bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mastocytaemia in cats: Prevalence, detection and quantification methods, haematological associations and potential implications in 30 cats with mast cell tumours
Authors: Skeldon Nicola C.A. , Gerber Karen L. , Wilson Randy J. , Cunnington Sophie J.
Published: November 2010

The significance of mastocytaemia in cats is different from that in dogs because it appears exclusively associated with mast cell neoplasia. The prevalence of mastocytaemia was 0.05% of all feline submissions to a private laboratory and 43% in cats with mast cell neoplasia. None of 30 healthy cats had mastocytaemia. There was no sex bias or significant age difference between mastocytaemic and non-mastocytaemic cats with mast cell tumours (MCT). Buffy coat (BC) examination was the best screening method for detection of mastocytaemia but direct blood film examination was more accurate for quantifying degree of mastocytaemia. BC examination should be performed in all cases of suspected/known mast cell neoplasia as mastocytaemia was missed on nearly 30% of occasions when direct film examination only was used. Mastocytaemia was associated with decreased haematocrit (HCT) but not with other haematological parameters. Mastocytaemic cats can survive significant lengths of time (up to 27 months) even when splenectomy is not performed.
Authoritarian legality and informal practices: Judges, lawyers and the state in Russia and China
Authors: Solomon Peter H.
Published: November 2010

To participate in the global economy authoritarian states are pressed to offer international business a legal order that protects the interests of investors, customers, and sellers, but the creation of a modern legal order threatens to undermine the leaders’ control of public life. An increasingly common way to resolve this dilemma, I argue, is developing formal legal institutions that appear to meet world standards, while using informal practices to maintain control over the administration of justice when needed. In this paper I show how the governments of post-Soviet Russia (with its hybrid or competitive authoritarian regime) and the fully authoritarian People’s Republic of China as well, have used this approach in their relations with judges and defense lawyers in their respective countries. The analysis underscores the utility of investigating informal practices along with the reform of formal legal institutions, especially in the context of transition.
Teaching English in Turkmenistan
Authors: Sartor Valerie
Published: November 2010

The English language has fast become a global language. In Asia, from the far steppes of Mongolia to the beaches of Thailand, to the shores of the Caspian Sea, English print, music, and along with language, Western values, have spread and multiplied. New technology and media, especially the Internet (Crystal, 1996/2003), have helped carry English to people of all nationalities and economic classes. But many scholars feel that the rise of English is connected with the downfall of indigenous languages (Fishman, 1996; Crawford, 1996; McCarty, 2003). Minority languages face extinction as English rides the wave of increasing globalization (Romaine, 2001). Since 2007, Newsweek, The China Daily, and other international media sources have been citing English as the language of economic success in China. Adherents of English claim that it brings positive social change, economic opportunities, consumer goods, and new technologies (Castells, 2001). Such materialistic temptations cause some minority youth to discount the value of their languages and traditions. In Native America, for example, a small minority of Native Americans youth may feel that exchanging, dismissing, or even abandoning their native language and culture for English and a Western lifestyle represents progress and success in the form of material goods and a modern lifestyle (Crawford, 1996; McCarty, 2003). Similarly, in China, English is viewed as the language of economic success by many young Chinese. Opponents of the rise of English view the language, and its underlying cultural messages, as imperialistic. Phillipson (1992) accuses ESL educators of making a negative cultural impact upon unsuspecting indigenous peoples all over the world. Skutnabb-Kangas (2000) asserts that English can be used as a tool by Western nations for global dominance.
Evaluating measles surveillance: comparison of sentinel surveillance, mandatory notification, and data from health insurance claims
Authors: TANIHARA S. , OKAMOTO E. , IMATOH T. , MOMOSE Y. , KAETSU A. , MIYAZAKI M. , UNE H.
Published: November 2010

Inadequate notification is a recognized problem of measles surveillance systems in many countries, and it should be monitored using multiple data sources. We compared data from three different surveillance sources in 2007: (1) the sentinel surveillance system mandated by the Act on Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Medical Care for Patients Suffering Infectious Diseases, (2) the mandatory notification system run by the Aichi prefectural government, and (3) health insurance claims (HICs) submitted to corporate health insurance societies. For each dataset, we examined the number of measles cases by month, within multiple age groups, and in two categories of diagnostic test groups. We found that the sentinel surveillance system underestimated the number of adult measles cases. We also found that HIC data, rather than mandatory notification data, were more likely to come from individuals who had undergone laboratory tests to confirm their measles diagnosis. Thus, HIC data may provide a supplementary and readily available measles surveillance data source.
Pneumonia in older people
Authors: Krajcik S , Haniskova T , Mikus P
Published: November 2010

The incidence of pneumonia is higher in older than younger people, due to both an increase in factors facilitating entry of infectious agents into the lungs, and attenuated functioning of the immune system. Classic features of presentation of pneumonia may be absent. The most common signs of pneumonia in old age are tachypnoea and tachycardia. Aetiology is established in only 50% of older patients. The empirical treatment of community-aquired pneumonia (CAP) should be aimed at its most common cause,Streptococcus pneumoniae. The empirical treatment of health care-associated pneumonia (HCAP) should be targeted at Gram-negative agents. Choice of antibiotic must include consideration of potential drug interactions.
The Study of Mercury
Authors: Prockter Louise M. , Bedini Peter D.
Published: November 2010

