bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parasitic worm therapy for allergy: Is this incongruous or avant‐garde medicine?
Authors: Pritchard D. I. , Blount D. G. , Schmid‐Grendelmeier P. , Till S. J.
Published: December 2011

Helminth (worm) therapy has already been used in clinical trials associated with allergy. These were generally small scale, safety orientated trials of short duration, justified by epidemiological and experimental data indicating potentially beneficial immune modulation by some parasites. However, parasites by definition are disadvantageous to their hosts, and helminth infection in particular almost invariably induces an allergic phenotype, rendering this somewhat paradoxical therapeutic approach for allergy open to scrutiny. Is parasitic worm therapy for allergy incongruous medicine, or avant‐garde medicine? In the present article, we assess the strength of evidence supporting the use of helminth therapy for allergy and critically appraise the trials already completed. Then, should this approach prove successful, we suggest strategies to improve the delivery of helminth therapy, and ways to discover immune response modifiers derived from worms.
Expanding and improving urban outreach immunization in Patna, India
Authors: Pradhan Narottam , Ryman Tove K. , Varkey Sherin , Ranjan Alok , Gupta Satish K. , Krishna Gopal , Swetanki R. P. , Young Randall
Published: December 2011

Objectives  We conducted a case study of an urban immunization outreach strategy to determine the feasibility of the intervention and to measure administrative immunization coverage outcomes.

Methods  A multipronged strategy for improving immunization coverage in Urban Patna, India, was implemented for 1 year (2009/2010). The strategy was designed to increase immunization sites, shift human resources, plan logistics, improve community mobilization, provide supervision, strengthen data flow and implement special vaccination drives.

Results  Over 1 year, the coverage of all primary vaccines of the Universal Immunization Program improved by over 100%.

Conclusion  Coverage can be rapidly improved through outreach immunization in low socioeconomic areas if existing opportunities are carefully utilized.
Clear criteria based on absolute risk: Reforming the basis of guidelines on low‐risk drinking
Authors: ROOM ROBIN , REHM JÜRGEN
Published: December 2011

Issues. The paper discusses the approach behind the Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking of 2009. The Guidelines involved a new approach to the central conundrum of low‐risk drinking guidelines: how to set a guideline threshold on smooth risk curves.

Approach. The context of the 2009 Guidelines is discussed in terms of previous Australian guidelines and of risk analyses and threshold setting for other risks to health and well‐being, such as environmental and food toxins. The Guidelines were accordingly based on new lifetime risk modelling of absolute risk, with specification of the risk attached to the guideline thresholds of 1 in 100 lifetime mortality risk. The Guidelines thus specify no more than two Australian standard drinks a day, and no more than four drinks on any occasion.

Implications and Conclusions. The approach described brings alcohol guidelines within a general analytical frame of guidelines and standards for hazards to health. At the level of 1 in 100 lifetime risk, there is little justification for different guidelines for men and women. On grounds of differential risk, separate guidelines for young adults might be considered, but could not be based on lifetime risk.[Room R, Rehm J. Clear criteria based on absolute risk: Reforming the basis of guidelines on low‐risk drinking. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:135–140]
NOTE ON THE WELFARE EFFECT OF SECOND‐BEST POLICIES IN A NETWORK INDUSTRY: A MONOPOLY CASE
Authors: Toshimitsu Tsuyoshi
Published: December 2011

We show that the welfare effect of second‐best policies such as a subsidy/tax and quality regulation in the case of a monopoly in a network industry depends on the strength of network effects. That is, focusing on the case in which the network effect is smaller (larger) than the marginal cost of production for the small (large) network effect, it is demonstrated that in the case of a small (large) network effect, an output and a quality‐improving subsidy (tax) policy are socially optimal, and a government should commit to a minimum (maximum) quality standard.
A Critical Genealogy of European Macroeconomic Governance
Authors: Colliat Rémi
Published: December 2011

Starting with a brief description of the underlying eco‐institutional intricacies of the European Union, in the first part of this article, we will examine their early theoretical premises and the more recent developments that have dictated their form. In the second part, we will attempt to give an overview of the economic constitution of the Union, exposing its limits before concluding with some normative reflections about its mechanisms of coordination.
Breast cancer worry in further examination of mammography screening – a systematic review
Authors: Metsälä Eija , Pajukari Arja , Aro Arja R.
Published: December 2011

Aims:  In this systematic review, we explored which factors are associated with breast cancer (BC) worry in further examination (FE) of mammography screening and for how long women experience BC worry associated with FE.

Methods:  Medline, Cochrane, Cinahl and the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment databases were used in the search. In addition to this, reference lists of the selected articles were inspected. The subject headings and keywords searched included breast screening, mammography screening, BC worry, distress or anxiety, additional test, further examination and recall. These were used separately and in combination. The databases gave 598 references. From the selected titles, 83 abstracts were read; from these, 23 publications were selected for full‐text review. On the basis of full texts, 15 articles were chosen.

Findings:  There were very few studies about the associations between FE and BC worry. In those found, the amount of measured variables was limited. BC worry in FE of breast screening was associated with several sociodemographic and psychosocial factors of recalled women, as well as those related to the FE process. About half of the recalled women were quite or very anxious in the prediagnostic phase.

