bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nostalgia for the Old Versus Wonder at the New: Cultural disenchantment and the temptation of modernity in Nie Hai Hua
Authors: ZHUANG GUO-OU
Published: May 2013

This paper attempts to revise aspects of the existing interpretations of Nie Hai Hua (A Flower in a Sinful Sea) by applying perspectives from post-colonial studies to the study of this late Qing Chinese novel. Here the novel is read as a national narrative that portrays the emergence of China as a modern nation state from a decaying empire, with its intelligentsia caught between their desire to embrace modernity and nostalgia for cultural traditions. From the mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century, traditional Chinese scholars were faced with a predicament: they were lured by the modernity represented by Western learning, on the one hand, but were tied by an emotional link to Chinese tradition, on the other. In a disintegrating society, they struggled both to preserve their own cultural identity and construct a new identity. The opposing groups of Chinese literati portrayed in the novel in fact reflect the schizophrenic state of the Chinese consciousness on the threshold of modernity.

To write the story of the nation demands that we articulate that archaic ambivalence that informs modernity.1
Laser produced thin metallic planar mini-flyer generation using fiber optic plate
Authors: Shukla Mayank , Sawant Sachin , Agrawal Ashish , Kashyap Yogesh , Roy Tushar , Sinha Amar
Published: May 2013

Laser produced planar mini flyer generation has widely gained importance owing to its wide ranging applications in the field of condensed matter, astrophysics, material research, shock phenomenon, etc. Flattop smooth laser beam profile as driver is the primary requirement for planar flyer generation besides special multilayered target geometry. We present here laser produced thin metallic planar mini-flyer generation using a fiber optic plate (FOP) of 8 mm thickness and about 6 µm fiber dimension. This technique is unique in the sense that it doesn't require large length as compared to optical fiber. A Gaussian shape laser beam from a laser oscillator was allowed to fall on the FOP generating a speckle pattern. This pattern was relayed and amplified using lenses and laser amplifiers to achieve energy of about 400 mJ. The beam was focused on a substrate (fused silica) based multilayered target on which flyer disks of different materials such as Al. Cu, Br, and Ta were attached. Velocities as high as 400 m/s was measured for Al flyer of 1.5 mm diameter and thickness 50 µm. Flyer disks were completely recovered after the laser shot. We also present a theoretical analysis along with experimental results of the laser beam smoothing technique using a He-Ne laser and FOP. Each channel of the FOP acts as a small single mode optical fiber. The basic idea was to divide the incoming coherent beam into many beam-lets introducing random distribution in length or/and diameter of optical fibers of FOP. The individual FOP channel acts as a diverging source because of single mode fiber with natural divergence λ/d. However, due to the small randomness in length or diameter, the individual diffraction sources are not in phase. This results in the generation of speckles in both near (Fresnel) and far field (Fraunhoffer) destroys the spatial coherence of the beam.
Broken voices or a broken curriculum? The impact of research on UK school choral practice with boys
Authors: Ashley Martin R.
Published: May 2013

Work such as that of John Cooksey on boys’ changing voices has influenced choral practice in the USA and in certain UK youth choirs, but has hitherto had little impact in UK schools where many teachers continue to believe that boys’ voices ‘break’. Different practices are found across the independent and maintained sectors of secondary education. The former draws on the choral tradition associated with cathedral music. The latter tends, with notable exceptions, to subscribe to the populist media view that ‘boys don't sing’ or that singing by boys is individualised and the exceptional result of ‘X Factor’ style talent shows. In neither case is there much evidence of a systematic attempt to apply research findings to develop a structured programme of vocal development for boys in early adolescence. The paper examines case studies of different choral practice in schools where boys do sing, but as the result of enthusiastic teachers working in isolation rather than a systematic, research-based approach to boys’ singing development.
Contesting Food Safety in the Chinese Media: Between Hegemony and Counter-Hegemony
Authors: Yang Guobin
Published: May 2013

Food safety is a matter of intense contestation in the Chinese media. Through three case studies, this article shows that government and corporate elites strive to maintain media hegemony while citizen-consumers and activists engage in counter-hegemonic practices. Under conditions of hegemony, citizen dissent is most likely to take one of two forms: diffused contention or radical protest. Like theyinandyangof civic dissent, these two forms are both the results of, and responses to, state and corporate hegemony.
The Estimation of Angular Misalignments for Ultra Short Baseline Navigation Systems. Part II: Experimental Results
Authors: Chen Hsin-Hung
Published: May 2013

An algorithm of alignment calibration for Ultra Short Baseline (USBL) navigation systems was presented in the companion work (Part I). In this part (Part II) of the paper, this algorithm is tested on the sea trial data collected from USBL line surveys. In particular, the solutions to two practical problems referred to as heading deviation and cross-track error in the USBL line survey are presented. A field experiment running eight line surveys was conducted to collect USBL positioning data. The numerical results for the sea trial data demonstrated that the proposed algorithm could robustly and effectively estimate the alignment errors. Comparisons of the experimental result with the analytical prediction of roll misalignment estimation in Part I is drawn, showing good agreement. The experimental results also show that an inappropriate estimation of roll alignment error will significantly degrade the quality of estimations of heading and pitch alignment errors.
Mycobacterium bovis (bovine tuberculosis) infection in North American wildlife: current status and opportunities for mitigation of risks of further infection in wildlife populations
Authors: MILLER R. S. , SWEENEY S. J.
Published: May 2013

Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, has been identified in nine geographically distinct wildlife populations in North America and Hawaii and is endemic in at least three populations, including members of the Bovidae, Cervidae, and Suidae families. The emergence of M. bovis in North American wildlife poses a serious and growing risk for livestock and human health and for the recreational hunting industry. Experience in many countries, including the USA and Canada, has shown that while M. bovis can be controlled when restricted to livestock species, it is almost impossible to eradicate once it has spread into ecosystems with free-ranging maintenance hosts. Therefore, preventing transmission of M. bovis to wildlife may be the most effective way to mitigate economic and health costs of this bacterial pathogen. Here we review the status of M. bovis infection in wildlife of North America and identify risks for its establishment in uninfected North American wildlife populations where eradication or control would be difficult and costly. We identified four common risk factors associated with establishment of M. bovis in uninfected wildlife populations in North America, (1) commingling of infected cattle with susceptible wildlife, (2) supplemental feeding of wildlife, (3) inadequate surveillance of at-risk wildlife, and (4) unrecognized emergence of alternate wildlife species as successful maintenance hosts. We then propose the use of integrated and adaptive disease management to mitigate these risk factors to prevent establishment of M. bovis in susceptible North American wildlife species.
Spatial variation in the risk of hospitalization with childhood pneumonia and empyema in the North of England
Authors: BLAIN A. P. , THOMAS M. F. , SHIRLEY M. D. F. , SIMMISTER C. , ELEMRAID M. A. , GORTON R. , PEARCE M. S. , CLARK J. E. , RUSHTON S. P. , SPENCER D. A.
Published: May 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate spatial variation in risk of hospitalization in childhood pneumonia and empyema in the North of England and associated risk factors. Data on childhood (0–14 years) hospital admissions with a diagnosis pneumonia or empyema were linked to postcode districts. Bayesian conditional autoregressive models were used to evaluate spatial variation and the relevance of specific spatial covariates in an area-based study using postcode as the areal unit. There was a sixfold variation in the risk of hospitalization due to pneumonia across the study region. Variation in risk was associated with material deprivation, Child Well-being Index (CWI) health domain score, number of children requiring local authority support, and distance to hospital. No significant spatial variation in risk for empyema was found.
Hospital antibiotic use and its relationship to age-adjusted comorbidity and alcohol-based hand rub consumption
Authors: ALDEYAB M. A. , McELNAY J. C. , SCOTT M. G. , ELHAJJI F. W. DARWISH , KEARNEY M. P.
Published: May 2013

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of age-adjusted comorbidity and alcohol-based hand rub on monthly hospital antibiotic usage, retrospectively. A multivariate autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was built to relate the monthly use of all antibiotics grouped together with age-adjusted comorbidity and alcohol-based hand rub over a 5-year period (April 2005–March 2010). The results showed that monthly antibiotic use was positively related to the age-adjusted comorbidity index (concomitant effect, coefficient 1·103, P = 0·0002), and negatively related to the use of alcohol-based hand rub (2-month delay, coefficient −0·069, P = 0·0533). Alcohol-based hand rub is considered a modifiable factor and as such can be identified as a target for quality improvement programmes. Time-series analysis may provide a suitable methodology for identifying possible predictive variables that explain antibiotic use in healthcare settings. Future research should examine the relationship between infection control practices and antibiotic use, identify other infection control predictive factors for hospital antibiotic use, and evaluate the impact of enhancing different infection control practices on antibiotic use in a healthcare setting.
The Common Structure of Kantianism and Act-Utilitarianism
Authors: WOODARD CHRISTOPHER
Published: May 2013

This article proposes a way of understanding Kantianism, act-utilitarianism and some other important ethical theories according to which they are all versions of the same kind of theory, sharing a common structure. I argue that this is a profitable way to understand the theories discussed. It is charitable to the theories concerned; it emphasizes the common ground between them; it gives us insights into the differences between them; and it provides a method for generating new ethical theories worth studying. The article briefly discusses the relationship between these ideas and some other recent proposals that emphasize the common ground between Kantianism and versions of consequentialism.
Morphophysiological characterization of the embryonic development of Melanotaenia praecox (Weber & de Beaufort, 1922)
Authors: Radael Marcella Costa , Cardoso Leonardo Demier , Andrade Dalcio Ricardo , Mattos Douglas , Motta Jonas Henrique , Manhães João Vitor , Vidal Manuel Vazquez
Published: May 2013

