bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Law, Liability, and Public Health Emergencies
Authors: Hoffman Sharona , Goodman Richard A. , Stier Daniel D.
Published: December 2008

According to many experts, a public health emergency arising from an influenza pandemic, bioterrorism attack, or natural disaster is likely to develop in the next few years. Meeting the public health and medical response needs created by such an emergency will likely involve volunteers, health care professionals, public and private hospitals and clinics, vaccine manufacturers, governmental authorities, and many others. Conducting response activities in emergency circumstances may give rise to numerous issues of liability, and medical professionals and other potential responders have expressed concern about liability exposure. Providers may face inadequate resources, an insufficient number of qualified personnel, overwhelming demand for services, and other barriers to providing optimal treatment, which could lead to injury or even death in some cases. This article describes the different theories of liability that may be used by plaintiffs and the sources of immunity that are available to public health emergency responders in the public sector, private sector, and as volunteers. It synthesizes the existing immunity landscape and analyzes its gaps. Finally, the authors suggest consideration of the option of a comprehensive immunity provision that addresses liability protection for all health care providers during public health emergencies and that, consequently, assists in improving community emergency response efforts. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2009;3:117–125)
Successful granulocyte-colony stimulating factor treatment of Crohn's disease is associated with the appearance of circulating interleukin-10-producing T cells and increased lamina propria plasmacytoid dendritic cells
Authors: Mannon P J , Leon F , Fuss I J , Walter B A , Begnami M , Quezado M , Yang Z , Yi C , Groden C , Friend J , Hornung R L , Brown M , Gurprasad S , Kelsall B , Strober W
Published: December 2008

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) has proved to be a successful therapy for some patients with Crohn's disease. Given the known ability of G-CSF to exert anti-T helper 1 effects and to induce interleukin (IL)-10-secreting regulatory T cells, we studied whether clinical benefit from G-CSF therapy in active Crohn's disease was associated with decreased inflammatory cytokine production and/or increased regulatory responses. Crohn's patients were treated with G-CSF (5 µg/kg/day subcutaneously) for 4 weeks and changes in cell phenotype, cytokine production and dendritic cell subsets were measured in the peripheral blood and colonic mucosal biopsies using flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunocytochemistry. Crohn's patients who achieved a clinical response or remission based on the decrease in the Crohn's disease activity index differed from non-responding patients in several important ways: at the end of treatment, responding patients had significantly more CD4+ memory T cells producing IL-10 in the peripheral blood; they also had a greatly enhanced CD123+ plasmacytoid dendritic cell infiltration of the lamina propria. Interferon-γ production capacity was not changed significantly except in non-responders, where it increased. These data show that clinical benefit from G-CSF treatment in Crohn's disease is accompanied by significant induction of IL-10 secreting T cells as well as increases in plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the lamina propria of the inflamed gut mucosa.
Field evidence for indirect interactions between foliar‐feeding insect and root‐feeding nematode communities on Nicotiana tabacum
Authors: KAPLAN IAN , SARDANELLI SANDRA , DENNO ROBERT F.
Published: December 2008

Abstract 1. As herbivory often elicits systemic changes in plant traits, indirect interactions via induced plant responses may be a pervasive feature structuring herbivore communities. Although the importance of this phenomenon has been emphasised for herbivorous insects, it is unknown if and how induced responses contribute to the organisation of other major phytoparasitic taxa.

2. Survey and experimental field studies were used to investigate the role of plants in linking the dynamics of foliar‐feeding insects and root‐feeding nematodes on tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum.

3. Plant‐mediated interactions between insects and nematodes could largely be differentiated by insect feeding guild, with positive insect–nematode interactions predominating with leaf‐chewing insects (caterpillars) and negative interactions occurring with sap‐feeding insects (aphids). For example, insect defoliation was positively correlated with the abundance of root‐feeding nematodes, but aphids and nematodes were negatively correlated. Experimental field manipulations of foliar insect and nematode root herbivory also tended to support this outcome.

4. Overall, these results suggest that plants indirectly link the dynamics of divergent consumer taxa in spatially distinct ecosystems. This lends support to the growing perception that plants play a critical role in propagating indirect effects among a diverse assemblage of consumers.
Groundfish species associations with distinct oceanographic habitats in the Northern California Current
Authors: JUAN‐JORDÁ MARIA JOSÉ , BARTH JOHN A. , CLARKE M. E. , WAKEFIELD W. W.
Published: December 2008

