identical test, the Coolidge Axis II Inventory. Although there were significant differences between the two inmate groups on a majority of the 32 CCI scales, only two scales achieved a medium effect size. The two inmate groups were found to be highly similar in a comparison of ranked personality disorder prevalence rates. Consistent with previous literature, male inmates had a significantly higher prevalence of antisocial personality disorder than female inmates (24% vs. 18%). Female inmates had double the prevalence of male inmates on the borderline and histrionic personality disorder scales. Female inmates also reported significantly more general neuropsychological dysfunction, specifically memory problems and neurosomatic symptoms, than male inmates. Female inmates also reported significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, symptoms of schizophrenia, post‐traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and depersonalization than male inmates. Overall, the findings support previous research of high levels of psychological and neuropsychological problems in inmates, regardless of gender, and reinforces the need for comprehensive mental health screening of offender populations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
α‐Sulfonyl Succinimides: Versatile Sulfinate Donors in Fe‐Catalyzed, Salt‐Free, Neutral Allylic Substitution
Authors: Jegelka Markus , Plietker Bernd
Published: August 2011

Allyl sulfones are versatile intermediates in organic chemistry. The presence of two distinct functional groups sets the stage for a plethora of subsequent transformations. However, despite these advantages the preparation of regioisomerically enriched sulfones is not easy. The use of sulfinate salts as nucleophiles in substitutions is frequently accompanied by side reactions such as π‐bond migration, β‐elimination, and so on. Herein we present a preparatively simple way to synthesize a variety of different aryl or alkyl allyl sulfones starting from readily accessible allylic carbonates. By employing aryl or alkyl α‐sulfonyl succinimides as sulfinate synthons, mild and regioselective ipso substitution of diverse allylic carbonates was realized.
Synthesis of Isoreticular Zinc(II)‐Phosphonocarboxylate Frameworks and Their Application in the Friedel–Crafts Benzylation Reaction
Authors: Deng Mingli , Ling Yun , Xia Bing , Chen Zhenxia , Zhou Yaming , Liu Xiaofeng , Yue Bin , He Heyong
Published: August 2011

Three isoreticular zinc(II)‐phosphonocarboxylate frameworks, namely {[Zn3(pbdc)2]⋅2 H3O}n (ZnPC‐2), {[Zn3(pbdc)2]⋅Hpd⋅H3O⋅4 H2O}n (Hpd@ZnPC‐2) and {[Co1.5Zn1.5(pbdc)2]⋅2 H3O}n (CoZnPC‐2) (H4pbdc=5‐phosphonobenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylic acid, pd=pyrrolidine), were solvothermally synthesized. ZnPC‐2 has a 3D structure based on trinuclear ZnII clusters (Zn3‐SBU) showing 3D interconnected channels. Hpd@ZnPC‐2 contains an isoreticular framework of ZnPC‐2 with small channels blocked by Hpd molecules. In CoZnPC‐2, ZnII ions in ZnPC‐2 are partially substituted by CoII ions. The Friedel–Crafts benzylation reactions were carried out over these isoreticular porous materials. The catalytic results reveal that ZnPC‐2 is an excellent heterogeneous Lewis acid catalyst with a high selectivity (>90 %) towards less bulky para‐oriented products. The catalytic reaction has been proved to occur inside the pore of ZnPC‐2, and the immobilized Zn3‐SBUs are the active sites.
ChemInform Abstract: Production and Quality Assurance of Solid Recovered Fuels Using Mechanical—Biological Treatment (MBT) of Waste: A Comprehensive Assessment
Authors: Velis C. A. , Longhurst P. J. , Drew G. H. , Smith R. , Pollard S. J. T.
Published: August 2011

Review: 248 refs.
Tissue‐specific alterations of methyl group metabolism with DNA hypermethylation in the Zucker (type 2) diabetic fatty rat
Authors: Williams Kelly T. , Schalinske Kevin L.
Published: August 2011

BackgroundAltered methyl group and homocysteine metabolism were tissue‐specific, persistent, and preceded hepatic DNA hypomethylation in type 1 diabetic rats. Similar metabolic perturbations have been shown in the Zucker (type 2) diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat in the pre‐diabetic and early diabetic stages, but tissue specificity and potential impact on epigenetic marks are unknown, particularly during pathogenesis.

