bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nano-mechanical mapping of the interactions between surface-bound RC-LH1-PufX core complexes and cytochrome c
2 attached to an AFM probe
Authors: Vasilev Cvetelin , Brindley Amanda A. , Olsen John D. , Saer Rafael G. , Beatty J. T. , Hunter C. N.
Published: March 2013

Electron transfer pathways in photosynthesis involve interactions between membrane-bound complexes such as reaction centres with an extrinsic partner. In this study, the biological specificity of electron transfer between the reaction centre-light-harvesting 1-PufX complex and its extrinsic electron donor, cytochrome c
2, formed the basis for mapping the location of surface-attached RC-LH1-PufX complexes using atomic force microscopy (AFM). This nano-mechanical mapping method used an AFM probe functionalised with cyt c
2 molecules to quantify the interaction forces involved, at the single-molecule level under native conditions. With surface-bound RC-His12-LH1-PufX complexes in the photo-oxidised state, the mean interaction force with cyt c
2 is approximately 480 pN with an interaction frequency of around 66 %. The latter value lowered 5.5-fold when chemically reduced RC-His12-LH1-PufX complexes are imaged in the dark to abolish electron transfer from cyt c
2 to the RC. The correspondence between topographic and adhesion images recorded over the same area of the sample shows that affinity-based AFM methods are a useful tool when topology alone is insufficient for spatially locating proteins at the surface of photosynthetic membranes.
Beta diversity reconsidered
Authors: Bacaro Giovanni , Gioria Margherita , Ricotta Carlo
Published: March 2013

A simple analytical procedure to test for differences in beta diversity among sets of plots has been recently presented. Here, we describe an improved randomization procedure that replaces the one previously proposed. This procedure consists of shuffling within‐group dissimilarities among groups and disregarding between‐group dissimilarities. By repeating this operation many times, a distribution of the test statistics under the null hypothesis of no differences in the mean plot‐to‐plot dissimilarities within groups is obtained. This procedure ensures that the correct null model is selected. To describe this new procedure, we used plant and water beetle (Coleoptera) data collected from 45 permanent ponds. Beta diversity was compared between plant and water beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages.
Effects of Rbp3 on lipid peroxidation and salt tolerance in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Authors: Wang Yun , Xu Xudong
Published: March 2013

RNA‐binding proteins (Rbps) are involved in many post‐transcriptional regulation processes. As previously shown, inactivation of rbp3 in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 significantly decreased the stability of acyl‐lipid desaturase (des) mRNAs and the degree of unsaturation of membrane lipids. In comparison to the wild type, the rbp3 mutant produced less lipid peroxides under cold stress and showed greater inhibition of photosynthesis/respiration activities by salt stress. Overexpression of desA partially restored levels of lipid peroxidation and salt tolerance in the mutant. Effects of Rbp3 on lipid peroxidation and salt tolerance appears to be directly related to the change of degree of lipid unsaturation.
Opening a donor's wallet: The influence of appeal scales on likelihood and magnitude of donation
Authors: De Bruyn Arnaud , Prokopec Sonja
Published: March 2013

We examine the influence of appeal scales on the likelihood and magnitude of donation in a large field experiment. We argue and show that the leftmost anchor on the appeal scale most strongly influences the likelihood of donating; the lower the anchor, the higher the donation likelihood. Furthermore, our findings indicate that increasing the steepness of the amounts on the appeal scale increases the magnitude of donations. Both effects are stronger for infrequent than for frequent donors. Our results demonstrate that by using what a charity knows about past donor behavior, it can alter appeal scales to change donation behavior.
Electrodiagnostics and Clinical Correlates in Acquired Polyneuropathies
Authors: Karvelas Kristopher , Rydberg Leslie , Oswald Matthew
Published: March 2013

Peripheral neuropathies result from a variety of inherited and acquired pathologies. They display an assortment of clinical signs and symptoms and present with a broad range of severity. Electrodiagnosis can play a key role in the evaluation of a suspected peripheral neuropathy. A peripheral nerve disorder is first suspected on the basis of history and physical examination findings. Electrodiagnosis is then used to confirm the diagnosis and to characterize the peripheral neuropathy, providing information about its distribution, pathophysiologic process (demyelinating vs axonal), and chronicity.
ON PERMUTATION BINOMIALS OVER FINITE FIELDS
Authors: AYAD MOHAMED , BELGHABA KACEM , KIHEL OMAR
Published: March 2013

Let ${ \mathbb{F} }_{q} $ be the finite field of characteristic $p$ containing $q= {p}^{r} $ elements and $f(x)= a{x}^{n} + {x}^{m} $, a binomial with coefficients in this field. If some conditions on the greatest common divisor of $n- m$ and $q- 1$ are satisfied then this polynomial does not permute the elements of the field. We prove in particular that if $f(x)= a{x}^{n} + {x}^{m} $ permutes ${ \mathbb{F} }_{p} $, where $n\gt m\gt 0$ and $a\in { \mathbb{F} }_{p}^{\ast } $, then $p- 1\leq (d- 1)d$, where $d= \gcd (n- m, p- 1)$, and that this bound of $p$, in terms of $d$ only, is sharp. We show as well how to obtain in certain cases a permutation binomial over a subfield of ${ \mathbb{F} }_{q} $ from a permutation binomial over ${ \mathbb{F} }_{q} $.
Rice protein ameliorates the progression of diabetic nephropathy in Goto–Kakizaki rats with high-sucrose feeding
Authors: Kubota Masatoshi , Watanabe Reiko , Kabasawa Hideyuki , Iino Noriaki , Saito Akihiko , Kumagai Takehisa , Fujimura Shinobu , Kadowaki Motoni
Published: March 2013

