bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gettering in silicon photovoltaics: current state and future perspectives
Authors: Seibt M. , Sattler A. , Rudolf C. , Voß O. , Kveder V. , Schröter W.
Published: March 2006

This paper summarizes current understanding and predictive simulations of gettering processes predominantly applied in silicon photovoltaics. Special emphasis is put on various processes limiting gettering efficiency and kinetics, i.e. the mobility of interstitially dissolved metal species, the formation of the gettering layer, and the effect of immobile metal species. The latter are substitutional metal species, precipitates, complexes with defects related to non‐metallic impurities, and finally the interaction with extended defects, in particular dislocations. Finally, alternative annealing schemes involving high‐temperature rapid thermal processing are explored by simulations. It is shown that a processing window exists for a two‐step process efficient for the removal of precipitates even under the constraints of a fixed thermal budget for phosphorus diffusion. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Special Issue: The Silicon Age
Authors: Kittler Martin , Yang Deren
Published: March 2006

The present issue of physica status solidi (a) contains a collection of articles about different aspects of current silicon research and applications, ranging from basic investigations of mono‐ and polycrystalline silicon materials and nanostructures to technologies for device fabrication in silicon photovoltaics, micro‐ and optoelectronics. Guest Editors are Martin Kittler and Deren Yang, the organizers of a recent Sino–German symposium held in Cottbus, Germany, 19–24 September 2005.

The cover picture shows four examples of “The Silicon Age”: the structure of a thin film solar cell on low‐cost SSP (silicon sheet from powder) substrate (upper left image) [1], a high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy image and diffraction pattern of a single‐crystalline Si nanowire (upper right) [2], a carrier lifetime map from an n‐type multicrystalline silicon wafer after gettering by a grain boundary (lower left) [3], and a scanning acoustic microscopy image of a bonded 150 mm diameter wafer pair (upper right) [4].
II–VI compounds – Polish perspective
Authors: Gałązka Robert R.
Published: March 2006

The purpose of this lecture is to review the main achievements of the investigations of II–VI compounds and point out Polish contributions to this part of solid state physics. Because the Polish physicists were particularly active in the area of narrow gap semiconductors as well as in the area of semimagnetic semiconductors producing several pioneering papers in this field, special attention will be paid to the narrow gap mercury‐based semiconductor alloys and to the II–VI semimagnetic semiconductors, both narrow and wide gap. Some problems connected with material processing, the most influential experimental results as well as theoretical ideas will be presented. Because the history of II–VI compounds lasts for many decades (also in Poland), only selected achievements will be reviewed. The lecture will concentrate mostly on the properties of bulk crystals; low‐dimensional structures and other current and hot problems of II–VI compounds will be only mentioned. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Magnetization dynamics in (Cd,Mn)Te quantum wells
Authors: Goryca M. , Ferrand D. , Kossacki P. , Nawrocki M. , Pacuski W. , Maślana W. , Tatarenko S. , Cibert J.
Published: March 2006

The relaxation of the magnetization change induced by a short pulse of magnetic field in p‐doped (Cd,Mn)Te quantum wells is determined from the giant Zeeman shift of the photoluminescence line. The characteristic times change by three orders of magnitude upon application of a static magnetic field. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Purcell effect on CdSe/ZnSe quantum dots in pillar microcavities
Authors: André R. , Robin I. C. , Balocchi A. , Carayon S. , Moehl S. , Gérard J. M.
Published: March 2006

The Purcell effect leads to an enhancement of the spontaneous emission in a given cavity mode for an emitter located in a small volume cavity. This effect is well explained as a consequence of Fermi's golden rule in a particular photonic environment. In this paper we show an enhancement by a factor of up to 3.4 of the spontaneous emission of CdSe/ZnSe quantum dots located in a pillar microcavity. The sample consists of a λ /2‐ZnSe cavity sandwiched between SiO2/TiO2 Bragg mirrors and is etched to provide lateral optical confinement. The present study is based on a comparison between time‐resolved photoluminescence measurements for dots inserted in a pillar cavity or in a bulk ZnSe layer. The photoluminescence decay shortening is quantitatively interpreted by calculating the theoretical maximum Purcell factor expected for different cavity modes in resonance with quantum dots. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Direct and exchange Coulomb energies in CdSe/ZnSe quantum dots
Authors: Graham T. C. M. , Curran A. , Tang X. , Morrod J. K. , Prior K. A. , Warburton R. J.
Published: March 2006

We have determined the direct and exchange electron–electron and electron–hole Coulomb energies in CdSe/ZnSe quantum dots. The experiments are based on single dot photoluminescence at low temperature. By controlling the charging with a vertical transistor structure and by applying a symmetry‐breaking magnetic field, we show how we can determine all the Coulomb energies. The direct Coulomb energies are responsible for large, ∼20 meV, red‐shifts of the emission on charging. The exchange Coulomb energies lead to a very pronounced fine structure splitting, up to 2.6 meV, for the neutral exciton. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
CBE growth of high‐quality ZnO epitaxial layers
Authors: El‐Shaer A. , Bakin A. , Mofor A. C. , Bläsing J. , Krost A. , Stoimenos J. , Pécz B. , Kreye M. , Heuken M. , Waag A.
Published: March 2006