Conclusions:  The review gave implications for interventions in the FE process of mammography screening. These interventions should predominantly be made in the preclinical phase and should differ according to the type of recall visit and characteristics of recalled women. In communicating the diagnosis to the women, the time from the examination process to diagnosis should be as short as possible, and in addition to physicians being present, other health care professionals should also be there to ensure the necessary emotional and practical support a woman needs in such a situation.
Microbial response to limited nutrients in shallow water immediately after the end‐Permian mass extinction
Authors: JIA C. , HUANG J. , KERSHAW S. , LUO G. , FARABEGOLI E. , PERRI M. C. , CHEN L. , BAI X. , XIE S.
Published: December 2011

Previous work indicates that a variety of microbes bloomed in the oceans after the end‐Permian faunal mass extinction, but evidence is sporadically documented. Thus, the nature and geographic distribution of such microbes and their associations are unclear, addressed in this study using a series of biomarker groups. On the basis of microbial biomarker records of the 2‐methylhopane index, evidence is presented for cyanobacterial blooms in both the western and eastern Tethys Sea and in both shallow and deep waters, after the mass extinction. The enhanced relative abundance of C28 (expressed by the C28/C29 ratio of) regular steranes suggests a bloom of prasinophyte algae occurred immediately after the end‐Permian faunal extinction, comparable with those observed in some other mass extinctions in Phanerozoic. Significantly, cyanobacteria and prasinophyte algae show a synchronized onset of bloom in the shallow water Bulla section, north Italy, inferring for the first time their coupled response to the biotic crisis and the associated environmental conditions. However, in Meishan of Zhejiang Province in south China, the bloom declined earlier than in Bulla. The association of increased 2‐methylhopane index with a negative shift in the nitrogen isotope composition infers a scenario of enhanced nitrogen fixation by cyanobacteria immediately after the faunal mass extinction. N2 fixation by cyanobacteria is here interpreted to have provided prasinophyte algae with ammonium in nutrient‐limited shallow waters, and thus caused their associated blooms.
Performance characteristics of a conformal ultra‐wideband multilayer applicator (CUMLA) for hyperthermia in veterinary patients: a pilot evaluation of its use in the adjuvant treatment of non‐resectable tumours
Authors: Smrkovski O. A. , Koo Y. , Kazemi R. , Lembcke L. M. , Fathy A. , Liu Q. , Phillips J. C.
Published: December 2011

Performance and clinical characteristics of a novel hyperthermia antenna operating at 434 MHz were evaluated for the adjuvant treatment of locally advanced superficial tumours in cats, dogs and horses. Electromagnetic simulations were performed to determine electric field characteristics and compared to simulations for a flat microwave antenna with similar dimensions. Simulation results show a reduced skin surface and backfield irradiation and improved directional irradiation (at broadside) compared to a flat antenna. Radiated power and penetration is notably increased with a penetration depth of 4.59 cm compared to 2.74 cm for the flat antenna. Clinical use of the antenna was then evaluated in six animals with locoregionally advanced solid tumours receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. During clinical applications, therapeutic temperatures were achieved at depths ≥4 cm. Objective responses were seen in all patients; tissue toxicity in one case limited further therapy. This antenna provides compact, efficient, focused and deep‐penetrating clinical hyperthermia for the treatment of solid tumours in veterinary patients.
QUANTITATIVE NANOMECHANICAL MAPPING OF MARINE DIATOM IN SEAWATER USING PEAK FORCE TAPPING ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY1
Authors: Pletikapić Galja , Berquand Alexandre , Radić Tea Mišić , Svetličić Vesna
Published: December 2011

It is generally accepted that a diatom cell wall is characterized by a siliceous skeleton covered by an organic envelope essentially composed of polysaccharides and proteins. Understanding of how the organic component is associated with the silica structure provides an important insight into the biomineralization process and patterning on the cellular level. Using a novel atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging technique (Peak Force Tapping), we characterized nanomechanical properties (elasticity and deformation) of a weakly silicified marine diatom Cylindrotheca closterium (Ehrenb.) Reimann et J. C. Lewin (strain CCNA1). The nanomechanical properties were measured over the entire cell surface in seawater at a resolution that was not achieved previously. The fibulae were the stiffest (200 MPa) and the least deformable (only 1 nm). Girdle band region appeared as a series of parallel stripes characterized by two sets of values of Young’s modulus and deformation: one for silica stripes (43.7 Mpa, 3.7 nm) and the other between the stripes (21.3 MPa, 13.4 nm). The valve region was complex with average values of Young’s modulus (29.8 MPa) and deformation (10.2 nm) with high standard deviations. After acid treatment, we identified 15 nm sized silica spheres in the valve region connecting raphe with the girdle bands. The silica spheres were neither fused together nor forming a nanopattern. A cell wall model is proposed with individual silica nanoparticles incorporated in an organic matrix. Such organization of girdle band and valve regions enables the high flexibility needed for movement and adaptation to different environments while maintaining the integrity of the cell.
U.S. Treaty Making with American Indians: Institutional Change and Relative Power, 1784–1911
Authors: Spirling Arthur
Published: December 2011