The effect of rice protein (RP) on diabetic nephropathy in non-obese, spontaneous type 2 diabetic Goto–Kakizaki (GK) rats was investigated. GK rats at 7 weeks of age were fed 20 % RP or casein (C) in standard or high-sucrose diets for 10 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol, TAG, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), adiponectin, creatinine and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) were measured and renal histology was evaluated. Compared with C, RP lowered plasma TAG and improved plasma adiponectin levels in GK rats fed the standard diet (P< 0·05), and also lowered total cholesterol and ALP in high-sucrose-fed GK rats (P< 0·05). RP markedly suppressed the sharp increase in UAE when GK rats were fed high-sucrose diets (P< 0·05), and prevented glomerular mesangial matrix expansion in the deep renal cortex near the corticomedullary junction (P< 0·05). These results strongly indicate that dietary RP can ameliorate the progression of diabetic nephropathy at an early stage compared with C.
ESTIMATION OF BINARY CHOICE MODELS WITH LINEAR INDEX AND DUMMY ENDOGENOUS VARIABLES
Authors: Yildiz Neşe
Published: March 2013

This paper presents computationally simple estimators for the index coefficients in a binary choice model with a binary endogenous regressor without relying on distributional assumptions or on large support conditions and yields root-n consistent and asymptotically normal estimators. We develop a multistep method for estimating the parameters in a triangular, linear index, threshold-crossing model with two equations. Such an econometric model might be used in testing for moral hazard while allowing for asymmetric information in insurance markets. In outlining this new estimation method two contributions are made. The first one is proposing a novel “matching” estimator for the coefficient on the binary endogenous variable in the outcome equation. Second, in order to establish the asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators for the coefficients of the exogenous regressors in the outcome equation, the results of Powell, Stock, and Stoker (1989, Econometrica 75, 1403–1430) are extended to cover the case where the average derivative estimation requires a first-step semiparametric procedure.
STOCHASTIC SEQUENTIAL ASSIGNMENT PROBLEM WITH THRESHOLD CRITERIA
Authors: Baharian Golshid , Jacobson Sheldon H.
Published: March 2013

The stochastic sequential assignment problem (SSAP) allocates distinct workers to sequentially arriving tasks with stochastic parameters to maximize the expected total reward. In this paper, the assignment of tasks is performed under the threshold criterion, which seeks a policy that minimizes the probability of the total reward failing to achieve a target value. A Markov-decision-process approach is employed to model the problem, and sufficient conditions for the existence of a deterministic Markov optimal policy are derived, along with fundamental properties of the optimal value function. An algorithm to approximate the optimal value function is presented, and convergence results are established.
SOME NEW APPLICATIONS OF P–P PLOTS
Authors: Dewan Isha , Kochar Subhash
Published: March 2013

The P–P plot is a powerful graphical tool to compare stochastically the magnitudes of two random variables. In this note, we introduce a new partial order, called P–P order based on P–P plots. For a pair of random variables (X1,Y1) and (X2,Y2) one can see the relative precedence ofY2overX2versus that ofY1overX1using P–P order. We show that several seemingly very technical and difficult concepts like convex transform order and super-additive ordering can be easily explained with the help of this new partial order. Several concepts of positive dependence can also be expressed in terms of P–P orders of the conditional distributions.
A microbiologically clean strategy for access to the Whillans Ice Stream subglacial environment
Authors: Priscu John C. , Achberger Amanda M. , Cahoon Joel E. , Christner Brent C. , Edwards Robert L. , Jones Warren L. , Michaud Alexander B. , Siegfried Matthew R. , Skidmore Mark L. , Spigel Robert H. , Switzer Gregg W. , Tulaczyk Slawek , Vick-Majors Trista J.
Published: March 2013

The Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling (WISSARD) project will test the overarching hypothesis that an active hydrological system exists beneath a West Antarctic ice stream that exerts a major control on ice dynamics, and the metabolic and phylogenetic diversity of the microbial community in subglacial water and sediment. WISSARD will explore Subglacial Lake Whillans (SLW, unofficial name) and its outflow toward the grounding line where it is thought to enter the Ross Ice Shelf seawater cavity. Introducing microbial contamination to the subglacial environment during drilling operations could compromise environmental stewardship and the science objectives of the project, consequently we developed a set of tools and procedures to directly address these issues. WISSARD hot water drilling efforts will include a custom water treatment system designed to remove micron and sub-micron sized particles (biotic and abiotic), irradiate the drilling water with germicidal ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and pasteurize the water to reduce the viability of persisting microbial contamination. Our clean access protocols also include methods to reduce microbial contamination on the surfaces of cables/hoses and down-borehole equipment using germicidal UV exposure and chemical disinfection. This paper presents experimental data showing that our protocols will meet expectations established by international agreement between participating Antarctic nations.
One-year records from automatic snow stations in western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica
Authors: Järvinen Onni , Leppäranta Matti , Vehviläinen Juho
Published: March 2013