Ecosystem‐based management places a strong emphasis on habitat, but little work has been done to examine how water column properties may influence the distribution, abundances and structure of groundfish assemblages. We identified and described oceanographic habitats in the northern California Current based on temperature, salinity, chlorophyll‐a and the inherent variability in these factors. We then examined the distribution and the abundance of groundfishes in relation to these oceanographic habitats and conditions with the long‐term goal of improving science for ecosystem‐based management of the groundfish fishery of the west coast of the USA. Five summertime oceanographic habitats with distinct physical and biological characteristics were identified in the northeast Pacific Ocean off the northwest Coast of the USA: Offshore Habitat, Upwelling Habitat, Highly Variable Upwelling Habitat, River Plume Habitat, and Highly Variable Habitat. Overall, the species composition differed among the five oceanographic habitats, with certain groundfish species being highly indicative of some habitats; however, the majority of the associations were weak due to overlap of species distributions in the nearshore oceanographic habitats. In contrast, groundfish species showed strong associations with individual oceanographic factors, primarily depth, surface chlorophyll‐a, and bottom salinity and temperature. In addition, latitudinal variations in upwelling intensity, river discharge and productivity led to the identification of three regions where high chlorophyll‐a concentrations were associated with large abundances of specific groundfish species. The combined oceanographic datasets and data products that we produced have the potential to be a powerful tool for improving our knowledge of the west coast ecosystem.
Hemodynamic effects of PEEP in a porcine model of HCl‐induced mild acute lung injury
Authors: MARUMO C. K. , OTSUKI D. A. , FANTONI D. T. , MARGARIDO C. B. , AMBRÓSIO A. M. , PELOSI P. , AULER J. O. C.
Published: December 2008

Background: Positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) and sustained inspiratory insufflations (SI) during acute lung injury (ALI) are suggested to improve oxygenation and respiratory mechanics. We aimed to investigate the hemodynamic effects of PEEP with and without alveolar recruiting maneuver in a mild ALI model induced by inhalation of hydrochloric acid.

Methods: Thirty‐two pigs were randomly allocated into four groups (Control–PEEP, Control–SI, ALI–PEEP and ALI–SI). ALI was induced by intratracheal instillation of hydrochloric acid. PEEP values were progressively increased and decreased from 5, 10, 15 and 20 cmH2O in all groups. Three SIs maneuvers of 30 cmH2O for 20 s were applied to the assignable groups between each PEEP level. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), global hemodynamics, oxygenation indexes and gastric tonometry were measured 5 min after the maneuvers had been concluded and at each established value of PEEP (5, 10, 15 and 20 cmH2O).

Results: The cardiac index, ejection fraction and end‐diastolic volume of right ventricle were significantly (P<0.001) decreased with PEEP in both Control and ALI groups. Left ventricle echocardiography showed a significant decrease in end‐diastolic volume at 20 cmH2O of PEEP (P<0.001). SIs did not exert any significant hemodynamic effects either early (after 5 min) or late (after 3 h).

Conclusions: In a mild ALI model induced by inhalation of hydrochloric acid, significant hemodynamic impairment characterized by cardiac function deterioration occurred during PEEP increment, but SI, probably due to low applied values (30 cmH2O), did not exert further negative hemodynamic effects. PEEP should be used cautiously in ALI caused by acid gastric content inhalation.
Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase in plants
Authors: Fitzgerald T. L. , Waters D. L. E. , Henry R. J.
Published: December 2008

Plant betaine aldehyde dehydrogenases (BADHs) have been the target of substantial research, especially during the last 20 years. Initial characterisation of BADH as an enzyme involved in the production of glycine betaine (GB) has led to detailed studies of the role of BADH in the response of plants to abiotic stressin vivo, and the potential for transgenic expression of BADH to improve abiotic stress tolerance. These studies have, in turn, yielded significant information regarding BADH and GB function. Recent research has identified the potential for BADH as an antibiotic‐free marker for selection of transgenic plants, and a major role for BADH in 2‐acetyl‐1‐pyrroline‐based fragrance associated with jasmine and basmati style aromatic rice varieties.
Reciprocity Is Not Give and Take
Authors: Keysar Boaz , Converse Benjamin A. , Wang Jiunwen , Epley Nicholas
Published: December 2008

Unlike economic exchange, social exchange has no well-defined “value.” It is based on the norm of reciprocity, in which giving and taking are to be repaid in equivalent measure. Although giving and taking are colloquially assumed to be equivalent actions, we demonstrate that they produce different patterns of reciprocity. In five experiments utilizing a dictator game, people reciprocated in like measure to apparently prosocial acts of giving, but reciprocated more selfishly to apparently antisocial acts of taking, even when the objective outcomes of the acts of giving and taking were identical. Additional results demonstrate that acts of giving in social exchanges are perceived as more generous than objectively identical acts of taking, that taking tends to escalate, and that the asymmetry in reciprocity is not due to gaining versus losing resources. Reciprocity appears to operate on an exchange rate that assigns value to the meaning of events, in a fashion that encourages prosocial exchanges.
Preference Invites Categorization
Authors: Smallman Rachel , Roese Neal J.
Published: December 2008

Past research indicates that positive affect (relative to neutral or negative affect) reduces processing and makes categorization less differentiated. The present experiment demonstrated that preference, even though affectively pleasant, invites finer categorization. Expertise is already known to influence categorization; hence, the present experiment used an associative conditioning task (novel symbols paired with positively or negatively valenced photographs) to create new preferences, thereby demonstrating that preference influences categorization independently of preexisting expertise. These findings cast new light on established theory of affect and cognitive processing and suggest new implications for consumer preference and goal pursuit.
The Case of the Transmogrifying Experimenter
Authors: Proulx Travis , Heine Steven J.
Published: December 2008