Methods ZDF (fa/fa) and lean (+/?) control rats were killed at 12 and 21 weeks of age, representing early and advanced diabetic conditions. Blood and tissues were analysed with respect to methyl group and homocysteine metabolism, including DNA methylation.

Results At 12 weeks, hepatic glycine N‐methyltransferase (GNMT), methionine synthase, and cystathionine β‐synthase (CBS) activity and/or abundance were increased in ZDF rats. At 21 weeks, GNMT activity was increased in liver and kidney; however, only hepatic CBS protein abundance (12 weeks) and betaine‐homocysteine S‐methyltransferase mRNA expression (21 weeks) were significantly elevated (78 and 100%, respectively). Hepatic phosphatidylethanolamine N‐methyltransferase expression was also elevated in the ZDF rat. Homocysteine concentrations were decreased in plasma and kidney, but not in liver, at 12 and 21 weeks. In contrast to hepatic DNA hypomethylation in the type 1 diabetic rat, genomic DNA was hypermethylated at 12 and 21 weeks in the liver of ZDF rats, concomitant with an increase in DNA methyltransferase 1 expression at 21 weeks.

ConclusionsThe pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in the ZDF rat was associated with tissue and disease stage‐specific aberrations of methyl group and homocysteine metabolism, with persistent hepatic global DNA hypermethylation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
First‐trimester maternal vitamin D status and risk for gestational diabetes (GDM) a nested case‐control study
Authors: Baker Arthur M. , Haeri Sina , Camargo Carlos A. , Stuebe Alison M. , Boggess Kim A.
Published: August 2011

Background

Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to impaired glucose metabolism. There are sparse data regarding vitamin D and the development of gestational diabetes (GDM). The objective of this study was to assess if first‐trimester vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent in women later diagnosed with GDM compared with women with uncomplicated pregnancies.

Methods

We conducted a nested case‐control study of pregnant women who had previously given blood for routine genetic multiple marker screening and subsequently delivered at a tertiary hospital between November 2004 and July 2009. From an overall cohort of 4225 women, 60 cases of GDM were matched by race/ethnicity with 120 women delivering at term (≥37 weeks) with uncomplicated pregnancies. Banked maternal serum was used to measure maternal 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D].

Results

The prevalence of first‐trimester maternal vitamin D deficiency (defined as 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L) was comparable among women with GDM compared with controls (5/60 vs 8/120, p = 0.90). The median 25(OH)D level for all subjects was 89 nmol/L (interquartile range, 73–106 nmol/L). Seventy three percent (117/160) of the cohort had 25(OH)D levels ≥75 nmol/L.

Conclusions

In a cohort of pregnant women with mostly sufficient levels of serum 25(OH)D, vitamin D deficiency was not associated with GDM. Further studies are warranted with larger cohorts, especially in populations with lower levels of vitamin D. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recent Exploitation of Luminescent Rhenium(I) Tricarbonyl Polypyridine Complexes as Biomolecular and Cellular Probes (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 24/2011)
Authors: Lo Kenneth Kam‐Wing , Zhang Kenneth Yin , Li Steve Po‐Yam
Published: August 2011

The cover picture shows the numerous opportunities luminescent rhenium(I) tricarbonyl polypyridine complexes offer regarding the development of probes for biological applications. Since the spectroscopic and luminescence properties of rhenium(I) tricarbonyl polypyridine complexes were reported in the 1970s, a number of sensors and probes have been derived from these complexes. K. K.‐W. Lo et al. describe in their Microreview on p. 3551 ff the fundamental emission characteristics of these complexes and explain why they hold promise for use as luminescent sensors. Additionally, the recent design of rhenium(I) tricarbonyl polypyridine complexes as biomolecular and cellular probes is summarized. Emphasis is placed on the structure–property relationships, bioconjugation, biomolecular binding, cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and bioimaging studies of these complexes. Mr. Michael Wai‐Lun Chiang is acknowledged for the cover picture design.
Kriging‐based optimization applied to flow control
Authors: Duvigneau R. , Chandrashekar P.
Published: August 2011