Two automatic snow stations were deployed for one year (from December 2009–January 2011) in western Dronning Maud Land. The purposes of the experiment were: 1) to build a working snow station to measure the snow surface layer temperature, and 2) to use the data for snow heat and mass balance investigations. The data collection was successful and lasted about 400 days (9 December 2009–21 January 2011). The annual net snow accumulation at snow station 2 (continental ice sheet) was 86 cm (345 mm water equivalent) and at snow station 1 (ice shelf) more than 150 cm. The power spectra revealed daily cycle, synoptic scale variability, and variability in a low-frequency band of 60–120 days at a depth of 54 cm. The snow-air heat flux was estimated from the data, resulting in negative values (from snow to air) during autumn and winter and positive values (from air to snow) in spring and summer. The physical characterization of snow stratigraphy was done during installation and retrieval of the snow stations, including density, hardness (hand test), stratigraphy, and grain size and shape.
Population status of the Madagascar Fish EagleHaliaeetus vociferoidesin 2005–2006
Authors: RAZAFIMANJATO GILBERT , SAM THE SEING , RAKOTONDRATSIMA MARIUS , RENE DE ROLAND LILY-ARISON , THORSTROM RUSSELL
Published: March 2013

Coastal and inland surveys for the endemic and “Critically Endangered” Madagascar Fish EagleHaliaeetus vociferoideswere conducted in western Madagascar from Antsiranana in the north to Manja in the south during the 2005 and 2006 breeding seasons (May–October). Surveys covered typical Madagascar Fish Eagle habitat: lakes, rivers, mangroves, estuaries, and marine islands within their known distribution. In total, 287 individuals were encountered, including 98 breeding pairs (196 individuals), 23 breeding trios (69 individuals), 15 single adults and seven immature birds. Of these 287 birds, 128 individuals (44.6%) were observed on lakes; 116 (40.4%) in coastal areas, consisting of 103 (35.9%) in mangroves and 13 (4.5%) in estuaries; 32 (11.2%) on marine islands and 11 (3.8%) on rivers. There was an increase between surveys in 1995 and this study in the number of Madagascar Fish Eagles counted, from 222 to 287, and in the number of pairs from 99 to 121. This study confirms that the Madagascar Fish Eagle population is still low due to human persecution (hunting, collection of eggs and nestlings), overfishing and habitat destruction. We recommend monitoring fish eagles annually at the higher concentration sites to evaluate human activities and conducting a population survey every five years throughout western and northern Madagascar.
Serving Limited English Proficient Callers: A Survey of 9-1-1 Police Telecommunicators
Authors: Carroll Lauren N. , Calhoun Rebecca E. , Subido Cleo C. , Painter Ian S. , Meischke Hendrika W.
Published: March 2013

Introduction

The emergency telephone number 9-1-1 serves as a lifeline to the public during emergencies, and first responders rely on information gathered by 9-1-1 telecommunicators who speak with callers. Timely, accurate information from the telecommunicators is essential for providing appropriate care on scene. Language barriers can hamper these efforts and result in less efficient information exchange. Although 9-1-1 telecommunicators may access over-the-phone interpreter (OPI) services to facilitate communication, managing three-way communication during an emergency is challenging.

Problem

There is little published on the relationship between limited English proficient (LEP) callers and 9-1-1 police telecommunicators, and the role of OPI services during these calls. Further, little is known about effective strategies to manage such calls.

Methods

In King County, Washington, 9-1-1 police telecommunicators were surveyed about their experiences handling LEP calls and managing three-way communication with OPI services. The survey contained 13 multiple-choice and three open-response questions addressing communication strategies, challenges with LEP callers, and three-way communication with OPI services. Goodman-Kruskal Gamma and chi-square tests were conducted with OPI use as the dependent variable. Additional analyses were conducted using stress levels as the dependent variable.

Results

Of 123 respondents, 69 (56.5%) 9-1-1 telecommunicators reported utilizing OPI services at least 75% of the time when receiving a call from an LEP caller. Further, 35 (28.7%) of these telecommunicators reported calls with LEP individuals as more stressful than calls with fluent English speakers. Dispatcher stress level during LEP calls compared with stress during calls with fluent English speakers was positively associated with use of OPI services (P < .01). Further, stress level was also positively associated with telecommunicator difficulties in assessing the situation with respect to officer safety (P < .01). Sixty-three (58.3%) of the telecommunicators described difficulties assessing the situation to determine the appropriate response as the biggest challenge with LEP callers. Additionally, 62 (53%) identified knowing their location in English as information LEP callers need to know prior to calling 9-1-1.

Conclusion

These results highlight intervention opportunities for both 9-1-1 telecommunicators and LEP communities. Together, interventions such as working with LEP communities to educate them on best communication practices during 9-1-1 calls, and with 9-1-1 telecommunicators to help them manage three-way communication and reduce stress associated with concern for officer safety may improve emergency communication during 9-1-1 calls.

CarrollLN, CalhounRE, SubidoCC, PainterIS, MeischkeHW. Serving limited English proficient callers: a survey of 9-1-1 police telecommunicators. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(3):1-6.
Publishing as a Graduate Student: A Quick and (Hopefully) Painless Guide to Establishing Yourself as a Scholar
Authors: Rich Timothy S.
Published: March 2013

Graduate students seldom know how to navigate the publishing process, yet a growing expectation is that new hires are capable of immediately producing publishable research as well as teaching. Considering the current state of the job market, graduate students should plan early to take advantage of the opportunities to publish early in their graduate career. This article provides suggestions for beginning the publishing process.
Expectant and Nursing Academics: The Interview Experience of Moms in Political Science
Authors: Lewis Angela K.
Published: March 2013

The challenges that women in academia face are well documented. However, there is a dearth of research on the experiences of female academics particularly on job interviews as expectant or nursing mothers. This study sought to document the experiences of these women. Considering the grueling nature of the academic job interview, do expectant or nursing mothers ask for accommodations on the interview, and if so, how do departments respond to their request? We find that women refrain from job interviews as expectant mothers while others suggest using the “hidden pregnancy phenomenon.” Nursing mothers had more positive experiences, although experiences were less than desirable. Based on the findings, we offer a list of recommendations to departments to help improve this critical step in starting a career in academe.
Chapters, Volumes, Editors! Oh My! Reassessing the Role of Edited Volumes in the Social Sciences
Authors: Leal David L.
Published: March 2013