When the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft enters orbit about Mercury in March 2011 it will begin a new phase in an age-old scientific study of the innermost planet. Despite being visible to the unaided eye, Mercury's proximity to the Sun makes it extremely difficult to observe from Earth. Nonetheless, over the centuries man has pursued a quest to understand the elusive planet, and has teased out information about its motions in the sky, its relation to the other planets, and its physical characteristics. A great leap was made in our understanding of Mercury when the Mariner 10 spacecraft flew past it three times in the mid-1970s, providing a rich set of close-up observations. Now, three decades later, The MESSENGER spacecraft has also visited the planet three times, and is poised to add significantly to the study with a year-long orbital observation campaign.
Observing mutual events of the trans-Neptunian object Haumea and Namaka from Brazil
Authors: Bortoletto Alexandre , Saito Roberto K.
Published: November 2010

By pure coincidence, for the next few years the orbit of the satellite Namaka around the dwarf planet Haumea (formerly 2003 EL61) is nearly edge-on to our line-of-sight. This type of configuration does not last for long, because as Haumea travels around the sun in its 283 year orbit, we continuously see the Haumean system from different angles. It is only edge-on at the angle we see right now, and at the angle it will again be in 141 years – half of a Haumean year from now. In addition to being an interesting coincidence, the fact that the orbit of Namaka is nearly edge-on provides the opportunity to obtain an enormous amount of information about the Haumean system. We present measurements of the timing of these events observed from Laboratrio Nacional de Astrofsica (LNA), partner in an international campaign to observe these events from the most suitable mid-sized telescopes.
Surface measurements of aerosol properties over northwest China during ARM China 2008 deployment
Authors: Wang Xin , Huang Jiangping , Zhang Rudong , Chen Bin , Bi Jianrong
Published: November 2010

To improve understanding and capture the direct evidence of the impact of dust aerosol on climate, the 2008 China‐U.S. joint field campaigns are conducted. Three sites are involved this campaign, including one permanent site (Semi‐Arid Climate and Environment Observatory of Lanzhou University (SACOL)) (located in Yuzhong, 35.95°N, 104.1°E), one SACOL's Mobile Facility (SMF) (deployed in Jintai, 37.57°N, 104.23°E), and the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurements (ARM) Ancillary Facility (AAF mobile laboratories, SMART‐COMMIT) (deployed in Zhangye, 39.08°N, 100.27°E). This paper presents the results of direct measurement analysis of the dust plume transport case. During the dust plume period, the OMI AI data and air mass back trajectory model (HYSPLIT) clearly illustrated that the air mass originated from the Taklamakan desert and Inner Mongolia Gobi desert. The daily averaged concentrations of PM10 were about 0.2 ± 0.03 mg/m3 at SACOL and Zhangye, but during the dust plume the mass concentration of dust aerosol were 0.98 mg/m3 at Zhangye and 0.52 mg/m3 at SACOL. The black carbon (BC) value reached its high peak during the dust plume. However, the concentration of BC was not only fluctuated with the dust plume, but also affected by the local air pollutants. When the dust plume occurred, the multiwavelength aerosol optical depth can be raised to ∼2, ∼1.5 times as high as that during the non dust plume period, and the number (mass) distribution during the dust plume showed the aerosol types considered correspond to urban/industrial aerosols, coarse mode particles. The meteorological analysis indicated that these polluted layers are not only transported from their sources, but also include the local sources.
The Vascular Mean Transit Time: A Surrogate for the Penumbra Flow Threshold?
Authors: Carrera Emmanuel , Jones P Simon , Iglesias Serge , Guadagno Joseph V , Warburton Elizabeth A , Fryer Tim D , Aigbirhio Franklin I , Baron Jean-Claude
Published: November 2010

Depicting the salvageable tissue is increasingly used in the clinical setting following stroke. As absolute cerebral blood flow (CBF) is difficult to measure using perfusion magnetic resonance or computed tomography and has limitations as a penumbral marker, time-based variables, particularly the mean transit time (MTT), are routinely used as surrogates. However, a direct validation of MTT as a predictor of the penumbra threshold using gold-standard positron emission tomography (PET) is lacking. Using 15O-PET data sets obtained from two independent acute stroke samples ( N=7 and N=30, respectively), we derived areas under the curve (AUCs), optimal thresholds (OTs), and 90%-specificity thresholds (90%-Ts) from receiver operating characteristic curves for absolute MTT, MTT delay, and MTT ratio to predict three penumbra thresholds (‘classic’: CBF <20 mL/100 g per min; ‘normalized’: CBF ratio <0.5; and ‘stringent’: both CBF <20 mL/100 g per min and oxygen extraction fraction >0.55). In sample 1, AUCs ranged from 0.79 to 0.92, indicating good validity; OTs ranged from 7.8 to 8.3 seconds, 2.8 to 4.7 seconds, and 151% to 267% for absolute MTT, MTT delay, and MTT ratio, respectively, while as expected, 90%-Ts were longer. There was no significant difference between sample 1 and sample 2 for any of the above measurements, save for a single MTT parameter with a single penumbra threshold. These consistent findings from gold-standard PET obtained in two independent cohorts document that MTT is a very good surrogate to CBF for depicting the penumbra threshold.
Experimental Stroke-Induced Changes in the Bone Marrow Reveal Complex Regulation of Leukocyte Responses
Authors: Denes Adam , McColl Barry W , Leow-Dyke Sophie F , Chapman Katie Z , Humphreys Neil E , Grencis Richard K , Allan Stuart M , Rothwell Nancy J
Published: November 2010