Further improvements on the recently reported novel approach to zinc oxide Chemical Beam Epitaxy (CBE) are presented. Hydrogen peroxide is employed as a very efficient novel oxidant. ZnO layers with a thickness from 100 nm to 600 nm were grown on c‐sapphire using a MgO buffer. PL‐mapping as well as conductivity mapping shows a good uniformity across the 2 inch ZnO‐on‐sapphire epiwafers. The measured surface roughness for the best layers is as low as 0.26 nm. HRXRD measurements of the obtained ZnO layers show excellent quality of the single crystalline ZnO. The FWHM of the HRXRD (0002) rocking curves measured for the 2 inch ZnO‐on‐sapphire wafers is as low as 27 arcsec with a very high lateral homogeneity across the whole wafer. Plane view HRTEM observations reveal the very good quality of the ZnO films. The results indicate that CBE is a suitable technique to fabricate ZnO of very high structural quality, which can eventually be used as an alternative to bulk ZnO substrates. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Long life operations over 5000 hours of BeZnSeTe/MgZnCdSe visible light emitting diodes on InP substrates
Authors: Nomura Ichirou , Nakai Yuki , Hayami Koichi , Saitoh Takumi , Kishino Katsumi
Published: March 2006

Aging characteristics of BeZnSeTe yellow light emitting diodes (LEDs) fabricated on InP substrates by molecular beam epitaxy were investigated under direct current injections at room temperature. It was shown that the decay speed of the light output during the aging was slower than that of conventional ZnCdSe/MgZnSSe LEDs. A long lifetime more than 5000 h and a half lifetime of 5180 h were obtained at a current density of 130 A/cm2. The half lifetimes of the BeZnSeTe LEDs were about three orders of magnitude greater than that of the ZnCdSe/MgZnSSe LEDs. These results proved high reliability of the BeZnSeTe LED. Investigating the aging characteristics of the applied voltage, the injection current, and the emission spectra showed that the output decay was caused by degradation of the active layer of the LEDs. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Picosecond kinetics of magnetization in optically excited (Zn,Mn)Se quantum wells
Authors: Scherbakov A. V. , Akimov A. V. , Yakovlev D. R. , Merkulov I. A. , Bayer M. , Waag A. , Molenkamp L. W.
Published: March 2006

The magnetization kinetics in (Zn,Mn)Se/(Zn,Be)Se quantum wells is studied on a ps‐time scale after pulsed laser excitation. The magnetization induced by an external magnetic field is reduced by up to 30% within about 100 ps due to spin and energy transfer from photocarriers to magnetic Mn ions. A model based on spin‐momentum coupling in the valence band is suggested for explaining this transfer. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Strong heavy‐hole–light‐hole mixing in CdZnSe quantum dots
Authors: Moehl S. , Robin I. C. , Léger Y. , André R. , Besombes L. , Kheng K.
Published: March 2006

The optical studies of negative trions in CdSe quantum dots under magnetic field in Voigt geometry reveal large hole g ‐factors, reaching values as high as the value of electron g ‐factors. This observation is attributed to strong mixing of heavy hole and light hole states induced by an in‐plane asymmetric shape of the quantum dots. The large hole g ‐factors are correlated with the intensity differences between the linearly polarised components of the trion quadruplet under magnetic field. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Gambling: An old school new wave challenge for higher education in the twenty‐first century
Authors: McClellan George S. , Winters Ken C.
Published: March 2006

Gambling is a part of human history, and it is currently enjoying unparalleled popularity around the world. This chapter gives a brief definition and history of gambling, information about the rate of participation by college students, and suggestions for practice and future research.
Listening to their stories: Students' perspectives about campus gambling
Authors: Caswell Jim
Published: March 2006

This chapter explores students' perspectives regarding campus gambling by listening to their gambling‐related experiences and stories. Similarly, the chapter presents the perspective of a senior student affairs officer regarding campus gambling.
Problem and pathological gambling among college students
Authors: Stinchfield Randy , Hanson William E. , Olson Douglas H
Published: March 2006

This chapter examines problem and pathological gambling among college students and reports on prevalence rate, risk and protective factors, prevention and intervention, and recommendations for college student personnel and other university administrators.
Ethical and practical considerations for developing institutional gambling policy
Authors: Laker Jason A.
Published: March 2006

This chapter suggests important questions useful in the process of developing or refining institutional or departmental gambling policies. Ethical, political, and social considerations are discussed and then briefly synthesized into three potential policy applications.
The Gambling Action Team: A cross‐divisional approach to gambling education and intervention
Authors: King Chris , Hardy Thomas W.
Published: March 2006

This chapter relates the experiences of one university in developing and implementing a cross‐divisional proactive program to address campus gambling. Insights and recommendations for similar efforts on other campuses are also shared.
Bioenergetics‐based matrix population modeling enhances life‐cycle toxicity assessment of tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus exposed to arsenic
Authors: Liao Chung‐Min , Chiang Kuo‐Chih , Tsai Jeng‐Wei
Published: March 2006

