bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced surveillance for measles in low-incidence territories of the Russian Federation: defining a rate for suspected case investigation
Authors: TIKHONOVA N. T. , BICHURINA M. A. , GERASIMOVA A. G. , ZVIRKUN O. V. , VLADIMEROVA N. P. , MAMAEVA T. , LIPSKAYA G. , ELSAADANY S. , SPIKA J. S.
Published: April 2010

The rate of case investigation for measles-like illness (MLI) is an important indicator for the quality of measles surveillance in countries targeting measles elimination. However, a benchmark rate is still being discussed. We assessed different rates of investigation in 11 territories of the Russian Federation with low reported measles incidence during the previous 4–7 years. Each territory maintained their existing surveillance activities and also undertook additional surveillance activities for MLI over a 3-year period. The annual routine rate of investigation varied from 0·06 to 1·8/100 000 population; the overall rate of investigation, including enhanced surveillance, varied from 1·4 to 7·2/100 000. Forty-nine (30·8%) of 159 measles cases detected were identified through enhanced surveillance. Based on the results of this study, the Russian Federation concluded that a rate of routine investigation of 2/100 000 provided the best balance between available resources and sensitivity for detection of measles cases.
A dynamic elastic-visco-plastic unilateral contact problem with normal damped response and Coulomb friction
Authors: ECK CHRISTOF , JARUŠEK JIŘÍ , SOFONEA MIRCEA
Published: April 2010

We consider a dynamic frictional contact problem between an elastic-visco-plastic body and a foundation. The contact is modelled with a normal damped response condition of such a type that the normal velocity is restricted with unilateral constraint, associated with the Coulomb law in which the coefficient of friction may depend on the velocity. We derive a variational formulation of the problem which has the form of a system coupling an integro–differential equation for the stress field with an evolutionary variational inequality for the displacement field. This inequality is approximated by a variational equation using a smoothing of the friction and the penalty approximation of the unilateral condition. The existence of a weak solution to the variational equation is proved by the Galerkin method for an auxiliary problem with given viscoplastic part of the stress and a fixed point argument. The solvability of the original problem is proved by passing to the limit of the penalty parameter and the smoothing parameter. This convergence is based on a certain regularity of solutions which is verified with the use of a local rectification of the boundary and a translation method.
Subcutaneous hydration by hypodermoclysis
Authors: Lopez Jorge H. , Reyes-Ortiz Carlos A.
Published: April 2010

Subcutaneous hydration, or hypodermoclysis (HDC), is a very simple technique that should be practised more often by doctors and nurses who care for older patients. It involves less discomfort, generates less cost and has fewer adverse effects than the intravenous route and may reduce the need for admission to the emergency department. The main indication is the management of mild to moderate dehydration, and prevention of dehydration in patients who are intolerant of oral intake. It should not be administered in situations of severe dehydration, in emergency situations, or in patients with fluid overload. Isotonic or hypotonic solutions must be used with appropriate electrolytes. Certain medicines can be given simultaneously by HDC and this may be especially valuable in palliative care settings. In most cases there is no need to add hyaluronidase.
Domain theoretic characterisations of quasi-metric completeness in terms of formal balls
Authors: ROMAGUERA SALVADOR , VALERO OSCAR
Published: April 2010

We characterise those quasi-metric spaces (X, d) whose poset BX of formal balls satisfies the condition
(*)
From this characterisation, we then deduce that a quasi-metric space (X, d) is Smyth-complete if and only if BX is a dcpo satisfying condition (*). We also give characterisations in terms of formal balls for sequentially Yoneda complete quasi-metric spaces and for Yoneda complete T1 quasi-metric spaces. Finally, we discuss several properties of the Heckmann quasi-metric on the formal balls of any quasi-metric space.
The Long-Term Effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy as a Relapse Prevention Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Mathew Kate L. , Whitford Hayley S. , Kenny Maura A. , Denson Linley A.
Published: April 2010

Background:Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a relapse prevention treatment for major depressive disorder.Method:An observational clinical audit of 39 participants explored the long-term effects of MBCT using standardized measures of depression (BDI-II), rumination (RSS), and mindfulness (MAAS).Results:MBCT was associated with statistically significant reductions in depression from pre to post treatment. Gains were maintained over time (Group 1, 1–12 months,p= .002; Group 2, 13–24 months,p= .001; Group 3, 25–34 months,p= .04). Depression scores in Group 3 did begin to worsen, yet were still within the mild range of the BDI-II. Treatment variables such as attendance at “booster” sessions and ongoing mindfulness practice correlated with better depression outcomes (p= .003 andp= .03 respectively). There was a strong negative correlation between rumination and mindful attention (p< .001), consistent with a proposed mechanism of metacognition in the efficacy of MBCT.Conclusion:It is suggested that ongoing MBCT skills and practice may be important for relapse prevention over the longer term. Larger randomized studies of the mechanisms of MBCT with longer follow-up periods are recommended.
Effects of fixed- and varied-context repetition on associative recognition in amnesia
Authors: GREENBERG DANIEL L. , VERFAELLIE MIEKE
Published: April 2010