Native Americans are unique among domestic actors in that their relations with the U.S. government involve treaty making, with almost 600 such documents signed between the Revolutionary War and the turn of the twentieth century. We investigate the effect of constitutional changes to the treating process in 1871, by which Congress stripped the president of his ability to negotiate directly with tribes. We construct a comprehensive new data set by digitizing all of the treaties for systematic textual analysis. Employing scaling techniques validated with word‐use information, we show that a single dimension characterizes the treaties as more or less “harsh” in land and resource cession terms. We find that specific institutional changes to treaty‐making mechanisms had little effect on agreement outcomes. Rather, it is the relative bargaining power of the United States economically and militarily that contributes to worsening terms for Indians over the nineteenth century.
Association between uterine repair at laparoscopic myomectomy and postoperative adhesions
Authors: KUMAKIRI JUN , KIKUCHI IWAHO , KITADE MARI , MATSUOKA SHOZO , KONO AYAKO , OZAKI RIE , TAKEDA SATORU
Published: December 2011

Objective. To determine whether uterine repair at laparoscopic myomectomy influences postoperative adhesions. Design. Retrospective study. Setting. University‐affiliated hospital. Population. A total of 108 patients who underwent second‐look laparoscopy after laparoscopic myomectomy without concomitant pelvic surgery between January 2006 and May 2010. Methods. Absorbable cellulose adhesion barriers were used for uterine repair at initial surgery in all women. The presence of adhesions was evaluated by second‐look laparoscopy. Main outcome measures. The influence of background factors (diameter of largest myoma, number of myomas, incision sites and number of suture layers) and the uterine status immediately after uterine repair at laparoscopic myomectomy (number, length and location of wounds, as well as wound appearance classified as virtually normal, swollen or protruding) on adhesion formation were analysed in 108 women with 296 uterine wounds. Data were analysed by logistic regression analysis. Results. Forty‐one (38.0%) women had adhesions to their uterus at follow up. We identified 48 (16.2%) adhesions among 296 wounds in all women. A protruding wound was significantly associated with postoperative wound adhesion (odds ratio, 2.53; p=0.02). The number of enucleated subserosal myomas (odds ratio, 3.29; p<0.001) and the diameter of the largest myoma (odds ratio, 1.05; p<0.001) were significantly associated with wound protrusion, which was a critical factor influencing adhesion. Conclusions. Postoperative wound adhesion formation seems to depend on uterine status immediately after laparoscopic myomectomy.
QUESTIONING THE HOMOGENIZATION OF IRREGULAR MIGRANTS IN EDUCATIONAL POLICY: FROM (IL)LEGAL RESIDENCE TO INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
Authors: Hemelsoet Elias
Published: December 2011

In this article Elias Hemelsoet questions the way irregular migrants are approached in educational policymaking. In most cases, estimations of the number of irregular migrants serve—despite large methodological problems—as a starting point for policymaking. Given the very diverse composition of this group of people, the question is whether residence status is an appropriate benchmark for dealing with the social problems related to these people. There seems to be a homogenizing tendency at work that reduces the complexity of irregular migration. Preferable distinctions are overlooked or even denied. Inclusive education seems to provide an alternative that does not reduce individuals to a group they belong to, claiming that differences only matter at the individual level. The question is whether such an approach entails a new form of homogenization. Using the case of Roma people, Hemelsoet argues here that group differences do matter for educational practice, theory, and policy. Qualitative data on the social practices of groups can help provide insight into the particularity of situations. This “insight” or “understanding,” in its turn, is a requirement in order for policymakers to make well‐considered choices.
ON THE EPISTEMOLOGICAL PRESUPPOSITIONS OF REFLECTIVE ACTIVITIES
Authors: Dohn Nina Bonderup
Published: December 2011

Reflection is an ambiguous buzzword in contemporary educational and professional settings. Work has been done to clarify the concept theoretically, but a gap remains between such clarifications and actual reflective activities in educational and work‐related practices. Reflective activities embody epistemological presuppositions about the nature of competence, knowledge, and learning, and about the relation between thinking, communicating, and acting. In this article, Nina Bonderup Dohn identifies the epistemological presuppositions of two paradigm cases of reflection (“solitaire reflection” and “communicative reflection”) and assesses these against a view of knowledge, competence, learning, and action inspired by the Scandinavian interpretation of Ludwig Wittgenstein's philosophy as well as by insights from phenomenology and situated learning. The outcome of Dohn's assessment is that the presuppositions of the paradigm cases are misguided and, therefore, so are the reflective activities. The problems and pitfalls that result from this situation are identified and illustrated with empirical examples. Dohn concludes by suggesting an alternative paradigm: “situated reflection.”
Galvanic vestibular stimulation improves the results of vestibular rehabilitation
Authors: Carmona Sergio , Ferrero Antonela , Pianetti Guillermina , Escolá Natalia , Arteaga María Victoria , Frankel Lilian
Published: December 2011

Here, we present findings from a three‐step investigation of the effect of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) in normal subjects and in subjects undergoing vestibular rehabilitation (VR). In an initial study, we examined the body sway of 10 normal subjects after one minute of 2 mA GVS. The effect of the stimulation lasted for at least 20 minutes in all subjects and up to two hours in 70% of the subjects. We then compared a group of patients who received conventional VR (40 patients) with a group that received a combination of VR and GVS. Results suggest a significant improvement in the second group. Finally, we attempted to establish the optimal number of GVS sessions and to rule out a placebo effect. Fifteen patients received “systematic” GVS: five sessions, once a week. Five patients received “nonsystematic” galvanic stimulation in a sham protocol, which included two stimulations of the clavicle. These data were analyzed with Fisher's exact test and indicated that the best results were obtained after three sessions of GVS and no placebo effect was observed.
Social Psychology, Social Issues, and Social Policy: What Have We Learned?
Authors: Esses Victoria M. , Dovidio John F.
Published: December 2011