The meaning-maintenance model posits that threats to schemas lead people to affirm unrelated schemas. In two studies testing this hypothesis, participants who were presented with a perceptual anomaly (viz., the experimenter was switched without participants consciously noticing) demonstrated greater affirmation of moral beliefs compared with participants in a control condition. Another study investigated whether the schema affirmation was prompted by unconscious arousal. Participants witnessed the changing experimenter and then consumed a placebo. Those who were informed that the placebo caused side effects of arousal did not show the moral-belief affirmation observed in the previous studies, as they misattributed their arousal to the placebo. In contrast, those who were not informed of such side effects demonstrated moral-belief affirmation. The results demonstrate the functional interchangeability of different meaning frameworks, and highlight the role of unconscious arousal in prompting people to seek alternative schemas in the face of a meaning threat.
Synchrony and Cooperation
Authors: Wiltermuth Scott S. , Heath Chip
Published: December 2008

Armies, churches, organizations, and communities often engage in activities—for example, marching, singing, and dancing—that lead group members to act in synchrony with each other. Anthropologists and sociologists have speculated that rituals involving synchronous activity may produce positive emotions that weaken the psychological boundaries between the self and the group. This article explores whether synchronous activity may serve as a partial solution to the free-rider problem facing groups that need to motivate their members to contribute toward the collective good. Across three experiments, people acting in synchrony with others cooperated more in subsequent group economic exercises, even in situations requiring personal sacrifice. Our results also showed that positive emotions need not be generated for synchrony to foster cooperation. In total, the results suggest that acting in synchrony with others can increase cooperation by strengthening social attachment among group members.
Suitability of Amphibians and Reptiles for Translocation
Authors: GERMANO JENNIFER M. , BISHOP PHILLIP J.
Published: December 2008

Abstract:  Translocations are important tools in the field of conservation. Despite increased use over the last few decades, the appropriateness of translocations for amphibians and reptiles has been debated widely over the past 20 years. To provide a comprehensive evaluation of the suitability of amphibians and reptiles for translocation, we reviewed the results of amphibian and reptile translocation projects published between 1991 and 2006. The success rate of amphibian and reptile translocations reported over this period was twice that reported in an earlier review in 1991. Success and failure rates were independent of the taxonomic class (Amphibia or Reptilia) released. Reptile translocations driven by human–wildlife conflict mitigation had a higher failure rate than those motivated by conservation, and more recent projects of reptile translocations had unknown outcomes. The outcomes of amphibian translocations were significantly related to the number of animals released, with projects releasing over 1000 individuals being most successful. The most common reported causes of translocation failure were homing and migration of introduced individuals out of release sites and poor habitat. The increased success of amphibian and reptile translocations reviewed in this study compared with the 1991 review is encouraging for future conservation projects. Nevertheless, more preparation, monitoring, reporting of results, and experimental testing of techniques and reintroduction questions need to occur to improve translocations of amphibians and reptiles as a whole.
Trauma, stress, and preconscious threat processing in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures
Authors: Bakvis Patricia , Roelofs Karin , Kuyk Jarl , Edelbroek Peter M. , Swinkels Wilhelmina A.M. , Spinhoven Philip
Published: December 2008

Purpose:  Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) have long been considered as paroxysmal dissociative symptoms characterized by an alteration of attentional functions caused by severe stress or trauma. Although interpersonal trauma is common in PNES, the proposed relation between trauma and attentional functions remains under explored. We examined the attentional processing of social threat in PNES in relation to interpersonal trauma and acute psychological stress.

Methods:  A masked emotional Stroop test, comparing color‐naming latencies for backwardly masked angry, neutral, and happy faces, was administered to 19 unmedicated patients with PNES and 20 matched healthy controls, at baseline and in a stress condition. Stress was induced by means of the Trier Social Stress Test and physiologic stress parameters, such as heart rate variability (HRV) and cortisol, were measured throughout the experiment.

Results:  No group differences related to the acute stress induction were found. Compared to controls, however, patients displayed a positive attentional bias for masked angry faces at baseline, which was correlated to self‐reported sexual trauma. Moreover, patients showed lower HRV at baseline and during recovery.

Discussion:  These findings are suggestive of a state of hypervigilance in patients with PNES. The relation with self‐reported trauma, moreover, offers the first evidence linking psychological risk factors to altered information processing in PNES.
Ethical issues related to epilepsy care in the developing world
Authors: Tan Chong‐Tin , Avanzini Giuliano
Published: December 2008

There are three major issues of ethical concern related to epilepsy care in the developing world. First, is it ethical for a developing country to channel its limited resources from direct epilepsy care to research? The main considerations in addressing this question are the particular research questions to be addressed and whether such research will bring direct benefits to the local community. Second, in a country with limited resources, when does ignoring the high treatment gap become an ethical issue? This question is of particular concern when the community has enough resources to afford treatment for its poor, yet is not providing such care because of gross wastage and misallocation of the national resources. Third, do countries with plentiful resources have an ethical responsibility to help relieve the high epilepsy treatment gap of poor countries? Indeed, we believe that reasonable health care is a basic human right, and that human rights transcend national boundaries. Although health care is usually the responsibility of the nation‐state, many modern states in the developing world are arbitrary creations of colonization. There is often a long process from the establishment of a political‐legal state to a mature functional nation. During the long process of nation building, help from neighboring countries is often required.
Single and repetitive paired‐pulse suppression: A parametric analysis and assessment of usefulness in epilepsy research
Authors: Waldbaum Simon , Dudek F. Edward
Published: December 2008

Purpose:  The paired‐pulse technique has been widely used as a convenient but indirect measure of “inhibition” in hippocampal circuits of normal and epileptic animals. Most investigators have used a single paired‐pulse protocol, whereas others have utilized repetitive paired pulses. This study investigated which parameters influence results from paired‐pulse tests, focusing on the repetitive paired‐pulse technique; it aims to assess how this technique may be used in an unbiased and quantitative manner across animal preparations for comparisons of control and experimental epileptic animals.