This study compared the effects of fixed- and varied-context repetition on associative recognition in amnesia. Controls and amnesic participants were presented with a set of three-word phrases. Each was presented three times. In the varied-context condition, the verb changed with each presentation; in the fixed-context condition, it remained constant. At test, participants performed an associative-recognition task in which they were shown pairs of words from the study phase and asked to distinguish between intact and recombined pairs. For corrected recognition (hits – false alarms), controls performed better in the varied-context than in the fixed-context repetition condition, whereas amnesic participants’ performance did not differ between conditions. Similarly, controls had lower false-alarm rates in the varied-context condition, but there was no significant effect of condition for the amnesic participants. Thus, varied-context repetition does not improve amnesic participants’ performance on a recollection-dependent associative-recognition task, possibly because the amnesic participants were unable to take advantage of the additional cues that the varied-context encoding condition provided. (JINS, 2010,16, 596–602.)
Complex activities of daily living vary by mild cognitive impairment subtype
Authors: BANGEN KATHERINE J. , JAK AMY J. , SCHIEHSER DAWN M. , DELANO-WOOD LISA , TUMINELLO ELIZABETH , HAN S. DUKE , DELIS DEAN C. , BONDI MARK W.
Published: April 2010

There is increasing consensus regarding the importance of operationally defining and measuring functional decline in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, few studies have directly examined functional abilities in MCI or its presumed subtypes and, to date, reported findings have been discrepant. Nondemented older adults (n = 120) were administered a comprehensive cognitive battery measuring multiple domains as well as a performance-based functional ability measure. Participants were characterized as either cognitively normal, amnestic MCI, or non-amnestic MCI. MCI individuals demonstrated decrements in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) relative to their cognitively normal counterparts. Specifically, participants with amnestic MCI demonstrated significant decrements in financial management, whereas those with non-amnestic MCI showed poorer performance in abilities related to health and safety. Moreover, decreased functional abilities were associated with decrements in global cognitive functioning but not memory or executive functions in the MCI participants. Finally, logistic regression demonstrated that functional abilities accurately predicted MCI subtype. Results support the need for better delineation of functional decline in MCI. Given the implications of functional status for MCI diagnosis and treatment, the direct assessment of functional abilities is recommended. Results further suggest performance-based IADL assessment may have utility in distinguishing MCI subtypes. (JINS, 2010, 16, 630–639.)
IDENTIFYING NONLINEAR SERIAL DEPENDENCE IN VOLATILE, HIGH-FREQUENCY TIME SERIES AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR VOLATILITY MODELING
Authors: Wild Phillip , Foster John , Hinich Melvin J.
Published: April 2010

In this article, we show how tests of nonlinear serial dependence can be applied to high-frequency time series data that exhibit high volatility, strong mean reversion, and leptokurtotis. Portmanteau correlation, bicorrelation, and tricorrelation tests are used to detect nonlinear serial dependence in the data. Trimming is used to control for the presence of outliers in the data. The data that are employed are 161,786 half-hourly spot electricity price observations recorded over nearly a decade in the wholesale electricity market in New South Wales, Australia. Strong evidence of nonlinear serial dependence is found and its implications for time series modeling are discussed.
HABIT FORMATION, DYNASTIC ALTRUISM, AND POPULATION DYNAMICS
Authors: Schäfer Andreas , Valente Simone
Published: April 2010

We study the general equilibrium properties of two growth models with overlapping generations, habit formation, and endogenous fertility. In the neoclassical model, habits modify the economy's growth rate and generate transitional dynamics in fertility; stationary income per capita is associated with either increasing or decreasing population and output, depending on the strength of habits. In the AK specification, growing population and increasing consumption per capita require that the habit coefficient lie within definite boundaries; outside the critical interval, positive growth is associated with either declining consumption due to overcrowding, or extinction paths with declining population. In both frameworks, habits reduce fertility: the trade-off between second-period consumption and spending for bequests prompts agents to decrease fertility in order to make parental altruism less costly. This mechanism suggests that status-dependent preferences may explain part of the decline in fertility rates observed in most developed economies.
Electron Beam-Induced Radiation Damage: The Bubbling Response in Amorphous Dried Sodium Phosphate Buffer
Authors: Massover William H.
Published: April 2010

Irradiation of an amorphous layer of dried sodium phosphate buffer (pH = 7.0) by transmission electron microscopy (100–120 kV) causes rapid formation of numerous small spherical bubbles [10–100 Å (= 1–10 nm)] containing an unknown gas. Bubbling is detected even with the first low-dose exposure. In a thin layer (ca. 100–150 Å), bubbling typically goes through nucleation, growth, possible fusion, and end-state, after which further changes are not apparent; co-irradiated adjacent areas having a slightly smaller thickness never develop bubbles. In moderately thicker regions (ca. over 200 Å), there is no end-state. Instead, a complex sequence of microstructural changes is elicited during continued intermittent high-dose irradiation: nucleation, growth, early simple fusions, a second round of extensive multiple fusions, general reduction of matrix thickness (producing flattening and expansion of larger bubbles, occasional bubble fission, and formation of very large irregularly-shaped bubbles by a third round of compound fusion events), and slow shrinkage of all bubbles. The ongoing lighter appearance of bubble lumens, maintenance of their rounded shape, and extensive changes in size and form indicate that gas content continues throughout their surprisingly long lifetime; the thin dense boundary layer surrounding all bubbles is proposed to be the main mechanism for their long lifetime.
Growth Rate Determination through Automated TEM Image Analysis: Crystallization Studies of Doped SbTe Phase-Change Thin Films
Authors: Oosthoek Jasper L.M. , Kooi Bart J. , De Hosson Jeff T.M. , Wolters Rob A.M. , Gravesteijn Dirk J. , Attenborough Karen
Published: April 2010