Stroke induces a systemic response that involves rapid activation of inflammatory cascades, followed later by immunodepression. Experimental stroke-induced responses in the bone marrow, which is the primary source of circulating monocytes and granulocytes, have not been investigated previously. We show that cerebral ischaemia induced early (4 hours) release of CXCR2-positive granulocytes from the bone marrow, which was associated with rapid systemic upregulation of CXCL1 (a ligand for CXCR2) and granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor, a key cytokine involved in the mobilisation of bone marrow leukocytes. This process involves rapid activation of nuclear factor- κB and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in bone marrow myeloid cells. T-cell numbers in the bone marrow increased after stroke, and bone marrow cells did not show suppressed cytokine response to bacterial endotoxin stimulation in vitro. Stroke-induced laterality observed in the brain stem and in the bone marrow indicates direct involvement of the autonomic nervous system in stroke-induced cell mobilisation. We also show that systemic inflammatory changes and leukocyte responses in the bone marrow are profoundly affected by both anaesthetic and surgical stress. We conclude that stroke influences leukocyte responses in the bone marrow through multiple mechanisms and suggest that preclinical studies should take into consideration the effect of surgical manipulation in experimental models of stroke.
caNanoLab – A Tool To Benefit Biomedical Nanomaterials Research
Authors: Lijowski Michal
Published: November 2010

The cancer Nanotechnology Laboratory Web portal ("http://cananolab.nci.nih.gov/caNanoLab/welcome.do":http://cananolab.nci.nih.gov/caNanoLab/welcome.do) is designed to promote sharing of nanomedicine data and to provide support for the annotation of nanoparticles with information about their composition, function, and characterization. The project is a part of NCI cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid (caBIG®), and includes a collaboration among the NCI Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology (CBIIT), the NCI Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL), and the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology.Currently, caNanolab contains nanomaterial data of 765 "public" samples. 18 samples were contributed by National Characterization Lab (USA), while the remaining 747 were submitted by a curator at Washington University in St. Louis from 114 publications. The curated samples include simple nanoparticles, such as emulsions, metal oxides, nanohorns, nanorods, polymers, quantum dots, as well as complex particles, such as dendriworms, which are conjugates of crosslinked dextran-coated iron oxide particles and dendrimers. Data submission involves curation of sample composing elements, their function (imaging, targeting, therapeutic), physico-chemical (size, molecular weight, surface/zeta potential, etc.) properties, and in vitro (cytotoxicity, blood contact,targeting/gene expression, etc.) characterizations, based on information provided in corresponding publications or obtained from the authors.caNanoLab also contributes to and utilizes resources of NanoParticle Ontology("http://www.nano-ontology.org":http://www.nano-ontology.org).
The relative contribution of antibody production and CD8+ T cell function to immune control of Trypanosoma cruzi
Authors: KUMAR SUDESH , TARLETON RICK L
Published: November 2010

The life cycle of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi in mammalian hosts includes both non‐dividing trypomastigote forms which circulate in the blood and replicating intracellular amastigotes which reside within the cytoplasm of a variety of host cells. In this study we have used mice with induced mutations in genes responsible for either antibody production or cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) function to examine the relative contributions of these effector mechanisms to control of T. cruzi. Mice deficient in the production of antibodies exhibited a delay in the rise in acute phase parasitaemia and an extended time to death relative to mice lacking CD8+ T cells. Nevertheless, B cell deficient mice eventually succumbed to the infection. Prior infection with an avirulent strain of T. cruzi failed to protect either CD8+ T cell‐deficient mice or B cell deficient mice from challenge infection with virulent parasites. In contrast, mice with disruptions in the genes controlling perforin‐ or granzyme B‐mediated cytolytic pathways had parasitaemia and mortality rates similar to wild‐type mice and were protected from secondary infection by prior exposure to avirulent parasites. These results 1) confirm that antibody production, although secondary in importance to cellular responses, is nevertheless absolutely required and 2) perforin‐ or granzyme B‐mediated lytic pathways are not required for control of T. cruzi infection.
Secretory immune response in patients with intestinal amoebiasis
Authors: ORTIZ‐ORTIZ LIBRADO , MORA NANCY , ZAMBRANO‐VILLA SEGIO A. , CARRERO JULIO CÉSAR , SÁNCHEZ‐ZERPA MARÍA , OSUNA ANTONIO , ROSALES‐BORJAS DISNEY M.
Published: November 2010

