bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Space charge polarization induced memory in SmNiO3/Si transistors
Authors: Hyeon Lee Sang , Kim Moonkyung , Ha Sieu D. , Lee Jo-Won , Ramanathan Shriram , Tiwari Sandip
Published: February 2013

The correlated oxide, SmNiO3 (SNO), is characterized and explored as a phase transition material in silicon capacitors and transistors with SNO as a floating gate sandwiched between silicon dioxide gate insulators. The structures show hysteresis at low bias voltages. The capacitance and its voltage hysteresis window increase as the frequency of the applied field decreases with a response time of polarization of above a microsecond. This suggests a space charge polarization dominated by low frequency permittivity response. Instability of 3+ oxidation state of Ni and presence of oxygen vacancies are believed to lead to a polarization effect through Poole-Frenkel charge trapping/de-trapping. Metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors show counterclockwise voltage hysteresis consistent with polarization switching effect. The stored information decays gradually due to the depolarization field with retention times of the order of 10 s at room temperature.
Control of a model of DNA division via parametric resonance
Authors: Sang Koon Wang , Owhadi Houman , Tao Molei , Yanao Tomohiro
Published: February 2013

We study the internal resonance, energy transfer, activation mechanism, and control of a model of DNA division via parametric resonance. While the system is robust to noise, this study shows that it is sensitive to specific fine scale modes and frequencies that could be targeted by low intensity electro-magnetic fields for triggering and controlling the division. The DNA model is a chain of pendula in a Morse potential. While the (possibly parametrically excited) system has a large number of degrees of freedom and a large number of intrinsic time scales, global and slow variables can be identified by (1) first reducing its dynamic to two modes exchanging energy between each other and (2) averaging the dynamic of the reduced system with respect to the phase of the fastest mode. Surprisingly, the global and slow dynamic of the system remains Hamiltonian (despite the parametric excitation) and the study of its associated effective potential shows how parametric excitation can turn the unstable open state into a stable one. Numerical experiments support the accuracy of the time-averaged reduced Hamiltonian in capturing the global and slow dynamic of the full system.
Cascaded two-photon spectroscopy of Yb atoms with a transportable effusive atomic beam apparatus
Authors: Song Minsoo , Yoon Tai Hyun
Published: February 2013

We present a transportable effusive atomic beam apparatus for cascaded two-photon spectroscopy of the dipole-forbidden transition (6s2 1S0↔ 6s7s 1S0) of Yb atoms. An ohmic-heating effusive oven is designed to have a reservoir volume of 1.6 cm3 and a high degree of atomic beam collimation angle of 30 mrad. The new atomic beam apparatus allows us to detect the spontaneously cascaded two-photons from the 6s7s1S0 state via the intercombination 6s6p3P1 state with a high signal-to-noise ratio even at the temperature of 340 °C. This is made possible in our apparatus because of the enhanced atomic beam flux and superior detection solid angle.
Generalized variable projective synchronization of time delayed systems
Authors: Banerjee Santo , Jeeva Sathya Theesar S. , Kurths J.
Published: February 2013

We study generalized variable projective synchronization between two unified time delayed systems with constant and modulated time delays. A novel Krasovskii-Lyapunov functional is constructed and a generalized sufficient condition for synchronization is derived analytically using the Lyapunov stability theory and adaptive techniques. The proposed scheme is valid for a system of n-numbers of first order delay differential equations. Finally, a new neural oscillator is considered as a numerical example to show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Enhancement of momentum coupling coefficient by cavity with toroidal bubble for underwater laser propulsion
Authors: Chen Jun , Li Bei-Bei , Zhang Hong-Chao , Qiang Hao , Shen Zhong-Hua , Ni Xiao-Wu
Published: February 2013

High-speed photography method is employed to study underwater laser propulsion using targets with and without cavity as well as the effect of the cavity depth. The shapes and motions of bubbles generated from the target tail by Nd: YAG laser are recorded by high-speed camera. Then, the influence of different bubble shapes on the laser propulsion is analyzed. Besides, the velocity and momentum coupling coefficient of the targets are investigated. The results show that the bubble is hemispherical in the case of target without cavity, while it is toroidal in the case of target with cavity. Experiments verify that compared with hemispherical bubble, the toroidal bubble is more conducive to laser propulsion in water, which means the target with cavity obtains more momentum than the target without cavity. In addition, the momentum coupling coefficient increases with laser energy first, and then it levels out and decreases a bit for the target with cavity. There is little effect of the cavity depth on propulsion.
Lateral induced dipole moment and polarizability of excitons in a ZnO single quantum disk
Authors: Dujardin F. , Feddi E. , Oukerroum A. , Bosch Bailach J. , Martínez-Pastor J. , Assaid E.
Published: February 2013

The lateral Stark shift of an exciton confined in a single ZnO quantum thin disk of radius R was calculated using a variational approach within the two bands effective mass approximation. It is shown that the exciton has a non negligible induced dipole moment when an external electric field is applied mainly for electron-hole separation below to the 3D excitonic Bohr radius. The behavior of the exciton lateral Stark shift proves the existence of an important correlation between the polarizability and the induced dipole moment.
The interaction of polarized microwaves with planar arrays of femtosecond laser-produced plasma filaments in air
Authors: Marian Anca , El Morsli Mbark , Vidal François , Payeur Stéphane , Châteauneuf Marc , Théberge Francis , Dubois Jacques , Kieffer Jean-Claude
Published: February 2013