Methods:  The perforant path was stimulated while field potentials were recorded from the granule cell layer under isoflurane anesthesia. Paired‐pulse suppression was analyzed as a function of stimulation intensity and interpulse interval and frequency.

Results:  Paired‐pulse suppression was greater with increased stimulus intensity and decreased interpulse interval (20–100 ms). During repetitive protocols, stimulation frequencies ≤1.0 Hz produced paired‐pulse suppression similar to single paired‐pulse responses, but caused more paired‐pulse suppression between 1.0 and 4.0 Hz at all but the lowest intensities. The amplitude of the population spike produced by the conditioning pulse increased progressively during stimulation at higher frequencies (1.0–4.0 Hz).

Discussion:  The single paired‐pulse technique is highly dependent on stimulation parameters, as is the repetitive paired‐pulse protocol, which is more variable. To generate reliable, consistent, and unbiased data in comparisons of control and experimental epileptic groups, all parameters should be specified and controlled across experiments. Paired‐pulse suppression is susceptible to alterations in many mechanisms, and, therefore, represents a circuit response rather than an assay of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic inhibition in epilepsy research.
Contradicting Geometrical Concepts in Pore Size Analysis Attained with Electron Microscopy and Mercury Intrusion
Authors: Münch Beat , Holzer Lorenz
Published: December 2008

FIB‐nanotomography (FIB‐nt) is applied to record high‐resolution 3D pore networks from cementitious materials. Based on these data, it is examined as to why the pore size distribution (PSD), which is obtained from traditional analysis by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), principally deviates from the findings that are achieved by common back‐scattered electron image analysis. The paper does not reflect the vulnerability of the physical model assumptions, but merely focuses on the fundamental issues of the geometrical definition of a PSD. A computationally fast approach for the PSD assessment from 3D data as well as for the simulation of MIP is presented and the varying concepts for the definition of a PSD are compared with each other.
Role of Sulfate in Structural Modifications of Sodium Barium Borosilicate Glasses Developed for Nuclear Waste Immobilization
Authors: Mishra Raman K. , Sudarsan Kumaran V. , Sengupta Pranesh , Vatsa Rajesh K. , Tyagi Avesh K. , Kaushik Chetan P. , Das Dasarathi , Raj Kanwar
Published: December 2008

A sodium barium borosilicate glass matrix with a higher solubility of sulfate has been developed recently at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre for vitrification of sulfate bearing high‐level nuclear waste. We report here the studies carried out to understand the influence of sulfate ion on the three‐dimensional borosilicate network. Experiments were carried out with sodium barium borosilicate base glass samples loaded with varying amounts of SO42− (0–5 mol%). Phase separation studies on the samples revealed that as much as 3 mol% of SO42− can be loaded within the base glass without any phase separation, however, beyond this limit BaSO4 (barite) crystallizes within the matrix. Thermal analyses of the samples indicated a shift in glass transition temperature from 534° (0 mol% SO42−) to 495°C (3 mol% SO42−) and it remained more or less unaltered afterwards even with high SO42− loading. A similar observation of structure stabilization was obtained from 29Si MAS–NMR studies also, which showed that with 2 mol% of SO42− loading, the Q2:Q3 ratio changed from 59:41 (for samples with 0 mol% SO42− loading) to 62:38 and it remained almost the same afterwards even with higher SO42− loading. 11B MAS NMR patterns of the glass samples, however, remained unchanged with SO42− loading ([BO4]:[BO3]=38:62). Based on 29Si and 11B MAS NMR studies, the authors propose two different ways of interaction of SO42− ions with the borosilicate network: (i) the network modifying action of SO42− ions with ‐Si–O–Si‐ linkages, at low SO42− ion concentration (<2 mol%) and (ii) the preferential interaction of SO42− with the Ba2+ ions at high SO42− concentration (>2 mol%).
Formation of Ceramics from Metakaolin‐Based Geopolymers: Part I—Cs‐Based Geopolymer
Authors: Bell Jonathan L. , Driemeyer Patrick E. , Kriven Waltraud M.
Published: December 2008