A computer-controlled procedure is outlined here that first determines the position of the amorphous-crystalline interface in an image. Subsequently, from a time series of these images, the velocity of the crystal growth front is quantified. The procedure presented here can be useful for a wide range of applications, and we apply the new approach to determine growth rates in a so-called fast-growth-type phase-change material. The growth rate (without nucleation) of this material is of interest for comparison with identical material used in phase-change random access memory cells. Crystal growth rates in the amorphous phase-change layers have been measured at various temperatures using in situ heating in a transmission electron microscope. Doped SbTe films (20 nm thick) were deposited on silicon nitride membranes, and samples with and without silicon oxide capping layer were studied. The activation energy for growth was found to be 3.0 eV. The samples without capping layer exhibit a nucleation rate that is an order of magnitude higher than the samples with a silicon oxide capping layer. This difference can be attributed to the partial oxidation of the phase-change layer in air. However, the growth rates of the samples with and without capping are quite comparable.
On hyperbolic comets
Authors: Guliyev A. S. , Dadashov A. S.
Published: April 2010

Preliminary results of an investigation on the problem of hyperbolic comets are presented and discussed.
Physical and dynamical characteristics of icy “dwarf planets” (plutoids)
Authors: Tancredi Gonzalo
Published: April 2010

The geophysical and dynamical criteria introduced in the “Definition of a Planet in the Solar System” adopted by the International Astronomical Union are reviewed. The classification scheme approved by the IAU reflects dynamical and geophysical differences among planets, “dwarf planets” and “small Solar System bodies”. We present, in the form of a decision tree, the set of questions to be considered in order to classify an object as an icy “dwarf planet” (a plutoid). We find that there are 15 very probable plutoids; plus possibly 9 more, which require a reliable estimate of their sizes. Finally, the most relevant physical and dynamical characteristics of the set of icy “dwarf planets” have been reviewed; e.g. the albedo, the lightcurve amplitude, the location in the different dynamical populations, the size distributions, and the discovery rate.
The unusually frail asteroid 2008 TC3
Authors: Jenniskens Peter , Shaddad Muawia H. ,   The Almahata Sitta Consortium
Published: April 2010

The first asteroid to be discovered in space and subsequently observed to impact Earth, asteroid 2008 TC3, exploded at a high 37 km altitude and stopped ablating at 32 km. This would classify the fireball as of Ceplecha's PE-criterion IIIb/a, meaning “cometary” in nature. In this case, the structural weakness may have come from pores found in some of the recovered meteorites, called “Almahata Sitta” (= Station 6 in Arabic). The explosion turned most of the asteroid mass to dust and vapor, only a tiny fraction shattered into macroscopic meteorites, the heaviest of which was 283 gram. Other similarly frail asteroids may be related to main belt comets.
Magnetite microspheric particles from bright bolide of EN171101, exploded above the Trans-Carpathians mountains on Nov. 17, 2001
Authors: Churyumov Klim I. , Belevtsev Rudolf Ya. , Sobotovich Emlen V. , Spivak Svitlana D. , Blazhko Volodymyr I. , Solonenko Volodymyr I.
Published: April 2010

In 2007-2008 the authors found many magnetite microspheric particles in ground samples at the Trans-Carpathians mountains near the village of Tur'yi Remety. Their diameters are of 0.1 - 0.3 mm and they have Ni, Co and Cr as chemical composition. We think that these particles are part of the bright bolide of EN171101 which exploded above Trans-Carpathians mountains on Nov. 17, 2001.
The meteoroid above Mediterranean Sea on July, 6th 2002 was a fragment of a cometary nucleus?
Authors: Churyumov Klim I. , Kruchynenko Vitaly G. , Chubko Larissa S. , Churyumova Tatyana K.
Published: April 2010

It is shown, that the explosion of the bolide above the Mediterranean sea on July, 6th 2002 with a high probability was a fragment of an icy cometary nucleus which initial weight was equal approximately to 7 ⋅ 108 grams. This follows from the determined energy of the outburst equal to 26kT of TNT (Brown et al. 2002). We think that this energy refers to the height of the maximal braking of the body in the Earth's atmosphere. At the speed of 20.3 km/s accepted by authors, the weight of a body at this height is equal 5 ⋅ 108 gr, and at the entrance in the atmosphere it was approximately of 7 ⋅ 108 gr.
Recent polarimetric observations of comet 67 P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Authors: Levasseur-Regourd Anny-Chantal , Hadamcik Edith , Sen Asoke K. , Gupta Ranjan , Lasue Jeremie
Published: April 2010

