bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating Flow Using Tracers and Hydraulics in Synthetic Heterogeneous Aquifers
Authors: Larocque Marie , Cook Peter G. , Haaken Klaus , Simmons Craig T.
Published: June 2009

Regional ground water flow is most usually estimated using Darcy's law, with hydraulic conductivities estimated from pumping tests, but can also be estimated using ground water residence times derived from radioactive tracers. The two methods agree reasonably well in relatively homogeneous aquifers but it is not clear which is likely to produce more reliable estimates of ground water flow rates in heterogeneous systems. The aim of this paper is to compare bias and uncertainty of tracer and hydraulic approaches to assess ground water flow in heterogeneous aquifers. Synthetic two‐dimensional aquifers with different levels of heterogeneity (correlation lengths, variances) are used to simulate ground water flow, pumping tests, and transport of radioactive tracers. Results show that bias and uncertainty of flow rates increase with the variance of the hydraulic conductivity for both methods. The bias resulting from the nonlinearity of the concentration–time relationship can be reduced by choosing a tracer with a decay rate similar to the mean ground water residence time. The bias on flow rates estimated from pumping tests is reduced when performing long duration tests. The uncertainty on ground water flow is minimized when the sampling volume is large compared to the correlation length. For tracers, the uncertainty is related to the ratio of correlation length to the distance between sampling wells. For pumping tests, it is related to the ratio of correlation length to the pumping test's radius of influence. In regional systems, it may be easier to minimize this ratio for tracers than for pumping tests.
A Parallel PCG Solver for MODFLOW
Authors: Dong Yanhui , Li Guomin
Published: June 2009

In order to simulate large‐scale ground water flow problems more efficiently with MODFLOW, the OpenMP programming paradigm was used to parallelize the preconditioned conjugate‐gradient (PCG) solver with in this study. Incremental parallelization, the significant advantage supported by OpenMP on a shared‐memory computer, made the solver transit to a parallel program smoothly one block of code at a time. The parallel PCG solver, suitable for both MODFLOW‐2000 and MODFLOW‐2005, is verified using an 8‐processor computer. Both the impact of compilers and different model domain sizes were considered in the numerical experiments. Based on the timing results, execution times using the parallel PCG solver are typically about 1.40 to 5.31 times faster than those using the serial one. In addition, the simulation results are the exact same as the original PCG solver, because the majority of serial codes were not changed. It is worth noting that this parallelizing approach reduces cost in terms of software maintenance because only a single source PCG solver code needs to be maintained in the MODFLOW source tree.
The Elusive Underpinnings of U.S. Venturesomeness (If Not Prosperity)*
Authors: Bhidé Amar
Published: June 2009

This article explores the question of how the U.S. economy has managed to maintain (or even increase) its lead over other nations in per capita income and the average productivity of its workforce. The answer provided in the author's recent book is that such productivity depends on the greater willingness and effectiveness of U.S. consumers and businesses in making use of innovations in products and business processes.

But this begs the question: What accounts for the increase in the innovative capabilities or effectiveness of U.S. consumers and businesses, both over time and relative to that of their global counterparts? After starting with the conventional “supply‐side” focus on low taxes, limited regulatory barriers, and strong property rights, the author goes on to shift the main emphasis to the following six “institutional” contributors to U.S. prosperity:

Breadth of participation: the modern U.S. economy draws, to a greater extent than either its global competitors or the U.S. of a century ago, on the contributions of far more individuals both as developers and as users of new products.

Organizational diversity and specialization: the evolution of new forms of organization in the U.S., from small venture capital‐backed firms to huge public corporations with dispersed ownership, has enabled the system to use the contributions of many individuals more effectively.

Changes in common beliefs and attitudes: greater receptiveness to technological change has accelerated the adoption of new products in all countries, but especially in the U.S.

Increased pressure for growth: the “grow or die” imperative faced by U.S. businesses has encouraged them to look for help from new technologies.

The professionalization of management and sales functions—a distinctively U.S. phenomenon whose beginnings can be traced to IBM in the 1920s—has improved the capacity of modern U.S. organizations to develop markets and use new products.

The expansion of higher education, to a far greater extent in the U.S. than elsewhere, has increased the supply of individuals with habits and attitudes that improve their ability to develop and use innovations.
Driving Performance Through Corporate Culture: Interviews with Four Experts
Authors: Gandossy Robert , Peshawaria Rajeev , Perlow Leslie , Trompenaars Fons , Dowling Daisy Wademan
Published: June 2009

Establishing an effective link between corporate strategy and employee performance has traditionally been seen as a function of organizational structure and internal marketing—that is, of getting the right compensation systems in place to reward the desired behavior, and relentlessly communicating the strategy to all employees. But, according to the four organizational behavior experts who were interviewed for this article, there's more to it than that. Also important is a market‐ and customer‐oriented corporate culture, which can be a highly effective tool for companies seeking to improve performance and increase value.