In this reflection on our term as coeditors of Social Issues and Policy Review (SIPR), we consider what we have learned from our work on the journal and what challenges lie ahead. We suggest that SIPR has been successful as a platform for work demonstrating the relevance of psychological research to issues of concern to policy makers and to the general public. It has been less effective, however, in its goal of stimulating more scholars in the discipline to engage in socially relevant research. We suggest that the current reward system within our discipline is not conducive to research that addresses broad societal issues, and that the emphasis on internal validity has limited the focus of our work. We call on psychologists to bridge micro and macro levels of analysis and to take their rightful place among those making a difference in the world.
Understanding Concealable Stigmatized Identities: The Role of Identity in Psychological, Physical, and Behavioral Outcomes
Authors: Quinn Diane M. , Earnshaw Valerie A.
Published: December 2011

Concealable stigmatized identities (CSIs) are devalued social identities or attributes, such as mental illness, HIV+ status, and chronic illness, that can be kept concealed from others. We describe two components of a CSI—valenced content and magnitude—that we argue are critical in determining the impact of a CSI on psychological, physical, and behavioral health outcomes. Valenced content contains a range of both negative and positive beliefs about the CSI, including internalized stigma, experienced discrimination, anticipated stigma, disclosure reactions, and counterstereotypic/positive information. Magnitude of the identity captures the relative importance of the identity for the self via measures of centrality and salience. A review of the research literature finds initial support for the importance of valenced content and magnitude impacting psychological, physical, and behavioral outcomes, although many relationships are yet to be rigorously tested. We include a set of suggested policy implications aimed at reducing stigma among people with CSIs and, thereby, improving health.
Comparison of CytokinemRNAExpression in the Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of Horses with Inflammatory Airway Disease and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Mastocytosis or Neutrophilia UsingRESTSoftware Analysis
Authors: Beekman L. , Tohver T. , Léguillette R.
Published: December 2011

Objectives

The pathophysiology of inflammatory airway disease (IAD) is unknown, but in some cases involves the accumulation of mast cells, neutrophils, or both in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The objective of this study was to characterize cytokine gene expression in theBALFcells of horses withIAD, including a comparison of cytokine gene expression betweenIADhorses with increasedBALFmast cells (IAD‐Mast) or neutrophils (IAD‐Neutro).

Methods

ThemRNAexpression of IL‐4, IFN‐γ, IL‐17, IL‐8, IL‐1β, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐12p35, and eotaxin‐2 was studied by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) with efficiency correction in BALF samples of 17 horses with IAD (IAD‐total), also subcategorized as 8 IAD‐Mast and 9 IAD‐Neutro, and 10 controls. Glyceraldehyde 3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was used as a reference gene. Relative expression software tool (REST) analysis provided ratios of expression, statistical analysis, and confidence intervals for the results.

Results

Compared with the control group, IL‐5, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, and IL‐10mRNAexpression was upregulated 3.5‐, 3.4‐, 2.8‐, 2.2‐, and 1.9‐fold, respectively, in the IAD‐total group. The IAD‐Neutro group showed increased expression of IL‐17, IL‐8, and IL‐5 (4.7‐, 2.5‐, and 2.9‐fold, respectively) and a decreased expression of IL‐4 (3.4‐fold) compared with the IAD‐Mast group.

Conclusion

Cytokines from the Th2 family plays a key role inIADand a different pathophysiology may be involved in mast cell versus neutrophilBALFaccumulation inIADhorses.
Complex dynamic upper airway collapse: Associations between abnormalities in 99 harness racehorses with one or more dynamic disorders
Authors: STRAND E. , SKJERVE E.
Published: December 2011

Reasons for performing study:Many horses demonstrate dynamic collapse of more than one upper respiratory tract (URT) structure during high‐speed treadmill videoendoscopy (HSTV).

Objectives:To report the frequency of complex dynamic URT collapse in harness racehorses and determine if an association exists between occurrence of certain disorders.

Methods:Retrospective study of 99 Standardbreds and Coldblooded trotters that had one or more dynamic URT disorders identified during HSTV between 1998 and 2006. The horses underwent HSTV using a protocol that included periods of free head carriage and poll flexion until fully fatigued. Dynamic abnormalities were classified as: dynamic laryngeal collapse (DLC) associated with poll flexion; axial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds (ADAF); dynamically flaccid epiglottis (FE); caudal palatal instability (PI); intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (iDDSP); pharyngeal collapse (PC); alar fold collapse (AFC) and nasal flutter (NF). Cluster analysis and Fisher's exact test was performed between groups. Significance was set at P<0.05.

Results:The overall incidence of complex dynamic URT collapse was 69.7%. Axial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds was significantly associated with PI (P<0.0001) and FE (P<0.0001); iDDSP was significantly associated with PI (P = 0.004) only. Dynamic laryngeal collapse associated with poll flexion was significantly associated with FE (P = 0.002). Cluster analysis confirmed strong associations between the above diagnosis groups and weaker associations between others.