The secretory immune response in saliva from intestinal amoebiasis patients against antigens obtained from Entamoeba histolytica membranes was studied. Western blot analysis indicated that patient saliva contains secretory IgA antibodies against antigens with molecular masses ranging from 170 to 24 kDa, some of which were also recognized by saliva from healthy subjects. However, antigens of 170, 125, 46 and 37 kDa are recognized more frequently (> 90%) by the secretory IgA from patients with intestinal amoebiasis than by that from healthy subjects (< 10%).
Catheter Ablation for a Right Anteroseptal Accessory Pathway in a Patient with an Endocardial Cushion Defect
Authors: TOYOHARA KEIKO , TANIHIRA YUFUKO , TASATO HIROSHI , FUKUHARA HITOO , NAKAMURA YOSHIHIDE
Published: November 2010

TOYOHARA, K., et al.: Catheter Ablation for a Right Anteroseptal Accessory Pathway in a Patient with an Endocardial Cushion Defect.
We report a radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia in a patient with a right anteroseptal accessory pathway complicating an endocardial cushion defect. His bundle potential was recorded 20 mm posterior to the accessory pathway. In the presence of associated congenital heart disease, it is very important to understand the anatomy of the conduction system prior to radiofrequency catheter ablation. (PACE 2003; 26:773–774)
Condensed hydrogen for thermonuclear fusion
Authors: Kucheyev S. O. , Hamza A. V.
Published: November 2010

Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) power, in either pure fusion or fission-fusion hybrid reactors, is a possible solution for future world’s energy demands. Formation of uniform layers of a condensed hydrogen fuel in ICF targets has been a long standing materials physics challenge. Here, we review the progress in this field. After a brief discussion of the major ICF target designs and the basic properties of condensed hydrogens, we review both liquid and solid layering methods, physical mechanisms causing layer nonuniformity, growth of hydrogen single crystals, attempts to prepare amorphous and nanostructured hydrogens, and mechanical deformation behavior. Emphasis is given to current challenges defining future research areas in the field of condensed hydrogens for fusion energy applications.
Energy bands, conductance, and thermoelectric power for ballistic electrons in a nanowire with spin-orbit interaction
Authors: Gumbs Godfrey , Balassis Antonios , Huang Danhong
Published: November 2010

We calculated the effects of spin-orbit interaction on the energy bands, ballistic conductance (G), and the electron-diffusion thermoelectric power (Sd) of a nanowire by varying the temperature, electron density, and width of the wire. The potential barriers at the edges of the wire are assumed to be very high. A consequence of the boundary conditions used in this model is determined by the energy band structure, resulting in wider plateaus when the electron density is increased due to larger energy-level separation as the higher subbands are occupied by electrons. The nonlinear dependence of the transverse confinement on position with respect to the well center excludes the “polelike feature” in G which is obtained when a harmonic potential is employed for confinement. At low temperature, Sd increases linearly with T but deviates from the linear behavior for large values of T.
Experimental and theoretical studies of reactions of neutral vanadium and tantalum oxide clusters with NO and NH3
Authors: Heinbuch S. , Dong F. , Rocca J. J. , Bernstein E. R.
Published: November 2010

Reactions of neutral vanadium and tantalum oxide clusters with NO, NH3, and an NO/NH3 mixture in a fast flow reactor are investigated by time of flight mass spectrometry and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Single photon ionization through a 46.9 nm (26.5 eV) extreme ultraviolet (EUV) laser is employed to detect both neutral cluster distributions and reaction products. Association products VO3NO and V2O5NO are detected for VmOn clusters reacting with pure NO, and reaction products, TaO3,4(NO)1,2, Ta2O5NO, Ta2O6(NO)1–3, and Ta3O8(NO)1,2 are generated for TamOn clusters reacting with NO. In both instances, oxygen-rich clusters are the active metal oxide species for the reaction MmOn+NO→MmOn(NO)x. Both VmOn and TamOn cluster systems are very active with NH3. The main products of the reactions with NH3 result from the adsorption of one or two NH3 molecules on the respective clusters. A gas mixture of NO:NH3 (9:1) is also added into the fast flow reactor: the VmOn cluster system forms stable, observable clusters with only NH3 and no VmOn(NO)x(NH3)y species are detected; the TamOn cluster system forms stable, observable mixed clusters, TamOn(NO)x(NH3)y, as well as TamOn(NO)x and TamOn(NH3)y individual clusters, under similar conditions. The mechanisms for the reactions of neutral VmOn and TamOn clusters with NO/NH3 are explored via DFT calculations. TamOn clusters form stable complexes based on the coadsorption of NO and NH3. VmOn clusters form weakly bound complexes following the reaction pathway toward end products N2+H2O without barrier. The calculations give an interpretation of the experimental data that is consistent with the condensed phase reactivity of VmOn catalyst and suggest the formation of intermediates in the catalytic chemistry.
The pure rotational spectrum of the CrS radical in its X Π5r state
Authors: Pulliam R. L. , Ziurys L. M.
Published: November 2010