This article presents four distinctive, but complementary views on why and how senior executives should play a significant role in managing the cultures within their organizations. According to these experts, it is possible to both transform and harness the power of a culture by paying greater attention to succession issues; articulating and communicating an organization's core values; aligning a company's behavioral norms with employee assumptions; and offering “constructive reconciliation of cultural differences.” In the last analysis, a company's culture is said to be the most effective way for executives to ensure that their employees will perform “when no one is looking.”
EVA Momentum: The One Ratio That Tells the Whole Story
Authors: Stewart Bennett
Published: June 2009

Virtually all corporate managers use ratios like profit margin, earnings growth, and return on equity to set goals, analyze operations, and measure success or failure. Yet all ratios are wrong in the sense that every one of them can make it appear that operations are improving when a business actually is faltering, and vice versa.

In this article, one of the pioneers of the modern economic profit school of financial management claims to have discovered a new ratio that accurately consolidates all the pluses and minuses of decisions and operations into a single reliable overall measure that cannot be increased without truly creating value. “EVA Momentum,” as the measure is called, is the change in a company's economic profit (or EVA) in a given period divided by its sales in the prior period. In other words, it is the size‐adjusted change in economic profit.

The author goes on to demonstrate why most companies can use EVA Momentum as both their overarching financial target and the best way to keep score for multiple business lines. The article also shows why EVA Momentum is a better performance measure than ROI and that, as a diagnostic and management tool, it provides a more effective alternative to the popular DuPont ROI formula. Unlike the DuPont formula, EVA Momentum reflects the contributions to overall performance of important factors such as profitable growth, strategic retrenchment, and the quality of resource allocation decisions in general. At the same time, it provides a more accurate and informative means of examining performance, weighing tradeoffs, identifying investment opportunities, and prioritizing initiatives—all on the basis of their expected impact on a company's market value.
The Economics of Wind Energy
Authors: Martin John , Ramsey Doug
Published: June 2009

In the summer of 2008 the authors of this article met with Boone Pickens to discuss the centerpiece of the Pickens plan for moving the U.S. toward energy independence: the feasibility of wind power as a source for the production of electricity. That meeting, along with their survey of published sources, leads the authors to the following conclusions:

Wind power is an abundant and clean source of energy for the U.S. both now and in the future.

Wind power is now economically viable in some parts of the country, and would be viable throughout the wind‐rich mid‐section of the U.S. if we had a national transmission grid.

But developing such a grid faces several hurdles, including the cost of construction and the need for state‐by‐state approvals of interstate transmission lines. To overcome these obstacles, the authors offer the following policy recommendations:

Federal oversight of the construction of the national transmission grid. Moving toward renewable sources of energy and reduced greenhouse gas from the use of coal changes the problem of managing electric power generation from a local to regional and national problem. This requires broader cooperation and coordination to ensure the construction and management of reliable sources of electric power.

Identify adequate sources of financing. The positive economics of wind power suggest that wind farm development and transmission grid installation should attract sufficient private funding to fully develop the 20% wind solution. But because of the sheer size of the plan, completing it may require innovative financing structures that include the possibility of some combination of public and private funding sources.
Circular Dichroism Techniques: Biomolecular and Nanostructural Analyses‐ A Review
Authors: Ranjbar Bijan , Gill Pooria
Published: June 2009

This paper reviews the best known techniques using circular dichroism spectroscopy such as conventional circular dichroism (i.e. electronic circular dichroism), magnetic circular dichroisms (magnetic vibrational circular dichroism, x‐ray magnetic circular dichroism), fluorescence detected circular dichroism, near‐infrared circular dichroism, vibrational circular dichroism, Fourier transform infrared circular dichroism, high pressure liquid chromatography circular dichroism, stopped‐flow circular dichroism, and synchrotron radiation circular dichroism. Also, we have described here the most important applications of circular dichroism spectroscopy in structural biochemistry and nanoscience.
The Precautionary Principle in Patent Law: A View from Canada
Authors: Murphy Kiernan A.
Published: June 2009