The interaction of polarized microwaves with subwavelength arrays of parallel plasma filaments, such as those produced by the propagation of high-power femtosecond laser pulses in ambient air, was investigated by calculating the reflection and transmission coefficients as a function of the incidence angles using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The time evolution of these coefficients was calculated and compared with experiments. It is found that the plasma filaments array becomes transparent when the polarization of the microwave radiation is perpendicular to the filaments axis, regardless the incidence angle of the microwave with respect to the filaments, except near grazing incidence. Increasing the filaments electron density or diameter, or decreasing the electron collision frequency or filaments spacing, decreases the transmission and increases the reflection. Transmission decreases when increasing the number of filament layers while reflection remains unchanged as the number of filament layers exceeds a given number (∼3 in our case). Transmission slightly increases when disorder is introduced in the filament arrays. The detailed calculation results are compared with those obtained from the simple birefringent slab model, which provides a convenient framework to calculate approximately the properties of filament arrays.
Magnetocaloric effect in inhomogeneous ferromagnets
Authors: Bebenin N. G. , Zainullina R. I. , Ustinov V. V.
Published: February 2013

The article is devoted to the theoretical study of magnetocaloric effect in imhomogeneous ferromagnets in vicinity of magnetic phase transitions of first and second orders as well as in vicinity of tricritical and critical points. In the frame of Landau theory the formulae for the magnetic field induced entropy change are derived. The theory is compared with the experimental data obtained on single crystals of La0.7Ba0.3MnO3 (second order transition) and La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 (first order transition).
High energy density nanocomposite capacitors using non-ferroelectric nanowires
Authors: Tang Haixiong , Sodano Henry A.
Published: February 2013

A high energy density nanocomposite capacitor is fabricated by incorporating high aspect ratio functionalized TiO2 nanowires (NWs) into a polyvinylidene-fluoride matrix. These nanocomposites exhibited energy density as high as 12.4 J/cc at 450 MV/m, which is nine times larger than commercial biaxially oriented polypropylene polypropylene capacitors (1.2 J/cc at 640 MV/m). Also, the power density can reach 1.77 MW/cc with a discharge speed of 2.89 μs. The results presented here demonstrate that nanowires can be used to develop nanocomposite capacitors with high energy density and fast discharge speed for future pulsed-power applications.
Electronic band alignment and electron transport in Cr/BaTiO3/Pt ferroelectric tunnel junctions
Authors: Zenkevich A. , Minnekaev M. , Matveyev Yu. , Lebedinskii Yu. , Bulakh K. , Chouprik A. , Baturin A. , Maksimova K. , Thiess S. , Drube W.
Published: February 2013

Electroresistance in ferroelectric tunnel junctions is controlled by changes in the electrostatic potential profile across the junction upon polarization reversal of the ultrathin ferroelectric barrier layer. Here, hard X-ray photoemission spectroscopy is used to reconstruct the electric potential barrier profile in as-grown Cr/BaTiO3(001)/Pt(001) heterostructures. Transport properties of Cr/BaTiO3/Pt junctions with a sub-μm Cr top electrode are interpreted in terms of tunneling electroresistance with resistance changes of a factor of ∼30 upon polarization reversal. By fitting the I-V characteristics with the model employing an experimentally determined electric potential barrier we derive the step height changes at the BaTiO3/Pt (Cr/BaTiO3) interface +0.42(−0.03) eV following downward to upward polarization reversal.
Long wavelength (>1.55 μm) room temperature emission and anomalous structural properties of InAs/GaAs quantum dots obtained by conversion of In nanocrystals
Authors: Urbańczyk A. , Keizer J. G. , Koenraad P. M. , Nötzel R.
Published: February 2013

We demonstrate that molecular beam epitaxy-grown InAs quantum dots (QDs) on (100) GaAs obtained by conversion of In nanocrystals enable long wavelength emission in the InAs/GaAs material system. At room temperature they exhibit a broad photoluminescence band that extends well beyond 1.55 μm. We correlate this finding with cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy measurements. They reveal that the QDs are composed of pure InAs which is in agreement with their long-wavelength emission. Additionally, the measurements reveal that the QDs have an anomalously undulated top surface which is very different to that observed for Stranski-Krastanow grown QDs.
Real-time dynamic hologram in photorefractive ferroelectric liquid crystal with two-beam coupling gain coefficient of over 800 cm–1 and response time of 8 ms
Authors: Sasaki Takeo , Ikegami Masashi , Abe Tatsuya , Miyazaki Daisuke , Kajikawa Satoshi , Naka Yumiko
Published: February 2013