Remote observations of solar light scattered by dust in comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko coma are of major importance to assess the properties of the dust and thus to prepare the rendezvous of the Rosetta spacecraft with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. We present polarimetric data obtained from India in December 2008 and France in March 2009. Compared with previous observations of this comet and of other Jupiter family comets, they confirm that it is dust-poor, although it may exhibit outbursts leading to the ejection of dust particles from its subsurface, especially after its perihelion passage.
The Rosetta Mission: Comet and Asteroid Exploration
Authors: Schulz Rita
Published: April 2010

In March 2004 the European Space Agency launched its Planetary Cornerstone Mission Rosetta to rendezvous with Jupiter-family comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The Rosetta mission represents the next step into the improvement of our understanding of comet nuclei naturally following the four successful comet nucleus fly-by missions carried out in the past. It will however not perform a simple fly-by at its target comet, but combines an Orbiter and a Lander Mission. The Rosetta spacecraft will go in orbit around the comet nucleus when it is still far away from the Sun, and escort the comet for more than a year along its pre- and post-perihelion orbit while monitoring the evolution of the nucleus and the coma as a function of increasing and decreasing solar flux input. Different instrumentations will be used in parallel, from multi-wavelength spectrometry to in-situ measurements of coma and nucleus composition and physical properties. In addition the Rosetta Lander Philae will land on the nucleus surface, before the comet is too active to permit such a landing (i.e. at around r = 3 AU) and examine the surface and subsurface composition as well as its physical properties. Two fly-bys at main belt asteroids have been scheduled for the Rosetta spacecraft during its journey to the comet. The first fly-by at E-type asteroid (2867) Steins was already successfully executed in September 2008. The second and main fly-by at asteroid (21) Lutetia is scheduled for July 2010.
Deep Impact ejection from Comet 9P/Tempel 1 as a triggered outburst
Authors: Ipatov Sergei I. , A'Hearn Michael F.
Published: April 2010

Ejection of material after the Deep Impact collision with Comet Tempel 1 was studied based on analysis of the images made by the Deep Impact cameras during the first 13 minutes after impact. Analysis of the images shows that there was a local maximum of the rate of ejection at time of ejection ~10 s with typical velocities ~100 m/s. At the same time, a considerable excessive ejection in a few directions began, the direction to the brightest pixel changed by ~50°, and there was a local increase of brightness of the brightest pixel. The ejection can be considered as a superposition of the normal ejection and the longer triggered outburst.
Military intervention for humanitarian purposes: does the Responsibility to Protect doctrine advance the legality of the use of force for humanitarian ends?
Authors: Massingham Eve
Published: April 2010

The Responsibility to Protect is being touted as a new approach to protecting populations from mass atrocities. Certainly it would be encouraging to believe that an end to genocides, large scale ethnic cleansing and large scale loss of life were within humanity's reach. However, whilst the holistic approach of the doctrine is to be commended, the legality of the proposal requires further analysis. This paper specifically addresses the evolution of the legality of humanitarian intervention and looks at whether the Responsibility to Protect doctrine advances the legality of the use of force for humanitarian ends.
The Role of Past in the Simulation of Autobiographical Future Episodes
Authors: Gamboz Nadia , Brandimonte Maria A. , De Vito Stefania
Published: April 2010

Human beings’ ability to envisage the future has been recently assumed to rely on the reconstructive nature of episodic memory ( Schacter & Addis, 2007 ). In the present research, young adults mentally reexperienced and preexperienced temporally close and distant autobiographical episodes, and rated their phenomenal characteristics as well as their novelty. Additionally, they performed a delayed recognition task including remember-know judgments on new, old-remember, and old-imagine words. Results showed that past and future temporally close episodes included more phenomenal details than distant episodes, in line with earlier studies. However, future events were occasionally rated as already occurred in the past. Furthermore, in the recognition task, participants falsely attributed old-imagine words to remembered episodes. While partially in line with previous results, these findings call for a more subtle analysis in order to discriminate representations of past episodes from true future events simulations.
Memorial Consequences of Environmental Context Change in Children and Adults
Authors: Aslan Alp , Samenieh Anuscheh , Staudigl Tobias , Bäuml Karl-Heinz T.
Published: April 2010

Changing environmental context during encoding can influence episodic memory. This study examined the memorial consequences of environmental context change in children. Kindergartners, first and fourth graders, and young adults studied two lists of items, either in the same room (no context change) or in two different rooms (context change), and subsequently were tested on the two lists in the room in which the second list was encoded. As expected, in adults, the context change impaired recall of the first list and improved recall of the second. Whereas fourth graders showed the same pattern of results as adults, in both kindergartners and first graders no memorial effects of the context change arose. The results indicate that the two effects of environmental context change develop contemporaneously over middle childhood and reach maturity at the end of the elementary school days. The findings are discussed in light of both retrieval-based and encoding-based accounts of context-dependent memory.
Determination of slow slip episodes and strain accumulation along the Cascadia margin
Authors: Holtkamp Stephen , Brudzinski Michael R.
Published: April 2010