The automatic optimization of flow control devices is a delicate issue because of the drastic computational time related to unsteady high‐fidelity flow analyses and the possible multimodality of the objective function. Thus, we experiment in this article the use of kriging‐based algorithms to optimize flow control parameters because these methods have shown their efficiency for global optimization at moderate cost. Navier–Stokes simulations, carried out for different control parameters, are used to build iteratively a kriging model. At each step, a statistical analysis is performed to enrich the model with new simulation results by exploring the most promising areas, until optimal flow control parameters are found. This approach is validated and demonstrated on two problems, including comparisons with similar studies: the control of the flow around an oscillatory rotating cylinder and the reduction of the intensity of a shock wave for a transonic airfoil by adding a bump to the airfoil profile. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The stream reach concept and the macro‐scale study of riverine agriculture in arid and semiarid environments
Authors: Nials Fred L. , Gregory David A. , Hill J. Brett
Published: August 2011

Maize agriculture appears to have been introduced into the semiarid southern part of the North American Southwest ca. 2200–2000 B.C., at a time when valley bottoms were aggrading. Although small‐scale, high‐risk agriculture might have been practiced in many landscape positions, valley‐bottom locations having particular geomorphic and/or hydrologic conditions would have provided the places most risk‐free for farming. These places, associated with what are here called reach boundaries, have conditions that cause elevated water tables or enhance stream discharge, and have floodplain areas suitable for farming. Reach boundaries are easily identified, are relatively predictable in location and occurrence, and are early settled and/or long occupied. Deposition has been the dominant process in most valley bottoms in the southern Southwest for the last ca. 6000 years. Many streams across the region, however, experienced approximately synchronous periods of erosion when deeply incised channels (arroyos) formed in valley bottoms. Each of these periods of erosion, except for that which began in the late 1800s, was followed by a longer period of arroyo‐filling and floodplain aggradation, completing a so‐called alluvial cycle. Valley‐bottom conditions related to alluvial cycles would have greatly influenced the location, water availability, water management technology, and yield of agricultural ventures. Here we identify more than 280 reach boundaries in parts of the middle and upper Gila River and Mimbres River watersheds in Arizona and New Mexico. Spatial analysis shows a strong 4000‐year‐long correspondence between reach boundaries and agricultural sites where data are available. Identification and characterization of these locations may prove useful for locating yet unknown, deeply buried early agricultural sites (ca. 2200 B.C.–A.D. 200), in addition to providing explanations for prehistoric settlement patterns through time. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nasopharyngectomy for locally advanced recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Exploring the limits
Authors: Chan Jimmy Yu Wai , Chow Velda Ling Yu , Tsang Raymond , Wei William I.
Published: August 2011

Background

The purpose of this study was to present the outcome of nasopharyngectomy for locally advanced recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

Between 2000 and 2010, patients with locally advanced recurrent NPC were recruited. Surgical outcomes were analyzed retrospectively.

Results

Among the 22 patients recruited, all had extended resections via the maxillary swing approach, resulting in exposure of the petrosal part of the internal carotid artery (ICA). One patient required craniofacial approach for tumor removal. The curative resection rate was 81.8%. Free flap reconstruction was performed in all cases. The mean follow‐up period was 38.8 months. All patients survived. Although 1 patient developed local and systemic tumor recurrence, the rest of the patients remained disease free. There was no carotid blowout or osteoradionecrosis of the skull base.

Conclusion

Curative resections can be achieved for locally advanced recurrent NPC with good outcome. Microvascular free flap reconstruction is crucial to prevent carotid artery blowout and osteoradionecrosis of the skull base. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012
Variable disease severity associated with a paget's disease predisposition gene
Authors: Leach Robin J. , Singer Frederick R. , Cody Jannine D. , Roodman G. David
Published: August 2011

We have recently identified a region on the long arm of chromosome 18 that carries a predisposition gene for Paget's disease using linkage analysis. This region was explored because of earlier studies demonstrating the presence of a gene for another bone disorder, familial expansile osteolysis (FEO) within this region. FEO has many similarities to Paget's disease including osteoclast abnormalities and viral-like nuclear inclusions. Therefore, it was proposed that FEO and Paget's disease are disorders resulting from mutations at the same locus. For our linkage study, we utilized a large kindred with a high incidence of Paget's disease. The propositus in this family had polyostotic disease symptoms beginning at age 31. During the process of characterizing this family, four other family members were diagnosed with Paget's disease. One of the proband's siblings was asymptomatic but had high normal serum alkaline phosphatase levels; Paget's disease was identified only after bone scanning (at age 50). This implies that the predisposition gene does not consistently cause severe disease and raises a question concerning the mechanism of predisposition: Does the predisposition gene affect the age of onset and/or the severity of disease? To further explore this question, two individuals from this kindred, under age 30 and carrying the affected haplotype, were evaluated for early onset Paget's disease. No evidence of disease was observed after thorough evaluation. This implies that the age of onset is highly variable for this locus, indicating variable expression of disease in individuals carrying the same mutation.
Biochemical markers of bone turnover in paget's disease of bone
Authors: Delmas P.D.
Published: August 2011