Conclusion:Caudal PI seems to result in 2 diagnosis groupings: one that leads to ADAF and the other to iDDSP. Dynamic collapse of the margins of the epiglottis was a common finding in this study strongly associated with DLC, PI and ADAF.

Potential clinical relevance:The associations between certain dynamic diagnoses identified in this study seems best explained as due to local anatomic and functional weaknesses that influence other structures through the Bernouilli principle, rather than being due to a generalised neurological disorder.
Effect of Swirl and Injection Pressure on Performance and Emissions of JP-8 Fueled High Speed Single Cylinder Diesel Engine
Authors: Jayakumar Chandrasekharan , Nargunde Jagdish , Sinha Anubhav , Henein Naeim A. , Bryzik Walter , Sattler Eric
Published: December 2011

JP-8 is being closely watched as a suitable fuel for the “One fuel policy” by US Army. Some of the main targets of Army in the battle are the fuel economy and smoke/soot emissions. Soot emissions can be reduced in two ways, by increasing the injection pressure or by increasing swirl. An investigation was conducted to find out the more effective way to reduce soot emissions and to evaluate the influence of the swirl motion on JP-8 fuel combustion, performance and emissions in a single cylinder diesel engine. Increasing swirl increased heat losses and produced lower temperatures during injection process. Increasing swirl improved the premixed combustion fraction and produced higher peak temperatures and in turn increased NOx emissions. Increasing swirl also increased the nano-particle emissions.
Rotordynamic Force Coefficients of Bubbly Mixture Annular Pressure Seals
Authors: Andrés Luis San
Published: December 2011

As oil fields deplete, in particular in deep sea reservoirs, pump and compression systems work under more strenuous conditions with gas in liquid and liquid in gas mixtures, mostly inhomogeneous. Off-design operation affects system overall efficiency and reliability, including penalties in leakage and rotordynamic performance of secondary flow components, namely seals. The paper details a bulk-flow model for annular damper seals operating with gas in liquid mixtures. The analysis encompasses all-liquid and all-gas seals, as well as seals lubricated with homogenous (bubbly) mixtures, and predicts the static and dynamic force response of mixture lubricated seals; namely: leakage, power loss, reaction forces, and rotordynamic force coefficients, etc., as a function of the mixture volume fraction (βS), supply and discharge pressures, rotor speed, whirl frequency, etc. A seal example with a nitrogen gas mixed with light oil is analyzed. The large pressure drop (70 bar) causes a large expansion of the gas within the seal even for (very) small gas volume fractions (βS). Predictions show leakage and power loss decrease as β→1; albeit at low βS (< 0.3) (re)laminarization of the flow and an apparent increase in mixture viscosity, produce a hump in power loss. Cross-coupled stiffnesses and direct damping coefficients decrease steadily with increases in the gas volume fraction; however, some anomalies are apparent when the flow turns laminar. Mixture lubricated seals show frequency-dependent force coefficients. The equivalent damping decreases above and below βS ∼ 0.10. The direct stiffness coefficients show atypical behavior: a low βS = 0.1 produces stiffness hardening as the excitation frequency increases. Recall that an all liquid seal has a dynamic stiffness softening as frequency increases due to the apparent fluid mass. The predictions call for an experimental program to quantify the static and dynamic forced performance of annular seals operating with (bubbly) mixtures and to validate the current predictive model results.
Hot-wire-assisted atomic layer deposition of a high quality cobalt film using cobaltocene: Elementary reaction analysis on NHx radical formation
Authors: Shimizu Hideharu , Sakoda Kaoru , Momose Takeshi , Koshi Mitsuo , Shimogaki Yukihiro
Published: December 2011

Hot-wire-assisted atomic layer deposition (HW-ALD) has been identified as a successful method to form high quality metallic films using metallocene and NH3. A cobalt film formed by HW-ALD using cobaltocene and NH3 was successfully demonstrated. The authors have elucidated the mechanism of HW-ALD during the precursor feed period and the reducing period. In the case of cobalt, a deposition temperature above 300 °C is needed to avoid an inclusion of carbon impurities. This is because the physisorbed species are involved during the precursor feed period. NH2 radical promotes the dissociation of the carbon–metal bond during the reducing period. This is examined by elucidation of the gas-phase kinetics, estimation of the surface reactions by quantum chemical calculations, and analysis of the exhaust gas using a quadrupole mass spectrometer.
Room temperature atomic layer deposition of Al2O3 and replication of butterfly wings for photovoltaic application
Authors: Tang X. , Francis L. A. , Simonis P. , Haslinger M. , Delamare R. , Deschaume O. , Flandre D. , Defrance P. , Jonas A. M. , Vigneron J. P. , Raskin J. P.
Published: December 2011