The structural evolution and crystallization of a cesium‐based geopolymer (Cs2O·Al2O3·4SiO2·11H2O) on heating was studied by a variety of techniques including X‐ray diffraction, thermal analysis, dilatometry, pycnometry, specific surface area, and microstructural investigation. The Cs geopolymer gradually crystallized into pollucite (Cs2O·Al2O3·4SiO2) on heating above 900°C. Its low crystallization temperature is believed to be due to the presence of nuclei in the geopolymer precursor, which are formed after curing at 50°C for 24 h. The Cs‐based geopolymer was found to be more refractory compared with K‐ and Na‐based geopolymers. Significant shrinkage, due primarily to viscous sintering, did not occur until the samples were heated to above 1200°C. The microstructure of unheated geopolymer had ∼20–30 nm‐sized precipitates that coarsened on heating above 1000°C. By 1350°C, the geopolymer surface had a smooth, glassy texture, although large macropores and closed pores remained. After heating to 1600°C, the closed pores were removed, and the geopolymer reached ∼98% of the theoretical density of pollucite. Higher than expected levels of Cs were found near large voids, as seen by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The presence of this extra Cs was due to Cs left behind in pore water, which was not bound within the geopolymer structure.
Effect of Segregation of a Polyacrylic Acid (PAA) Binder on the Green Strength of Dry‐Pressed Alumina Compacts
Authors: Imran Zainuddin M. , Tanaka Satoshi , Uematsu Keizo
Published: December 2008

A polyacrylic acid (PAA) binder with both binder and disperser properties was applied to prepare alumina granules with and without a segregated binder layer (SBL) to investigate an SBL's effects on the mechanical properties of dry‐pressed alumina green compacts. The formation of SBLs in granules was based on the production of free, unadsorbed PAA ionic molecules in the liquid phase. The green strength of the alumina compact showed a significant increase as SBLs formed. Adequate forming conditions lead to squeezing out of the binder and redistribution of SBLs to bind granules together, thus enhancing the green strength of the compact and successfully eliminating intergranular pores and granule relics.
Microstructure and Microwave Dielectric Properties of TiO2‐Doped Zn2SiO4 Ceramics Synthesized Through the Sol–Gel Process
Authors: Dong Mingzhi , Yue Zhenxing , Zhuang Hao , Meng Siqin , Li Longtu
Published: December 2008

(1−x)Zn2SiO4–xTiO2 (x=0, 5, 8, 11, and 15 wt%) ceramics have been successfully prepared through a sol–gel process. The thermal gravimetry‐differential thermal analysis and X‐ray diffraction analysis showed that the addition of TiO2 can lower the nucleation temperature of Zn2SiO4 and enhance the sinterability of the powders synthesized. Dense ceramics with a pure phase could be achieved at a lower temperature. The pure Zn2SiO4 ceramics sintered at 1325°C exhibited microwave dielectric properties: a dielectric constant (ɛr) of 6.6, a quality factor Q×f of 198 400 GHz, and a temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) of −41.6 ppm/°C. The τf value can be adjusted to near zero by adding an appropriate amount of TiO2. The Zn2SiO4 ceramics containing 11 wt% of TiO2 sintered at 1200°C showed excellent microwave dielectric properties: an ɛr value of 9.1, a Q×f value of 150 800 GHz, and a τf value of −1.0 ppm/°C. Our results show that the sol–gel process can achieve pure phase as well as ultrafine powders, which is beneficial to optimize the performance of Zn2SiO4 ceramics. Zn2SiO4 ceramics containing 11 wt% of TiO2 are a promising candidate for microwave and millimeter‐wave applications.
Photoluminescent CaCu3Ti4O12‐Based Thin Films Synthesized by a Sol–Gel Method
Authors: Parra Rodrigo , Joanni Ednan , Espinosa José W. M. , Tararam Ronald , Cilense Mário , Bueno Paulo R. , Varela Jose A. , Longo Elson
Published: December 2008

Results on the characterization of photoluminescent CaCu3Ti4O12‐based films, prepared from a sol–gel precursor and heat treated at 700°C, are reported for the first time. The samples showed two emission bands at 554 and 800 nm when excited with a 488 nm Ar‐ion laser. The photoluminescent emission measured at room temperature in thin films was attributed to complex vacancy clusters. The films consisted of CaCu3Ti4O12 with traces of TiO2, CuO, and CaTiO3 and showed porous structures with an average particle size of 50 nm under atomic force microscopy resolution.
Phase Separation Inducing Controlled Crystallization of GeSe2–Ga2Se3–CsI Glasses for Fabricating Infrared Transmitting Glass–Ceramics
Authors: Liu Cunming , Tang Gao , Luo Lan , Chen Wei
Published: December 2008

Infrared transmitting glass–ceramics based on the selected glass of 65GeSe2–25Ga2Se3–10CsI were obtained by a two‐stage heat‐treatment method. Results of X‐ray diffraction and scanning electronic microscopy indicated that droplet‐like nanoparticles containing cubic Ga2−δGeδSe3crystals are homogeneously generated in the glass–ceramics and that the whole glass–ceramic process is composed of phase separation, nucleation, and crystal growth. Evolutions of the optical and mechanical properties of glass–ceramics versus annealing time at the first‐stage heat treatment were also investigated. Compared with the parent glass, the fabricated glass–ceramics show considerably enhanced fracture toughness, practicable infrared transparence, and microhardness, which confer them with considerable competitive advantages over currently used infrared materials.
Reaction Processes and Characterization of ZrB2 Powder Prepared by Boro/Carbothermal Reduction of ZrO2 in Vacuum
Authors: Guo Wei‐Ming , Zhang Guo‐Jun
Published: December 2008