Although the measurement of total alkaline phosphatase activity in serum is a valid index to assess the activity of Paget's disease of bone and to monitor treatment efficacy, this marker may lack sensitivity in some cases. Among the various markers of bone formation and resorption that have been developed, serum bone specific alkaline phosphatase and procollagen I N-terminal peptide (PINP) for formation, urinary N-telopeptide (NTX) and α-C-telopeptide (CTX) for bone resorption have emerged as the most sensitive ones, and may be useful in the management of pagetic patients. We have recently shown that the β-isomerization of type I collagen CTX is impaired in pagetic bone matrix characterized by the existence of woven bone, as compared to normal lamellar bone matrix. This abnormality results in a preferential urinary excretion of nonisomerized (α-CTX) over β-isomerized (β-CTX) that can be measured with specific immunoassays. Patients with active Paget's disease of bone are characterized by an abnormally high α/β-CTX ratio which goes down to the normal range after bisphosphonate therapy, probably reflecting the lamellar structure of newly formed bone matrix in pagetic skeletal sites after treatment.
Effect of bioactive compounds in lactobacilli‐fermented soy skim milk on femoral bone microstructure of aging mice
Authors: Chiang Shen‐Shih , Liao Jiunn‐Wang , Pan Tzu‐Ming
Published: August 2011

BACKGROUND: Soy skim milks fermented with lactobacilli contain various phytochemicals such as isoflavones and peptides. We used lactobacilli‐fermented soy skim milk as a nutritional supplement for 6 weeks to investigate its anti‐osteoporosis effect in 13‐month‐old female BALB/c aging mice. Freeze‐dried powder of soy skim milk fermented by Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 (NTU 101F) and L. plantarum NTU 102 (NTU 102F) were used in this study.

RESULTS: The trabecular bone volumes in mice fed NTU 101F and NTU 102F increased by a factor of 3.48 and 2.16 compared with control values, respectively. The network density and thickness of distal metaphyseal trabecular bone in mice fed with NTU 101F and NTU 102F milks were significantly denser than that of control mice; moreover, the NTU 101F group had the largest resting area ratio and smallest resorbing area compared with other groups. The beneficial effect may due to isoflavones as well as higher amounts of polysaccharide and peptide in NTU 101F milk.

CONCLUSION: The results suggest that dietary supplement with fermented soy skim milk can attenuate aging‐induced bone loss in BALB/c mice and possibly lower the risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis in aging. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Multiple instrument translation for use with South Asian Indian immigrants
Authors: Daniel Manju , Miller Arlene , Wilbur JoEllen
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to describe translation of five measures (physical activity, acculturation, discrimination, self‐efficacy, and depression) from English into Hindi using the committee translation method, focus group, and think‐aloud interviews. Two South Asian Indian (SAI) immigrant bilingual translators and a moderator reached consensus on 93 of 102 items, using the committee method. Discrepancy in nine items was resolved with a focus group conducted with five bilingual SAI immigrants. Ten other bilingual SAI immigrants participated in think‐aloud interviews to assess understanding and interpretation of the questions. More than 10 additional changes were made following the think‐aloud interviews. Sequential use of multiple translation techniques improved translation with culturally acceptable language, thereby maintaining equivalence with original versions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 34:419–432, 2011
Differentially expressed miRNAs in cytogenetic and molecular subtypes of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Danen‐van Oorschot Astrid A. , Kuipers Jenny E. , Arentsen‐Peters Susan , Schotte Diana , de Haas Valerie , Trka Jan , Baruchel André , Reinhardt Dirk , Pieters Rob , Michel Zwaan C. , van den Heuvel‐Eibrink Marry M.
Published: August 2011

Background

miRNAs regulate gene expression, and thus play an important role in critical cellular processes. Aberrant miRNA expression patterns have been found in various types of cancer. So far, information about the expression of miRNAs in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia is limited.

Procedure

We studied expression of miR‐29a, ‐155, ‐196a, and ‐196b by stem‐loop based RT‐qPCR in 82 pediatric acute myeloid leukemia patients selected to represent relevant cytogenetic and molecular subgroups.