The objective of this study was to integrate a bioenergetics‐based modeling approach into a population stage structure to enhance life‐cycle toxicity assessments of the effects of waterborne arsenic (As) on the population dynamics of the tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus. The proposed mathematical model links a Leslie matrix population model and a universal ontogenetic growth model embedding the population‐level growth rate and stage‐specific modes of toxic action. We present data analyses of key parameters and distributions and discuss the processes of data capture and analysis and the impact of acute/chronic As toxicity responses on population‐level effects. We employed a three‐parameter Hill equation model to describe the relationship between tilapia whole‐body burden and mortality in order to estimate the probability of stage‐specific vital rate of survival. Using the DEBtox theory, we distinguished three modes of toxic action (MOA): direct effects on growth and indirect effects via maintenance and food consumption on inhibition by arsenic of the growth of a tilapia population. The asymptotic population growth rate decreased from λ = 1.0027 for the control group to λ = 0.9935 for tilapia population exposed to 4 μg mL−1 As, indicating a potential risk of population intrinsic growth rates for tilapia exposed to higher levels of waterborne As. Our results estimated that an As concentration of 1.02 μg mL−1 would cause a 50% reduction in the tilapia population. We found that the interplay between external stressors of waterborne As concentration and internally generated modes of action decreasing feeding in the juvenile stage and increasing the maintenance cost in the adult stage had a pronounced influence on the population stage structure of tilapia. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 21: 154–165, 2006.
Life‐history consequences for Daphnia pulex exposed to pharmaceutical carbamazepine
Authors: Lürling M. , Sargant E. , Roessink I.
Published: March 2006

The effects of the antiepileptic, analgesic drug carbamazepine on the growth, morphology, and life‐history characteristics of Daphnia pulex were examined at nominal concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 200 μg L−1. At 1 μg carbamazepine L−1, Daphnia matured and reproduced slightly earlier than did controls, and at a given body length females produced more offspring than did controls or those receiving other treatments. In combination with a relatively high juvenile somatic growth rate and highest total number of progeny produced per female, carbamazepine at 1 μg L−1 seemed to exert a stimulatory effect. The rates of population growth of the 100 and 200 μg L−1 treatment groups was 9% and 32% lower, respectively, than the rates of growth of the controls and the Daphnia receiving treatments of up to 10 μg carbamazepine L−1. At the highest dose, retardation of juvenile somatic growth resulted in delayed maturity and consequently in a lower rate of population growth. Adult somatic growth, spine length, reproductive output, and size of newborns were similar among treatments. Male offspring were only produced in the third broods, with broods that were 8% and 28% male at 1 and 10 μg L−1, respectively. Neck teeth were never observed in Daphnia. Chronic adverse effects of carbamazepine on nontarget Daphnia were detected at 200 μg carbamazepine L−1, but stimulatory effects might occur at environmentally realistic concentrations. However, additional studies of chronic toxicity investigating various combinations of pharmaceuticals and various environmental stresses, such as food condition, temperature, and kairomones, are needed to fully explore potential long‐term adverse effects and to assess the environmental risk of common pharmaceuticals. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 21: 172–180, 2006.
Endocrine‐disrupting compounds: A review of their challenge to sustainable and safe water supply and water reuse
Authors: Falconer Ian R. , Chapman Heather F. , Moore Michael R. , Ranmuthugala Geetha
Published: March 2006

The relevance of endocrine‐disrupting compounds as potential contaminants of drinking water is reviewed, particularly in the reuse of wastewater. Growing populations and increasing intensification of land and water use for industry and agriculture have increased the need to reclaim wastewater for reuse, including to supplement the drinking water supply. The variety of anthropogenic chemicals that have been identified as potential endocrine disruptors in the environment and the problems arising from their use as human and livestock pharmaceuticals, as agricultural chemicals and in industry are discussed. The potentially adverse impact of these chemicals on human health and the ecology of the natural environment are reviewed. Data for the removal of estrogenic compounds from wastewater treatment are presented, together with the comparative potencies of estrogenic compounds. The relative exposure to estrogens of women on oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, and through food consumption is estimated. A brief overview of some methods available or under development for the assessment of estrogenic activity in environmental samples is provided. The review concludes with a discussion of the directions for further investigation, which include human epidemiology, methodology development, and wastewater monitoring. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 21: 181–191, 2006.
Preliminary Report: Functional MRI of the Brain May Be the Ideal Tool for Evaluating Neuropsychologic and Sleep Complaints of Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Perrier Nancy D. , Coker Laura H. , Rorie Kashemi D. , Burbank Nicole S. , Kirkland Kimberly A. , Passmore Leah V. , Tembreull Terry , Stump David A. , Laurienti Paul J.
Published: March 2006

Background

The incidence, pattern, and severity of sleep disturbance and cognitive dysfunction has not been well characterized for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). There is no agreement on the mechanism of the development or resolution of such symptoms, and in no previous study has cerebral activity been functionally assessed and change documented following surgical cure of patients with PHPT.

Methods

We undertook a prospective analysis to obtain pilot data on 6 patients with PHPT. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), formal neuropsychologic (NP) tests, and health‐related quality of life (HRQL) measures that included sleep assessments were performed on patients before and after parathyroidectomy. Changes in cortical activation under both conflict and neutral conditions (distracting tasks) were recorded.