The present work was concentrated mainly on the reaction processes of boro/carbothermal reduction (BCTR) of ZrO2 with B4C and carbon in vacuum, and characterization of morphology and sinterability of the obtained ZrB2 powder. Combining the thermodynamic calculations, X‐ray diffraction results, and the trend of furnace pressure with temperature during synthesis, a detailed explanation of the reaction processes of BCTR was developed. Most of the ZrB2 particles obtained at 1650°C presented a nearly spherical morphology, whereas those synthesized at 1750°C showed a nearly columnar morphology with an increased size. Compared with the powder synthesized at 1750°C as well as the commercially additive‐free powder used in the reported work, the ZrB2 powder synthesized at 1650°C showed a better sinterability due to its smaller particle size and lower oxygen content.
The Interaction of Methylene Blue Dye with Calcium–Silicate–Hydrate
Authors: Beaudoin James J. , Patarachao Bussaraporn , Raki Laila , Alizadeh Rouhollah
Published: December 2008

The interaction of methylene blue (MB) dye solution with various calcium–silicate–hydrate (C–S–H) preparations (C/S ratio=0.60–1.80) was investigated. Experiments were also performed by treating the C–S–H in lime‐saturated water and distilled water. The effects of MB on the X‐ray basal spacing and the degree of polymerization were determined using low‐angle X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and 29Si MAS NMR spectroscopy. An interaction mechanism for C–S–H–MB using a “bridging” model for the C–S–H nanostructure is proposed. The model is consistent with the XRD and 29Si MAS NMR results.
Characterization of Phase Separation and Thermal History Effects in Magnesium Silicate Glass Fibers by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Authors: Stebbins Jonathan F. , Kim Namjun , Andrejcak Michael J. , Boymel Paul M. , Zoitos Bruce K.
Published: December 2008

Liquid–liquid immiscibility, leading to the separation of silica‐rich and silica‐poor domains, is a common phenomenon in binary silicate glasses, but can be difficult to detect and characterize when rapid cooling results in nano‐scale domain dimensions. 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can be very useful for detecting such phase separation, because the exclusion of paramagnetic impurity ions from the silica‐rich regions can greatly slow their spin‐lattice relaxation rates. Properly designed experiments can therefore largely isolate the NMR signals from high‐silica and low‐silica domains, and thus provide information about their proportions, compositions, and short‐ to intermediate‐range structures. We demonstrate this approach here for fiber glasses that are predominantly magnesium, or calcium‐magnesium silicates, with minor contents of alumina. For bulk compositions within the known region of stable liquid immiscibility, phase separation occurs even when extremely rapid cooling yields fibers less than 1 μm in mean diameter. Slower cooling increases the extent of separation, while the addition of small amounts of alumina reduces it.
Dy:YAG Phosphor Coating Using the Solution Precursor Plasma Spray Process
Authors: Chen Dianying , Jordan Eric H. , Renfro Michael W. , Gell Maurice
Published: December 2008

Dy:YAG phosphor coatings were deposited using the solution precursor plasma spray process. The phase composition, microstructure, and photoluminescent properties of the as‐deposited coatings were investigated. X‐ray diffraction analysis confirmed that the coating is mainly composed of the YAG phase with a small amount of an intermediate YAP phase. Scanning electron microscopy micrograph revealed that the as‐sprayed coating has columnar structures with a thickness of ∼60 μm. The measurement of photoluminescent properties indicated that the phosphor coating exhibits two predominant emission regions: a blue region (470–500 nm) and a yellow region (560–600 nm), which are assigned to 4F9/2–6H15/2 and 4F9/2–6H13/2 transitions, respectively.
Phase Transformation and Tunable Piezoelectric Properties of Lead‐Free (Na0.52K0.48−xLix)(Nb1−x−ySbyTax)O3 System
Authors: Zuo Ruzhong , Fu Jian , Lv Danya
Published: December 2008

Lead‐free (Na0.52K0.48−x)(Nb1−x−ySby)O3‐xLiTaO3 (NKNS–LT) piezoelectric ceramics have been fabricated by ordinary sintering. A special attention was paid to the composition design through which the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the (Li, Ta, Sb) modified NKN systems were significantly promoted. A property spectrum was generated with a particular discussion on the relationship between the Sb content, the LT content, the polymorphic phase transition, and the electrical properties and their temperature stability. Excellent and tunable electrical properties of d33=242–400 pC/N, kp=36%–54%,

, and Tc=230°–430°C demonstrate a tremendous potential of the compositions studied for device applications.
Touch, Grasp, Deliver and Control: Functional Cross‐Talk Between Microtubules and Cell Adhesions
Authors: Akhmanova Anna , Stehbens Samantha J , Yap Alpha S
Published: December 2008

Cross‐talk between microtubule networks and sites of cell–matrix and cell–cell adhesion has profound impact on these structures and is essential for proper cell organization, polarization and motility. Components of adhesion sites can interact directly with microtubules or with proteins that specifically associate with microtubule plus ends and minus ends and in this way capture, stabilize or destabilize microtubules. In their turn, microtubules can serve as routes for delivery of structural and regulatory factors that control adhesion site turnover. In addition, the microtubule lattice or growing microtubule plus ends can serve as diffusional sinks that accumulate and scaffold regulatory molecules, thereby affecting their activity in the vicinity of adhesions. Combination of these mechanisms underlies the functional co‐operation between microtubules and adhesion sites and defines their dynamic behavior.
“Just Relax”: Physicians’ Experiences with Women Who are Difficult or Impossible to Examine Gynecologically
Authors: Huber Jonathan D. , Pukall Caroline F. , Boyer Stéphanie C. , Reissing Elke D. , Chamberlain Susan M.
Published: December 2008

Introduction

The internal pelvic exam is a critical component of women’s reproductive health care; however, it can be perceived as uncomfortable, embarrassing, and painful, which may lead some women to avoid this procedure.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to survey physicians with respect to their experiences with female patients who are difficult or impossible to examine gynecologically.