Many scholars discount the value of edited volumes and book chapters to the social science enterprise. Nevertheless, these unique formats advance scholarship, help faculty and graduate students achieve their goals, and enhance teaching and learning. This article therefore assesses the criticisms of volumes and chapters, reconsiders the contributions of these publications, and makes recommendations for improving their accessibility and status.
Editors' Introduction to Teaching about the Middle East Since the Arab Uprisings
Authors: Haddad Bassam , Schwedler Jillian
Published: March 2013

The Middle East has been treated as exceptional in much of the scholarly literature. It was entirely absent from comparative studies of political transitions until the late 1990s, and even in the early 2000s some of the literature on resilient authoritarianism reproduced a narrative of a region seemingly immune to normal (that is, happening elsewhere) forces of political change. Following this trend, the politics and history of the region are routinely taught in region-specific courses, but they are far less frequently integrated into thematic courses except when the teacher is an area specialist. Unfortunately, the absence of Middle East cases from many broader courses reinforces popular conceptions of regional exceptionalism and deprives possibilities for comparative theorizing. Even worse, our years of teaching undergraduates have taught us that images of harems, pyramids, and desert warriors wielding sabers on camelback still shape many Americans' perceptions of the region. Obviously our classrooms challenge these images, but demand for specialized courses consistently exceeds capacity at a time when sensational images from the region saturate the news media. For those students who do not take or cannot gain a seat in those courses, images of harems, camels, and violence are likely to endure. Worse, the analytical implications of one-dimensional portrayals in political science have been grave, notably when the preoccupation with “culture” as a singular explanatory variable prejudices against exploring other influences on political practices and institutions.
Quantifying Anecdotes: Google Search Data and Political Developments in Egypt
Authors: Koehler-Derrick Gabriel
Published: March 2013

The events of 2011 transformed the politics of the Arab world. In just under 12 months, dictators fell in three countries: Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. In Bahrain, Yemen, and Syria, protests and violence continued throughout 2012 to shake what were once assumed to be the solid foundations of long-standing autocratic regimes. Although it is too soon to assess the outcome of these events, one immediate consequence is clear: the empowerment of public opinion in Arab politics. For the first time in more than 50 years, the voices of average Tunisians, Egyptians, and Libyans can directly influence political outcomes. This shift may yet prove to be temporary, but its importance in driving current events cannot be discounted.
SUDDEN STOPS, OUTPUT DROPS, AND CREDIT COLLAPSES
Authors: Dagher Jihad C.
Published: March 2013

This paper proposes a tractable sudden stop model to explain the main patterns in firm-level data from a sample of Southeast Asian firms during the Asian crisis. The model incorporates trend shocks and financial frictions, features that have so far been used separately in the literature on emerging markets. A negative shock to trend productivity growth can account, in our model, for the drop in output and its swift recovery together with the sizable and persistent downward adjustment in firms' Tobin's Q and debt levels. These patterns are broadly shared by most sudden stop episodes as documented in the literature. Trend shocks can also generate, in our model, strong leverage effects in line with the firm-level data and other observations from the literature.
Predicting percentage body fat through waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) in Spanish schoolchildren
Authors: Marrodán MD , Álvarez JR Martínez , de Espinosa M González-Montero , Carmenate MM , López-Ejeda N , Cabañas MD , Pacheco JL , Mesa MS , Romero-Collazos JF , Prado C , Villarino A
Published: March 2013

Objective

To analyse the association between waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) and body fat and to develop predictive adiposity equations that will simplify the diagnosis of obesity in the paediatric age group.

Design

Cross-sectional study conducted in Spain during 2007 and 2008. Anthropometric dimensions were taken according to the International Biology Program. The children were classified as underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese according to national standards of percentage body fat (%BF). WtHR differences among nutritional status categories were evaluated using ANOVA. Correlation analysis and regression analysis were carried out using WtHR as a predictor variable for %BF. A t test was applied to the results obtained by the regression model and by the Siri equation. The degree of agreement between both methods was evaluated by estimating the intra-class correlation coefficient.

Setting

Elementary and secondary schools in Madrid (Spain).

Subjects

Girls (n 1158) and boys (n 1161) from 6 to 14 years old.

Results

WtHR differed significantly (P < 0·001) depending on nutritional status category. This index was correlated (P < 0·001) with all adiposity indicators. The mean %BF values estimated by the regression model (boys: %BF = 106·50 × WtHR – 28·36; girls: %BF = 89·73 × WtHR – 15·40) did not differ from those obtained by the Siri equation. The intra-class correlation coefficient (0·85 in boys, 0·79 in girls) showed a high degree of concordance between both methods.