Results

Functional MRI demonstrated postoperative changes in medial prefrontal cortex activity during cognitive processing of conflict and nonconflict tasks. Further postoperative changes were noted in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex with shifts in activations. In addition to the fMRI findings, the patients demonstrated improvements in sleep and social behavior. They tended to experience less fatigue and their processing speed on cognitive tests improved.

Conclusions

These data support the feasibility and willingness of patients with PHPT to undergo fMRI assessment. Preliminary findings reflected a generalized improvement in processing efficiency postoperatively compared with a patient’s preoperative state, and the HRQL measures showed improved sleep. These findings mirror those expected with sleep dysfunction. Longitudinal assessment with advanced brain imaging technology, neuropsychological (NP), and sleep evaluations is warranted to further explore cognitive, sleep, and HRQL improvement after parathyroidectomy.
Computerized adaptive testing under nonparametric IRT models
Authors: Xu Xueli , Douglas Jeff
Published: March 2006

Nonparametric item response models have been developed as alternatives to the relatively inflexible parametric item response models. An open question is whether it is possible and practical to administer computerized adaptive testing with nonparametric models. This paper explores the possibility of computerized adaptive testing when using nonparametric item response models. A central issue is that the derivatives of item characteristic Curves may not be estimated well, which eliminates the availability of the standard maximum Fisher information criterion. As alternatives, procedures based on Shannon entropy and Kullback–Leibler information are proposed. For a long test, these procedures, which do not require the derivatives of the item characteristic eurves, become equivalent to the maximum Fisher information criterion. A simulation study is conducted to study the behavior of these two procedures, compared with random item selection. The study shows that the procedures based on Shannon entropy and Kullback–Leibler information perform similarly in terms of root mean square error, and perform much better than random item selection. The study also shows that item exposure rates need to be addressed for these methods to be practical.
Psychiatric and hostility factors related to use of anabolic steroids in monozygotic twins
Authors: Pagonis Thomas A. , Angelopoulos Nikiforos V. , Koukoulis George N. , Hadjichristodoulou Christos S. , Toli Paraskevi N.
Published: March 2006

Introduction

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are derived by chemical manipulation of the testosterone molecule. The specified category of drugs produces anabolic, androgenic and psycho-active effects including elevated aggressive, hostile, violent and anti social behavior.

Objective

The objective of this case report observational study was to evaluate the possible psychological consequences of AS use in the twin user of each pair, compared with the non-user twin.

Methodology

We studied two pairs of male monozygotic twins: one pair 24 years old and the other 31 years old, with absolute genome and phenotype similarity. One of the twins of each pair used AAS while the other did not. Both pairs lived in Hellenic provincial towns and followed a common training and nutrition regime. The psychometric instruments used were the Symptoms Check List-90 (SCL-90) and the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire (HDHQ). The psychometric evaluations took place within a time interval of 6 months.

Results

The study found high levels of aggressiveness, hostility, anxiety and paranoid ideation in the twins who used AS. The non-user twins showed no deviation from their initial status.

Conclusion

The use of AAS induced several important psychiatric changes in monozygotic twins which were not present in the twin who did not use AAS.
Panic disorder during pregnancy and postpartum period
Authors: Bandelow Borwin , Sojka Felicita , Broocks Andreas , Hajak Göran , Bleich Stefan , Rüther Eckart
Published: March 2006

Background

– Earlier studies on the influence of pregnancy and postpartum period on the course of panic disorder have been inconsistent. The present study aims to quantify panic manifestations in these periods in large sample of women.

Method

– Panic manifestations, including exacerbations and new manifestations of panic disorder, were assessed retrospectively in a sample of 128 women with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, 93 of whom had had 195 pregnancies.

Results

– Panic manifestations were fewer during pregnancy and more frequent in the postpartum period when compared with the control period. Women who had never been pregnant had significantly more panic manifestations than women with prior pregnancies. Breastfeeding and miscarriages did not have a significant effect. Women with postpartum panic reported more psychosocial stress events during this period.

Conclusions

– Possible reasons for postpartum panic and the protective effects of pregnancy are discussed, including psychosocial or hormonal factors and other neurobiological changes. Postpartum panic coincides with a sudden drop of hormones after delivery.
Prediction of in-patient use in first-admitted patients with psychosis
Authors: Lay Barbara , Lauber Christoph , Rössler Wulf
Published: March 2006

Purpose:

The aim of this study is to examine the utilization of psychiatric services for inpatients with psychosis over a period of five years after first admission, and to identify factors that contribute to intensive service use in terms of cumulative length of in-patient treatment and readmission rate.

Methods:

A cohort of 424 patients with psychotic disorders (out of a sample of 2565 first-admitted patients from a catchment area in Switzerland) was examined by means of register data.