Methods

Six hundred and fifty-eight obstetrician-gynecologist and family physicians were sent a 15-item questionnaire by mail and 424 participants responded (64% response rate). The survey consisted of questions pertaining to demographic variables, professional training and practice information, the frequency with which they encounter female patients who are difficult or impossible to examine, and the strategies employed with and beliefs surrounding such patients.

Main Outcome Measures

The main outcome measures were the frequency of patients who are difficult or impossible to examine, strategies used to manage such patients, and beliefs as to why these patients are difficult or impossible to examine.

Results

The results, based on a final sample size of 401, indicated that most respondents have had some experience with patients who are difficult or impossible to examine. In such cases, most physicians (87%) reported attempting to address their patients’ lack of relaxation. The majority of physicians in this study believed that a previous negative experience with (87%), and heightened anxiety about (79%), the exam were to blame. Twelve percent of respondents specifically reported that a previous history of sexual abuse was an important factor.

Conclusions

This study reinforces the importance of being aware of patient discomfort during pelvic exams and of developing strategies that fit the individual patient and her needs. Future research should examine women’s perceptions of their reproductive care, particularly correlates of pain and anxiety during pelvic exams, prevalence of negative experiences, and doctor–patient interactions in this context.
Beneficial Impact of Exercise and Obesity Interventions on Erectile Function and its Risk Factors
Authors: Hannan Johanna L. , Maio M. Tina , Komolova Marina , Adams Michael A.
Published: December 2008

Introduction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a multifaceted disease involving cardiovascular, metabolic, and hormonal factors and affects over 100 million men worldwide. ED has been shown to be a harbinger of underlying cardiovascular diseases (CVD), as there are common risk factors (aging, hypertension, obesity) and mechanistic basis.

Aim

To provide an update on clinical and experimental evidence regarding the impact of lifestyle modifications, such as exercise and diet, with respect to changes in erectile function.

Main Outcome Measures

Published evidence regarding the impact of aging, hypertension, and obesity on ED and CVD, as well as new experimental data linking obesity and diminished erectile responses.

Methods

We reviewed the literature regarding common risk factors of ED and CVD, particularly involving obesity, as well as performed new analysis on the findings of other experimental studies involving diet and exercise interventions.

Results

Physical inactivity negatively impacts on erectile function, and experimental and clinical exercise interventions have been shown to improve sexual responses and overall cardiovascular health. Mediterranean-style diets and a reduction in caloric intake have been found to improve erectile function in men with the aspects of the metabolic syndrome. In addition, both clinical and experimental studies have confirmed that combining the two interventions provides additional benefit to erectile function, likely via reduced metabolic disturbances (e.g., inflammatory markers, insulin resistance), decreased visceral adipose tissue, and improvement in vascular function (e.g., increased endothelial function).

Conclusions

Lifestyle modifications provide significant benefits to vascular health and erectile function in a population that is increasingly aged and more obese.
De novo expression of Kv6.3 contributes to changes in vascular smooth muscle cell excitability in a hypertensive mice strain
Authors: Moreno‐Domínguez Alejandro , Cidad Pilar , Miguel‐Velado Eduardo , López‐López José R. , Pérez‐García M. Teresa
Published: December 2008

Essential hypertension involves a gradual and sustained increase in total peripheral resistance, reflecting an increased vascular tone. This change associates with a depolarization of vascular myocytes, and relies on a change in the expression profile of voltage‐dependent ion channels (mainly Ca2+ and K+ channels) that promotes arterial contraction. However, changes in expression and/or modulation of voltage‐dependent K+ channels (Kv channels) are poorly defined, due to their large molecular diversity and their vascular bed‐specific expression. Here we endeavor to characterize the molecular and functional expression of Kv channels in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and their regulation in essential hypertension, by using VSMCs from resistance (mesenteric) or conduit (aortic) arteries obtained from a hypertensive inbred mice strain, BPH, and the corresponding normotensive strain, BPN. Real‐time PCR reveals a differential distribution of Kv channel subunits in the different vascular beds as well as arterial bed‐specific changes under hypertension. In mesenteric arteries, the most conspicuous change was the de novo expression of Kv6.3 (Kcng3) mRNA in hypertensive animals. The functional relevance of this change was studied by using patch‐clamp techniques. VSMCs from BPH arteries were more depolarized than BPN ones, and showed significantly larger capacitance values. Moreover, Kv current density in BPH VSMCs is decreased mainly due to the diminished contribution of the Kv2 component. The kinetic and pharmacological profile of Kv2 currents suggests that the expression of Kv6.3 could contribute to the natural development of hypertension.
Accuracy Measurement and Evaluation of Straight Bevel Gear Manufactured by End Mill Using CNC Milling Machine
Authors: Kawasaki Kazumasa , Shinma Kazuyoshi
Published: December 2008