The photorefractive effect in photoconductive ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) that contain photoconductive chiral compounds was investigated. Terthiophene compounds with chiral structure were chosen as the photoconductive chiral compounds and mixed with an achiral smectic C liquid crystal. The mixture exhibited the ferroelectric chiral smectic C phase and photoconductivity. The photorefractivity of the mixture was investigated by two-beam coupling experiment. It was found that the FLC containing the photoconductive chiral compound exhibits a large gain coefficient of over 800 cm−1 and a fast response time of 8 ms. The high photorefractive performance was considered to be due to enhanced charge mobility.
Water and nutrient relationships between a mistletoe and its mangrove host under saline conditions
Authors: Chen Luzhen , Huang Li , Li Xiaofei , You Siyang , Yang Shengchang , Zhang Yihui , Wang Wenqing
Published: February 2013

Xylem-tapping mistletoes are known to have generally higher transpiration rate (Tr), lower CO2 assimilation rate (A) and therefore lower water-use efficiency (WUE) than their hosts. There are long-standing contradictions in water relations and nitrogen use in photosynthesis. Gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and nutrition components were investigated in a special mistletoe–host pair, Viscum ovalifolium–Sonneratia caseolaris, as the host was a mangrove growing in a saline environment. Our results show that both plants had high foliar N content, therefore it was consistent with the N-parasitism hypothesis, although the mistletoe had a lower Tr than its mangrove host. It was suggested that the mistletoe reduces its Tr under salt stress with N sufficient conditions. The mistletoe had a fundamental limitation of photosynthesis, and was photoinhibited with regard to high salinity, but it developed more photoprotection to thermal radiation. Additionally, both stomatal conductance (gs) and mesophyll conductance (gm) limitations on photosynthesis dominated in the mistletoe under salt stress even though it had a high foliar N content similar to the host.
Rate of environmental change determines stress response specificity
Authors: Young Jonathan W. , Locke James C. W. , Elowitz Michael B.
Published: February 2013

Cells use general stress response pathways to activate diverse target genes in response to a variety of stresses. However, general stress responses coexist with more specific pathways that are activated by individual stresses, provoking the fundamental question of whether and how cells control the generality or specificity of their response to a particular stress. Here we address this issue using quantitative time-lapse microscopy of the
Bacillus subtilis
environmental stress response, mediated by σ
B
. We analyzed σ
B
activation in response to stresses such as salt and ethanol imposed at varying rates of increase. Dynamically, σ
B
responded to these stresses with a single adaptive activity pulse, whose amplitude depended on the rate at which the stress increased. This rate-responsive behavior can be understood from mathematical modeling of a key negative feedback loop in the underlying regulatory circuit. Using RNAseq we analyzed the effects of both rapid and gradual increases of ethanol and salt stress across the genome. Because of the rate responsiveness of σ
B
activation, salt and ethanol regulons overlap under rapid, but not gradual, increases in stress. Thus, the cell responds specifically to individual stresses that appear gradually, while using σ
B
to broaden the cellular response under more rapidly deteriorating conditions. Such dynamic control of specificity could be a critical function of other general stress response pathways.
p63 is an alternative p53 repressor in melanoma that confers chemoresistance and a poor prognosis
Authors: Matin Rubeta N. , Chikh Anissa , Law Pak Chong Stephanie , Mesher David , Graf Manuela , Sanza’ Paolo , Senatore Valentina , Scatolini Maria , Moretti Francesca , Leigh Irene M. , Proby Charlotte M. , Costanzo Antonio , Chiorino Giovanna , Cerio Rino , Harwood Catherine A. , Bergamaschi Daniele
Published: February 2013

The role of apoptosis in melanoma pathogenesis and chemoresistance is poorly characterized. Mutations in TP53 occur infrequently, yet the TP53 apoptotic pathway is often abrogated. This may result from alterations in TP53 family members, including the TP53 homologue TP63. Here we demonstrate that TP63 has an antiapoptotic role in melanoma and is responsible for mediating chemoresistance. Although p63 was not expressed in primary melanocytes, up-regulation of p63 mRNA and protein was observed in melanoma cell lines and clinical samples, providing the first evidence of significant p63 expression in this lineage. Upon genotoxic stress, endogenous p63 isoforms were stabilized in both nuclear and mitochondrial subcellular compartments. Our data provide evidence of a physiological interaction between p63 with p53 whereby translocation of p63 to the mitochondria occurred through a codependent process with p53, whereas accumulation of p53 in the nucleus was prevented by p63. Using RNA interference technology, both isoforms of p63 (TA and ΔNp63) were demonstrated to confer chemoresistance, revealing a novel oncogenic role for p63 in melanoma cells. Furthermore, expression of p63 in both primary and metastatic melanoma clinical samples significantly correlated with melanoma-specific deaths in these patients. Ultimately, these observations provide a possible explanation for abrogation of the p53-mediated apoptotic pathway in melanoma, implicating novel approaches aimed at sensitizing melanoma to therapeutic agents.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of 1% Aqueous Chlorhexidine Gluconate Compared with 10% Povidone-Iodine for Topical Antiseptic in Neonates Effects on Blood Culture Contamination Rates
Authors: Nuntnarumit Pracha , Sangsuksawang Nartsiri
Published: February 2013