Results:

Patients admitted for psychosis spent the longest time in hospital compared to other diagnoses, but there was considerable within-sample variation, and most patients (60.4%) had only one in-patient episode. Of the total time accumulated in this sample, 50.5% was ‘consumed’ by 10.7% of patients. Regarding the overlap between ‘heavy use’ and ‘frequent use’ (those 10% of the sample with the longest/ most frequent hospitalizations), only 39.5% of the ‘frequent users’ were also ‘heavy users’ (vice versa: 38.6%). ‘Clinical’ measures were the main predictors of the overall time spent as an in-patient (schizophrenia diagnosis, therapeutic measures, clinical improvement). Concerning ‘heavy use’, homelessness was yet another important risk factor. Sociodemographic variables (age, level of education, living alone) particularly influenced the number of hospitalizations. A younger age at first admission was predictive of ‘heavy’ and ‘frequent’ use.

Discussion:

Clinical and sociodemographic factors explain differences in in-patient service consumption among patients with psychosis. Efforts to devise effective interventions have to take both into account, but different measures are needed to address ‘heavy’ and ‘frequent’ use.
Differentiation of adoptees at high versus low genetic risk for schizophrenia by adjusted MMPI indices
Authors: Siira Virva , Wahlberg Karl-Erik , Miettunen Jouko , Tienari Pekka , Làksy Kristian
Published: March 2006

The aim of this study was to find potential signs of genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia. The differences between adoptees at high genetic risk for schizophrenia (their biological mother had a schizophrenia spectrum disorder) and control adoptees of non-schizophrenia spectrum biological mothers were assessed. The comparisons between these groups were based on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) test's subscale scores adjusted by gender, age at MMPI assessment, age at placement into the adoptive family and social class. The subjects were a subsamples of a total of 182 tested adoptees and 136 mentally healthy adoptees in the Finnish Adoptive Family Study. The high-risk group was found to be distinguishable from the low-risk group based on deviant scores on the Hostility, Hypomania and Lie scales. These scales may measure genetic vulnerability and also possibly be indicative of psychometric deviance predicting future onset of schizophrenia.
Minimal emotional dysfunctions (MED) in personality disorders
Authors: Linden M.
Published: March 2006

The concept of minimal emotional dysfunctions (MED) refers to traditional psychopathology in order to describe, classify, and understand personality disorders. Emotional dysfunctions encompass disorders of affect predominance, production, expression, experience, modulation, and regulation. MED can explain the dimensional nature of personality disorders, their multidimensionality and problems with categorical classifications. It can stimulate research on the etiology of personality disorders in reference to modern developmental brain research and trauma psychology. It can guide new developments in pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. It is suggested to focus on MED in future developments of the description and classification of personality disorders.
Factors associated with depression in Parkinson’s disease: a cross-sectional study in a Polish population
Authors: Wichowicz Hubert M. , Sławek Jarosław , Derejko Mirosława , Cubała Wiesław Jerzy
Published: March 2006

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and factors influencing depression in PD patients in a cross-sectional outpatient clinic - based Polish patients sample.

Materials and methods

One hundred consecutive PD patients were included in this study; 35 of them fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for Major Depression and its severity was assessed with Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). A structured interview and a neurological examination, including Hoehn and Yahr scale (H–Y), Schwab–England disability scale, II, III, IV parts of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were performed. The parameters obtained were analysed between the depressed and non-depressed PD patients.

Results

The prevalence of depression in PD in Polish population was established at the level of 35%. PD patients with depression scored significantly higher in all UPDRS scales (except for the subscale of clinical fluctuation) and in H–Y scale. PD with depression was also associated with longer PD duration, higher doses of L-dopa equivalents, patients' age, general impairment of daily living in Schwab and England disability scale, lower MMSE and higher clinical fluctuations. However, those six differences were insignificant.

Conclusions

Depression prevalence rate among PD patients in Polish population is slightly lower than in most of other published studies. This may result from strict selection criteria, use of specific outcome measures and restricted criteria for depression that were applied.
TA205, an anti‐talin monoclonal antibody, inhibits integrin–talin interaction
Authors: Xing Baodong , Thuppal Shalini , Jedsadayanmata Arom , Du Xiaoping , Lam Stephen C.-T.
Published: March 2006

Talin mediates integrin signaling by binding to integrin cytoplasmic tails through its FERM domain which consists of F1, F2 and F3 subdomains. TA205, an anti‐talin monoclonal antibody, disrupts actin stress fibers and focal adhesion when microinjected into fibroblasts. Here, we showed that TA205 caused an allosteric inhibition of integrin αIIbβ3 binding to the talin FERM domain and mapped the TA205 epitope to residues 131–150 in talin F1. Furthermore, binding of a talin rod fragment to talin head was partially inhibited by TA205. These findings suggest that talin F1 may be important in regulation of integrin binding and talin head–rod interaction.
Putative aggregation initiation sites in prion protein
Authors: Ziegler Jan , Viehrig Christine , Geimer Stefan , Rösch Paul , Schwarzinger Stephan
Published: March 2006