Continuous GPS stations in the Pacific Northwest Geodetic Array network clearly record subduction‐related strain accumulation and slow slip episodes along the Cascadia convergent margin. Many of the slow slip episodes have been correlated in time and space with seismic evidence for nonvolcanic tremor, leading to the previous discovery of episodic tremor and slip (ETS). In this study, we use a hyperbolic tangent curve fitting technique for the identification of slow slip times and displacement magnitudes within the GPS time series, independent of seismic tremor data. We then apply this technique to study the patterns of strain accumulation and release associated with ETS events and characterize patterns of coupling associated with the locked and transition zones of the plate interface. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this automated technique for both identification of slow slip observations and calculation of slow slip displacements. Recurrence patterns in the distribution of GPS observations demonstrate coherence among neighboring stations over time and apparent along‐strike segmentation of the subduction interface. When slow slip events are removed from the time series, we can estimate the total site velocities between slow slip events. These velocities decay as depth to the subduction interface increases, but they diverge from the long‐term trends expected from the interseismic cycle at ∼30–60 km above the interface, consistent with the location where slow slip displacements occur. Forward modeling of coupling on the plate interface reveals that in between slow slip events there is a patch of at least 30% coupling from 20 to 35 km depth, which is needed to produce the observed back slip displacements. Intriguingly, our best fitting models have a decrease in coupling down to ∼30% at ∼20 km depth followed by a peak of greater than 80% coupling at ∼30–35 km depth, suggesting the source zone for ETS events acts as a distinct locking zone that releases strain more frequently than the updip seismogenic locked zone, although a zone of constant ∼30% coupling cannot be ruled out with this data set. Such a scenario indicates that frictional behavior with depth follows a more complex model than a simple temperature controlled transition. We propose that coupling initially decreases with depth due to a decrease in strength of the overriding lower crust, but then coupling increases again when the subducting plate comes in contact with the stronger overriding mantle.
New and recent gully activity on Mars as seen by HiRISE
Authors: Dundas Colin M. , McEwen Alfred S. , Diniega Serina , Byrne Shane , Martinez‐Alonso Sara
Published: April 2010

Fresh‐appearing gully deposits are found at tens of sites in the southern hemisphere of Mars. These deposits have latitudinal and azimuthal dependences similar to the overall preferences of southern‐hemisphere gullies, suggesting that most gullies can undergo such events. Definite changes are seen at ten sites, including two previously reported. These include visible modification of gully channels and aprons. Those formation intervals constrained to better than one Mars year tend to include winter and exclude summer, suggesting seasonal activity. This seasonal activity is consistent with proposed models for gully formation driven by CO2 frost, although at least some of the new deposits are probably due to dry granular flow with no volatile involvement. As these deposits are capable of effecting distinct topographic changes to gully aprons and channels, they represent a significant component of recent gully evolution.
Long term surface deformation of Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat from GPS geodesy: Inferences from simple elastic inverse models
Authors: Mattioli Glen S. , Herd Richard A. , Strutt Michael H. , Ryan Graham , Widiwijayanti Christina , Voight Barry
Published: April 2010

Campaign and continuous GPS geodetic measurements on Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat are reported from 1995 to 2009, spanning three dome growth and repose episodes. Uniform elastic half‐space inversions were used to examine how crustal pressure sources evolved by inverting subsets of all available 3D site data for any given episode using a single Mogi‐source. Changes in network topology were also examined. The average best‐fitting single Mogi model yields X = 0.3 ± 0.5 km, Y = 0.8 ± 0.4 km, and a depth of Z = 10.4 ± 2.1 km (1‐σ, Z positive down), relative to the center of the model domain. The mean Mogi depth for effusive (deflation) versus repose (inflation) is different and significant at >90% confidence, yielding Z = 11.4 ± 2.0 km and 9.3 ± 1.6 km, respectively. A vertical, prolate ellipsoid improves the fit at >95% confidence over a single Mogi source or stacked, two‐source model for the 2003–2005 repose and 2005–2007 dome growth episodes.
Intraseasonal variability in sea surface height over the South China Sea
Authors: Zhuang Wei , Xie Shang‐Ping , Wang Dongxiao , Taguchi Bunmei , Aiki Hidenori , Sasaki Hideharu
Published: April 2010

Intraseasonal sea surface height (SSH) variability and associated eddy energy in the South China Sea is studied using satellite observations and an eddy‐resolving, global ocean general circulation model. In both the model hindcast and satellite observations, a conspicuous minimum of intraseasonal SSH variance is found along the continental break between the shallow shelf and deep basin. Specifically strong intraseasonal variability (ISV) exists in the following regions: on the northern continental shelf, in the Gulf of Thailand, and along two bands in the deep basin with the northern band located west of Luzon Strait and the southern one southeast of Vietnam. SSH ISV exhibits clear seasonality. During active seasons, ISV in the deep water, high‐variance bands displays robust propagations in the direction of mean flow. Low correlation between observations and model hindcast suggests the importance dynamical instabilities for ISV in the deep basin, in agreement with an energetics analysis. An exception is along the Vietnam offshore jet during summer, where ISV is forced by wind curls created by Annam Cordillera. In shallow waters, especially in the Gulf of Thailand, SSH ISV is dominated by barotropic response to intraseasonal wind stress forcing. The agreement between altimetry and the model simulation in the Gulf of Thailand demonstrates the ability of satellite altimeters to observe SSH variability in shallow shelves of weak tides.
Response of OH airglow temperatures to neutral air dynamics at 78°N, 16°E during the anomalous 2003–2004 winter
Authors: Dyrland M. E. , Mulligan F. J. , Hall C. M. , Sigernes F. , Tsutsumi M. , Deehr C. S.
Published: April 2010