Results

High miR‐196a and ‐b expression was observed in patients carrying MLL gene rearrangements (P < 0.001), NPM1 mutations (P < 0.001), or FLT3‐ITD in a cytogenetically normal background (P ≤ 0.02), compared to all other patients. In contrast, CEBPA mutated cases had a low expression of miR‐196a and ‐b (P ≤ 0.001). Expression of miR‐196a and ‐b was correlated with expression of neighboring HOXA and HOXB genes (Spearman's r = 0.46–0.82, P < 0.01). Expression of miR‐155 was not related to cytogenetic features but high expression of miR‐155 was observed in FLT3‐ITD (P = 0.001) and NPM1‐mutated cases (P = 0.04). Lower miR‐29a expression was mainly observed in MLL‐rearranged pediatric acute myeloid leukemia, specifically in cases carrying t(10;11) (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

We show aberrant expression of specific miRNAs in clinically relevant cytogenetic and molecular subgroups of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia, suggesting a role for these miRNAs in the underlying biology in these specific subgroups. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 58: 715–721. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Seismic analysis of the hung curtain wall structure in Shanghai Center Tower
Authors: Yang Yanzhi , Wang Puyong , Wang Jian , Jin Xianlong
Published: August 2011

Shanghai Center Tower, which is 632 m in height with 126 stories, will be the tallest building in China at the end of 2014. The extreme height of the building combined with the exterior shrink‐constructed and torsion‐constructed curtain wall imposes a great challenge on the seismic design of the curtain wall. This paper establishes a finite element (FE) model of the real‐scale building by considering the combination of the curtain wall and the main structure. The lower order modes of the building's vibration have been predicted, and good agreement has been observed between the numerical and experimental data, which validates the FE model of the building. Seismic response of the curtain wall was then investigated under three earthquake levels, including frequent, moderate and severe earthquakes. The acceleration magnification factors, the inter‐story drift ratios and the interior forces of the curtain wall met the requirements of the Chinese Design Code, which indicates that the structure is a good solution to withstand earthquakes. The present study provides an important database for the seismic design of curtain wall structure in Shanghai Center Tower, and it can be used as a seismic design reference for similar projects. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Validity evidence for the security scale as a measure of perceived attachment security in adolescence
Authors: Van Ryzin Mark J. , Leve Leslie D.
Published: August 2011

In this study, the validity of a self‐report measure of children's perceived attachment security (the Kerns Security Scale) was tested using adolescents. With regards to predictive validity, the Security Scale was significantly associated with (1) observed mother‐adolescent interactions during conflict and (2) parent‐ and teacher‐rated social competence. With regards to convergent validity, the Security Scale was significantly associated with all subscales of the Adult Attachment Scale (i.e., Depend, Anxiety, and Close) as measured 3 years later. Further, these links were found even after controlling for mother‐child relationship quality as assessed by the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA), and chi‐square difference tests indicated that the Security Scale was generally a stronger predictor as compared to the IPPA. These results suggest that the Security Scale can be used to assess perceived attachment security across both childhood and adolescence, and thus could contribute significantly to developmental research during this period.
Geological perspectives on the Monte Verde archeological site in Chile and pre-Clovis coastal migration in the Americas
Authors: Dickinson William R.
Published: August 2011

Discovery of the Monte Verde archeological site in Chile overturned the previous consensus that the first Americans into the New World from Asia were the makers of Clovis projectile points, and rejuvenated the hypothesis that migration through the Americas occurred largely on portions of the Pacific continental shelf exposed by Pleistocene drawdown in eustatic sea level. The postulate of travel along a paleoshoreline now hidden underwater is an attractive means to posit pre-Clovis human movement southward from Beringia to Chile without leaving traces of migration onshore. Geologic analyses of the Pleistocene paleoenvironment at Monte Verde and of the morphology of the potential migration route along the continental shelf raise questions that have not been fully addressed. The periglacial setting of Monte Verde may call its antiquity into question and the narrowness of the Pacific continental shelf of the Americas makes it unlikely that people could travel the length of the Americas without impacting ground still onshore and no farther inland than Monte Verde itself. Geological perspectives on Monte Verde and coastal migration jointly suggest that the Clovis-first hypothesis for peopling the New World may have been abandoned prematurely.
Spatio-temporal variations and age effect on Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in seals from the Canadian Arctic
Authors: SIMON A. , CHAMBELLANT M. , WARD B. J. , SIMARD M. , PROULX J. F. , LEVESQUE B. , BIGRAS-POULIN M. , ROUSSEAU A. N. , OGDEN N. H.
Published: August 2011