Misfolded prion protein, PrPSc, is believed to be the pathogenic agens in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Little is known about the autocatalytic misfolding process. Looking at the intrinsic properties of short sequence stretches, such as conformational flexibility and the tendency to populate extended conformers, we have examined the aggregation behaviour of various peptides within the region 106–157 of the sequence of human prion protein. We observed fast aggregation for the peptide containing residues I138‐I‐H‐F141. This sequence, which is presented at the surface of cellular prion protein, PrPC, in an almost β‐sheet‐like conformation, is therefore an ideal anchor‐point for initial intermolecular contacts leading to oligomerization. We further report that the aggregation propensity of the neurotoxic peptide 106–126 appears to be centred in its termini and not in the central, alanine‐rich sequence (A113‐G‐AAAA‐G‐A120).
Recapture of [S]‐allantoin, the product of the two‐step degradation of uric acid, by urate oxidase
Authors: Gabison Laure , Chiadmi Mohamed , Colloc'h Nathalie , Castro Bertrand , El Hajji Mohamed , Prangé Thierry
Published: March 2006

Urate oxidase from Aspergillus flavus catalyzes the degradation of uric acid to [S]‐allantoin through 5‐hydroxyisourate as a metastable intermediate. The second degradation step is thought either catalyzed by another specific enzyme, or spontaneous. The structure of the enzyme was known at high resolution by X‐ray diffraction of I222 crystals complexed with a purine‐type inhibitor (8‐azaxanthin). Analyzing the X‐ray structure of urate oxidase treated with an excess of urate, the natural substrate, shows unexpectedly that the active site recaptures [S]‐allantoin from the racemic end product of a second degradation step.
Slow aggregation of lysozyme in alkaline pH monitored in real time employing the fluorescence anisotropy of covalently labelled dansyl probe
Authors: Homchaudhuri Lopamudra , Kumar Satish , Swaminathan Rajaram
Published: March 2006

The onset of hen egg white lysozyme aggregation on exposure to alkaline pH of 12.2 and subsequent slow growth of soluble lysozyme aggregates (at 298 K) was directly monitored by steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence anisotropy of covalently attached dansyl probe over a period of 24 h. The rotational correlation time accounting for tumbling of lysozyme in solution (40 μM) increased from ∼3.6 ns (in pH 7) to ∼40 ns on exposure to pH 12.2 over a period of 6 h and remained stable thereafter. The growth of aggregates was strongly concentration dependent, irreversible after 60 min and inhibited by the presence of 0.9 M l‐arginine in the medium. The day old aggregates were resistant to denaturation by 6 M guanidine · HCl. Our results reveal slow segmental motion of the dansyl probe in day old aggregates in the absence of l‐arginine (0.9 M), but a much faster motion in its presence, when growth of aggregates is halted.
Neonatal hippocampal Tat injections: developmental effects on prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the auditory startle response
Authors: Fitting Sylvia , Booze Rosemarie M. , Mactutus Charles F.
Published: March 2006

The current estimate of children (<15 years) living with HIV and AIDS is 2.2 million [UNAIDS/WHO, 2005. AIDS Epidemic Update. UNAIDS, Geneva]. The major source of infection occurs through vertical transmission of the virus from mother to child during delivery [UNAIDS/WHO, 2005. AIDS Epidemic Update. UNAIDS, Geneva]. Recent studies have shown that timing of HIV‐1 infection might be related to the onset and rate of progression of CNS disease [Blanche, S., Mayaux, M.‐J., Rouziox, C., Teglas, J.‐P., Firtion, G., Monpoux, F., Cicaru‐Vigneron, N., Meier, F., Tricoire, J., Courpotin, C., Vilmer, E., Griscelli, C., Delfraissy, J.‐F., 1994. Relation of the course of HIV infection in children to the severity of the disease in their mothers at delivery. N. Engl. J. Med. 330 (5), 308–312]. The effects of HIV on the brain are thought to be mediated indirectly through the viral toxins Tat and gp120. This study characterized developmental effects on PPI following intrahippocampal administration of Tat. On postnatal day (P)1, one male and one female pup from each of eight Sprague–Dawley litters were bilaterally injected with 50 μg Tat or saline (1 μl volume). Animals were tested for PPI of the auditory startle response (ASR) (ISIs of 0, 8, 40, 80, 120, and 4000 ms, six trial blocks, Latin‐square design) on days 30, 60 and 90. Tat altered PPI and the pattern of alterations was different for males and females. For males, a leftward shift was evident in the ISI for maximal inhibition of the response on day 30 and on day 60 (χ2(1) = 4.7, p ≤ .03, and χ2(1) = 5.3, p ≤ .02, respectively), but not on day 90. For females, Tat altered peak ASR latency across PPI trials (8–120 ms) at all days of testing (30, 60, and 90 days of age), as indexed by orthogonal component analyses, indicating less modulation of PPI by ISI. Data collected from a second group that were tested only once at 90 days of age, suggested that the observed adverse Tat effects for males and females early in development were maintained with age. Thus, the diminishing TAT effect on PPI at day 90 in a longitudinal study design was attributed to repeated testing, rather than ‘recovery of function’. Collectively, the data suggested that hippocampal Tat injections in neonatal rats produced alterations in the pre‐attentive process of sensorimotor gating, as indexed by PPI.
Necrotizing Fasciitis of the First Ray Caused by Group a Streptococcus
Authors: LESAFFER J. , VAN HOLDER C. , HAECK L.
Published: March 2006