Hydroxyl (OH) brightness temperatures from the mesopause region derived from temperature profiles from the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument on the Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) satellite are compared with OH(6‐2) rotational temperatures measured by spectrometer from Longyearbyen, Norway (78°N, 16°E), during the winter 2003–2004. The two series correspond well, although the satellite measurements are higher by an average of 5.6 K ± 4.4 K. Reasons for this apparent bias are discussed. The two series give a near‐continuous temperature record from this winter, making it possible to study the response of the temperatures to neutral air dynamics observed from meteor radar measurements of meridional and zonal wind. Vertical profiles of 1.6 μm OH volume emission rates from SABER reveal that the unusually high temperatures observed during January and February 2004 (240–250 K) correspond to a very low and bright OH layer. Significant linear correlations are found between meridional wind, OH temperature, and peak altitude. These data support the theory that the high temperatures result from an anomalously strong upper stratospheric vortex that confined air to the polar regions, coupled with meridional transport, which led to a strong downwelling of atomic oxygen‐rich air, thereby lowering the altitude of the OH layer. The SABER data reveal that the re‐formation of the OH layer at approximately 78 km altitude accounted for an increase in temperature of approximately 15 K, while the remaining temperature increase (20–35 K) is attributed to adiabatic heating and chemical heating from the exothermic reactions involved in producing the vibrationally excited OH.
Multiscale carbon monoxide and aerosol correlations from satellite measurements and the GOCART model: Implication for emissions and atmospheric evolution
Authors: Bian Huisheng , Chin Mian , Kawa S. Randy , Yu Hongbin , Diehl Thomas , Kucsera Tom
Published: April 2010

Regional correlations of CO and aerosol on different time scales provide information on their sources, lifetimes, and transport pathways. We examine regional and global column CO and fine‐mode aerosol optical depth (AODf) correlations from daily to seasonal scales using 7 years (2000–2006) of satellite observations from the Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer and model simulations from the Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiative Transport model. Our analyses indicate that, globally, column CO and AODf have similar spatial distributions due to their common source locations, although CO is more spatially dispersed because of its longer lifetime. However, temporal CO‐AODf correlations differ substantially over different timescales and different regions. On daily to synoptic scales CO and AODf have a positive correlation over the industrial and biomass burning source regions owing to the covariance of emissions and coherent dynamic transport. No such correlation is seen in remote regions because of the diverging influence of mixing and chemical processes during longer‐range transport. On the seasonal scale in the Northern Hemisphere, CO and AODf are out of phase by 2–4 months. This phase lag is caused by photochemical production of sulfate, which is the major component of fine‐mode aerosol in the Northern Hemisphere, and photochemical destruction of CO in reaction with OH (both at maximum in the summer and at minimum in the winter), together with the seasonality of fine‐mode dust, which peaks in the boreal spring season. In the Southern Hemisphere tropics and subtropics, however, CO and AODf are generally in‐phase because the variability is dominated by direct release from biomass burning emissions.
Targeting of antigens to skin dendritic cells: possibilities to enhance vaccine efficacy
Authors: Romani Nikolaus , Thurnher Martin , Idoyaga Juliana , Steinman Ralph M , Flacher Vincent
Published: April 2010

Vaccinations in medicine are commonly administered through the skin. Therefore, the vaccine is immunologically processed by antigen‐presenting cells of the skin. There is recent evidence that the clinically less often used intradermal route is effective; in cases even superior to the conventional subcutaneous or intramuscular route. Professional antigen‐presenting cells of the skin comprise epidermal Langerhans cells (CD207/langerin+), dermal langerin– and dermal langerin+ dendritic cells (DCs). In human skin, langerin– dermal DCs can be further subdivided on the basis of their reciprocal CD1a and CD14 expression. The relative contributions of these subsets to the generation of immunity or tolerance are still unclear. Langerhans cells in human skin seem to be specialized for induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Likewise, mouse Langerhans cells are capable of cross‐presentation and of protecting against experimental tumours. It is desirable to harness these properties for immunotherapy. A promising strategy to dramatically improve the outcome of vaccinations is ‘antigen targeting’. Thereby, the vaccine is delivered directly and selectively to defined types of skin DCs. Targeting is achieved by means of coupling antigen to antibodies that recognize cell surface receptors on DCs. This approach is being widely explored. Little is known, however, about the events that take place in the skin and the DCs subsets involved therein. This topic will be discussed in this article.
Therapeutic Hypothermia for Acute Ischemic Stroke: Ready to Start Large Randomized Trials?
Authors: van der Worp H Bart , Macleod Malcolm R , Kollmar Rainer ,   for the European Stroke Research Network for Hypothermia (EuroHYP)
Published: April 2010