Conclusions

WtHR proved to be an effective method for predicting relative adiposity in 6–14-year-olds. The developed equations can help to simplify the diagnosis of obesity in schoolchildren.
Effects of scheme default insurance on decisions and financial outcomes in defined benefit pension schemes
Authors: Butt Adam
Published: March 2013

A simulation investigation of the effect of default insurance on the optimal equity allocation and deficit spread period of a model defined benefit pension scheme is performed, using the old and new frameworks of the Pension Protection Fund in the U.K. as a starting point. The old default insurance levy framework encourages an increase in the allocation to equities, creating an indirect effect of increased deficits. The new framework reverses the effect to a reduction in the allocation to equities, thus reducing deficits. In addition the gaming element of default insurance is investigated and found to significantly increase optimal equity allocation and deficit spread period, leading to a significant increase in deficits.
Mammografie-Screening
Authors: Zwahlen Marcel , Egger Matthias
Published: March 2013

Nur wenige Vorsorgeuntersuchungen sind so umfassend in randomisiert-kontrollierten Studien (RCTs) untersucht worden wie das Screening auf Brustkrebs mit Hilfe der Mammografie. Es liegen derzeit acht große randomisiert-kontrollierte Studien und mehrere Meta-Analysen vor. Letztere kommen mehrheitlich zum Schluss, dass sich die Brustkrebssterblichkeit durch Mammografie-Screening um etwa 20 % senken lässt. Dies bedeutet im Schweizer Kontext, dass etwa 1 von 1'000 Frauen weniger an Brustkrebs stirbt, wenn Frauen ab dem 50. Lebensjahr zehn Jahre lang gescreent werden. Andererseits führt das Screening auch zu Überdiagnosen und Übertherapien. So nimmt die Zahl der Brustkrebsdiagnosen um etwa 20 % zu, was zu einer entsprechenden Zunahme an chirurgischen Eingriffen, Strahlen- und Chemotherapien führt. Über zehn Jahre gerechnet, erhalten etwa 4 von 1'000 Frauen eine Brustkrebsdiagnose, die sie ohne Screening nicht erhalten hätten. Etwa 200 von 1'000 Frauen sind im Verlaufe von zehn Jahren (fünf Screening-Runden) mit abklärungsbedürftigen Befunden konfrontiert, wobei es sich dabei mehrheitlich um falsch positive Befunde handelt. Gleichzeitig werden auch mit einem Screening-Programm 20 bis 30 % der Brustkrebse nicht im Screening erfasst. Die Information der Bevölkerung bezüglich des Mammografie-Screenings ist derzeit noch mangelhaft. Dies führt dazu, dass der mögliche Nutzen von den betroffenen Frauen überschätzt und der Schaden unterschätzt wird. Die Aufklärung der Bevölkerung im Hinblick auf Nutzen und Risiken des Mammografie-Screenings muss daher verbessert werden, denn Frauen haben einen Anspruch auf evidenzbasierte Informationen und eine „informierte Entscheidung“.
Gebärmutterhalskrebs-Screening in der Schweiz – aktueller Stand und neue Herausforderungen
Authors: Untiet Sarah , Schmidt Nicole , Low Nicola , Petignat Patrick
Published: March 2013

Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts war der Gebärmutterhalskrebs die am häufigsten zum Tode führende Krebserkrankung der Frau. Seit den 1960er-Jahren konnte ein deutlicher Rückgang der Erkrankungen parallel zur Einführung des Papanicolaou-Tests als zytologische Screening-Methode verzeichnet werden. Auch heute noch ist der Papanicolau-Abstrich die wichtigste Früherkennungsmethode in diesem Bereich. Seit einiger Zeit besteht zudem die Möglichkeit, einen Test auf humane Papillomaviren (HPV-Test) als alternative Maßnahme durchzuführen oder den Zervikalabstrich mit einem HPV-Test zu kombinieren. Wir diskutieren hier die aktuellen Empfehlungen im Hinblick auf das Gebärmutterhalskrebs-Screening für die Schweiz im Vergleich zum Vorgehen anderer europäischer Länder. Vor dem Hintergrund der Möglichkeiten, die der HPV-Test bietet und angesichts der 2008 gestarteten HPV-Impfkampagne, muss auch in der Schweiz über eine Anpassung der Empfehlungen für die Früherkennung des Gebärmutterhalskrebses nachgedacht werden. Dies gilt sowohl für die Wahl des Screening-Tests als auch für die generelle Organisation als opportunistisches Screening oder organisiertes Screening-Programm.
Früherkennung von Lungenkrebs – eine Übersicht über Chancen und Risiken
Authors: Kasenda Benjamin , Raatz Heike , Bucher Heiner C.
Published: March 2013

Das Lungenkarzinom gehört weltweit zu den führenden Todesursachen. Bei Diagnosestellung ist es oft weit fortgeschritten und die betroffenen PatientInnen haben eine sehr schlechte Prognose. In der Schweiz ist das Lungenkarzinom bei Männern die häufigste und bei Frauen die zweithäufigste Krebstodesursache. Hauptrisikofaktor ist das Rauchen. Es wäre daher von großer Bedeutung, in Zukunft nicht nur Rauchstopp-Maßnahmen durchzuführen, sondern bei Menschen mit einem erhöhten Lungenkrebs-Risiko auch frühzeitig diagnostische und therapeutische Maßnahmen ergreifen zu können. In diesem Übersichtsartikel werden zuerst die Grundlagen des Lungenkarzinom-Screenings erläutert und anschließend aktuelle Studien zum Thema vorgestellt. Insgesamt liegen fünf randomisierte Studien vor. Eine dieser Studien konnte keinen Vorteil von regelmäßig durchgeführten konventionellen Thorax-Aufnahmen im Vergleich zur normalen Versorgung zeigen. In vier weiteren Studien wurde die Durchführung von Low-Dose-Computertomografien im Vergleich zu konventionellen Thorax-Aufnahmen und zur normalen Versorgung untersucht. Nur eine Studie aus den USA konnte einen kleinen Vorteil dieser Screening-Maßnahme im Vergleich zu regelmäßigen konventionellen Thorax-Aufnahmen nachweisen. Die drei anderen europäischen Studien zeigten keinerlei Vorteile für eine der Methoden. Das Ergebnis der US-Studie ist aus verschiedenen Gründen kritisch zu beurteilen. Hauptkritikpunkt ist die eingeschränkte Übertragbarkeit der Ergebnisse auf die alltägliche Versorgung. Die Rate der falsch positiven Befunde ist sehr hoch. Auch der Kosten-Nutzen-Effekt von solchen Lungenkrebs-Screening-Untersuchungen ist weiterhin unklar.
Chronisch entzündliche Darmerkrankungen: Erleben von Krankheit, Therapie und Betreuung
Authors: Rettke Horst , Staudacher Diana , Schmid-Büchi Silvia , Habermann Inis , Spirig Rebecca , Rogler Gerhard
Published: March 2013