We conducted a randomized controlled trial in neonates with birth weight greater than or equal to 1,500 g that compared 1% aqueous chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) with 10% povidone–iodine (PI) as a topical antiseptic. We found 1% CHG to be more effective than 1% PI in reducing blood culture contamination rates, and no contact dermatitis was observed.
GROMACS 4.5: a high-throughput and highly parallel open source molecular simulation toolkit
Authors: Pronk Sander , Páll Szilárd , Schulz Roland , Larsson Per , Bjelkmar Pär , Apostolov Rossen , Shirts Michael R. , Smith Jeremy C. , Kasson Peter M. , van der Spoel David , Hess Berk , Lindahl Erik
Published: February 2013

Motivation: Molecular simulation has historically been a low-throughput technique, but faster computers and increasing amounts of genomic and structural data are changing this by enabling large-scale automated simulation of, for instance, many conformers or mutants of biomolecules with or without a range of ligands. At the same time, advances in performance and scaling now make it possible to model complex biomolecular interaction and function in a manner directly testable by experiment. These applications share a need for fast and efficient software that can be deployed on massive scale in clusters, web servers, distributed computing or cloud resources.

Results: Here, we present a range of new simulation algorithms and features developed during the past 4 years, leading up to the GROMACS 4.5 software package. The software now automatically handles wide classes of biomolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids and lipids, and comes with all commonly used force fields for these molecules built-in. GROMACS supports several implicit solvent models, as well as new free-energy algorithms, and the software now uses multithreading for efficient parallelization even on low-end systems, including windows-based workstations. Together with hand-tuned assembly kernels and state-of-the-art parallelization, this provides extremely high performance and cost efficiency for high-throughput as well as massively parallel simulations.

Availability: GROMACS is an open source and free software available from http://www.gromacs.org.

Contact:  erik.lindahl@scilifelab.se

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Characterizing coastal foodwebs with qualitative links to bridge the gap between the theory and the practice of ecosystem-based management
Authors: Carey Michael P. , Levin Phillip S. , Townsend Howard , Minello Thomas J. , Sutton Glen R. , Francis Tessa B. , Harvey Chris J. , Toft Jodie E. , Arkema Katie K. , Burke Jennifer L. , Kim Choong-Ki , Guerry Anne D. , Plummer Mark , Spiridonov Georgi , Ruckelshaus Mary
Published: February 2013

Tools that integrate the complexity of natural systems are needed to facilitate ecosystem-based management (EBM). Loop analysis is an underutilized qualitative tool for EBM that uses information on foodweb links (e.g. predator–prey interactions) and the resulting pathways (cycles) through the foodweb to predict responses to press perturbations. We explore the utility of loop analysis related to management actions: increasing crab abundance and reducing eutrophication in coastal foodwebs. We found that crab-related management actions propagated through the foodweb, with positive and negative impacts. Several negatively impacted species support important fisheries; their declines illustrate the challenge of developing multispecies plans. In our analysis, the management actions decreasing eutrophication reduced most functional groups. However, these predictions were unreliable, suggesting indiscernible bottom-up effects in the foodwebs. Simultaneously managing for crab increases and reducing eutrophication created mostly decreasing abundances in other functional groups and reduced the predictability of the responses. The response to each management action suggests trade-offs between goals, and the qualitatively unreliable predictions could result from variation in the strength of species interactions or indicate knowledge gaps. EBM can benefit from both the explicit articulation of trade-offs and the identification of gaps in our understanding of these systems.
The fish tail motion forms an attached leading edge vortex
Authors: Borazjani Iman , Daghooghi Mohsen
Published: February 2013

The tail (caudal fin) is one of the most prominent characteristics of fishes, and the analysis of the flow pattern it creates is fundamental to understanding how its motion generates locomotor forces. A mechanism that is known to greatly enhance locomotor forces in insect and bird flight is the leading edge vortex (LEV) reattachment, i.e. a vortex (separation bubble) that stays attached at the leading edge of a wing. However, this mechanism has not been reported in fish-like swimming probably owing to the overemphasis on the trailing wake, and the fact that the flow does not separate along the body of undulating swimmers. We provide, to our knowledge, the first evidence of the vortex reattachment at the leading edge of the fish tail using three-dimensional high-resolution numerical simulations of self-propelled virtual swimmers with different tail shapes. We show that at Strouhal numbers (a measure of lateral velocity to the axial velocity) at which most fish swim in nature (approx. 0.25) an attached LEV is formed, whereas at a higher Strouhal number of approximately 0.6 the LEV does not reattach. We show that the evolution of the LEV drastically alters the pressure distribution on the tail and the force it generates. We also show that the tail's delta shape is not necessary for the LEV reattachment and fish-like kinematics is capable of stabilising the LEV. Our results suggest the need for a paradigm shift in fish-like swimming research to turn the focus from the trailing edge to the leading edge of the tail.
Towards a personalized Internet: a case for a full decentralization
Authors: Kermarrec Anne-Marie
Published: February 2013