Dwarf rainbowfish (Melanotaenia praecox) are an ornamental fish with a high added value and considerable commercial interest. However, little information is known about the organism's reproductive biology, especially the early stages of embryonic development (initial ontogeny). Melanotaenia praecox embryos were examined throughout development to describe the dwarf rainbowfish initial ontogeny. Eggs were incubated at 28°C, and observations were recorded at pre-determined times. Development stages were identified and classified according to morphophysiological characteristics. The initial size of the eggs ranged between 0.99 and 1.04 mm. Oil droplets were observed in the eggs, and fixing filaments for adhesion were observed in the corium. Embryonic development was similar to that of other species in the genus Melanotaenia, in which hatching begins 119.50 h post-fertilisation or 3405.75 degree-h post-fertilisation. The main features of the newly hatched larvae were excellent swimming activity, a reduced yolk sac, mouth movement and an apparently functional digestive system.
Traditional intracytoplasmic sperm injection provides equivalent outcomes compared with human zona pellucida-bound selected sperm injection
Authors: Casciani Valentina , Minasi Maria Giulia , Fabozzi Gemma , Scarselli Filomena , Colasante Alessandro , Lobascio Anna Maria , Greco Ermanno
Published: May 2013

The capability of human zona pellucida (ZP) to bind selectively to normal functional sperm with normal chromatin has been reported widely in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether ZP–binding sperm selection may represent a method to retrieve superior spermatozoa for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Patients were divided into two groups: a ZP-ICSI and a conventional ICSI group. In the ZP-ICSI group, spermatozoa for injection were selected after ZP–sperm incubation and spermatozoa that were tightly bound to the ZP were used for ICSI (ZP-ICSI). Clinical outcomes of ZP-ICSI were compared with the outcomes of traditional scientist-selected sperm injection (conventional ICSI). Results did not show any significant difference in fertilization, pregnancy, implantation and take-home-baby rates between conventional ICSI and ZP-ICSI. However, when data relative to patients who received ZP-ICSI were analyzed, an interesting result was observed: higher sperm concentration and morphology correlated with higher ZP–sperm binding. Additionally, patients with higher ZP–sperm binding seem to have improved pregnancy and take-home-baby rates. In conclusion, this study shows that ZP-ICSI is not a superior method compared with conventional ICSI. However, clinical ICSI outcomes were apparently improved in the presence of good ZP–sperm binding. We therefore speculate that sperm competence to ICSI could be reduced when the sperm's ability to bind the ZP is impaired.
“Double whammy”: anomalous pulmonary and systemic venous drainage in a patient with scimitar syndrome
Authors: Elder Robert W. , Kogon Brian E. , Sahu Anurag
Published: May 2013

Anomalously draining right pulmonary veins are expected with scimitar syndrome, but systemic venous abnormalities are rare. We present an unusual case of a female patient with scimitar and an interrupted inferior vena cava.
Iodine status during pregnancy in India and related neonatal and infant outcomes
Authors: Lean Morven IFA , Lean Mike EJ , Yajnik Chittaranjan S , Bhat Dattatray S , Joshi Suyog M , Raut Deepa A , Lubree Himangi G , Combet Emilie
Published: May 2013

Objective

To document iodine status in Indian pregnancies, associations with maternal diet and demographics, and offspring developmental measures.

Design

Longitudinal study following mothers through pregnancy and offspring up to 24 months.

Setting

Rural health-care centre (Vadu) and urban antenatal clinic (Pune) in the Maharashtra region of India.

Subjects

Pregnant mothers at 17 (n132) and 34 weeks’ (n151) gestation and their infants from birth to the age of 24 months.

Results

Median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was 203 and 211 μg/l at 17 and 34 weeks of pregnancy, respectively (range 26–800 μg/l). Using the UIC distribution adjusted for within-person variation, extreme UIC quartiles were compared for predictors and outcomes. There was no correlation between UIC at 17 and 34 weeks, but 24 % of those with UIC in the lowest quartile at 17 weeks had UIC in the same lowest quartile at 34 weeks. Maternal educational, socio-economic status and milk products consumption (frequency) were different between the lowest and highest quartile of UIC at 34 weeks. Selected offspring developmental outcomes differed between the lowest and highest UIC quartiles (abdominal circumference at 24 months, subscapular and triceps skinfolds at 12 and 24 months). However, UIC was only a weak predictor of subscapular skinfold at 12 months and of triceps skinfold at 24 months.

Conclusions

Median UIC in this pregnant population suggested adequate dietary provision at both gestational stages studied. Occasional high results found in spot samples may indicate intermittent consumption of iodine-rich foods. Maternal UIC had limited influence on offspring developmental outcomes.
Dietary patterns and the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Ollberding Nicholas J , Aschebrook-Kilfoy Briseis , Caces Donne Bennett D , Smith Sonali M , Weisenburger Dennis D , Chiu Brian C-H
Published: May 2013

Objective

Previous studies examining the role of single foods or nutrients in the aetiology of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) have produced inconsistent findings. Few studies have examined associations for dietary patterns, which may more accurately reflect patterns of consumption and the complexity of dietary intake. The objective of the present study was to examine whether dietary patterns identified by factor analysis were associated with NHL risk.

Design

Case–control.

Setting

Population-based sample residing in Nebraska from 1999 to 2002.

Subjects

A total of 336 cases and 460 controls.