Menschen, die an Morbus Crohn oder Colitis Ulcerosa erkrankt sind, stehen unter einem hohen körperlichen und seelischen Leidensdruck. Eine neue Medikamentengeneration (TNF-α-Hemmer) vermag die Symptomschwere wesentlich zu mildern. Mit dem Ziel, ein bedürfnisgerechtes Betreuungsprogramm für diese Patient(inn)engruppe zu entwickeln, wurden neun Patient(inn)en in problemzentrierten Interviews befragt, wie sie ihre Belastung durch Krankheitsgeschehen und Therapie einschätzen und wie sie die Qualität pflegerischer Betreuung beurteilen. Die Auswertung orientierte sich an der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse. Die Aussagen zum Erleben von Krankheit und Therapie ließen sich in drei Hauptkategorien einteilen: (1) «die unendliche Geschichte» eines Lebens mit der Erkrankung, (2) «der plötzliche Wechsel» dank der medikamentösen Therapie und (3) «der schmale Grat» eines neuen Lebensabschnitts: Die Krankheit beherrscht den Alltag nicht mehr. Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen, wie wichtig für diese Patient(inn)en eine auf ihre Bedürfnisse zugeschnittene Betreuung ist, um ihr Selbstmanagement und ihre Lebensqualität spürbar zu verbessern. Die Studie beleuchtet ein Entwicklungsfeld ambulanter Pflege, das auf dem Erkennen von Patient(inn)enbedürfnissen im Kontext einer chronischen Erkrankung mit dynamischem, kaum voraussagbarem Verlauf beruht.
Stress-mediated magnetoelectric memory effect with uni-axial TbCo2/FeCo multilayer on 011-cut PMN-PT ferroelectric relaxor
Authors: Dusch Yannick , Tiercelin Nicolas , Klimov Alexey , Giordano Stefano , Preobrazhensky Vladimir , Pernod Philippe
Published: March 2013

We present here the implementation of a magnetoelectric memory with a voltage driven writing method using a ferroelectric relaxor substrate. The memory point consists of a magnetoelastic element in which two orthogonal stable magnetic states are defined by combining uni-axial anisotropy together with a magnetic polarization in the hard axis direction. Using a ferroelectric relaxor substrate, an anisotropic stress is created in the magnetic element when applying a voltage across electrodes. Because of the inverse magnetostrictive effect, the effective anisotropy of the magnetic element is controlled by the applied voltage and used to switch magnetization from one state to the other.
Quartic scaling second-order approximate coupled cluster singles and doubles via tensor hypercontraction: THC-CC2
Authors: Hohenstein Edward G. , Kokkila Sara I. L. , Parrish Robert M. , Martínez Todd J.
Published: March 2013

The second-order approximate coupled cluster singles and doubles method (CC2) is a valuable tool in electronic structure theory. Although the density fitting approximation has been successful in extending CC2 to larger molecules, it cannot address the steep \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\mathcal {O}(N^5)$\end{document}O(N5) scaling with the number of basis functions, N. Here, we introduce the tensor hypercontraction (THC) approximation to CC2 (THC-CC2), which reduces the scaling to \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\mathcal {O}(N^4)$\end{document}O(N4) and the storage requirements to \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\mathcal {O}(N^2)$\end{document}O(N2). We present an algorithm to efficiently evaluate the THC-CC2 correlation energy and demonstrate its quartic scaling. This implementation of THC-CC2 uses a grid-based least-squares THC (LS-THC) approximation to the density-fitted electron repulsion integrals. The accuracy of the CC2 correlation energy under these approximations is shown to be suitable for most practical applications.
Capacitance and optical studies of elastic and dielectric properties in an organosiloxane tetrapode exhibiting a NB phase
Authors: Polineni S. , Figueirinhas J. L. , Cruz C. , Wilson D. A. , Mehl G. H.
Published: March 2013

Biaxial (NB) and uniaxial nematic (NU) phase behavior was detected and confirmed for an organosiloxane tetrapode material using capacitance and birefringence measurements. Elastic constants, permittivities at two distinct low frequencies, and birefringencies were determined as a function of temperature over both the NU and the NB phase ranges. The NU-NB transition is clearly observed in the birefringencies and conoscopy data. A temperature dependent cross-over frequency is also detected in this material for the permittivities, allowing the electrical switching of both planar and homeotropic aligned samples.
Near-IR laser generation of a high-energy conformer of L-alanine and the mechanism of its decay in a low-temperature nitrogen matrix
Authors: Nunes Cláudio M. , Lapinski Leszek , Fausto Rui , Reva Igor
Published: March 2013