The pure rotational spectrum of the CrS radical has been measured in its ground X Π5r state using gas-phase millimeter/submillimeter direct absorption methods. The molecule was created by the reaction of chromium vapor, sublimed in a Broida-type oven, with hydrogen sulfide. Eleven rotational transitions were recorded for this free radical in the frequency range of 280–405 GHz; in most transitions, all five spin components were observed, and lambda-doubling was resolved in the Ω=0, 1, and 2 ladders. The data were fit with a Hund’s case (a) Hamiltonian and rotational, spin-orbit, spin-spin, and lambda-doubling constants were established. Higher order spin and spin-orbit terms were essential in the analysis. The lambda-doubling constants indicate a nearby Σ5+ state at an energy of ∼1500–2000 cm−1. A bond length of 2.0781 Å was derived for CrS from the data, which is larger than the value of 2.0682 Å found for MnS by ∼0.01 Å. In contrast, the bond distance for MnO is greater than that of CrO by 0.03 Å, an illustration of the subtle differences between 3d oxide and sulfides. CrS is the second molecule in a Π5 state that has been studied by rotational spectroscopy.
Competition between surface trapping and nonradiative energy transfer to gold nanofilm
Authors: Yang Zhenling , Liu Yuqiang , He Xing , Wen Yanan , Yang Yanqiang
Published: November 2010

Nonradiative resonant energy transfer from CdSeS quantum dot to gold nanofilm was investigated by taking nanosecond and picosecond time resolved photoluminescence measurements. Surface plasma resonant absorption peak of gold nanofilm was adjusted to meet the near resonant conditions with the fluorescence peak of quantum dot by changing the thickness. Surface trapping state was proved to be the origin of the long lifetime component by comparing fresh and eight months aged quantum dot. It was observed that the excitonic state lifetime of the quantum dots was reduced by nonradiative resonant energy transfer to gold nanofilm. Nonradiative resonant energy transfer time, which was comparable with the surface trapping time, was calculated based on the data of picosecond photoluminescence measurements. No nonradiative energy transfer from surface trapping state to gold nanofilm, thus the lifetime of surface trapping state was not affected obviously. It is suggested that in the assembly combined with quantum dot and gold nanostructure, nonradiative energy transfer will occur after the population of excitonic state, and compete with surface trapping process. The interactions between surface trapping state and gold nanoflim were not exhibited.
Field-induced recoverable strain behavior of CuO-added K0.5Na0.5NbO3 ceramics and 1–3 fiber/epoxy piezocomposites
Authors: Mensur Alkoy Ebru
Published: November 2010

Lead-free, dense, 1 mol % CuO-added potassium sodium niobate K0.5Na0.5NbO3 (KNN) fibers were successfully drawn using a novel alginate gelation technique. Piezocomposites with 1–3 connectivity were prepared with an epoxy matrix with various fiber volume fractions (Vf). Electrical properties of the piezocomposites were investigated and compared with bulk KNN ceramics of the same composition. The dielectric constant of the piezocomposites were found to increase from 67 to 191 with the addition of CuO into KNN and increasing Vf in the piezocomposite. A constricted, antiferroelectriclike double hysteresis polarization versus electric field (P-E) loop was observed in bulk KNN. A large and fully recoverable electrostrain of 0.07% was measured for bulk KNN and 0.03% for the piezocomposites under an electric field of 50 kV/cm, respectively. The double hysteresis P-E loop and the recoverable nature of the electrostrain was due to the CuNb‴–VO•• defect dipoles creating an internal field that restores the original domain pattern when the field is removed. A very high electrostrictive Q33 coefficient of 35.6×10−3 m4/C2 and an even higher Q33 of 162×10−3 m4/C2 was obtained for bulk KNN and piezocomposites, respectively.
Strain evaluation in AlInN/GaN Bragg mirrors by in situ curvature measurements and ex situ x-ray grazing incidence and transmission scattering
Authors: Krost A. , Berger C. , Bläsing J. , Franke A. , Hempel T. , Dadgar A. , Christen J.
Published: November 2010

Strain in lattice matched and mismatched AlInN/GaN Bragg mirror structures were studied by in situ curvature and various ex situ x-ray measurements. In the case of lattice mismatched structures considerable deviations of the in-plane lattice parameters were evidenced near the surface region as well as in depth using x-ray grazing incidence and x-ray transmission scattering in Laue geometry. The experimental findings are explained in terms of partial stress relaxation of the AlInN/GaN Bragg layer stack with respect to the underlying GaN buffer and a mutual tensioning of the GaN and AlInN layers with respect to each other.
Microtwin reduction in 3C–SiC heteroepitaxy
Authors: Severino A. , La Via F.
Published: November 2010

In this letter, we have studied the density of microtwins in the vicinity of the film surface, by using in-plane grazing incidence diffraction technique, to suggest a reduction trend of such defects at different growth rates. In (100) 3C–SiC heteroepitaxy, microtwin density decreases when a slower growth rate process is performed. A reduction ratio of microtwins of 0.16, 0.2, and 0.28 for 2 μm/h, 5 μm/h, and 10 μm/h, respectively, has been obtained. The relationship between microtwin density and growth rate, or Si/H2 ratio, found with this technique is in perfect agreement with the pre-existent literature.
Genomic constitution of the allo-octoploid Elymus tenuis (Poaceae: Triticeae) of New Zealand
Authors: Zhang Hai-Qin , Bai Xue , Lu Bao-Rong , Connor Henry E. , Zhou Yong-Hong
Published: November 2010