In this paper, we present two key process steps for potential applications in the fabrication of low-cost and high-efficiency ultrathin monocrystalline silicon (mono-Si) solar cells to effectively harvest solar energy. One is to grow an Al2O3 passivation layer on the rear side of an Si wafer by a successive atomic layer deposition (ALD) at room temperature (25 °C). The other is to produce a bio-inspired antireflection structure on the front side of the Si wafer by replicating butterfly wing patterns. The capacitance–voltage measurements reveal that the successive ALD procedure can yield a higher negative charge density at the Al2O3/Si interface relative to the conventional one. The measurement results of quasi-steady-state photoconductance indicate that after annealing, the 25 °C ALD Al2O3 layers reach a similar passivation level to the p-type Si wafers compared to that deposited at 250 °C. With the help of an ALD Al2O3 layer, butterfly wing patterns (Hypochrysops polycletus) are replicated on a PMMA layer which is on an SiO2/Si stack. This work demonstrates the ability for replicating the natural photonic features on Si wafers and other substrates by using nanoimprint.
Public opinion on preferences and priorities for end-of-life care in sub-Saharan Africa: piloting a novel method of street surveying: Table 1
Authors: Downing Julia , Gikaara Nancy , Gomes Barbara , Daveson Barbara A , Higginson Irene J , Harding Richard
Published: December 2011

There is a great need for end-of-life care in Africa due to the high incidence of life-threatening illness. However, little is known about the views of the African public on end-of-life care. Therefore, the authors piloted a street survey in Nairobi (Kenya), where adult pedestrians were randomly interviewed about local preferences and priorities for end-of-life care. Two of 19 people consented but later withdrew, one because of religious beliefs and one because of the sensitive nature of the subject. Interviews took approximately 15 min. Interviewers' field notes revealed no major problems with content, but identified tribal and ethnic origin as a sensitive topic, and stressed the usefulness of the presence of a ‘buddy’ for the safety of the interviewer. One participant found it upsetting to talk about the topic and did not want to be informed about a terminal illness. The 16 remaining participants said the interview was not distressing and answered all questions. All 17 had experienced the death of a close relative in the last 5 years. Methodological and implementation lessons have been learnt and the results of the pilot suggest street surveying is a feasible and acceptable method to examine public opinion on end-of-life care in Africa, provided people are able to freely decline to respond and safety measures are in place for interviewer. This novel pilot offers a new opportunity for health research in Africa.
Formation and recognition of G-quadruplex relevant for pilin antigenic variation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Authors: Zhang Zhenjiang , He Xiangwei , Yuan Gu
Published: December 2011

In this research, NMR, ESI-MS, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies were used to investigate the formation and recognition of G-quadruplex by a G-rich sequence that has been demonstrated to be relevant for pilin variation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae . The NMR spectra provided strong evidence that the G-quadruplex structure was formed from this G-rich sequence, and this result was confirmed by CD spectroscopy. In addition, two small-molecule natural products (jatrorrhizine hydrochloride (J) and dehydrocorydaline (D)) were found to bind to this G-quadruplex over the corresponding duplex DNA with high selectivity by ESI-MS.
Selective recognition of G-quadruplex in the vascular endothelial growth factor gene with small-molecule natural products by electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry and circular dichroism (CD) spectrometry
Authors: He Xiangwei , Zhang Zhenjiang , Zhang Qiang , Yuan Gu
Published: December 2011

In this study, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy were used to investigate selective recognition of G-quadruplex in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene with 12 small-molecule natural products. We found that kaempferol, a natural flavonol, shows the highest binding affinity among the 12 natural molecules. The results from ESI-MS and CD spectra indicated that kaempferol could enhance the thermal stability of the VEGF–G-quadruplex and showed selective recognition for the G-quadruplex in a solution consisting of the G-quadruplex and the corresponding duplex DNA.
Development of a copper(II)-catalyzed three-component tandem synthesis of isoindolinone derivatives
Authors: Sun Leon Xuetong , Zeng Tieqiang , Jiang Dong , Dai Li-Yi , Li Chao-Jun
Published: December 2011

Isoindolinone derivatives are important pharmaceutical building blocks in medicinal chemistry. Isoindolo[2,1-a]quinolines are a class of interesting compounds that possess protective effects against N2-induced hypoxia and inhibitory activities against human topoisomerase II and bacterial DNA-gyrase. The conventional methods for synthesizing these compounds are unsatisfactory because of their harsh reaction conditions, complex starting materials, and multistaged purification procedures. This synthesis of the propargyl-isoindolinone core features an aldehyde–alkyne–amine (A3) coupling-based tandem strategy using methyl 2-formylbenzoate, primary aryl amine, and terminal alkyne under Cu(OTf)2 catalysis.
Recent development in functionalized ionic liquids as reaction media and promoters
Authors: Wong Wing-Leung , Wong Kwok-Yin
Published: December 2011

The recent development in the use of functionalized ionic liquids as both reaction media and promoters is reviewed. Ionic liquids designed with special functionality can enhance the reaction rate, selectivity, and productivity in various chemical reactions. In this context, some important chemical reactions involving C–C, C–O, C–N, and C–S bond formation in functionalized ionic liquids are discussed. These functionalized ionic liquids were found to provide distinct advantages over conventional organic solvents in these catalytic reactions.
Synthesis of (±)-14-epi-hydroxydolasta-1(15),7,9-triene and (±)-7-epi-acetoxy-14-epi-hydroxydolasta-1(15),8-diene*Taken in part from the Ph.D. dissertation of Jianhua Yu, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA, 2009.
Authors: Majetich George , Yu Jianhua
Published: December 2011