Results

Factor analysis identified two major dietary patterns: (i) a ‘Meat, Fat and Sweets’ dietary pattern characterized by high intakes of French fries, red meat, processed meat, pizza, salty snacks, sweets and desserts, and sweetened beverages; and (ii) a ‘Fruit, Vegetables and Starch’ dietary pattern characterized by high intakes of vegetables, fruit, fish, and cereals and starches. In multivariable logistic regression models, the ‘Meat, Fat and Sweets’ dietary pattern was associated with an increased risk of overall NHL (ORQ4v.Q1 = 3·6, 95 % CI 1·9, 6·8; Ptrend = 0·0004), follicular lymphoma (ORQ4v.Q1 = 3·1, 95 % CI 1·2, 8·0; Ptrend = 0·01), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (ORQ4v.Q1 = 3·2, 95 % CI 1·1, 9·0; Ptrend = 0·09) and marginal zone lymphoma (ORQ4v.Q1 = 8·2, 95 % CI 1·3, 51·2; Ptrend = 0·05). No association with overall or subtype-specific risk was detected for the ‘Fruit, Vegetables and Starch’ dietary pattern. No evidence of heterogeneity was detected across strata of age, sex, BMI, smoking status or alcohol consumption.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that a dietary pattern high in meats, fats and sweets may be associated with an increased risk of NHL.
Remineralization of Demineralized Enamel by Toothpastes: A Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis, and Three-Dimensional Stereo-Micrographic Study
Authors: Gjorgievska Elizabeta S. , Nicholson John W. , Slipper Ian J. , Stevanovic Marija M.
Published: May 2013

Remineralization of hard dental tissues is thought to be a tool that could close the gap between prevention and surgical procedures in clinical dentistry. The purpose of this study was to examine the remineralizing potential of different toothpaste formulations: toothpastes containing bioactive glass, hydroxyapatite, or strontium acetate with fluoride, when applied to demineralized enamel. Results obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and SEM/energy dispersive X-ray analyses proved that the hydroxyapatite and bioactive glass-containing toothpastes were highly efficient in promoting enamel remineralization by formation of deposits and a protective layer on the surface of the demineralized enamel, whereas the toothpaste containing 8% strontium acetate and 1040 ppm fluoride as NaF had little, if any, remineralization potential. In conclusion, the treatment of demineralized teeth with toothpastes containing hydroxyapatite or bioactive glass resulted in repair of the damaged tissue.
Examination of Biologically Active Nanocomplexes by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis
Authors: Nikitin Nikolai , Trifonova Ekaterina , Karpova Olga , Atabekov Joseph
Published: May 2013

Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) was first applied to biologically active nanocomplexes to obtain concurrent information on their size, state of aggregation, concentration, and antigenic specificity in liquid. The subject of the NTA was an immunogenic complex (a candidate nanovaccine) comprised of spherical particles (SPs) generated by thermal remodeling of the tobacco mosaic virus and Rubella virus tetraepitopes exposed on the surface of SP.
Chromatic Aberration-Corrected Tilt Series Transmission Electron Microscopy of Nanoparticles in a Whole Mount Macrophage Cell
Authors: Baudoin Jean-Pierre , Jinschek Joerg R. , Boothroyd Chris B. , Dunin-Borkowski Rafal E. , de Jonge Niels
Published: May 2013

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in combination with electron tomography is widely used to obtain nanometer scale three-dimensional (3D) structural information about biological samples. However, studies of whole eukaryotic cells are limited in resolution and/or contrast on account of the effect of chromatic aberration of the TEM objective lens on electrons that have been scattered inelastically in the specimen. As a result, 3D information is usually obtained from sections and not from whole cells. Here, we use chromatic aberration-corrected TEM to record bright-field TEM images of nanoparticles in a whole mount macrophage cell. Tilt series of images are used to generate electron tomograms, which are analyzed to assess the spatial resolution that can be achieved for different vertical positions in the specimen. The uptake of gold nanoparticles coated with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is studied. The LDL is found to assemble in clusters. The clusters contain nanoparticles taken up on different days, which are joined without mixing their nanoparticle cargo.
A prospective study of patients with impending spinal cord compression treated with palliative radiotherapy alone
Authors: O'Sullivan L. , Clayton-Lea A. , McArdle O. , McGarry M. , Kenny J. , Dunne M. , O'Shea E. , Small C. , Moriarty M. , Thirion P.
Published: May 2013

Impending malignant spinal cord compression (IMSCC) may be defined as compression of the thecal sac, without any visible pressure on the spinal cord itself. Although there is a perception that IMSCC patients have a better prognosis and less severe clinical symptoms than true malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) patients, these factors have never been documented in the literature.

Purpose

To record the characteristics, management and functional outcome of a group of patients with IMSCC, who were treated with radiotherapy in our institution, and compare these parameters with similar data on MSCC patients.

Materials and methods

Data (gender, age, primary oncological diagnosis, pain, performance status and neurological status) were prospectively collected for 28 patients. Patients were then followed up post treatment to document their response to treatment and treatment-related toxicity.