The Web has become a user-centric platform where users post, share, annotate, comment and forward content be it text, videos, pictures, URLs, etc. This social dimension creates tremendous new opportunities for information exchange over the Internet, as exemplified by the surprising and exponential growth of social networks and collaborative platforms. Yet, niche content is sometimes difficult to retrieve using traditional search engines because they target the mass rather than the individual. Likewise, relieving users from useless notification is tricky in a world where there is so much information and so little of interest for each and every one of us. We argue that ultra-specific content could be retrieved and disseminated should search and notification be
personalized
to fit this new setting. We also argue that users’ interests should be implicitly captured by the system rather than relying on explicit classifications simply because the world is by nature unstructured, dynamic and users do not want to be hampered in their actions by a tight and static framework. In this paper, we review some existing personalization approaches, most of which are centralized. We then advocate the need for fully decentralized systems because personalization raises two main issues. Firstly, personalization requires information to be stored and maintained at a user granularity which can significantly hurt the scalability of a centralized solution. Secondly, at a time when the ‘big brother is watching you’ attitude is prominent, users may be more and more reluctant to give away their personal data to the few large companies that can afford such personalization. We start by showing how to achieve personalization in decentralized systems and conclude with the research agenda ahead.
G8 rotaviruses with conserved genotype constellations detected in Malawi over 10 years (1997–2007) display frequent gene reassortment among strains co-circulating in humans
Authors: Nakagomi Toyoko , Doan Yen Hai , Dove Winifred , Ngwira Bagrey , Iturriza-Gómara Miren , Nakagomi Osamu , Cunliffe Nigel A.
Published: February 2013

Rotavirus A, the most common cause of severe diarrhoea in children worldwide, occurs in five major VP7 (G) and VP4 (P) genotype combinations, comprising G1P[8], G2P[4], G3P[8], G4P[8] and G9P[8]. However, G8, a common bovine rotavirus genotype, has been reported frequently among children in African countries. Surveillance of rotavirus gastroenteritis conducted in a sentinel hospital in Blantyre, Malawi between 1997 and 2007 provided a rare opportunity to examine the whole genotype constellation of G8 strains and their evolution over time. A sample of 27 (9.0 %) of 299 G8 strains was selected to represent each surveillance year and a range of P genotypes, which shifted in predominance from P[6] to P[4] and P[8] during the study period. Following cell culture adaptation, whole genome sequencing demonstrated that the genetic background of 26 strains possessed the DS-1 genotype constellation. A single G8P[6] strain was a reassortant in which both NSP2 and NSP5 genes from strains with the Wa genotype constellation had been inserted into a strain with the DS-1 genotype background. Phylogenetic analysis suggested frequent reassortment among co-circulating strains with the DS-1 genotype constellation. Little evidence was identified to suggest the introduction of contemporary bovine rotavirus genes into any of the 27 G8 strains examined. In conclusion, Malawian G8 strains are closely related to other human strains with the DS-1 genotype constellation. They have evolved over the last decade through genetic reassortment with other human rotaviruses, changing their VP4 genotypes while maintaining a conserved genotype constellation for the remaining structural and non-structural proteins.
Influence of borehole‐eccentred tools on wireline and logging‐while‐drilling sonic logging measurements
Authors: Pardo David , Matuszyk Pawel J. , Torres‐Verdin Carlos , Mora Angel , Muga Ignacio , Calo Victor M.
Published: February 2013

We describe a numerical study to quantify the influence of tool‐eccentricity on wireline (WL) and logging‐while‐drilling (LWD) sonic logging measurements. Simulations are performed with a height‐polynomial‐adaptive (hp) Fourier finite‐element method that delivers highly accurate solutions of linear visco‐elasto‐acoustic problems in the frequency domain. The analysis focuses on WL instruments equipped with monopole or dipole sources and LWD instruments with monopole excitation. Analysis of the main propagation modes obtained from frequency dispersion curves indicates that the additional high‐order modes arising as a result of borehole‐eccentricity interfere with the main modes (i.e., Stoneley, pseudo‐Rayleigh and flexural). This often modifies (decreases) the estimation of shear and compressional formation velocities, which should be corrected (increased) to account for borehole‐eccentricity effects. Undesired interferences between different modes can occur at different frequencies depending upon the properties of the formation and fluid annulus size, which may difficult the estimation of the formation velocities.
An Idea Whose Time has Come? Explaining the Rise of Well-Being in British Politics
Authors: Bache Ian , Reardon Louise
Published: February 2013

Well-being has recently risen rapidly up the political agenda in Britain and beyond, signalled most clearly by Prime Minister Cameron's announcement in 2010 that well-being measures developed by the Office for National Statistics would be used to guide public policies. Here we seek to explain why well-being has risen up the British political agenda, drawing on Kingdon's multiple streams approach. While this approach has considerable merit, it does not acknowledge the complexity of multi-level governance in which policy, politics and problem streams can operate at different territorial levels. As such, we argue that the match between policy, politics and problem streams has to be not only temporal, but also spatial. The consequence is that, while in relation to measurement a paradigm shift may be taking place, in terms of decisive action there is some way to go before well-being can be described as ‘an idea whose time has come’.
Redfern as the Heart(h): Living (Black) in Inner Sydney
Authors: SHAW WENDY S.
Published: February 2013