The precautionary principle (PP) has rapidly emerged as a staple of international environmental law and attempts have been made to extend it into other fields. This article examines whether the PP can or should be extended into patent law. First, an assessment of the general arguments in favour of extending the PP into patent law is performed, followed by an analysis of its applicability within Canadian patent law as it is currently enacted. Then, the arguments against a precautionary patent law are scrutinized.
Hardening of High‐Protein Nutrition Bars and Sugar/Polyol–Protein Phase Separation
Authors: McMahon D.J. , Adams S.L. , McManus W.R.
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACT:  Use of hydrolyzed proteins is known to delay hardening of high‐protein nutrition bars. Bars were formulated using ratios of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% partially hydrolyzed whey protein isolate (HWPI) to nonhydrolyzed whey protein isolate (WPI) in one experiment, and either WPI or HWPI combined with high‐fructose corn syrup (HFCS) or sorbitol syrup (SS) in a 2nd experiment along with vegetable shortening such that initial aw was 0.59 for HWPI bars and 0.64 for WPI bars. After mixing, the dough was extruded into bars and stored at 32 °C for accelerated shelf‐life testing. Hardness, color, and microstructure were measured during 42 d of storage. Bars initially had similar hardness of approximately 3.4 N that increased during storage. Bars with HWPI were softest with hardness at 37 d of 10 to 15 N compared to almost 100 N for bars with WPI. Water activity increased for WPI bars to 0.69 by 34 d. Bars became darker during storage depending on amount of Maillard browning reactants, that is, HWPI/HFCS bars ≫ HWPI/SS > WPI/HFCS bars > WPI/SS bars. Bar microstructure at day 2 showed protein and fat dispersed in particulate form throughout the carbohydrate syrup within the bar matrix. During storage, a single nonlipid phase developed in HWPI bars while in WPI bars a phase separation occurred between protein and carbohydrate. We propose that such phase separation initiates bar hardening and promotes subsequent protein aggregation. Successful formulation of HPN bars depends on cosolvent properties of the polyol/sugar toward the proteins and their preferential exclusion from the solvation layer surrounding the proteins.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: High‐protein nutrition bars can be formulated so they remain soft during storage by selecting proteins and sugars that are compatible with each other. Otherwise, the protein and sugar will separate from each other which can then lead to hardening.
Preservation of Cocoa Antioxidant Activity, Total Polyphenols, Flavan‐3‐ols, and Procyanidin Content in Foods Prepared with Cocoa Powder
Authors: Stahl L. , Miller K.B. , Apgar J. , Sweigart D.S. , Stuart D.A. , McHale N. , Ou B. , Kondo M. , Hurst W.J.
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACT:  Little is known about the effects of common cooking processes on cocoa flavanols. Antioxidant activity, total polyphenols (TP), flavanol monomers, and procyanidin oligomers were determined in chocolate frosting, a hot cocoa drink, chocolate cookies, and chocolate cake made with natural cocoa powder. Recoveries of antioxidant activity, TP, flavanol monomers, and procyanidins ranged from 86% to over 100% in the chocolate frosting, hot cocoa drink, and chocolate cookies. Losses were greatest in the chocolate cake with recoveries ranging from 5% for epicatechin to 54% for antioxidant activity. The causes of losses in baked chocolate cakes were investigated by exchanging baking soda with baking powder or combinations of the 2 leavening agents. Use of baking soda as a leavening agent was associated with increased pH and darkening color of cakes. Losses of antioxidant activity, TP, flavanol monomers, and procyanidins were associated with an increased extractable pH of the baked cakes. Chocolate cakes made with baking powder for leavening resulted in an average extractable pH of 6.2 with essentially complete retention of antioxidant activity and flavanol content, but with reduced cake heights and lighter cake color. Commercially available chocolate cake mixes had final pHs above 8.3 and contained no detectable monomeric flavanols after baking. These results suggest that baking soda causes an increase in pH and subsequent destruction of flavanol compounds and antioxidant activity. Use of an appropriate leavening agent to moderate the final cake pH to approximately 7.25 or less results in both good leavening and preservation of cocoa flavanols and procyanidins.
Major Phytochemical Composition of 3 Native Korean Citrus Varieties and Bioactive Activity on V79‐4 Cells Induced by Oxidative Stress
Authors: Yoo Kyung Mi , Hwang In Kyeong , Park Ji Hyun , Moon BoKyung
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACT:  Three citrus varieties grown in Korea, namely, Yuza (Citrus junos Sieb ex Tanaka), Kjool (Citrus unshiu Marcow), and Dangyooja (Citrus grandis Osbeck), were evaluated for their dietary fiber, total phenolics, total flavonoids, and total carotenoids as well as individual flavonoids composition. The biochemical characteristics of citrus varieties were examined by the antioxidant capacity (731 to 1221 μmol of Trolox equivalent/g), total phenolic (334 to 411 mg of chlorogenic acid equivalent/100 g), total flavonoid contents (214 to 281 mg of catechin equivalent/100 g), and total carotenoid contents (63 to 84 mg/100 g). Six flavonoids, including naringin, naringenin, hesperidin, hesperetin, neohesperidin, and luteolin, were tentatively identified. Naringin, hesperidin, and neohesperidin were the predominant flavonoids in 3 citrus varieties. Among the citrus varieties studied, Yuza showed higher antioxidant activity, total phenolics, total carotenoids, and lower superoxide radical scavenging assay (SRSA) IC50 values than other varieties. Furthermore, Korean citrus showed higher protective effect on gap‐junction intercellular communication (GJIC) as compared to vitamin C and luteolin.
ESR Study of the Singlet Oxygen Quenching and Protective Activity of Trolox on the Photodecomposition of Riboflavin and Lumiflavin in Aqueous Buffer Solutions
Authors: Jung Mun Yhung , Min David B.
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACT:  Singlet oxygen quenching activity of Trolox, a water‐soluble derivative of tocopherol, was studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy in a buffer solution (pH 7.4) containing methylene blue (MB), 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐4‐piperidone (TMPD) after light illumination for 30 min. Trolox at the concentration of 125 μM quenched 89.1% singlet oxygen in the system. Trolox showed significantly higher singlet oxygen quenching activity than ascorbic acid in the buffer solution (P < 0.05). Riboflavin in phosphate buffer solutions was degraded very fast under fluorescent light illumination. The photodegradation rate of riboflavin at pH 8.5 was significantly higher than pHs 4.5 and 6.5 (P < 0.05). Lumiflavin was also degraded under the fluorescent light illumination, but its degradation rate was much lower than that of riboflavin under the same light intensity. Unlike riboflavin, the rate of lumiflavin photodegradation was the greatest at pH 4.5 and followed by pHs 6.5 and 8.5, in a decreasing order. Trolox greatly protected the photodegradation of riboflavin and lumiflavin. The protective activities of Trolox against the photodegradation of riboflavin and lumiflavin were also pH dependent. The treatments of 5 mM Trolox in the buffer solutions of pHs 8.5 and 6.5 exhibited 56.1% and 31.7% protection of riboflavin against degradation during 120 min light illumination, respectively. The treatments of Trolox at the concentrations of 1, 3, and 5 mM in the buffer of 6.5 exhibited 14.8%, 58.4%, and 81.4% protection of lumiflavin against degradation during 24 h light illumination, respectively.
Toward a Microfluidic‐Based Rapid Amylase Assay System
Authors: Holmes Richard J. , Summersgil Philip , Ryan Timothy , Brown Bernard J. Treves , Mockbil Amal , Grieve Bruce D. , Fielden Peter R.
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACT:  This article describes work into a prototype system for the assay of amylase, using microfludic technologies. The new system has a significantly shorter cycle time than the current laboratory methods, which generally use microtitre plates, yet is capable of generating significantly superior results. As such, we have shown that sensitivity is enhanced by a factor of 10 in the standard assay trials, and by a factor of 2 in the real‐sample lab trials. In both assays, the use of a microreactor system reduced the reaction time by a factor of 6.2, from 20 min incubation to 3.2 min. Basing the conclusion on the Megazyme Cerealpha Standard Method, and using the Cerealpha units as a measure of assay efficiency, the typical response for the microfluidic assay was shown to be 1.0 × 10−3 CU/mL (standard deviation [SD] 2.5 × 10−4 CU/mL), compared to 2.56 × 10−4 CU/mL (SD 5.94 × 10−5 CU/mL) for the standard macroassay. It is believed that this improvement in the reaction schematics is due to the inherent advantages of microfluidic devices such as superior mixing, higher thermal efficiency, and enhanced reaction kinetics.
Dietary Intervention with AHP, a Functional Formula Diet, Improves Both Serum and Hepatic Lipids Profile in Dyslipidemia Mice
Authors: Luo Yangchao , Chen Gang , Li Bo , Ji Baoping , Xiao Zhenlei , Yi Guo , Tian Fang
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACT:  Aurricularia aurricula, hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida), and Pueraria radix are well known for both traditional food and folk medicine. Each of the above 3 plants possesses a distinct pathway contributing to treat dyslipidemia. To develop a health‐promoting diet against dyslipidemia, the polysaccharides from A. aurricula, polyphenol from hawthorn, and P. radix were combined to postulate as a functional formula diet (AHP) in the present study and its pharmaceutical effects and underlying mechanisms were elucidated in vivo. The dyslipidemia model associated with fatty liver was induced by cholesterol‐enriched diet (CED) for up to 12 wk in male ICR mice. Mice were randomly divided into 5 groups, that is, regular diet (RD), CED, Xuezhikang treatment (positive control group, PG), low and high (150 or 450 mg/kg/d) of AHP treatment groups. Compared with the CED group, AHP groups maintained lipid profiles through lowering serum total cholesterol (TC) and low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (LDL‐C), inhibiting the accumulation of hepatic TC and triglyceride (TG). AHP could also improve both serum and hepatic biochemical activity profiles including antioxidant status, serum nitric oxide (NO), and hepatic 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutary CoA (HMG‐CoA) reductase levels. Hepatic histopathological examinations showed markedly decreased fatty deposits in the liver of AHP‐treated mice, illustrating the ability to reverse a condition of fatty liver. Our study indicated that this functional formula diet would be a potent alternative as a health‐promoting diet, simultaneously targeting on the complexity and redundancy of dyslipidemia.
RBC‐Y/MCV as a discriminant function for differentiating carriers of thalassaemia and HbE from iron deficiency
Authors: NADARAJAN V. S. , STHANESHWAR P. , JAYARANEE S.
Published: June 2009