Elymus tenuis (Buch.) Á.Löve et Connor is a perennial octoploid (2n = 56) wheatgrass endemic to New Zealand. To investigate its genomic constitution, four artificial interspecific hybrids between E. tenuis and E. enysii (2n = 4x = 28, HW), and E. solandri (2n = 6x = 42, StYW) and E. multiflorus (2n = 6x = 42, StYW) were studied cytologically. Meioses in pollen mother cells (PMCs) of the hybrids showed relatively high chromosome pairing, with an average of 13.50 in E. enysii × E. tenuis, 20.22 in E. solandri × E. tenuis, 19.62 in E. multiflorus × E. tenuis, and 20.00 in E. tenuis × E. multiflorus bivalents per cell, respectively. The results indicate that E. tenuis is an allo-octoploid species, with the new and unique genomic constitution StYHW. An autochthonous origin is proposed for it.
Alternative developmental pathways and the propensity to migrate: a case study in the Atlantic salmon
Authors: PÁEZ D. J. , BRISSON‐BONENFANT C. , ROSSIGNOL O. , GUDERLEY H. E. , BERNATCHEZ L. , DODSON J. J.
Published: November 2010

Migratory behaviour with its associated phenotypic changes is generally viewed as an adaptive strategy because it incurs survival or reproductive advantages to migrants. The development of a migrant phenotype is believed to be controlled by threshold mechanisms, where individuals emigrate only after surpassing a particular body size but delay migration if below. For such a strategy to respond to natural selection, part of the phenotypic variance in the propensity to migrate must be explained by variation in additive genetic effects. Here, we use data gathered in the field and from a common rearing experiment to test for a genetic basis associated with seaward migration in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.). We document a high heritability of the liability trait underlying the propensity to emigrate in juvenile salmon, and significant differences between offspring grouped according to their sires in body‐size threshold values above which emigration takes place. The presence of additive genetic variance in both the liability and thresholds makes the onset of migration a process sensitive to selection and may therefore constitute an important explanatory mechanism for the interpopulation differences in the size at seaward migration observed in this species.
Does tumour size really affect the safety of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy?
Authors: Porpiglia Francesco , Fiori Cristian , Bertolo Riccardo , Scarpa Roberto Mario
Published: November 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Partial nephrectomy is the standard treatment for the management of small renal masses, and laparoscopy has been widely used in this setting as it has all the principles of open procedures combined with the advantages of minimal invasiveness.

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is feasible and has acceptable pathological results not only for small renal masses but also for large tumours, even if complication rate and ischemia time are still matters of debate.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the perioperative safety of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) for large renal masses (>4 cm).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

After Institutional Review Board approval, data from 100 consecutive patients who had undergone transperitoneal or retroperitoneal LPN at our institution from January 2005 to June 2009 were obtained from our prospectively maintained database.

The patients were divided into two groups according to radiological tumour size: group A (67 patients) with tumours ≤4 cm and group B (33 patients) with tumours >4 cm.

Demographic, perioperative and pathological data were evaluated.

RESULTS

The two groups were comparable in terms of demographic data. Mean tumour size was 2.4 and 5 cm (P= 0.0001) for groups A and B, respectively. Group B tumours were more complex, as reflected by significantly more with a central location (P= 0.002), and by significantly more transperitoneal LPNs, pelvicalyceal repairs and longer warm ischaemia time (WIT; 19 vs 28 min).

Complications were recorded in nine group A patients (13.4%) and nine group B patients (27.2%) (P= 0.09).

There was no difference between preoperative and postoperative serum creatinine levels in either group, while a significant difference was found in postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate between groups (P= 0.004).

The incidence of carcinoma was comparable between the two groups.

The incidence of positive surgical margins (PSMs) was 3.9% in group A, whereas no PSM was recorded in group B (P= 0.3).

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for large tumours is feasible and has acceptable pathological results. However, the complication rate, in particular WIT, remains questionable.

Further studies are required to better clarify the role of LPN in the management of tumours of this size.
Devolved Functions in Government: Some Realities
Authors: RIMINGTON JOHN
Published: November 2010

Devolvement of functions to quangos and Departmental Agencies has been a marked feature of reform in government since 1970, accelerated by the ‘Next Steps’ initiative (1987–90). Its effects in terms of performance, costs and disengagement from related government activity are discussed by reference to experiences in the management of two large quangos created after 1970, the Manpower Services and Health and Safety Commissions and their Executives. Some general lessons are drawn for present application, and the discussion seeks also to expose realities and difficulties in the management of public bodies that are often overlooked in theoretical argument. It acknowledges the advantages of devolvement, but points to serious limitations in the ‘owner–agency’ model when applied to public business, arising from powerful centralising forces, rapid changes in political aims, the cardinal requirement for economy, and shifting needs for lateral co‐operation across the government sector.
The Economic Consequences of a Hung Parliament: Lessons from February 1974
Authors: ROGERS CHRIS
Published: November 2010

The British general election on 10 May 2010 delivered Britain's first hung Parliament since February 1974, and in the run‐up, the Conservative party made much of the economic difficulties Britain faced in the second half of the 1970s in order to try and convince voters that anything other than a Tory vote would risk exposing the nation to the discipline of financial markets. The question of how well equipped an exceptional kind of British government is to deal with exceptional economic circumstances is therefore of paramount importance. This paper argues that the Conservative party made too much of the impact of the 1974 hung Parliament in precipitating subsequent economic crisis and suggests that as such, there is no reason to assume that the Conservative–Liberal coalition government is ill‐equipped to manage British economic affairs in difficult circumstances.
The Purpose of Electoral Reform for Westminster
Authors: THRELFALL MONICA
Published: November 2010