Monomers of L-alanine (ALA) were isolated in cryogenic nitrogen matrices at 14 K. Two conformers were identified for the compound trapped from the gas-phase into the solid nitrogen environment. The potential energy surface (PES) of ALA was theoretically calculated at the MP2 and QCISD levels. Twelve minima were located on this PES. Seven low-energy conformers fall within the 0–10 kJ mol−1 range and should be appreciably populated in the equilibrium gas phase prior to deposition. Observation of only two forms in the matrices is explained in terms of calculated barriers to conformational rearrangements. All conformers with the O=C−O−H moiety in the cis orientation are separated by low barriers and collapse to the most stable form I during deposition of the matrix onto the low-temperature substrate. The second observed form II has the O=C−O−H group in the trans orientation. The remaining trans forms have very high relative energies (between 24 and 30 kJ mol−1) and are not populated. The high-energy trans form VI, that differs from I only by rotation of the OH group, was found to be separated from other conformers by barriers that are high enough to open a perspective for its stabilization in a matrix. The form VI was photoproduced in situ by narrow-band near-infrared irradiation of the samples at 6935–6910 cm−1, where the first overtone of the OH stretching vibration in form I appears. The photogenerated form VI decays in N2 matrices back to conformer I with a characteristic decay time of ∼15 min. The mechanism of the VI → I relaxation is rationalized in terms of the proton tunneling.
Inertial particle trapping in viscous streaming
Authors: Chong Kwitae , Kelly Scott D. , Smith Stuart , Eldredge Jeff D.
Published: March 2013

The motion of an inertial particle in a viscous streaming flow of Reynolds number order 10 is investigated theoretically and numerically. The streaming flow created by a circular cylinder undergoing rectilinear oscillation with small amplitude is obtained by asymptotic expansion from previous work, and the resulting velocity field is used to integrate the Maxey–Riley equation with the Saffman lift for the motion of an inertial spherical particle immersed in this flow. It is found that inertial particles spiral inward and become trapped inside one of the four streaming cells established by the cylinder oscillation, regardless of the particle size, density and flow Reynolds number. It is shown that the Faxén correction terms divert the particles from the fluid particle trajectories, and once diverted, the Saffman lift force is most responsible for effecting the inward motion and trapping. The speed of this trapping increases with increasing particle size, decreasing particle density, and increasing oscillation Reynolds number. The effects of Reynolds number on the streaming cell topology and the boundaries of particle attraction are also explored. It is found that particles initially outside the streaming cell are repelled by the flow rather than trapped.
A combined quasi-continuum/Langevin equation approach to study the self-diffusion dynamics of confined fluids
Authors: Sanghi T. , Aluru N. R.
Published: March 2013

In this work, we combine our earlier proposed empirical potential based quasi-continuum theory, (EQT) [A. V. Raghunathan, J. H. Park, and N. R. Aluru, J. Chem. Phys. 127, 174701 (2007)10.1063/1.2793070], which is a coarse-grained multiscale framework to predict the static structure of confined fluids, with a phenomenological Langevin equation to simulate the dynamics of confined fluids in thermal equilibrium. An attractive feature of this approach is that all the input parameters to the Langevin equation (mean force profile of the confined fluid and the static friction coefficient) can be determined using the outputs of the EQT and the self-diffusivity data of the corresponding bulk fluid. The potential of mean force profile, which is a direct output from EQT is used to compute the mean force profile of the confined fluid. The density profile, which is also a direct output from EQT, along with the self-diffusivity data of the bulk fluid is used to determine the static friction coefficient of the confined fluid. We use this approach to compute the mean square displacement and survival probabilities of some important fluids such as carbon-dioxide, water, and Lennard-Jones argon confined inside slit pores. The predictions from the model are compared with those obtained using molecular dynamics simulations. This approach of combining EQT with a phenomenological Langevin equation provides a mathematically simple and computationally efficient means to study the impact of structural inhomogeneity on the self-diffusion dynamics of confined fluids.
Electronic and optical properties of graphene and graphitic ZnO nanocomposite structures
Authors: Hu Wei , Li Zhenyu , Yang Jinlong
Published: March 2013

Electronic and optical properties of graphene and graphitic ZnO (G/g-ZnO) nanocomposites have been investigated with density functional theory. Graphene interacts overall weakly with g-ZnO monolayer via van der Waals interaction. There is no charge transfer between the graphene and g-ZnO monolayer, while a charge redistribution does happen within the graphene layer itself, forming well-defined electron-hole puddles. When Al or Li is doped in the g-ZnO monolayer, substantial electron (n-type) and hole (p-type) doping can be induced in graphene, leading to well-separated electron-hole pairs at their interfaces. Improved optical properties in graphene/g-ZnO nanocomposite systems are also observed, with potential photocatalytic and photovoltaic applications.
Effects of Reynolds number on some properties of a turbulent jet from a long square pipe
Authors: Xu M. , Pollard A. , Mi J. , Secretain F. , Sadeghi H.
Published: March 2013

The flow in the near-to-intermediate field of a jet emanating from a long square pipe is investigated using hot-wire anemometry. The data include distributions of the mean and high order turbulence moments over 8000 < Re < 50 000 along the jet centreline. It is demonstrated that the far-field rates of the mean velocity decay and spread, as well as the asymptotic value of the streamwise turbulent intensity, all decrease as Re increases for Re ≤ 30 000; however, they become approximately Re-independent for Re > 30 000. It follows that the critical Reynolds number should occur at Recr = 30 000. Attention is given to the exponents associated with the compensated axial velocity spectra that show that the inertial subrange calculated according to isotropic, homogeneous turbulence emerges at x/De = 30 for all Re; however, if the scaling exponent is altered from m = −5/3 to between −1.56 < m < −1.31 the “inertial” range emerges at lower values of Re and the exponent is Re dependent. It is also found that the exponent agrees very well with Mydlarski and Warhaft correlation m = (5/3)(1−3.15Rλ−2/3), where Rλ is the Taylor Reynolds number, obtained for turbulence decay behind a grid.
A compact capacitive probe for high-voltage diagnostic in Z-pinches
Authors: Wang Liangping , Han Juanjuan , Li Mo , Zhang Xinjun , Sun Tieping , Lei Tianshi
Published: March 2013