Results

The median survival of our group of IMSCC patients is similar to that of an MSCC patient. In addition, the IMSCC group exhibits significant clinical symptoms including neurological deficit.

Conclusion

Although further studies are necessary, we have found that IMSCC patients in this study share similar prognosis and clinical symptoms with MSCC patients. Clinicians should be aware of this when communicating with IMSCC patients and their families, and short-course radiotherapy should be considered.
Chytrid epidemics may increase genetic diversity of a diatom spring-bloom
Authors: Gsell Alena S , de Senerpont Domis Lisette N , Verhoeven Koen J F , van Donk Ellen , Ibelings Bastiaan W
Published: May 2013

Contrary to expectation, populations of clonal organisms are often genetically highly diverse. In phytoplankton, this diversity is maintained throughout periods of high population growth (that is, blooms), even though competitive exclusion among genotypes should hypothetically lead to the dominance of a few superior genotypes. Genotype-specific parasitism may be one mechanism that helps maintain such high-genotypic diversity of clonal organisms. Here, we present a comparison of population genetic similarity by estimating the beta-dispersion among genotypes of early and peak bloom populations of the diatom Asterionella formosa for three spring-blooms under high or low parasite pressure. The Asterionella population showed greater beta-dispersion at peak bloom than early bloom in the 2 years with high parasite pressure, whereas the within group dispersion did not change under low parasite pressure. Our findings support that high prevalence parasitism can promote genetic diversification of natural populations of clonal hosts.
Ammonia oxidation kinetics and temperature sensitivity of a natural marine community dominated by Archaea
Authors: Horak Rachel E A , Qin Wei , Schauer Andy J , Armbrust E Virginia , Ingalls Anitra E , Moffett James W , Stahl David A , Devol Allan H
Published: May 2013

Archaeal ammonia oxidizers (AOAs) are increasingly recognized as prominent members of natural microbial assemblages. Evidence that links the presence of AOA with in situ ammonia oxidation activity is limited, and the abiotic factors that regulate the distribution of AOA natural assemblages are not well defined. We used quantitative PCR to enumerate amoA (encodes α-subunit of ammonia monooxygenase) abundances; AOA amoA gene copies greatly outnumbered ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and amoA transcripts were derived primarily from AOA throughout the water column of Hood Canal, Puget Sound, WA, USA. We generated a Michaelis–Menten kinetics curve for ammonia oxidation by the natural community and found that the measured Km of 98±14 nmol l−1 was close to that for cultivated AOA representative Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1. Temperature did not have a significant effect on ammonia oxidation rates for incubation temperatures ranging from 8 to 20 °C, which is within the temperature range for depths of measurable ammonia oxidation at the site. This study provides substantial evidence, through both amoA gene copies and transcript abundances and the kinetics response, that AOA are the dominant active ammonia oxidizers in this marine environment. We propose that future ammonia oxidation experiments use a Km for the natural community to better constrain ammonia oxidation rates determined with the commonly used 15NH4+ dilution technique.
Migrating Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells Swell Prior to Soma Dislocation
Authors: Happel Patrick , Möller Kerstin , Schwering Nina K. , Dietzel Irmgard D.
Published: May 2013

The migration of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) to the white matter is an indispensable requirement for an intact brain function. The mechanism of cell migration in general is not yet completely understood. Nevertheless, evidence is accumulating that besides the coordinated rearrangement of the cytoskeleton, a finetuned interplay of ion and water fluxes across the cell membrane is essential for cell migration. One part of a general hypothesis is that a local volume increase towards the direction of movement triggers a mechano-activated calcium influx that regulates various procedures at the rear end of a migrating cell. Here, we investigated cell volume changes of migrating OPCs using scanning ion conductance microscopy. We found that during accelerated migration OPCs undergo an increase in the frontal cell body volume. These findings are supplemented with time lapse calcium imaging data that hint an increase in calcium content the frontal part of the cell soma.
Structure and dynamics in yttrium-based molten rare earth alkali fluorides
Authors: Levesque Maximilien , Sarou-Kanian Vincent , Salanne Mathieu , Gobet Mallory , Groult Henri , Bessada Catherine , Madden Paul A. , Rollet Anne-Laure
Published: May 2013

The transport properties of molten LiF–YF3 mixtures have been studied by pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, potentiometric experiments, and molecular dynamics simulations. The calculated diffusion coefficients and electric conductivities compare very well with the measurements across a wide composition range. We then extract static (radial distribution functions, coordination numbers distributions) and dynamic (cage correlation functions) quantities from the simulations. Then, we discuss the interplay between the microscopic structure of the molten salts and their dynamic properties. It is often considered that variations in the diffusion coefficient of the anions are mainly driven by the evolution of its coordination with the metallic ion (Y3+ here). We compare this system with fluorozirconate melts and demonstrate that the coordination number is a poor indicator of the evolution of the diffusion coefficient. Instead, we propose to use the ionic bonds lifetime. We show that the weak Y–F ionic bonds in LiF–YF3 do not induce the expected tendency of the fluoride diffusion coefficient to converge toward one of the yttrium cation when the content in YF3 increases. Implications on the validity of the Nernst-Einstein relation for estimating the electrical conductivity are discussed.
Continuous tuning of terahertz distributed feedback quantum cascade laser by gas condensation and dielectric deposition
Authors: Turčinková Dana , Ines Amanti Maria , Castellano Fabrizio , Beck Mattias , Faist Jérôme
Published: May 2013