Britain is facing a referendum on electoral reform for Westminster in 2011, yet there is little debate over the goals of such a change. Arguably, the purposes of political representation should determine the choice of a new system. Thus, ten modernising goals that go further than merely giving more seats to the Liberal Democrats are proposed. In a society made up of women and men, both need balanced representation. In an educated society, citizens need to be kept abreast of their MPs' performance as legislators so they can engage with parliamentary affairs. In an increasingly diverse society, the electoral system needs to improve who gets to be represented by whom, by providing citizens with more than one representative per district. The proposed Alternative Vote would provide few advantages and additional drawbacks, but could stimulate consensus around a modern system in tune with Westminster traditions.
Modernising the Monarchy: The Oaths of Office
Authors: BONNEY NORMAN
Published: November 2010

According to laws deriving from the constitutional developments of the seventeenth century and earlier, a new monarch of the UK has to swear oaths that renounce Roman Catholicism and uphold protestantism in the UK, presbyterianism in Scotland and the privileged established status of the Church of England. If the next monarchical succession is to be as smooth as the governmental succession of 2010 these anachronistic oaths should be considered for abolition and the whole procedure should be reviewed. There remains then only one oath requiring to be administered at the coronation to which all can agree—to govern according to the law.
American Progressivism and the Obama Presidency
Authors: BIRNBAUM NORMAN
Published: November 2010

US progressivism is half espoused, half rejected, by an ambivalent if talented President. The Republican image of the President as ‘socialist’ is one which the social democratic Democrats wish were true. The President's readiness to compromise has not tempered the extreme hostility of the Republicans. It has been exploited by the political agents of business and finance. It has used by the permanent war party: the campaign against ‘terror’ enables it to retain mastery of foreign and military policy. The New Deal's heirs, seeking more social democracy and less militarism, are bereft of new forms of political action. US democracy is threatened by an eruption of cultural and religious fundamentalism, racism, and xenophobia, as well as a compulsive refusal of social solidarity. Withal, the situation is open as well as complex, and the President in the long run may be much more successful than his angry detractors and disappointed supporters allow.
The Sexual Harassment Coercive Offer
Authors: ROCHA JAMES
Published: November 2010

abstract

There is disagreement in the coercion literature over whether an offer, which necessarily lacks a threat, could be coercive, which tends to imply at least some affinity with coercion, which, in paradigm cases, includes a threat. In one difficult sexual harassment case, someone is offered a promotion in exchange for sex, but there is, due to the arrangement of the case, no implied threat or repercussion for refusal. I argue this case counts as coercive since the offer‐making attempts to recast the agent's self‐image simply by making the offer: the harasser attempts to define his employee as a sexualized object in the workplace to whom it is acceptable to make this kind of offer. Yet, such an offer can only be acceptably made to a woman who would accept sexual intrusions in her career, and it can never be right to assume others are willing to have their business lives sexualized. Thus, the offer is coercive in its disrespect for the employee's autonomy, although it involves no threat.
Identifying Key Metrics for Reducing Premature Departure from the Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Cross Keith P. , Gracely Edward , Stevenson Michelle D. , Woods Charles R.
Published: November 2010

Objectives:  Approximately 2% to 5% of children presenting to pediatric emergency departments (PEDs) leave prior to a complete evaluation. This study assessed risk factors for premature departure (PD) from a PED to identify key metrics and cutoffs for reducing the PD rate.

Methods:  A 3‐year cohort (June 2004–May 2007) of children presenting to a PED was evaluated. Children were excluded if they presented for psychiatric issues, were held awaiting hospital admission in the PED due to a lack of inpatient beds, were more than 21 years old, or died before disposition. Univariate analyses, multivariable logistic regression, and recursive partitioning were used to identify factors associated with PD. A fourth year of data (June 2007–May 2008) was used for validation and sensitivity analysis.

Results:  There were 132,324 patient visits in the 3‐year derivation data set with a 3.8% PD rate, and 45,001 visits in the fourth‐year validation data set with a 4.3% PD rate. PDs were minimized when average wait time was below 110 minutes, concurrent PDs were fewer than two, and average length of stay (LOS) was less than 224 minutes in the derivation set, with similar results in the validation set. When these metrics were exceeded, PD rates were over 10% among low‐acuity patients. These findings were robust across a broad range of assumptions during sensitivity analysis.

Conclusions:  The authors identified five key metrics associated with PD in the PED: average wait time, average LOS, acuity, concurrent PDs, and arrival rate. Operational cutoffs for these metrics, determined by recursive partitioning, may be useful to physicians and administrators when selecting specific interventions to address PDs from the PED.

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:1197–1206 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Integrin β3 and its ligand regulate the expression of uPA through p38 MAPK in breast cancer
Authors: WANG RUI , LI ZHAO‐QING , HAN XU , LI BAI‐LIN , MI XIAO‐YI , SUN LI‐MEI , SONG MIN , HAN YAN‐CHUN , ZHAO YAN , WANG EN‐HUA
Published: November 2010

Wang R, Li Z‐Q, Han X, Li B‐L, Mi X‐Y, Sun L‐M, Song M, Han Y‐C, Zhao Y, Wang E‐H. Integrin β3 and its ligand regulate the expression of uPA through p38 MAPK in breast cancer. APMIS 2010; 118: 909–17.