A capacitive divider was arranged on Qiangguang pulsed power generator during a series of wire-array Z-pinch experiments. This divider was designed to measure the voltage acted on the gap of the cathode and anode boards. The probe has a compact construction and is conveniently assembled on the facility. It is also a cheap voltage probe and easy to build by research groups. The probe can monitor a 1 MV high voltage with a 100 ns rise time. The calibration results showed that the probe had an attenuation ratio of 3.3 × 105 and a response time less than 5 ns. The uncertainty was estimated to be 3%.
Comment on “Intrinsic dielectric frequency dependent spectrum of a single domain tetragonal BaTiO3” [J. Appl. Phys. 112, 014108 (2012)]
Authors: Deng Hai-Yao
Published: March 2013

In a recent publication, Liu et al. [Appl. Phys. 112, 014108 (2012)] proposed a model for evaluating the dielectric function along the ferroelectric axis in the tetragonal phase of barium titanate, εc. In what follows, however, we argue that their interpretation of this model is physically inconsistent.
Control of magnetism across metal to insulator transitions
Authors: de la Venta J. , Wang Siming , Ramirez J. G. , Schuller Ivan K.
Published: March 2013

Magnetic properties (coercivity and magnetization) of ferromagnetic films are strongly affected by the proximity to materials that undergo a metal to insulator transition. Here, we show that stress associated with structural changes across the metal-insulator phase transition in VO2 and V2O3 produces a magnetoelastic anisotropy in ferromagnetic films (Co and Ni) deposited on top of the oxides. The changes in coercivity are as large as 168% and occur in a very narrow temperature range. This effect can be controlled and inverted by the thickness and the deposition temperature of the ferromagnetic films, which is very flexible for important technological applications.
Giant magnetocaloric effect in isostructural MnNiGe-CoNiGe system by establishing a Curie-temperature window
Authors: Liu E. K. , Zhang H. G. , Xu G. Z. , Zhang X. M. , Ma R. S. , Wang W. H. , Chen J. L. , Zhang H. W. , Wu G. H. , Feng L. , Zhang X. X.
Published: March 2013

An effective scheme of isostructural alloying was applied to establish a Curie-temperature window in isostructural MnNiGe-CoNiGe system. With the simultaneous accomplishment of decreasing structural-transition temperature and converting antiferromagnetic martensite to ferromagnetic state, a 200 K Curie-temperature window was established between Curie temperatures of austenite and martensite phases. In the window, a first-order magnetostructural transition between paramagnetic austenite and ferromagnetic martensite occurs with a sharp jump in magnetization, showing a magnetic entropy change as large as −40 J kg−1 K−1 in a 50 kOe field change. This giant magnetocaloric effect enables Mn1−xCoxNiGe to become a potential magnetic refrigerant.
Atomic collisional orientation for the electron-impact excitations: Quantum shielding effect
Authors: Jung Young-Dae , Hong Woo-Pyo
Published: March 2013

The influence of the quantum shielding on the collisional atomic orientation phenomena is investigated for the electron-impact excitations of the hydrogenic ion. The excitation probabilities are derived as a function of the collision energy, impact parameter, and quantum wave number by using the semiclassical method and effective interaction potential. It is found that the influence of the oscillatory quantum shielding enhances the excitation probabilities. The detailed investigation on the variation of excitation preference due to the influence of the quantum shielding is also given.
Interfacial chemical bonding state and band alignment of CaF2/hydrogen-terminated diamond heterojunction
Authors: Liu J. W. , Liao M. Y. , Cheng S. H. , Imura M. , Koide Y.
Published: March 2013

CaF2 films are deposited on hydrogen-terminated diamond (H-diamond) by a radio-frequency sputter-deposition technique at room temperature. Interfacial chemical bonding state and band alignment of CaF2/H-diamond heterojunction are investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is confirmed that there are only C-Ca bonds at the CaF2/H-diamond heterointerface. Valence and conductance band offsets of the CaF2/H-diamond heterojunciton are determined to be 3.7 ± 0.2 and 0.3 ± 0.2 eV, respectively. It shows a type I straddling band configuration. The large valence band offset suggests advantage of the CaF2/H-diamond heterojunciton for the development of high power and high frequency field effect transistors.
The mixed Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin-full-wave approach and its application to lower hybrid wave propagation and absorption
Authors: Lu Z. X. , Zonca F. , Cardinali A.
Published: March 2013

The mixed Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB)-full-wave approach for the calculation of the 2D mode structure in tokamak plasmas is further developed based on our previous work [A. Cardinali and F. Zonca, Phys. Plasmas 10, 4199 (2003) and Z. X. Lu et al., Phys. Plasmas 19, 042104 (2012)]. A new scheme for theoretical analysis and numerical implementation of the mixed WKB-full-wave approach is formulated, based on scale separation and asymptotic analysis. Besides its capability to efficiently investigate the initial value problem for 2D mode structures and linear stability, in this work, the mixed WKB-full-wave approach is extended to the investigation of radio frequency wave propagation and absorption, e.g., lower hybrid waves. As a novel method, its comparison with other approaches, e.g., WKB and beam tracing methods, is discussed. Its application to lower hybrid wave propagation in concentric circular tokamak plasmas using typical FTU discharge parameters is also demonstrated.