We present the continuous tuning of a terahertz quantum cascade laser based on 3rd order distributed feedback. This source provides a single mode emission with low dissipation power (∼400 mW) and milliwatt-level output power. The laser is tuned by nitrogen-gas condensation or by dielectric deposition. The former method offers a reversible, reproducible, and continuous mode-hop free tuning over 25 GHz at a frequency of ∼3.3 THz (Δf/f ∼ 0.75%). The latter is convenient for precise post-process targeting of a desired frequency.
Gyrokinetic studies of microinstabilities in the reversed field pinch
Authors: Carmody D. , Pueschel M. J. , Terry P. W.
Published: May 2013

An analytic equilibrium, the Toroidal Bessel Function Model, is used in conjunction with the gyrokinetic code GYRO to investigate the nature of microinstabilities in a reversed field pinch plasma. The effect of the normalized electron plasma pressure β on the characteristics of the microinstabilities is studied. At a β of 4.5%, a transition between an ion temperature gradient (ITG) and a microtearing mode is observed. Suppression of the ITG mode occurs as in the tokamak, through coupling to shear Alfvén waves, with a critical β for stability higher than its tokamak equivalent due to a shorter parallel connection length. A steep dependence of the microtearing growth rate on the temperature gradient suggests high profile stiffness. There is evidence for a collisionless microtearing mode. The properties of this mode are investigated, and it is found that electron curvature drift plays an important role in the instability.
Magnetocaloric effects in Ni-Mn-Ga-Fe alloys using Monte Carlo simulations
Authors: Singh Navdeep , Arróyave Raymundo
Published: May 2013

Heusler alloys based on the Ni2MnGa system have been shown to exhibit strong magneto-thermo-structural couplings that make them very attractive multi-functional materials. In this work, first principles calculations combined with Monte Carlo simulations have been used to study the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in Fe-doped Ni-Mn-Ga alloys. The first principles calculations have been used to determine the magnetic properties of the alloys—specifically, magnetic exchange couplings—and to construct a lattice-based Hamiltonian (q-state Pott's model) for the description of the magnetic transformations. The magnetic Hamiltonian is then coupled to a lattice description of the structural (martensitic) transformation, leading to the development of phenomenological models for the magneto-thermo-structural phase transformation. This model Hamiltonian is then investigated through a Monte Carlo framework to describe the coupled phase transformations as well as the magnetocaloric effect. The field-induced entropy change during the transformation is then calculated and used to estimate the adiabatic temperature change associated to switching of magnetic fields. These calculations are in good agreement with the experimental results with a near linear increase in inverse and conventional MCE as structural and magnetic transformation takes place.
Segregation of semiflexible macromolecules in nanochannel
Authors: Račko Dušan , Cifra Peter
Published: May 2013

Investigation of segregation of polymer coils in open channel was extended relative to previous studies from flexible chains to semiflexible chains. Our results are based on simulation of confinement free energy of a chain in channel and on direct simulation of coil segregation process. For confinement free energy, we confirm the predicted opposite trend with increasing chain stiffness for the weak and for strong confinement regimes. Results of two different approaches are consistent, in agreement with theoretical analysis and indicate a stronger segregation tendency of flexible chains in channel relative to semiflexible chains both in its extent and dynamics.
X-ray driven implosions at ignition relevant velocities on the National Ignition Facility
Authors: Meezan N. B. , MacKinnon A. J. , Hicks D. G. , Dewald E. L. , Tommasini R. , Le Pape S. , Döppner T. , Ma T. , Farley D. R. , Kalantar D. H. , Di Nicola P. , Callahan D. A. , Robey H. F. , Thomas C. A. , Prisbrey S. T. , Jones O. S. , Milovich J. L. , Clark D. S. , Eder D. C. , Schneider M. B. , Widmann K. , Koch J. A. , Salmonson J. D. , Opachich Y. P. , Benedetti L. R. , Khan S. F. , MacPhee A. G. , Glenn S. M. , Bradley D. K. , Dzenitis E. G. , Nathan B. R. , Kroll J. J. , Hamza A. V. , Dixit S. N. , Atherton L. J. , Landen O. L. , Glenzer S. H. , Hsing W. W. , Suter L. J. , Edwards M. J. , MacGowan B. J. , Moses E. I. , Olson R. E. , Kline J. L. , Kyrala G. A. , Moore A. S. , Kilkenny J. D. , Nikroo A. , Moreno K. , Hoover D. E.
Published: May 2013