Necrotizing fasciitis of the hand is a rare clinical entity, frequently with devastating functional consequences. A case of necrotizing fasciitis of the thumb and thenar eminence caused by Group A Streptococcus is reported and the management of this condition in the upper limb discussed.
Formality and discretion in successful R&D projects
Authors: Naveh Eitan
Published: March 2006

In the quest to improve execution of research and development (R&D) projects, this paper focuses on the association between attainment of R&D project performance objectives and the conflicts R&D project management sparks between discretion, which refers to spontaneity, desire for change and breaking of rules, and formality, which refers to structure, stability, and following the rules. Since no solid theory exists, managers are uncertain whether both formality and discretion can be simultaneously applied, though it is clear that both are needed in R&D projects. This study aims to develop a model that conceptualizes and brings empirical evidence for the relationship between formality, discretion and R&D project performance. More than 1500 participants from 62 R&D projects, and 248 customer representatives in one high technology electronics company responded to questionnaires that measured formality, discretion, uncertainty, and additional control variables. Each project's performance was assessed using the company's information system on deviation from objectives in unit‐cost (in US$), total project cost (in US$), time‐to‐market (in months), project product mean time between failures (MTBF) and mean time to repair (MTTR), and customer satisfaction. Results demonstrated that formality and discretion are distinct constructs of project execution. Each was found to positively affect R&D project performance; moreover, interaction existed in their relationships with performance. In other words, the positive relationship between formality and the performance achievement in R&D projects is stronger in projects that allow higher discretion than in projects that restrict members’ discretion. Implications for R&D management theory and practice are discussed.
Real option analysis of a technology portfolio
Authors: Hilli Petri , Kallio Maarit , Kallio Markku
Published: March 2006

This article contributes to methodology of real options analysis of investments in capital intensive process industries, where relatively homogenous outputs are produced using commonly known production technologies. In addition to capacity expansion, the method can be used for analysis of mergers and acquisitions. Valuation of the real option is based on bid price; i.e., the maximum price the firm is willing to pay. To find such a price, stochastic optimization with an expected utility criterion is used to determine investments in product specific technologies as well as in publicly traded financial instruments (the competing investments). To operationalize the valuation principle, we develop a double binary tree employing Kalman filter for scenario generation. For exponential utility, valuation is carried out by dynamic programming. We extend known methods to allow interdependence of the mill cash flow and return on competing financial investments. For forest industries, we provide an illustration, where the underlying price process in our Kalman filter application is a vector error correction model.
Head and neck mucosal squamous cell carcinoma: results of palliative management
Authors: Timon C , Reilly K
Published: March 2006

Objective: To document the outcome of patients deemed at initial diagnosis to be appropriate for palliative care.

Materials and methods: Over a five-year period, all patients with head and neck mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (HNMSCC) were referred to one consultant surgeon, and data were collated retrospectively.

Results: Of 286 patients with HNMSCC, 60 (21 per cent) were deemed appropriate for palliative care at initial diagnosis. Their median survival was 154 days, with hypopharyngeal and oropharyngeal tumours forming a disproportional percentage of the initial diagnoses (p < 0.001). After initial assessment, 66 per cent of patients were discharged to their home, 17 per cent to hospice care and 17 per cent were transferred to other institutions. Including deaths during the initial admission, 29 per cent of patients did not return home after diagnosis. Palliative treatment included operative interventions in 35 per cent and radiotherapy in 43 per cent. Time spent in further hospital care averaged 47 days, and 47 per cent of patients eventually died in hospital.

Conclusion: One in five patients presenting with HNMSCC were deemed appropriate for palliative care at initial presentation and survived less than six months after diagnosis. More than one-third required surgical intervention, and 29 per cent never returned home.
‘Only Women can Change this World into Heaven’ Mei Niang, Male Chauvinist Society, and the Japanese Cultural Agenda in North China, 1939–1941
Authors: SMITH NORMAN
Published: March 2006

From 1939 to 1941, Mei Niang (b. 1920) penned three of her most famous novellas, Bang (Clam)(1939), Yu (Fish)(1941), and Xie (Crabs)(1941). Each of these works sheds light on the struggle of Chinese feminists in Japanese-occupied north China to realize ideals that stood in stark contrast to the conservative constructs of ‘good wives, wise mothers’ (xianqi liangmu) favoured by colonial officials. The contemporary appeal of Mei Niang's work is attested to by a catch-phrase, coined in 1942, that linked her with one of the most celebrated Chinese women writers of the twentieth century, Zhang Ailing (1920–1995): ‘the south has Zhang Ailing, the north has Mei Niang’ (Nan Ling, Bei Mei). Both women attained great fame in Japanese-occupied territories, only to have their achievements tempered by condemnation of the environments in which they forged their early careers. The Chinese civil war that followed the collapse of the Japanese empire propelled the two writers along divergent trajectories: Zhang Ailing moved to Hong Kong and the United States, where she achieved iconic status, while Mei Niang remained in the People's Republic of China, to be vilified. As one of the pre-eminent ‘writers of the enemy occupation’ (lunxian zuojia), Mei Niang was persecuted by a Maoist regime (1949–1976) dedicated to the refutation of the Japanese colonial order in its entirety.
The Problem with ‘Rich Refugees’ Sponsorship, Capital, and the Informal Economy of Tibetan Refugees
Authors: PROST AUDREY
Published: March 2006