Individuals with α‐thalassaemia (ATT), β‐thalassaemia (BTT) and HbE trait (HET) are often initially identified based on haematological parameters. However, the values of these parameters usually overlap with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and anaemia of chronic disease (ACD). We evaluated the use of RBC‐Y in 156 normal individuals and 332 patients; ATT (n = 37), BTT (n = 61), HET (n = 25), HbH disease (n = 5), ACD (n = 67), IDA (n = 83) and ACD with IDA (n = 54). Diagnostic efficiency was analysed by receiver operating characteristics (ROC). MCH was better compared with RBC‐Y in discriminating normal from abnormal with sensitivity and specificity of 94% at a cut‐off of 26 pg. The Green and King (G&K) index performed the best in discriminating carriers from IDA and ACD with area under the ROC curve (AUCROC) of 0.81. However, if ACD was excluded, RBC‐Y/MCV was a good discriminator for carriers from IDA with AUCROC = 0.845. In general screening of populations with ATT, BTT and HET, we propose that hypochromic individuals be first identified by MCH <26 pg and carriers distinguished within these hypochromic individuals from IDA by using RBC‐Y/MCV. However, if the prevalence of ACD were high within the screening population, G&K index would be a more suitable discriminator.
Using Neuroscience to Broaden Emotion Regulation: Theoretical and Methodological Considerations
Authors: Berkman Elliot T. , Lieberman Matthew D.
Published: June 2009