Toxoplasmosis is a significant public health threat for Inuit in the Canadian Arctic. This study aimed to investigate arctic seals as a possible food-borne source of infection. Blood samples collected from 828 seals in 7 Canadian Arctic communities from 1999 to 2006 were tested for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using a direct agglutination test. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect T. gondii DNA in tissues of a subsample of seals. Associations between seal age, sex, species, diet, community and year of capture, and serological test results were investigated by logistic regression. Overall seroprevalence was 10·4% (86/828). All tissues tested were negative by PCR. In ringed seals, seroprevalence was significantly higher in juveniles than in adults (odds ratio=2·44). Overall, seroprevalence varied amongst communities (P=0·0119) and by capture year (P=0·0001). Our study supports the hypothesis that consumption of raw seal meat is a significant source of infection for Inuit. This work raises many questions about the mechanism of transfer of this terrestrial parasite to the marine environment, the preponderance of infection in younger animals and the natural course of infection in seals. Further studies to address these questions are essential to fully understand the health risks for Inuit communities.
Reservoir operating rules to sustain environmental flows in regulated rivers
Authors: Yin Xin‐An , Yang Zhi‐Feng , Petts Geoffrey E.
Published: August 2011

Sustainable water resource developments require reservoir operations that provide environmental flows (e‐flows) to support the downstream riverine ecosystem by minimizing the degree of hydrologic alteration under given water supply constraints. The effective management of e‐flows below dams was explored by combining three e‐flow management strategies for “normal,” wet, and dry year situations, delivering a range of e‐flow regimes for different reservoir storage levels and different natural flow (reservoir inflow) conditions. We combined these into a single combined e‐flow strategy and coupled this with reservoir operating rule curves to form a reservoir operating approach that optimized e‐flow provision under given water supply constraints. We also explored constraints imposed by the dam's valve release capacity. To investigate the capability of the approach to minimize the degree of hydrologic alteration downstream from a reservoir, we presented a case study of the Tanghe Reservoir in China's Tang river basin. The approach triggered a preferred e‐flow strategy when the reservoir water level was high to better maintain the ecological functions within downstream riverine ecosystems, a basic e‐flow strategy when the water level was low to reduce the water supply risk, and an acceptable strategy under intermediate conditions. The approach effectively balanced human and ecosystem needs and demonstrated the minimum levels of flow regime alteration achievable within the regulated river.
Moored observations of episodic abyssal flow and mixing at station ALOHA
Authors: Alford M. H. , Lukas Roger , Howe Bruce , Pickering Andy , Santiago‐Mandujano Fernando
Published: August 2011

Moored measurements of abyssal velocity and temperature are presented with a focus on episodic cold overflow events first observed by Lukas et al. (2001) in the Hawaii Ocean Time‐series (HOT), a 23‐year‐long time series of ≈ monthly CTD profiles at station ALOHA (22.75°N, 158°W). Three major cold events were observed in our 2.5‐year record, of which we present one in detail. The event appeared in two pulses spaced by about two weeks, wherein potential temperature anomaly was <−0.015°C over the bottom 600 m. Flow was about 10 cms−1 to the southwest, confirming earlier interpretations of the events as overflows from the Maui deep to the east. Between the two pulses, flow veered to the northwest, possibly associated with seiching. Speed decreased rapidly below the sill depth (≈4625) m, suggesting sheltering by the basin walls. The associated shear, even smoothed over 200 m and not including internal waves, was nearly unstable to Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability. During this period, a large mixed region was observed wherein the lower 240 m was homogenized, remaining so for 14 hours (1.2 buoyancy periods). From Thorpe scale analysis, the implied diffusivity of the event was (0.5–4.5) × 10−1m2s−1. No other overturning events greater than 50 m high were observed in the record, suggesting that abyssal mixing is strongly intermittent. We suggest that such intermittency in abyssal mixing and flow is likely the rule rather than the exception, calling for more highly temporally resolved observations.
Two-dimensional orientation control of organic semiconducting amorphous films by mechanical brushing
Authors: Arai Toshiharu , Goushi Kenichi , Nomura Hiroko , Edura Tomohiko , Adachi Chihaya
Published: August 2011