1,3-Dimethyl-2-nitrobenzene was converted to the key intramolecular Friedel–Crafts intermediate 24 in ten steps. Treatment of 24 with TiCl4 produced tricyclic enone 25 in 61%–75% yield, having the requisite trans relationship of the two angular methyl groups and many of the salient features of the dolastane diterpenes. The structure of enone 25 was verified by X-ray crystallography analysis. Cyclization product 25 permitted the facile synthesis of (±)-14-epi-hydroxydolasta-1(15),7,9-triene and (±)-7-epi-acetoxy-14-epi-hydroxydolasta-1(15),8-diene, which are detailed in this article.
INFLUENCE OF INTERFACIAL LAYER THICKNESS AND SUBSTRATE ROUGHNESS ON ADHESION OF TiN COATINGS DEPOSITED AT LOW TEMPERATURES BY IBAD
Authors: KAKAS DAMIR , TEREK PAL , KOVACEVIC LAZAR , MILETIC ALEKSANDAR , SKORIC BRANKO
Published: December 2011

Ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) was applied to produce TiN coatings on carburized steel substrates. Low deposition temperatures (~50°C) were applied to prevent distortion and softening of previously heat-treated substrates. Mechanical properties of all studied coatings are comparable to those obtained at usually used high temperatures. In order to improve adhesion between TiN coating and substrate, an interfacial layer was prepared by ion beam mixing of Ti atoms and steel substrate. The adhesion strength evaluation revealed significant improvement compared to the coatings produced without the ion beam mixed interfacial layer. Adhesion increased with increase in thickness of the interfacial layer. Substrate roughness was varied systematically in order to determine its influence on adhesion strength. The research was conducted for a rarely studied domain of low roughness (Average roughness Ra below 50 nm). The results of scratch tests revealed improvement of adhesion with increase in substrate roughness. This adhesion trend is different from the one reported by other authors who used rougher substrates. Two groups of opposing mechanisms acting during adhesion testing were identified. It appears that there exists an optimum roughness below which adhesion strength increases, and above which it decreases with the increase in substrate roughness. Accordingly, applying an expensive surface finish does not have to be a guarantee for achieving the appropriate adhesion of TiN coatings deposited at low temperatures.
Si-STEEL THIN-STRIP PREPARED BY TWIN-ROLL CONTINUOUS CASTING
Authors: YI YU , ZHOU ZEHUA , WANG ZEHUA , JIANG SHAOQUN , HUANG WEIDONG
Published: December 2011

The fabrication process of Si -steel thin-strip by twin-roll continuous casting was described and the quality of the obtained Si -steel thin-strip was measured. Si -steel strips with 0.5–6.5 wt.% Si content were successfully prepared, and proper parameters including pouring temperature, height of molten pool, casting speed and pouring head mode were optimized, and their mechanisms were discussed. The relationship between quality factors of Si -steel including cracks, strip thickness, impurity and process parameters such as Si content and so on were discussed. The morphologies of the strips with different Si content were studied.
THERMODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF PHASE FORMATION IN MECHANICAL ALLOYED Fe3Al POWDER
Authors: PANG L. X. , HAO X. H. , HAN N. F. , XU J. , TANG X. D. , LI J.
Published: December 2011

Nanocrystalline supersaturated solid solutions were formed by mechanically alloyed Fe-28Al (in atom percent) from the elemental powder of iron and aluminum. Phase evolution, grain size and lattice strain of these powders were determined and discussed. A thermodynamic model was developed based on semi-experimental theory of Miedema to calculate the chemical driving force for phase evolution. The influence of thermodynamic driving forces, namely the Gibbs free energy of mixing, for the solid solution and the amorphous was discussed and corresponded to the sequence of phase formations during mechanical alloying.
INVESTIGATION OF SOME SCHIFF BASES AS CORROSION INHIBITORS FOR ALUMINIUM ALLOY IN 0.5 M HYDROCHLORIC ACID SOLUTIONS
Authors: MUNIANDY M. T. , RAHIM A. ABDUL , OSMAN H. , SHAH A. MOHD , YAHYA S. , RAJA P. BOTHI
Published: December 2011

The inhibitory effect of some Schiff bases viz. N,N′-bis(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-1,3-diaminobenzene (SB1), N,N′-bis(4-bromobenzylidene)-1,3-diaminobenzene (SB2) and N,N′-bis(2-hydroxy-5-bromobenzylidene)-1,3-diaminobenzene (SB3) on the corrosion of aluminium alloy in 0.5 M HCl acid have been studied using weight loss measurements, potentiodynamic polarization and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The experimental results showed that these Schiff bases SB1, SB2 and SB3 efficiently inhibit the corrosion of aluminium alloy in 0.5 M HCl medium and found to follow almost similar corrosion inhibition pattern. The potentiodynamic polarization curves revealed that, all the studied Schiff bases are mixed type inhibitors with a predominantly cathodic action and their inhibition efficiencies increased with increasing inhibitor concentration. The adsorption of Schiff bases was found to follow Langmuir adsorption isotherm. SEM study revealed that these compounds protect the metal corrosion by adsorption on its surface to form a protective layer. The inhibition performance depends strongly on the type of functional groups substituted on the benzene ring.
ALUMINIZING OIL CASING STEEL N80 BY A LOW-TEMPERATURE PACK PROCESSING MODIFIED WITH ZINC ADDITION
Authors: HUANG MIN , WANG YU , ZHANG XIAO YONG
Published: December 2011