Before the arrival of the ‘white fella’ over 200 years ago, the Gadigal people and others of the Eora Darug occupied the place where the city of Sydney now stands. At the heart of this second tier global city, the inner‐city suburb of Redfern has become a mainstay of urban Aboriginal identity. Yet, this troubled and stigmatised focal point of populist media representations and government policy does not reflect the diversity of urban Aboriginal life in inner Sydney. This paper draws on a range of sources about living in Redfern, from the difficult politics of establishing and retaining an Aboriginal urban space and place in the contemporary gentrifying city – achieved in large part through the establishment of now long‐standing service provision – through to the rise of alternate visions and lives and many more ‘ordinary’ ways of living in the city. This paper seeks to highlight that Aboriginal people variously inhabit, occupy, and sometimes thrive in Australia's first colonial city and the site of invasion. It also provides several of the author's personal experiences of engagement with some of these processes.
Genetic relationships between Oeneis urda and O. mongolica (Nymphalidae: Lepidoptera)
Authors: Kim Sung‐Soo , Wan Xinlong , Kim Min Jee , Kim Iksoo
Published: February 2013

The species status of Oeneis urda (Eversmann) and O. mongolica (Oberthür) has been argued based on morphological characters. Reexamination of their major morphological characters has shown a slight differentiation in the two species. Sequences of three mitochondrial genes (COI, ND6, and ND1) and one nuclear region (internal transcribed spacer 2, ITS2) from two O. urda populations (Yangyang and Mt. Hanla) and one O. mongolica population (Uljin) were performed for phylogenetic and population genetic inferences. Sharing of identical sequences in the ND6 gene and ITS2, minimal sequence divergence in the COI and ND1 genes, and phylogenetically undividable sequence types in all mitochondrial genes and ITS2 suggest genetic continuity between the two species. Nevertheless, significant FST estimates (P < 0.05) were found for the COI gene in comparisons between Yangyang (O. urda) and Uljin (O. mongolica), between Yangyang (O. urda) and Mt. Hanla (O. urda), and between Uljin (O. mongolica) and Mt. Hanla (O. urda) populations. These FST estimates, along with other gene‐based analyses collectively suggest isolation of the two species at some point in the past, but incomplete separation between the two species on the mainland (Yangyang and Uljin) and biogeographically forced isolation of the O. urda population on Mt. Hanla collectively appear to complicate species status of these two species that were once further clearly separated.
Cytokine Levels in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: a Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Gomes Caio Perez , Torloni Maria Regina , Gueuvoghlanian‐Silva Bárbara Yasmin , Alexandre Sandra Maria , Mattar Rosiane , Daher Silvia
Published: February 2013

Problem

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an inflammatory condition that involves unbalanced cytokine production. We carried out a systematic review on the relationship between GDM and maternal circulating levels of cytokines in the 2nd/3rd trimesters.

Method of Study

Three electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and LILACS), were searched. Duplicate study selection, extraction and quality assessment was performed.

Results

Twenty‐two studies with 1982 participants reporting levels of 9 cytokines (IL‐1B, IL‐2, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐13, IL‐18, IFN‐G, TGF‐B and TNF‐A) were included. Most studies differed considerably in selection criteria, sampling and assay methods and in reporting their results. Consequently, only two studies could be pooled: TNF‐A concentration was slightly higher in GDM than in control patients, although not significant (WMD = 0.45, 95% CI −0.34–1.23).

Conclusions

New studies with well‐defined, more homogeneous methodological parameters are needed to detect whether there are significant differences in circulating levels of cytokines in patients with GDM.
‘Sweetening’ Pregnancy: Galectins at the Fetomaternal Interface
Authors: Blidner Ada G. , Rabinovich Gabriel A.
Published: February 2013

Successful mammalian pregnancy relies upon acceptance of a semi‐allogeneic fetus by the maternal immune system. Lessons learned from studies on protective immunity to microbial infections and tumours, prevention of autoimmunity, and allograft rejection have contributed to delineate the mechanisms leading to T‐cell tolerance at the fetomaternal interface. Recent observations highlight the contribution of galectins, a family of endogenous glycan‐binding proteins, to critical biological events occurring during mammalian gestation, including immune cell tolerance, inflammation, implantation, and angiogenesis. These multifunctional lectins can hierarchically control a cascade of immunoregulatory events including the expansion, recruitment, and function of regulatory T cells, the promotion of tolerogenic dendritic cells, and the execution of T‐cell death programs. In addition, galectins can control cell adhesion and signaling events critical for implantation and are involved in fundamental processes linking tissue hypoxia to angiogenesis. In an attempt to integrate the regulatory roles of galectins to immunological and vascular programs operating during pregnancy. Here we outline the regulated expression and function of individual members of the galectin family within the fetoplacental unit and their biological implications for the development and preservation of successful pregnancies.
Trends in obstetric anal sphincter injuries and associated risk factors for vaginal singleton term births in New South Wales 2001–2009
Authors: Ampt Amanda J , Ford Jane B , Roberts Christine L , Morris Jonathan M
Published: February 2013

Background

Changes in clinical practice and in the characteristics of childbearing women have the potential to influence the rate of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS). To date, little investigation has been undertaken to assess the effect of risk factor trends for the Australian population on OASIS rates.

Aims

To ascertain the OASIS rates amongst singleton vaginal births ≥37 weeks gestation in NSW, 2001 – 2009; to determine risk factor effect sizes and trends; and to compare predicted with observed OASIS rates.