Backlit convergent ablator experiments on the National Ignition Facility [E. I. Moses et al., Phys. Plasmas 16, 041006 (2009)] are indirect drive implosions that study the inflight dynamics of an imploding capsule. Side-on, backlit radiography provides data used by the National Ignition Campaign to measure time-dependent properties of the capsule ablator including its center of mass radius, velocity, and unablated mass. Previously, Callahan [D. A. Callahan et al., Phys. Plasmas 19, 056305 (2012)] and Hicks [D. H. Hicks et al., Phys. Plasmas 19, 122702 (2012)] reported backlit convergent ablator experiments demonstrating velocities approaching those required for ignition. This paper focuses on implosion performance data in the “rocket curve” plane, velocity vs. ablator mass. These rocket curve data, along with supporting numerical simulations, show that the nominal 195 μm-thick ignition capsule would reach the ignition velocity goal V = 370 km/s with low ablator mass remaining–below the goal of M = 0.25 mg. This finding led to experiments with thicker capsule ablators. A recent symmetry capsule experiment with a 20 μm thicker capsule driven by 520 TW, 1.86 MJ laser pulse (along with a companion backlit convergent ablator experiment) appears to have demonstrated V≥350 km/s with ablator mass remaining above the ignition goal.
Thermal resistance at Al-Ge2Sb2Te5 interface
Authors: Battaglia Jean-Luc , Schick Vincent , Rossignol Clément , Kusiak Andrzej , Aubert Isabelle , Lamperti Alessio , Wiemer Claudia
Published: May 2013

Ge 2 Sb 2 Te 5 is a phase change material candidate to constitute the active element of future nonvolatile memory devices. The evolution of the thermal resistance at the interface between an aluminum thin layer and Ge2Sb2Te5 is studied using the time resolved pump probe technique from room temperature to 400 °C. The thermal resistance is influenced by the amorphous to crystalline phase change occurring in Ge2Sb2Te5. The decrease in the thermal resistance from the amorphous to the crystalline phase is well explained by the diffuse mismatch model asymptotic form for high temperature. The large increase of the interface thermal resistance between fcc and hcp crystalline states is explained by the fast and significant grain growth and species inter-diffusion during this second phase change. This leads to the formation of an interfacial layer whose chemical and mechanical intrinsic properties have been measured in order to model the thermal resistance in the hcp state.
Photo-pseudo-metal–oxide–semiconductor field effect transistor for characterization of surface recombination in silicon on insulator materials
Authors: Daanoune M. , Diab A. , Sirajeddine S. , Kaminski-Cachopo A. , Ionica I. , Papaioannou G. , Cristoloveanu S.
Published: May 2013

One of the main issues in the characterization of silicon on insulator (SOI) substrates is to determine the quality of the film-buried oxide interface. This interface quality is strongly connected to the carrier lifetime in the silicon film. In this paper, we extend the well-known pseudo-MOSFET characterization technique for SOI wafers to the extraction of carrier lifetime. The experiment consists in comparing the drain current measured under dark and under laser shining. A model is proposed to evaluate the surface recombination velocity in SOI. Experimental results are validated by numerical simulations.
All solid-state high power microwave source with high repetition frequency
Authors: Bragg J.-W. B. , Sullivan W. W. , Mauch D. , Neuber A. A. , Dickens J. C.
Published: May 2013

An all solid-state, megawatt-class high power microwave system featuring a silicon carbide (SiC) photoconductive semiconductor switch (PCSS) and a ferrimagnetic-based, coaxial nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) is presented. A 1.62 cm2, 50 kV 4H-SiC PCSS is hard-switched to produce electrical pulses with 7 ns full width-half max (FWHM) pulse widths at 2 ns risetimes in single shot and burst-mode operation. The PCSS resistance drops to sub-ohm when illuminated with approximately 3 mJ of laser energy at 355 nm (tripled Nd:YAG) in a single pulse. Utilizing a fiber optic based optical delivery system, a laser pulse train of four 7 ns (FWHM) signals was generated at 65 MHz repetition frequency. The resulting electrical pulse train from the PCSS closely follows the optical input and is utilized to feed the NLTL generating microwave pulses with a base microwave-frequency of about 2.1 GHz at 65 MHz pulse repetition frequency (prf). Under typical experimental conditions, the NLTL produces sharpened output risetimes of 120 ps and microwave oscillations at 2–4 GHz that are generated due to damped gyromagnetic precession of the ferrimagnetic material's axially pre-biased magnetic moments. The complete system is discussed in detail with its output matched into 50 Ω, and results covering MHz-prf in burst-mode operation as well as frequency agility in single shot operation are discussed.
Effect of increasing thickness on tensile-strained germanium grown on InGaAs buffer layers
Authors: de Kersauson M. , Prost M. , Ghrib A. , El Kurdi M. , Sauvage S. , Beaudoin G. , Largeau L. , Mauguin O. , Jakomin R. , Sagnes I. , Ndong G. , Chaigneau M. , Ossikovski R. , Boucaud P.
Published: May 2013