Different aluminide coatings were prepared on oil casing steel N80 at a relatively lower temperature of 530°C for 2 h by pack powder modified with different content of zinc (Zn). The cross-sectional microstructure, element distribution and properties of as-aluminized oil casing steel N80 were investigated by SEM, EDS, micro-hardness test and electrochemical corrosion measurement. Results show that aluminide coating with around 50 μm in thickness can be successfully achieved by a low-temperature pack aluminizing processing with the addition of Zn . Zn in the pack powder can enhance the uniformity and continuity of the coating layer, while it has little effect on the thickness of as-packed coating with the increasing content of Zn from 38.8 wt.% to 84.4 wt.%. As the content of Zn is over 58.8 wt.%, two layer coating consisting of pure Zn layer and Fe–Al aluminide layer can be formed on oil casing steel N80 substrate. Furthermore, oil casing steel N80 with aluminizing coating shows a higher microhardness than that of original one except in the depth range of pure Zn layer, but the microhardness of oil casing steel substrate does not decrease after aluminizing which can be inferred that low-temperature aluminizing processing reported here will not bring any damages on the mechanical properties of oil casing steel N80 . Additionally, a lower self-corrosion current density of oil casing steel N80 with aluminizing coating also indicates that low-temperature aluminizing processing is helpful to the corrosion resistance of oil casing steel N80 .
AN ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NEW FIRM FORMATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHEAST REGION OF THE UNITED STATES
Authors: BASHIR SAIMA , GEBREMEDHIN TESFA
Published: December 2011

The overall objective of this study is to provide policy makers identifies and estimates the role and impacts of new firm formation in the Northeast region of the United States. The empirical model of this study is derived from the three-equation simultaneous model of Deller et al. (2001). In this study, Three-Stage Least Squares (3SLS) method is used to estimate the simultaneous equations model. The research findings indicate that population density and per capita income have a positive link with new firm formation. Higher population density and per capita income encourage entrepreneurs to start new firms in the region. This leads to an increase of new jobs, which is a positive contribution to economic development in the Northeast region.
Indium(III) complexes of octaphenylporphyrazine: Effect of halide coordination on the basic properties and stability in acid media
Authors: Ivanova Svetlana S. , Stuzhin Pavel A.
Published: December 2011

Influence of halide ion coordination on the basic properties and stability of indium(III) octaphenylporphyrazine complexes in acid medium have been studied. Five-coordinated halide complexes [(Hal)InPAPh8] (Hal = F, Cl, Br) are stable in dichloromethane or chloroform solutions acidified with trifluoroacetic acid up to 100%. One of four meso-nitrogen atoms is protonated in 0.1 M solution; their basicity depending of the ionic character of In–Hal bond is decreased in the order F > Cl > Br . Addition of an excess of fluoride, chloride or bromide anions leads to formation of anionic cis-dihalide complexes cis [(Hal)2InPAPh8] - which undergo very facile demetalation with formation of the free-base H2PAPh8 even in a slightly acidified solutions (0.001 M of acid). Such catalytic effect of halide anions seems to be general for demetalation reactions of indium(III) complexes with tetrapyrrolic macrocycles and was also observed for the phthalocyanine complex [(Cl)InPc] . Coordination of iodide leads to reduction of porphyrazine macrocycle assisted by meso-protonation with formation of π-anionic species, which upon demetalation and subsequent deprotonation give a mixture of free-base porphyrazine H2PAPh8 and tetraazachlorin derivatives.
Water in a Crowd
Authors: Fayer Michael D.
Published: December 2011

In many situations, form biology to geology, water occurs not as the pure bulk liquid but rather in nanoscopic environments, in contact with interfaces, interacting with ionic species, and interacting with large organic molecules. In such situations, water does not behave in the same manner as it does in the pure bulk liquid. Water dynamics are fundamental to many processes such as protein folding and proton transport. Such processes depend on the dynamics of water's hydrogen bonding network. Here, the results of ultrafast infrared experiments are described that shed light on the influences of nanoconfinement, interfaces, ions, and organic molecules on water hydrogen bond dynamics.
An all-endo Approach to Complete Ureteral Duplications Complicated by Ureterocele and/or Vesicoureteral Reflux: Feasibility, Limitations, and Results
Authors: Calisti A. , Perrotta M. L. , Coletta R. , Olivieri C. , Briganti V. , Oriolo L. , Fabbri R.
Published: December 2011

Purpose. Totally endoscopic management (all-endo) of patients with a duplicated renal system (DS) associated with severe vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) or obstructive ureterocele (UC) is an attractive alternative to traditional open procedures. The authors discuss feasibility and results of an all-endo approach on a consecutive series of patients.Methods. From 1999 to 2009, all patients with a complete DS associated with UC and/or VUR were proposed for primary all-endo approach. UC puncture was performed using a 3 Fr Bugbee electrode. Deflux (dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer) injection was administered for VUR. The need for secondary surgery was evaluated on followup.Results. Of the 62 patients recruited, 46 were treated using a primary all-endo approach and 16 patients received no treatment. Of the 46 treated patients with 56 affected renal units, 32 (97%) UCs collapsed following puncture and 29 (63%) VURs were resolved or downgraded. Secondary VUR occurred in 13 (39%) renal units. Secondary surgery was performed on 23 (41%) renal units.Conclusion. The all-endo approach for VUR in DS is an effective therapeutic option. UC collapse was achieved by puncture in most of the patients; secondary VUR was the main complication in a small group of extravesical UC.