Methods

Using two linked population‐based data sets, risk factors for OASIS were determined by logistic regression. Contingency tables and predictive modelling were used to determine trends and predicted rates of OASIS, respectively.

Results

The OASIS rate increased from 2.2% in 2001 to 2.9% in 2009. Highest risks were for forceps deliveries without episiotomy (primiparas aOR 6.10, multiparas aOR 6.15), followed by multiparas with no previous vaginal birth (aOR 5.61). High birthweight, vacuum delivery and Asian country of birth posed risks for all women. The greatest risk factor trends were increases in Asian country of birth and vacuum delivery, while the greatest trend amongst protective factors was an increase in maternal age ≥35 years for primiparas. Predicted OASIS rates were lower than observed rates.

Conclusion

In an environment of changing demographic and clinical risk factors, the OASIS rate has increased. This increase is only minimally explained by the identified risk factors and may be related to other unmeasured risk factors or a possible increase in clinical ascertainment and/or documentation of OASIS.
A prediction model for viability at the end of the first trimester after a single early pregnancy evaluation
Authors: Oates Jennifer , Casikar Ishwari , Campain Anna , Müller Samuel , Yang Jean , Reid Shannon , Condous George
Published: February 2013

Objective

The aim was to develop a new model to predict the outcome at the end of the 1st trimester after a single visit to the early pregnancy unit (EPU).

Methods

Prospective observational study in the EPU at Nepean Hospital, between November 2006 and February 2009. Data were collected from all women in the 1st trimester of their pregnancy who had a live intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) at the 1st transvaginal ultrasound scan (TVS). 29 historical, clinical and ultrasound end points were recorded. Women were followed until the final diagnosis was established at the end of the 1st trimester: viability or nonviability. A multinomial logistic regression model was developed. The performance of this model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results

Data from 416 pregnancies were included: 92.1% were live beyond the 1st trimester, and 7.9% had miscarried. The most useful prognostic variables for developing the logistic regression model were gestational age by dates, vaginal (PV) bleeding, PV clots, gestational age by TVS, consistency with menstrual dates, mean gestational sac (GS) size, mean yolk sac (YS) size and number of previous caesarean sections. Used retrospectively on 416 women based on 25 imputations, the model gave an AUC of 0.88. Based on cross‐validation, the independent predictive power obtained an AUC of 0.78.

Conclusions

We have developed a new model to predict the outcome of the 1st trimester in women with live IUP at the 1st scan.
Simultaneous intradermal testing with hymenoptera venoms is safe and more efficient than sequential testing
Authors: Strohmeier B. , Aberer W. , Bokanovic D. , Komericki P. , Sturm G. J.
Published: February 2013

Background

According to current guidelines, skin testing for hymenoptera venom allergy should be performed in a stepwise manner, maintaining 15‐ to 20‐min intervals between the injections of venom. Given the long‐winded procedure of sequential skin testing, we retrospectively explored the safety of simultaneous intradermal testing.

Methods

Four hundred and seventy‐eight consecutive patients with a convincing history of an anaphylactic reaction after a hymenoptera sting were tested. All venom concentrations (0.02 ml of 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 μg/ml of honey bee and wasp venom) were administered simultaneously to the skin.

Results

Four hundred and seventy‐two (98.7%) patients tolerated the simultaneous intradermal test without any side‐effects. Only three subjects (0.6%) had a presumed allergic reaction during the test; another three reactions were considered vasovagal.

Conclusion

Our skin test protocol with four simultaneously injected concentrations of two hymenoptera venoms is safe and permits the investigator to draw rapid conclusions about the individual's sensitization pattern.
Exhaled nitric oxide in symptomatic children at preschool age predicts later asthma
Authors: Singer F. , Luchsinger I. , Inci D. , Knauer N. , Latzin P. , Wildhaber J. H. , Moeller A.
Published: February 2013

Background

Prediction of asthma in young children with respiratory symptoms is hampered by the lack of objective measures applicable in clinical routine. In this prospective study in a preschool children cohort, we assessed whether the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), a biomarker of airway inflammation, is associated with asthma at school age.

Methods

At baseline, IgE and eosinophils were measured in the blood, and FeNO was measured offline in 391 children aged 3–47 months with lower airway symptoms. We developed an asthma predictive index (API) including high FeNO as major criterion. At follow‐up, primary outcome was physician‐diagnosed asthma based on standardized interviews in those children reaching school age (n = 166).

Results

FeNO was significantly elevated in those children with later asthma (68/166) as compared to children not developing asthma. Median (IQR) FeNO was 10.5 (6.6–17.2) vs 7.4 (5.3–10.3) ppb. Per 5 ppb FeNO increase, the odds ratio (95% CI) for asthma increased by 2.44 (1.61–3.70) without changing when adjusting for confounders. Using the new API, children scored at risk had 58.0% probability for later asthma, whereas the negative predictive value was 78.2%, which was comparable to the classical API.