Therapeutic hypothermia is a means of neuroprotection well established in the management of acute ischemic brain injuries such as anoxic encephalopathy after cardiac arrest and perinatal asphyxia. As such, it is the only neuroprotective strategy for which there is robust evidence for efficacy. Although there is overwhelming evidence from animal studies that cooling also improves outcome after focal cerebral ischemia, this has not been adequately tested in patients with acute ischemic stroke. There are still some uncertainties about crucial factors relating to the delivery of hypothermia, and the resolution of these would allow improvements in the design of phase III studies in these patients and improvements in the prospects for successful translation. In this study, we discuss critical issues relating first to the targets for therapy including the optimal depth and duration of cooling, second to practical issues including the methods of cooling and the management of shivering, and finally, of factors relating to the design of clinical trials. Consideration of these factors should inform the development of strategies to establish beyond doubt the place of hypothermia in the management of acute ischemic stroke.
Effect of budesonide on TGF‐β1‐enhanced VEGF production by lung fibroblasts
Authors: Chen Ya‐Juan , Wang Tao , Liu Dai‐Shun , Xu Dan , Chen Lei , An Jing , Wen Fu‐Qiang
Published: April 2010

VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) is a potent proangiogenic cytokine, and vascular change is one of the characteristic features of airway remodelling. Since the glucocorticoids have shown antifibrosis properties, we sought to investigate whether budesonide, a widely used glucocorticoid in clinical practice, could attenuate TGF‐β1 (transforming growth factor‐β1)‐induced VEGF production by HFL‐1 (human lung fibroblasts). HFL‐1 fibroblasts were treated with various concentrations of budesonide (10−11 M, 10−9 M and 10−7 M) in the absence or presence of TGF‐β1. Postculture media were collected for ELISA of VEGF at the indicated times. The cell lysates were subjected to Western blotting analysis to test TGF‐β1/Smad and MAP (mitogen‐activated protein) kinase signalling activation, respectively. The results suggested that budesonide pretreatment reduced the significant increase of VEGF release induced by TGF‐β1 in HFL‐1 fibroblasts in a dose‐dependent manner, and suppressed the increase of phospho‐Smad3 and phosphor‐ERK (extracellular signal‐regulated kinase) protein levels. In conclusion, budesonide may reduce TGF‐β1‐induced VEGF production in the lung, probably through the Smad/ERK signalling pathway and, thus, may provide new sight into the molecular mechanism underlying glucocorticoid therapy for airway inflammatory diseases.
A new protocol for functional analysis of adipogenesis using reverse transfection technology and time‐lapse video microscopy
Authors: Grönniger Elke , Wessel Sonja , Kühn Sonja Christin , Söhle Jörn , Wenck Horst , Stäb Franz , Winnefeld Marc
Published: April 2010

Since the worldwide increase in obesity represents a growing challenge for healthcare systems, research focusing on fat cell metabolism has become a focal point of interest. Here, we describe a small interfering RNA (siRNA)‐technology‐based screening method to study fat cell differentiation in human primary preadipocytes that could be further developed towards an automated middle‐throughput screening procedure. First, we established optimal conditions for the reverse transfection of human primary preadipocytes demonstrating that an efficient reverse transfection of preadipocytes is technically feasible. Aligning the processes of reverse transfection and fat cell differentiation utilizing peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ)‐siRNA, we showed that preadipocyte differentiation was suppressed by knock‐down of PPARγ, the key regulator of fat cell differentiation. The use of fluorescently labelled fatty acids in combination with fluorescence time‐lapse microscopy over a longer period of time enabled us to quantify the PPARγ phenotype. Additionally, our data demonstrate that reverse transfection of human cultured preadipocytes with TIP60 (HIV‐1 Tat‐interacting protein 60)–siRNA lead to a TIP60 knock‐down and subsequently inhibits fat cell differentiation, suggesting a role of this protein in human adipogenesis. In conclusion, we established a protocol that allows for an efficient functional and time‐dependent analysis by quantitative time‐lapse microscopy to identify novel adipogenesis‐associated genes.
Testing for a pure state with local operations and classical communication
Authors: Nathanson Michael
Published: April 2010

We examine the problem of using local operations and classical communication (LOCC) to distinguish a known pure state from an unknown (possibly mixed) state, bounding the error probability from above and below. We study the asymptotic rate of detecting multiple copies of the pure state and show that, if the overlap of the two states is great enough, then they can be distinguished asymptotically as well with LOCC as with global measurements; otherwise, the maximal Schmidt coefficient of the pure state is sufficient to determine the asymptotic error rate.
Probing Ar ion induced nanocavities/bubbles in silicon by small-angle x-ray scattering
Authors: Suresh Koppoju , Ohnuma M. , Oba Y. , Kishimoto N. , Das P. , Chini T. K.
Published: April 2010