Straight bevel gears are usually manufactured with various machines and systems, and the tooth profiles are produced by grinding or machining by means of a tool with many cutting edges. In recent years, the straight bevel gear has been manufactured by an end mill using a computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine because the use of the auxiliary apparatus, special cutters, and special machine tools is not needed. Using this method, the gear manufacturing with high accuracy is an important problem. In this paper, the coordinate measurement of the straight bevel gear manufactured in this method is performed and the gear accuracy is evaluated. The tooth profiles of the straight bevel gear generated by a quasi-complementary crown gear instead of a conventional complementary crown gear are introduced. For this study, the tooth profiles of the straight bevel gear were modeled using a 3D computer-aided design system and the gear was manufactured by an end mill using a CNC milling machine based on a computer-aided manufacturing process. Afterward, the coordinates of many points on the gear tooth surfaces were measured at random using a coordinate measuring machine. This coordinate measurement provides the information about the factors related to the gear accuracy such as pressure angle, tooth angle error, workpiece setting angle, apex to back, and so on. Therefore, the values of the above factors were estimated and were compared with the theoretical ones, respectively.
Parametric Resonance of Hopf Bifurcation in a Generalized Beck’s Column
Authors: Paolone Achille , Romeo Francesco , Vasta Marcello
Published: December 2008

A generalized damped Beck’s column under pulsating actions is considered. The nonlinear partial integrodifferential equations of motion and the associated boundary conditions, expanded up to cubic terms, are tackled through a perturbation approach. The multiple scales method is applied to the continuous model in order to obtain the bifurcation equations in the neighborhood of a Hopf bifurcation point in primary parametric resonance. This codimension-2 bifurcation entails two control variables, namely, the amplitude of the static and dynamic components of the follower force, playing the role of detuning and bifurcation parameters, respectively. In the postcritical analysis bifurcation diagrams and relevant phase portraits are examined. Two bifurcation paths associated with specific values of the follower force static component are discussed and the birth of new stable period-2 subharmonic motion is observed.
Wheel∕Rail Two-Point Contact Geometry With Back-of-Flange Contact
Authors: Sugiyama Hiroyuki , Suda Yoshihiro
Published: December 2008

In this investigation, a numerical procedure that can be used for the analysis of a wheel and rail contact geometry is developed using the constraint contact formulation. The locations of contact points are determined for given lateral and yaw displacements of a wheelset when one-point contact is considered for each wheel, while these two displacements are no longer independent when the two-point contact occurs. A systematic procedure for predicting the flange, as well as the back-of-flange contact points, is developed and used for the two-point contact geometry analysis of a wheel and rail. Numerical results that involve tread, flange, and back-of-flange contacts are presented in order to demonstrate the use of the contact algorithm developed in this investigation. In particular, the back-of-flange contact is discussed for assessing contact configurations of a wheel and a grooved rail in light rail vehicle applications.
Systematic Design of Six-Speed Automatic Transmissions With an Eight-Link Two-DOF Ravigneaux Gear Mechanism
Authors: Hsu Cheng-Ho , Huang Ruei-Hong
Published: December 2008

The purpose of this paper is to present an efficient methodology for the design of six-speed Ravigneaux-type automatic transmissions based on the concepts of basic gear ratios and speed ratio equations. First, the speed ratio equations of an eight-link two-degree-of-freedom Ravigneaux gear mechanism are derived, which are functions of basic gear ratios. Next, the ranges of the derived speed ratio equations are estimated and classified into three groups to synthesize all possible clutching sequences. Then, a planar-graph representation is proposed to arrange the desired clutches for each possible clutching sequence into the Ravigneaux gear mechanism. Finally, the number of teeth of all gears is synthesized from assigning three desired speed ratios by the analytic method presented by Hsu. The result of this paper shows that the eight-link two-degree-of-freedom Ravigneaux gear mechanism could reach six forward speeds at most, and only a particular set of speed ratios is practical for use.
Assessing Position Order in Rigid Body Guidance: An Intuitive Approach to Fixed Pivot Selection
Authors: Myszka David H. , Murray Andrew P. , Schmiedeler James P.
Published: December 2008

Several established methods determine if an RR dyad will pass through a set of finitely separated positions in order. The new method presented herein utilizes only the displacement poles in the fixed frame to assess whether a selected fixed pivot location will yield an ordered dyad solution. A line passing through the selected fixed pivot is rotated one-half revolution about the fixed pivot, in a manner similar to a propeller with infinitely long blades, to sweep the entire plane. Order is established by tracking the sequence of displacement poles intersected. With four or five positions, fixed pivot locations corresponding to dyads having any specified order are readily found. Five-position problems can be directly evaluated to determine if any ordered solutions exist. Additionally, degenerate four-position cases for which the set of fixed pivots corresponding to ordered dyads that collapse to a single point on the center point curve can be identified.