Behavioral research on emotion regulation thus far has focused on conscious and deliberative strategies such as reappraisal. Neuroscience investigations into emotion regulation have followed suit. However, neuroimaging tools now open the door to investigate more automatic forms of emotion regulation that take place incidentally and potentially outside of participant awareness that have previously been difficult to examine. The present paper reviews studies on the neuroscience of intentional/deliberate emotion regulation and identifies opportunities for future directions that have not yet been addressed. The authors suggest a broad framework for emotion regulation that includes both deliberative and incidental forms. This framework allows insights from incidental emotion regulation to address open questions about existing work, and vice versa. Several studies relevant to incidental emotion regulation are reviewed with the goal of providing an empirical and methodological groundwork for future research. Finally, several theoretical issues for incidental and intentional emotion regulation are discussed.
Raman Spectroscopy Detects Cardiac Allograft Rejection with Molecular Specificity
Authors: Chung Yoon Gi , Tu Qiang , Cao Dianjun , Harada Shuko , Eisen Howard J , Chang Chang
Published: June 2009

Spatially resolved Raman spectroscopy is shown here to be capable of molecular‐specific detection without exogenous labeling. This molecular specificity is achieved by detecting the strong and characteristic Raman spectral signature of an indole derivative, serotonin, whose selective existence in rejected heart transplants serves as the biomarker. The study also corroborates the increasingly recognized role of serotonin receptors in various immune responses, including cardiac allograft rejection. Combining both medical and physical sciences, this work demonstrates the potential use of Raman spectroscopy in replacing the invasive endomyocardial biopsy as the standard for post‐transplantation rejection surveillance and presents a new paradigm in advancing clinical care through interdisciplinary studies.
Chronic Liver Disease Impairs Bacterial Clearance in a Human Model of Induced Bacteremia
Authors: Ashare Alix , Stanford Clark , Hancock Patricia , Stark Donna , Lilli Kathleen , Birrer Emily , Nymon Amanda , Doerschug Kevin C. , Hunninghake Gary W.
Published: June 2009

Sepsis often causes impaired hepatic function. Patients with liver disease have an increased risk of bacteremia. This is thought to be secondary to impaired reticuloendothelial system function. However, this has not been demonstrated clinically. Since transient bacteremia occurs following toothbrushing, we hypothesized that subjects with cirrhosis would have impaired bacterial clearance following toothbrushing compared with subjects with pulmonary disease and healthy controls. After baseline blood was drawn, the subjects underwent a dental examination to determine plaque index and gingival index. Following toothbrushing, blood was drawn at 30 seconds, 5 minutes, and 15 minutes. Bacteremia was measured using quantitative real‐time PCR with primers that amplify all known bacteria. We found greater than 75% incidence of bacteremia following toothbrushing. While control and pulmonary subjects were able to clear this bacteremia, subjects with cirrhosis had prolonged bacteremia. Baseline and peak bacterial load correlated with plaque index, suggesting that dental hygiene predicts the degree of bacteremia. However, only the severity of cirrhosis was predictive of bacterial clearance at 15 minutes, suggesting that liver function is important in clearing bacteremia. In this study, we demonstrate clinically that cirrhosis results in impaired bacterial clearance. This suggests that cirrhotic patients may be more susceptible to sepsis because of ineffective bacterial clearance.
Early life factors and Type 2 diabetes in south India: Do the associations change with age?
Authors: VEENA Sargoor R. , WILLS Andrew K. , FISHER David J. , STEIN Claudia E. , KUMARAN Kalyanaraman , KRISHNAVENI Ghattu V. , KIRAN Krishnarajasagara N. , COAKLEY Patsy J. , FALL Caroline H.D.
Published: June 2009

Background: Studies since the early 1990s have shown that birth size can be a predictor of the development of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In the present study, we evaluated changes in the strength of associations between T2DM and birth size and maternal weight with age.

Methods: In 1993–1994 (t0), 509 men and women (mean age 46 years) who had been born in Holdsworth Memorial Hospital were screened for diabetes, with increased diabetes risk identified in those who were shorter at birth and those born to heavier mothers. Ten years later (t10), the screening was repeated in 266 subjects who were non‐diabetic att0(70% of survivors).

Results: Att10, 56 new cases of diabetes were found. The incidence of diabetes decreased with increasing birth length (odds ratio (OR) = 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84–0.97/cm birth length;P = 0.006) after adjustment for sex, age, socioeconomic status, family history, and current body mass index. Overall, there were no significant differences in OR for the association between birth length and diabetes att0compared witht10, but limiting analysis to subjects with normal glucose tolerance att0resulted in a stronger association att10(OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.58–0.87) than att0(OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.86–1.05;P = 0.015 for the difference). There was a positive correlation between maternal weight and incident disease att0(OR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.03–1.14;P = 0.001), but not att10(OR = 0.98/kg, 95% CI 0.92–1.05;P = 0.6;P = 0.02 for the difference).