Small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements have been performed to investigate the nanocavities/bubbles and the amorphous silicon surrounding the cavities/bubbles generated after high fluence medium-energy (60 keV) Ar ion implantation in single crystalline Si as a function of incidence angle (with respect to the surface normal of the sample). The measurements were carried out using a high flux/high transmission laboratory scale SAXS set up with Mo-Kα radiation in transmission geometry. The scattering data have been used to calculate the average size (Dave), number density (dN), and volume fraction (Vf) of cavities/bubbles in ion induced amorphous layer of the crystalline Si substrate. The novelty of the SAXS technique applied in the present case lies on its ability to detect ultrafine defect features of size even less than 1 nm, which is otherwise impossible from the transmission electron microscopy measurements usually employed for inert gas ion induced cavities/bubbles in amorphous silicon.
Magnetic properties and electronic structure of LaFeAsO0.85F0.1
Authors: Fedorchenko A. V. , Grechnev G. E. , Desnenko V. A. , Panfilov A. S. , Volkova O. S. , Vasiliev A. N.
Published: April 2010

The magnetic properties of the compound LaFeAsO0.85F0.1 were investigated by measurements of the dc magnetization for different values of the magnetic field H=0.02, 1.0 and 2.0T in the temperature range 4.2–300K. Superconducting behavior was found below 26K, whereas a distinct peculiarity in the low-field dependence of the magnetic susceptibility χ(T) was clearly observed at TM≃135K, which resembles a weak ferromagnetic (FM) response with saturation magnetic moment of about 10−4μB per formula unit at 50K. The transition at TM is presumably not governed by magnetic impurities but rather correlated with the antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition in undoped LaFeAsO at about the same temperature. We suggest that the observed magnetic properties of the LaFeAsO0.85F0.1 sample are due to an interplay of FM and AFM transitions, and are presumably related with an intrinsic feature of a small portion of the undoped LaFeAsO phase inherent in our sample. In order to shed light on the problem of magnetic instability of the LaFeAsO, ab initio DFT calculations of the electronic structure and paramagnetic susceptibility were performed within the local spin density approximation. It is shown that a V-shaped peculiarity in the density of electronic states close to the Fermi level can govern magnetic properties of LaFeAsO with fluorine doping and/or oxygen deficiency.
Effect of impurity oxygen molecules on the structural and thermodynamic properties of fullerite C60
Authors: Yagotintsev K. A. , Stetsenko Yu. E. , Gal’tsov N. N. , Legchenkova I. V. , Prokhvatilov A. I.
Published: April 2010

Intercalation of fullerite C60 with oxygen molecules is performed by two methods—under ordinary conditions of saturation at room temperature and gas pressure 1atm as well as at elevated temperature (373K) and pressure (10atm). The time dependences of the lattice parameter of fullerite during intercalation are determined. This made it possible to evaluate the activation energy and the coefficient of diffusion of oxygen molecules in fullerite C60. It is shown that increasing the temperature and pressure of the gas increases the diffusion coefficient almost five-fold: from D≈(1.6±1.9)⋅10−14cm2∕s at atmospheric pressure and room temperature to D≈(7.1±1.9)⋅10−14cm2∕s for pressure P=10atm and temperature T=373K. The oxygen concentration in octahedral voids and the temperatures of phase transitions in solutions are determined on the basis of an analysis of the results obtained together with published data on the effect of atomic and molecular impurities on the properties of C60. The effect of oxygen impurity on the properties of an orientational phase transition and the temperature dependence of the lattice parameter is investigated.
Minimum length scales for enhancement of the power factor in thermoelectric nanostructures
Authors: Pichanusakorn P. , Bandaru P. R.
Published: April 2010

It is shown, through a comparison of the respective electron density distribution and the density of states (DOS), that there exists an optimal length scale only below which the thermoelectric power factor of nanostructures is enhanced over the bulk value. The comparison is done for an optimal value of the Seebeck coefficient in three, two, and one dimensions for Si/SiGe, Bi2Te3, PbTe, and SrTiO3 with various scattering mechanisms. It is then concluded that the increase in the magnitude of the integrated DOS and not the change in shape, as is commonly believed, to be most responsible for the increases in the power factor.
Reliability of methods of computer simulation of structure of amorphous alloys
Authors: Mendelev M. I. , Kramer M. J.
Published: April 2010

We took a model created by the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with a semiempirical potential as a target system and explored how its amorphous structure and a few other properties depend on the simulation method. We found that if the cooling rate is too high, 1013–1014 K/s, the system has no time to adjust its structure to the change in temperature/density. Since this cooling corresponds to a typical ab initio MD simulation, this brings into doubt that an equilibrium glass structure can be obtained using ab initio MD simulation. We also used the target partial pair correlation functions (PPCFs) to explore a possibility to create the atomic models from diffraction data alone. We were able to create models with the PPCFs, which nearly coincided with the target ones. Nevertheless, we found that the potential energy of the quenched states and the distribution of the Voronoi polyhedra in the models created from PPCFs were different than the target quantities. This study shows that reverse Monte Carlo technique used to analyze the diffraction data can result in a considerably more disordered structure than the target structure.