Interplay between integrins and extracellular matrix is suggested to play an important role in malignant progression and tumor differentiation. The aim of the study was to determine the combined expression of integrin β3 and tenascin‐c (TN‐c) in breast cancer and examine whether integrin β3 and TN‐c can activate urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPA) through p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). We detected the expression of integrin β3, TN‐c, p‐p38, and uPA in 80 cases of breast invasive ductal carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. In addition, we blocked integrin β3 and TN‐c in the MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells and detected the expression of p‐p38 and uPA by Western blot. Integrin β3, TN‐c, p‐p38, and uPA showed high levels of expression in breast invasive ductal carcinoma. The expression of integrin β3, TN‐c, and uPA was correlated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage in breast cancer. Furthermore, correlations were noted between any two of the three proteins. The expression of p‐p38 and uPA decreased in MDA‐MB‐231 cells after the addition of integrin β3 antibody and TN‐c antibody. The expression of uPA decreased after addition of SB203580. Our results demonstrate that inhibition of the expression of integrin β3 and TN‐c could decrease the expression of uPA through p38 MAPK in breast cancer, suggesting that the interaction between integrin β3 and TN‐c serves an important role in breast cancer.
SINGLE‐ATTRIBUTE UTILITY ANALYSIS MAY BE FUTILE, BUT THIS CAN’T BE THE END OF THE STORY: CAUSAL CHAIN ANALYSIS AS AN ALTERNATIVE
Authors: WINKLER SILVAN , KÖNIG CORNELIUS J. , KLEINMANN MARTIN
Published: November 2010

Research on providing single‐attribute utility analysis has shown moderate or even negative effects on the acceptance of selection and training tests by human resource decision makers. In this study, we contrasted the perceived utility of single‐attribute utility analysis with causal chain analysis as an alternative way of conducting utility analysis. Causal chain analysis focuses on measuring the linkages between HRM interventions and organizational outcomes mediated by employee attitudes and customer perceptions. We compared 144 managers' reactions to both methods of utility analysis concerning the variables understandability, information quality, perceived usefulness, user information satisfaction, and intention to use. Causal chain analysis yielded higher results than single‐attribute analysis for these variables, and a compound measure of these constructs supported this finding. This indicates that causal chain analysis is a valuable alternative method of communicating the utility of HRM interventions.
Dynamic Thermoelastic Response of Cylindrical Shells
Authors: McQuillen E. J. , Brull M. A.
Published: November 2010

The dynamic, thermoelastic response of cylindrical shells to suddenly applied and rotating thermal inputs is investigated. Fully coupled, dynamic, thermoelastic cylindrical shell equations are derived using Galerkin’s method. Identical results were obtained independently using a variational theorem. Analytical solutions to these equations are formulated for finite-length and infinite-length cylinders. Numerical results for the response of infinite-length cylindrical shells to suddenly applied and rotating longitudinal lines of heat flux are presented. It is shown that for many thermoelastic problems involving moving thermal inputs that the maximum ratio of dynamic to quasi-static deflection can be much greater than two, that dynamic effects can be important for all thicknesses within the realm of thin shell theory, and that semicoupled theory gives incorrect results in some cases for which a fully coupled theory is required.
Transient Phenomena in Two Elastic Cylinders Rolling Over Each Other With Dry Friction
Authors: Kalker J. J.
Published: November 2010

In the present paper, a numerical treatment is given of the problem of two elastic cylinders which are pressed together, shifted with respect to each other over a small distance without rolling, and subsequently rolled over each other. Besides this problem, other transient loading and kinematic conditions of the cylinders can be studied with the proposed method, such as the application of a periodical force, and the reversal of the rolling direction. Inertial effects are neglected throughout this work. When the cylinders are not made of the same material, the normal pressure distribution will affect the tangential traction, and vice versa. It is assumed that this second effect, the tangential force perturbing the normal pressure, is so small that it can be neglected. In this article no slip is assumed to occur. This assumption is equivalent to an infinite coefficient of friction, and it is approximately verified if the tangential force is small in comparison to the normal load. It is found that the transient phenomena become negligible after one to two contact widths have been traversed.
On Axisymmetrical Deformations of Nonlinear Membranes
Authors: Yang W. H. , Feng W. W.
Published: November 2010

The mechanics problem concerning large axisymmetric deformations of nonlinear membranes is reformulated in terms of a system of three first-order ordinary differential equations with explicit derivatives. With a set of proper boundary conditions, arrangements are made to change the boundary-value problem into the form of an initial value problem such that the solution can be obtained by standard numerical methods for integrating ordinary differential equations. The system of equations derived applies to the class of all axisymmetric deformations of membranes with a general elastic stress-strain relation. Three examples are given on inflating of a flat membrane, longitudinal stretching of a tube, and flattening of a semispherical cap. In the examples, the Mooney model are assumed to describe the material behavior of the membranes. The solution on the flat membrane serves to compare with an existing one in literature. The solutions on the tube and the cap are new.