Conclusions: Short birth length remains a risk factor for diabetes. Changes in the effects of birth length and maternal weight on diabetes risk with age may indicate different causal pathways. These findings require replication in studies with more accurate dating of the onset of diabetes.
Species‐specific RFLP pattern in the Heat Shock Protein26 gene (Hsp26): a single‐locus tool for species identification and experimental testing of habitat‐induced isolation in the New World Artemia species
Authors: BERISTAIN P. , GAJARDO G. , BOSSIER P.
Published: June 2009

The brine shrimp Artemia (Crustacea, Branchiopoda), a paradigmatic inhabitant of hypersaline lakes, has molecular features to survive under stressful conditions, such as the p26 heat shock protein. We report the RFLP fingerprinting pattern (four restriction enzymes) of a 217 bp fragment of exon2 of the Hsp26 gene in six Artemia franciscana and four Artemia persimilis populations, the most genetically divergent Artemia species co‐occurring in latitudinal extremes of Chile. The species‐specific RFLP pattern observed is a simple and cost‐effective single‐locus tool for species delimitation and experimental testing the habitat‐induced isolation barrier between them.
Phylogenetic biogeography and taxonomy of disjunctly distributed bryophytes
Authors: HEINRICHS Jochen , HENTSCHEL Jörn , FELDBERG Kathrin , BOMBOSCH Andrea , SCHNEIDER Harald
Published: June 2009

Abstract More than 200 research papers on the molecular phylogeny and phylogenetic biogeography of bryophytes have been published since the beginning of this millenium. These papers corroborated assumptions of a complex genetic structure of morphologically circumscribed bryophytes, and raised reservations against many morphologically justified species concepts, especially within the mosses. However, many molecular studies allowed for corrections and modifications of morphological classification schemes. Several studies reported that the phylogenetic structure of disjunctly distributed bryophyte species reflects their geographical ranges rather than morphological disparities. Molecular data led to new appraisals of distribution ranges and allowed for the reconstruction of refugia and migration routes. Intercontinental ranges of bryophytes are often caused by dispersal rather than geographical vicariance. Many distribution patterns of disjunct bryophytes are likely formed by processes such as short distance dispersal, rare long distance dispersal events, extinction, recolonization and diversification.
Pathophysiological actions of neuropathy‐related anti‐ganglioside antibodies at the neuromuscular junction
Authors: Plomp Jaap J. , Willison Hugh J.
Published: June 2009

The outer leaflet of neuronal membranes is highly enriched in gangliosides. Therefore, specific neuronal roles have been attributed to this family of sialylated glycosphingolipids, e.g. in modulation of ion channels and transporters, neuronal interaction and recognition, temperature adaptation, Ca2+homeostasis, axonal growth, (para)node of Ranvier stability and synaptic transmission. Recent developmental, ageing and injury studies on transgenic mice lacking subsets of gangliosides indicate that gangliosides are involved in maintenance rather than development of the nervous system and that ganglioside family members are able to act in a mutually compensatory manner. Besides having physiological functions, gangliosides are the likely antigenic targets of autoantibodies present in Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS), a group of neuropathies with clinical symptoms of motor‐ and/or sensory peripheral nerve dysfunction. Antibody binding to peripheral nerves is thought to either interfere with ganglioside function or activate complement, causing axonal damage and thereby disturbed action potential conduction. The presynaptic motor nerve terminal at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) may be a prominent target because it is highly enriched in gangliosides and lies outside the blood–nerve barrier, allowing antibody access. The ensuing neuromuscular synaptopathy might contribute to the muscle weakness in GBS patients. Several groups, including our own, have studied the effects of anti‐ganglioside antibodies inex vivoandin vivoexperimental settings at mouse NMJs. Here, after providing a background overview on ganglioside synthesis, localization and physiology, we will review those studies, which clearly show that anti‐ganglioside antibodies are capable of binding to NMJs and thereby can exert a variety of pathophysiological effects. Furthermore, we will discuss the human clinical electrophysiological and histological evidence produced so far of the existence of a neuromuscular synaptopathy contributing to muscle weakness in GBS patients.
A simple two‐stage model predicts response time distributions
Authors: Carpenter R. H. S. , Reddi B. A. J. , Anderson A. J.
Published: June 2009

The neural mechanisms underlying reaction times have previously been modelled in two distinct ways. When stimuli are hard to detect, response time tends to follow a random‐walk model that integrates noisy sensory signals. But studies investigating the influence of higher‐level factors such as prior probability and response urgency typically use highly detectable targets, and response times then usually correspond to a linear rise‐to‐threshold mechanism. Here we show that a model incorporating both types of element in series – a detector integrating noisy afferent signals, followed by a linear rise‐to‐threshold performing decision – successfully predicts not only mean response times but, much more stringently, the observed distribution of these times and the rate of decision errors over a wide range of stimulus detectability. By reconciling what previously may have seemed to be conflicting theories, we are now closer to having a complete description of reaction time and the decision processes that underlie it.
Thermally stable very thin Ag films for electrodes
Authors: Kawamura M. , Fukuda D. , Inami Y. , Abe Y. , Sasaki K.
Published: June 2009

Low-resistivity metals such as Cu and Ag have been investigated for substitution of Al alloy films in the electrodes of thin film transistor used in active matrix liquid crystal displays. Though Ag has the drawback of agglomerating easily during heat treatment, improved thermal stability by modification of the Ag film into an Al∕Ag∕Al structure has been confirmed. In this paper, the surface morphology and electrical resistivity of this structure with various Ag layer thicknesses (from 95to50nm) are investigated. The Al∕Ag∕Al structure showed excellent stability after annealing at 600°C in vacuum, even with reduced thickness. The resistivity of the Al∕Ag(95nm)∕Al film and of the Al∕Ag(50nm)∕Al film after annealing were 1.8 and 2.4μΩcm, respectively. For comparison, properties of Ag films with the same thickness were investigated, but these films became discontinuous after annealing due to agglomeration. Modified Ag films maintained excellent properties after annealing, even when the Ag layer thickness was reduced.
Quantitative evaluation of carbon nanotubes by the scanning atom probe
Authors: Nishikawa Osamu , Taniguchi Masahiro
Published: June 2009