We demonstrate that horizontally oriented organic semiconducting molecules in amorphous films can be oriented uniaxially by mechanical brushing. The absorption of polarized light in the direction parallel to the brushing direction was higher than the absorption in the perpendicular direction. Thus, simultaneous uniaxial and in-plane molecular orientation in amorphous films was realized by brushing. In addition, we demonstrate a polarized electroluminescence from the films treated by mechanical brushing.
Two-color interferometry and shadowgraphy characterization of an orthogonal double-pulse laser ablation
Authors: Sanginés R. , Sobral H.
Published: August 2011

Orthogonal double pulse laser ablation on aluminum target at atmospheric pressure was studied by time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy, shadowgraphy and two-color interferometry. Studies were realized as a function of the distance from the first pulse plasma induced in air to the sample surface. The evolution of the electron and neutral particles densities were determined by two-color interferometry. Line intensification mechanisms are discussed based on the interferometry results and the plumes interaction dynamics. It was found that the sample heating by the preablation pulse could contribute to the observed emission enhancement.
Comparison of periodic light-trapping structures in thin crystalline silicon solar cells
Authors: Gjessing Jo , Sudbø Aasmund S. , Marstein Erik S.
Published: August 2011

Material costs may be reduced and electrical properties improved by utilizing thinner solar cells. Light trapping makes it possible to reduce wafer thickness without compromising optical absorption in a silicon solar cell. In this work we present a comprehensive comparison of the light-trapping properties of various bi-periodic structures with a square lattice. The geometries that we have investigated are cylinders, cones, inverted pyramids, dimples (half-spheres), and three more advanced structures, which we have called the roof mosaic, rose, and zigzag structure. Through simulations performed with a 20 μm thick Si cell, we have optimized the geometry of each structure for light trapping, investigated the performance at oblique angles of incidence, and computed efficiencies for the different diffraction orders for the optimized structures. We find that the lattice periods that give optimal light trapping are comparable for all structures, but that the light-trapping ability varies considerably between the structures. A far-field analysis reveals that the superior light-trapping structures exhibit a lower symmetry in their diffraction patterns. The best result is obtained for the zigzag structure with a simulated photo-generated current Jph of 37.3 mA/cm2, a light-trapping efficiency comparable to that of Lambertian light-trapping.
Electrical properties and non-volatile memory effect of the [Fe(HB(pz)3)2] spin crossover complex integrated in a microelectrode device
Authors: Mahfoud Tarik , Molnár Gábor , Cobo Saioa , Salmon Lionel , Thibault Christophe , Vieu Christophe , Demont Philippe , Bousseksou Azzedine
Published: August 2011

We report on the deposition of thin films of the [Fe(HB(pz)3)2] (pz = pyrazolyl) molecular spin crossover complex by thermal evaporation. By means of impedance measurements and Raman microspectroscopy, we show that the films maintain the structure and properties of the bulk material. The conductivity of the films decreases by ca. 2 orders of magnitude when the freshly deposited compound goes through a first (irreversible) thermal phase change above ca. 380 K. This property can be exploited as a non-volatile (read-only) memory effect.
The methods to detect vacuum polarization by evanescent modes
Authors: Li Wei , Chen Jun , Nouet Gerard , Chen Liang-yao , Jiang Xunya
Published: August 2011

We propose the evanescent-mode-sensing methods to probe the quantum electrodynamics (QED) vacuum polarization. From our methods, high-sensitivity can be achieved even though the external field is much smaller than the Schwinger critical field and may be realizable in contemporary experimental conditions. The methods are based on the effect of phase change and time delay of evanescent wave which is transmitted in QED vacuum.
Intelligent control of hybrid photo voltaic/fuel cell/energy storage power generation system
Authors: Hajizadeh Amin , Tesfahunegn Samson G. , Undeland Tore M.
Published: August 2011

This paper proposes a control strategy for hybrid power generation systems including fuel cell and photovoltaic as the main energy sources and battery energy storage as the auxiliary power source. The overall configuration of the hybrid power generation system is given, dynamic models for the fuel cell, photovoltaic and battery bank and its power electronic interfacing are briefly described, and controller design methodologies for the power conditioning units and power sources to control the power flow from the hybrid power plant to the utility grid are presented. Then, a control strategy is presented for designing the controllers of power sources, DC/DC and DC/AC converters, to manage the power flow both on the DC and AC sides. Simulation results are given to show the overall system performance including load-following and power management of the system.