Conclusions

In this cohort of high‐risk preschool children, elevated FeNO is associated with increased risk for school‐age asthma. The new API including FeNO identifies children at risk of later asthma comparably to the classical API, but does not require blood sampling.
Pre‐pregnant body mass index, gestational weight gain and the risk of operative delivery
Authors: Morken Nils‐Halvdan , Klungsøyr Kari , Magnus Per , Skjærven Rolv
Published: February 2013

Objective

To estimate the risk of operative delivery according to maternal pre‐pregnant body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain.

Design

Population‐based pregnancy cohort study.

Setting

The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study.

Sample

Term singleton deliveries in cephalic presentation, excluding preeclampsia, chronic hypertension, diabetes, gestational diabetes and placenta previa (n = 50 416).

Methods

Relative risks (RR) were obtained using general linear models.

Main outcome measures

RR of operative vaginal delivery and cesarean section.

Results

Overweight and obese women had an increased risk of cesarean section, strongest for women with a pre‐pregnancy BMI >40 (RR: 3.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.8–4.1). There was also an increased risk of vacuum extraction delivery for women with a pre‐pregnancy BMI >40 (RR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.04–2.2). Women with a gestational weight gain of ≥16 kg had a significantly increased risk of forceps, vacuum extraction and cesarean section (RR: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.03–1.4, RR: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1–1.23 and RR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.26–1.4, respectively). Weight gain during pregnancy was significantly lower in obese women, but the children tended to be larger.

Conclusions

Obese women have an increased risk of operative delivery with vacuum extraction and cesarean section. Independently of pre‐pregnancy BMI, we found an increased risk of operative intervention during delivery for women with gestational weight gain above 16 kg.
Vitamin D deficiency at the Arctic Circle – a study in food‐allergic adolescents and controls
Authors: Persson Karin , Öhlund Inger , Nordström Lisbeth , Winberg Anna , Rönmark Eva , West Christina E
Published: February 2013

Aim

At the extremes of latitude, UVB intensity is insufficient for adequate vitamin D synthesis in winter. Fatty fish, vitamin D enriched milk, margarine and eggs are main dietary sources of vitamin D. Their elimination may increase the risk of vitamin D deficiency. The aim was to assess vitamin D status in food‐allergic adolescents eliminating milk, egg and/or fish compared with adolescents on normal diets.

Methods

In winter, vitamin D intake was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire in 20 food‐allergic adolescents and 42 controls in the population‐based Obstructive Lung Disease In Northern Sweden (OLIN) cohort studies. Vitamin D supplementation was queried. Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [S‐25(OH)D] and S‐parathormone (S‐PTH) levels were determined.

Results

Mean (SD) dietary vitamin D intake was 7.9 (3.6) μg/day in allergic adolescents and 7.8 (3.4) in controls (p > 0.05). Mean (SD) S‐25(OH)D levels in supplement consumers were 44 (18) nmol/L compared with 35 (10) in non‐consumers (p = 0.03). S‐25(OH)D and S‐PTH levels were similar in food‐allergic adolescents and controls (p > 0.05). Eighty‐two percentage had deficient S‐25(OH)D levels <50 nmol/L, and none reached levels >75 nmol/L.

Conclusion

Vitamin D deficiency was as common in food‐allergic adolescents as in controls although the vitamin D intake met national recommendations. Large‐scale studies on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this region are needed.
Melancholia, Mourning, Love: Transforming The Melancholic Response To Disability Through Psychotherapy
Authors: Bartram Pamela
Published: February 2013

The paper considers the unhappiness associated with disability and suggests that one strand of it can be understood in terms of narcissistic and melancholic states of mind. It refers to Freud's original distinction between mourning and melancholia, which highlights the self‐reviling characteristic of melancholia when a harsh superego attacks the ego in response to loss. Clinical examples from psychotherapy with a disabled adult and work with the parents of a young disabled child illustrate the ego's narcissistic retreat from the harsh superego and the concomitant problem of love. The paper suggests that it is the lack of love which may constitute the greatest unhappiness where there is disability. Through psychotherapeutic work melancholic states of mind can be transformed: the emergence of Britton's ‘rueful humour’ and an acknowledgement of impermanence are two signs that transformation is under way. The author suggests, in line with Buddhist thinking, that melancholia rather than mourning is the natural response to loss; the capacity to mourn is an attainment, not a given, and is a likely outcome of successful psychotherapeutic work where disability is a factor.
Urinary tract infection increases subsequent urinary tract cancer risk: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Sun Li‐Min , Lin Cheng‐Li , Liang Ji‐An , Liu Shu‐Hui , Sung Fung‐Chang , Chang Yen‐Jung , Kao Chia‐Hung
Published: February 2013

This study examines the possible association between urinary tract infection (UTI) and urinary tract cancer (UTC). Data from the National Health Insurance system of Taiwan were used for the analysis. The UTI cohort included 70 116 patients who were diagnosed and recruited between 1997 and 2010. Each patient was randomly frequency‐matched with two people without UTI from the general population based on their age, sex, and month of UTI diagnosis. Cox's proportional hazard regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of UTI on UTC risk until the end of follow‐up on December 31, 2010. Patients with UTI had a significantly higher risk of developing UTC than healthy people (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.66; 95% confidence interval, 3.55–6.10). Further analyses indicated that risks are potentially related to the level of the lesion site. This study indicated that patients with UTI had a higher risk of developing UTC.