In order to evaluate the impurity levels in carbon nanotubes, single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) grown by the high pressure carbon monoxide process (HiPCO), SWCNT synthesized by a direct-current arc-discharge method in He gas with Fe∕Ni∕S catalysis and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) formed on a substrate of Ni–Cr–Fe alloy by thermal chemical vapor deposition are mass analyzed at atomic level by utilizing the unique capability of the scanning atom probe. Since the largest number of ions detected from the analyzed CNTs is C2+ and C+∕C22+ is the second largest, the binding between carbon atoms is uniform and nondirectional. No metal ions except sodium ions are detected from the HiPCO SWCNT. Hydrogen ions detected from the HiPCO SWCNT is significantly smaller than two other CNTs. Metal ions detected from the dc arc SWCNT and MWCNT are localized in a range of a few nanometers.
Latest innovations in large area web coating technology via plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition source technology
Authors: George M. A. , Chandra H. , Mórse P. , Madocks J.
Published: June 2009

In this article, the authors discuss the latest results of our development of large area plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) source technologies for flexible substrates. A significant challenge is the economical application of thin films for use as vapor barriers, transparent conductive oxides, and optical interference thin films. Here at General Plasma the authors have developed two innovative PECVD source technologies that provide an economical alternative to low temperature sputtering technologies and enable some thin film materials not accessible by sputtering. The Penning Discharge Plasma (PDP™) source is designed for high rate direct PECVD deposition on insulating, temperature sensitive web [J. Modocks, Proceedings of the Society of Vacuum Coaters, 2003 (unpublished), p. 187]. This technology has been utilized to deposit SiO2 and SiC:H for barrier applications [V. Shamamian et al. Proceedings of the Flexible Displays and Manufacturing Conferrence, 2006 (unpublished)]. The Plasma Beam Source (PBS™) is a remote plasma source that is more versatile for deposition on not only insulating flexible substrates but also conductive or rigid substrates for deposition of thin films that are sensitive to the high ion bombardment flux inherent to the PDP™ technology. The authors have developed PBS thin film processes in our laboratory for deposition of SiO2, SiC:O, SiN:C, SiN:H, ZnO, FeOx, and Al2O3. [M. A. George, Conference Proceedings of the Association of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters, and Laminators (AIMCAL), 2007 (unpublished)]. The authors discuss the design of the patented sources, plasma physics, and chemistry of the deposited thin films.
Role of carbon in titania as visible-light photocatalyst prepared by flat-flame chemical vapor condensation method
Authors: Chen Y. J. , Wu J. M. , Lin C. S. , Jhan G. Y. , Wong M. S. , Ke S.-C. , Lo H. H.
Published: June 2009

In this article, the authors report that titania nanopowders synthesized by low-pressure flat-flame metal-organic chemical vapor condensation show visible-light photocatalytic ability. Using acetylene and oxygen as fuel and oxidizer for the flame, the titanium isopropoxide was decomposed and oxidized, and the nanoparticles of titania were formed. From the methylene blue decomposition study they found that the powder synthesized under low precursor feed rate possesses high photocatalytic efficiency under illumination of visible light. The visible-light absorption is resort to the presence of carbon since no other chemical elements were found associated with titania. The presence of carbon species is coincident with the presence of visible-light absorption and carbon is in the form of C–C bond. It also suggests that carbon species are associated with catalytic site on anatase surface so that carriers generated by photon absorption by the carbon species can transfer quickly onto catalytic sites and perform the subsequent catalytic reactions. A possibly unreported mechanism of visible-light TiO2 photocatalysis induced by carbon doping is identified.
Chemicurrent measurements using alkali metal covered Pd∕p-Si(001) Schottky diodes
Authors: Krix David , Huba Kornelia , Nienhaus Hermann
Published: June 2009

Thin-film Pd∕p-Si(001) Schottky diodes were fabricated and electrically characterized. Alkali metal films (K and Na) were deposited on these devices. The work function change during the deposition was studied using a Kelvin probe. The K films were subsequently oxidized at low oxygen pressures and the formation of an oxide layer was monitored by measuring the work function. Nonadiabatic contributions to the reaction leading to internal exoemission currents were observed. The chemicurrents during K oxidation show two distinct maxima that are attributed to the nucleation and growth of the respective oxide phases.
Investigation of photocatalytic activity of TiO2∕WO3 bilayered thin films with various amounts of WO3 exposed surface
Authors: Biswas S. , Hossain M. F. , Shahjahan M. , Takahashi K. , Takahashi T. , Fujishima A.
Published: June 2009