This article examines issues pertaining to the growth of ‘informal’ economic exchanges and relationships of patronage in the Tibetan refugee community of Dharamsala (H-P), India. I firstly review the theoretical and methodological challenges posed by investigations of Tibetan refugee modernity, then focus on one particular form of exchange in the informal economy of exiles: rogs ram, or the sponsorship of Tibetans by foreigners. The article argues that symbolic capital comes to play a particularly important role in communities where economic capital is scarce, acting in fact as a proviso to economic capital. The highly unstable character of symbolic capital means that, for Tibetan refugees as for other communities, its conversion into economic capital is arduous and engenders a tense field of negotiations between sponsors and beneficiaries.
Persönlichkeitsstörungsmerkmale im Kindes- und Jugendalter: Konzepte, methodische Ansätze und empirische Ergebnisse
Authors: Krischer Maya , Sevecke Kathrin , Döpfner Manfred , Lehmkuhl Gerd
Published: March 2006

Zusammenfassung: Fragestellung: Die Frage des praktischen und theoretischen Gewinns durch die Diagnostik und Klassifikation von Persönlichkeitsstörungsmerkmalen im Kindes- und Jugendalter ist immer noch eine kontrovers diskutierte Thematik, deren Erforschung insbesondere im deutschsprachigen Raum vernachlässigt wird. Methodik: In dieser Übersichtsarbeit werden die vorliegenden Forschungsbefunde zur Frage der diagnostischen Validität im Querschnitt und zur Frage der Stabilität von Persönlichkeitsstörungsmerkmalen vom Kindes-, Jugend- bis ins Erwachsenenalter detailliert dargelegt. Ergebnisse: Neuere Forschungsergebnisse verweisen einerseits auf die Validität von Persönlichkeitsstörungsdiagnosen im Jugendalter, andererseits auf die Stabilität von Persönlichkeitstraits im Entwicklungsverlauf. Allerdings steht der Nachweis der Kontinuität von Persönlichkeitsstörungsmerkmalen selbst zwischen dem Jugend- und Erwachsenenalter noch aus. Dimensionalen Ansätzen wird bei der Erfassung von Persönlichkeitsstörungsmerkmalen, insbesondere unter Berücksichtigung entwicklungspsychologischer Überlegungen und ihrer diesbezüglich höheren Sensitivität, der Vorzug gegeben. Schlussfolgerung: Es bedarf longitudinaler Studien sowohl im Jugendalter als auch im Kindesalter, um die Kontinuität bzw. die Instabilität von dimensional zu erfassenden Persönlichkeitsprofilen und den Einfluss von kindlichen Persönlichkeitsmerkmalen auf die Entstehung von Psychopathologie abschätzen zu können.
Synergistic Moderator Effects of Situation and Person Factors of Awareness and Adjustment on the Consistency of Implicit and Explicit Attitudes
Authors: Gschwendner Tobias , Hofmann Wilhelm , Schmitt Manfred
Published: March 2006

A moderated consistency model is presented, which attempts to explain the consistency between explicit and implicit indicators as a function of awareness and adjustment. In a study on attitudes of Germans toward Turks, we tested the hypothesis that functionally equivalent person and situation moderators pertaining to awareness and adjustment show a synergistic interplay. Concerning moderators of adjustment, no effects on explicit-implicit consistency were obtained for situational variables nor for the interaction of personal and situational variables. However, concerning moderators of awareness, a reliable first-order effect was found for Private Self-Consciousness. Moreover, Private Self-Consciousness and experimentally manipulated motivation to introspect showed the assumed synergistic interaction moderator effect. The empirical findings are discussed with regard to the role of awareness of implicit attitudes and the potentially underlying mechanisms of implicit-explicit consistency.
Modification of the dichotomy boundary on Mars by Amazonian mid‐latitude regional glaciation
Authors: Head James W. , Nahm Amanda L. , Marchant David R. , Neukum Gerhard
Published: March 2006

Restoration of the dichotomy boundary to its original position to assess its origin requires a thorough knowledge of processes responsible for its degradation and retreat. The unique fretted terrain, located along the Deuteronilus‐Protonilus Mensae northern mid‐latitude portion of the boundary, has been long held to provide clues to dichotomy degradation processes. We use new spacecraft data to show that fretted valleys display a multitude of characteristics typical of integrated valley glacial systems on Earth (multiple theater‐headed, alcove‐like accumulation areas; sharp arete‐like ridges typical of glacial erosion; converging patterns of downslope valley flow; valley lineation patterns typical of folding and shear; wrap‐around features indicative of flow around obstacles; and broad piedmont‐like lobes as the valley fill extends out into the northern lowlands). The single integrated system containing these features covers about 30,000 km2, and is one of dozens of fretted valleys along the dichotomy boundary in this region. These relationships suggest that the boundary area was subjected to very large‐scale regional glaciation during the Amazonian. Recognition and documentation of this important late‐stage process provides information critical to reconstructing the original dichotomy boundary.