Transparent WO3∕TiO2 bilayered thin films were deposited on glass substrates by facing target sputtering technique with different amounts of WO3 exposed surface (0%, 30%, 50%, 80%, and 100%) to study the separate role of WO3 and TiO2 in the photocatalytic activity of the composite system. The crystallographic and optical properties of WO3 and the TiO2 layers were investigated in detail. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the measurement of decomposition of methanol in gas phase under visible light irradiation with very little ultraviolet content. The rate of decomposition of gaseous methanol largely depends on the ratio of WO3∕TiO2 exposed surface. The decomposition efficiency of WO3∕TiO2 films increased with an increase in TiO2 exposed surface and the sample with 70% TiO2 exposed area showed the highest efficiency. The surface morphology of all the layers was investigated by the measurement of field emission scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope. The variation in photocatalytic activity has been tried to be explained on the basis of methanol-photodecomposition mechanism and the intrinsic properties of WO3 and TiO2 semiconductor.
Fabrication and characterization of metal-semiconductor-metal nanorod using template synthesis
Authors: Kim Kyohyeok , Kwon Namyong , Hong Junki , Chung Ilsub
Published: June 2009

The authors attempted to fabricate and characterize one dimensional metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) nanorod using a template. Cadmium selenide (CdSe) and polypyrrole (Ppy) were chosen as n-type and p-type semiconductor materials, respectively, whereas Au was chosen as a metal electrode. The fabrication of the nanorod was achieved by “template synthesis” method using polycarbonate membrane. The structure of the fabricated nanorod was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. In addition, the electrical properties of MSM nanorods were characterized using scanning probe microscopy (Seiko Instruments, SPA 300 HV) by probing with a conductive cantilever. I-V characteristics as a function of the temperature give the activation energy, as well as the barrier height of a metal-semiconductor contact, which is useful to understand the conduction mechanism of MSM nanorods.
Chemical vapor deposition of WNxCy using the tungsten piperidylhydrazido complex Cl4(CH3CN)W(N-pip): Deposition, characterization, and diffusion barrier evaluation
Authors: Kim Dojun , Kim Oh Hyun , Anderson Tim , Koller Jürgen , McElwee-White Lisa , Leu Lii-Cherng , Tsai Joseph M. , Norton David P.
Published: June 2009

The tungsten piperidylhydrazido complex Cl4(CH3CN)W(N-pip) (1) was used for film growth of tungsten carbonitride (WNxCy) by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in the absence and presence of ammonia (NH3) in H2 carrier. The microstructure of films deposited with NH3 was x-ray amorphous between 300 and 450°C. The chemical composition of films deposited with NH3 exhibited increased N levels and decreased C levels over the entire deposition temperature range (300–700°C) as compared to films deposited without NH3. As determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, W is primarily bonded to N and C for films deposited at 400°C, but at lower deposition temperature the binding energy of the W–O bond becomes more evident. The growth rates of films deposited with NH3 varied from 0.6Å∕min at 300°C to 4.2Å∕min at 600°C. Over 600°C, the growth rate decreased when using NH3 presumably due to parasitic gas phase reactions that deplete the precursor. Diffusion barrier properties were investigated using Cu∕WNxCy∕Si stacks consisting of 100nm Cu deposited at room temperature by reactive sputtering on a 20nm WNxCy film deposited at 400°C by CVD. X-ray diffraction and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy were used to determine the performance of the diffusion barrier. Cu∕WNxCy∕Si stacks annealed under N2 at 500°C for 30min maintained the integrity of both Cu∕WNxCy and WNxCy∕Si interfaces.
Fluorination mechanisms of Al2O3 and Y2O3 surfaces irradiated by high-density CF4∕O2 and SF6∕O2 plasmas
Authors: Miwa Kazuhiro , Takada Noriharu , Sasaki Koichi
Published: June 2009

Fluorination of Al2O3 and Y2O3 surfaces was investigated by irradiating high-density, helicon-wave CF4∕O2 and SF6∕O2 plasmas. The Al2O3 surface bombarded by high-flux positive ions of the CF4∕O2 plasma was fluorinated significantly. On contrast, Y2O3 was less fluorinated than Al2O3 when they were irradiated by the same CF4∕O2 plasma. The analysis of the Al2O3 surface irradiated by the CF4∕O2 plasma suggests that the fluorination is triggered by reactions between fluorocarbon deposit and Al–O bonding with the assistance of ion bombardment. On the other hand, irradiation of the SF6∕O2 plasma induced less significant fluorination on the Al2O3 surface. This suggests a lower reaction probability between sulfur fluoride deposit and Al–O bonding. The difference in the fluorination of the Al2O3 and Y2O3 surfaces induced by the irradiations of the CF4∕O2 and SF6∕O2 plasmas is understood by comparing the bonding energies of C–O, S–O, Al–O, and Y–O.
Preparation and properties of perpendicular CoPt magnetic nanodot arrays patterned by nanosphere lithography
Authors: Li Xiao , Tadisina Zeenath R. , Gupta Subhadra , Ju Ganping
Published: June 2009

Perpendicular anisotropy Co80Pt20 films were patterned into nanopillars of 40–90nm using nanosphere lithography. A monolayer of polystyrene spheres was coated onto the sputtered films and size tailored by reactive ion etching in oxygen. These reduced spheres were used as masks for ion milling of the magnetic films. Increased coercivity and squareness resulted in decreasing nanopillar size. A significant increase in intrinsic coercivity was demonstrated with the decrease in pillar size. The reversal mechanism appears similar to reported results of nucleation of a small reversed volume followed by rapid domain wall motion.