We have investigated the optical properties of tensile-strained germanium grown on InGaAs buffer layers as a function of film thickness and buffer layer composition. We study the dependence of the photoluminescence as a function of the strain amplitude and degree of relaxation which are also monitored by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. We show that 0.75% biaxially strained germanium can be obtained up to a thickness of 150 nm, a value sufficiently high to allow confinement of the spontaneous emission in a guiding structure. For large thicknesses (>200 nm) and large indium content in the buffer layer, a partial relaxation of the film is observed characterized by a large in-plane anisotropy of the germanium lattice. In this case, a difference of strain magnitude deduced either by microphotoluminescence spectra or by X-ray or Raman measurements is reported. We explain this difference by the sensitivity of microphotoluminescence to the local properties of the material. This study provides guidelines in order to achieve high optical quality and high biaxial tensile strain in Ge films with thicknesses compatible with optical waveguiding.
The effect of dust size distribution on the damping of the solitary waves in a dusty plasma
Authors: Yang Xue , Xu Yan-Xia , Qi Xin , Wang Cang-Long , Duan Wen-Shan , Yang Lei
Published: May 2013

The effect of the dust size distribution on the damping rate of the solitary wave in a dusty plasma is investigated in the present paper. It is found that the damping rate increases as either the mean radius of dust grains increases or as the total number density of the dust grains increases. The damping rate is less for usual dusty plasma (about which the number density of the smaller dust grains is larger than that of the larger dust grains) than that of the unusual dusty plasma (about which the number density of the larger dust grains is larger than that of the smaller dust grains).
Effects of pre-determined lateral separation on quantum dot size and dissolution
Authors: Martin A. J. , Saucer T. W. , Sih V. , Millunchick J. M.
Published: May 2013

Placing quantum dots in precise arrays provides a unique environment in which to study the effects of surface energy driven quantum dot dissolution occurring during capping, which is difficult to study using randomly assembled dots. Quantum dot photoluminescence emission energy is shown to initially decrease with increasing pattern spacing, but then increases for separations greater than 1.0 μm. The shift in photoluminescence emission results from a competition between the effects of dot size and those of dissolution on the dot emission energy. These data also demonstrate the difference in the diffusion length of In on InAs and on GaAs.
Tuning near field radiation by doped silicon
Authors: Shi Jiawei , Li Pengfei , Liu Baoan , Shen Sheng
Published: May 2013

In this letter, we demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that bulk silicon can be employed to overcome the challenge of tuning near field radiation. Theoretical calculation shows that the nanoscale radiation between bulk silicon and silicon dioxide can be tuned by changing the carrier concentration of silicon. Near field radiation measurements are carried out on multiple bulk silicon samples with different doping concentrations. The measured near field conductance agrees well with theoretical predictions, which demonstrates a tuning range from 2 nW/K to 6 nW/K at a gap of ∼60 nm.
The Australian health workforce:facts and futures
Authors: Duckett Stephen
Published: May 2013

The quality of care received by a patient or consumer critically depends on the knowledge, skills and attitudes of thehealth workforce; the structure and functioning of the health workforce is critical to the structure and functioning ofthe health system overall. To a very large extent, diagnosis and treatment decisions call on the training and experienceof the health professional. The quality of the interaction between a patient or consumer depends on the interpersonaland technical skills of health professionals. In a sense, health workers are important to defining the very nature ofhealth care services. The importance of the health workforce is further highlighted by the fact that, as is typical of mostservice industries, labour accounts for a large proportion of health costs (around 80%).This paper provides an overview of the size and composition of the health workforce in Australia. It then reviewsthree segments of the workforce in more detail (medical, nursing and other health professionals) and reviewscontemporary policy issues affecting those groups.
The nuts and bolts of pills and potions: the functions of a drug safety working group
Authors: Nath Noleen S. , Jones Ellen H. , Stride Peter , Premaratne Manuja , Thaker Darshit , Lim Ivan
Published: May 2013

Hospitalised patients commonly experience adverse drug events (ADEs) and medication errors. Runciman reported that ADEs in hospitals account for 20% of reported adverse events and contribute to 27% of deaths where death followed an adverse event. Hughes recommends multidisciplinary hospital drug committees to assess performance and raise standards. The new Code of Conduct of the Medical Board of Australia recommends participation in systems for surveillance and monitoring of adverse events, and to improve patient safety. We describe the functions and role of a Drug Safety Working Group (DSWG) in a suburban hospital, which aims to audit and promote a culture of prescribing and medication administration that is prudent and cautious to minimise the risk of harm to patients. We believe that regular prescription monitoring and feedback to Resident Medical Officers (RMOs) improves medication management in our hospital. What is known about the topic? Adverse drug events are common, leading to increased patient dissatisfaction, increased hospital morbidity and mortality, and increased costs. There is extensive medical literature on the problems of individual drugs, and global information of ADEs in healthcare, but little information for local solutions. What does this paper add? This paper details our experience and methods of running a drug safety working group (DSWG) in a suburban hospital. We strongly believe in a multidisciplinary committee, with feedback to RMOs given by their peer group. This ‘how we do it’ approach is largely absent from medical journals. What are the implications for practitioners? We strive for safer prescribing in our environment and hope to develop for inter-hospital benchmarking with other hospital DSWGs of clearly similar data, with an aim to raise state or nationwide standards.
Clinical informatics: a workforce priority for 21st century healthcare
Authors: Smith Susan E. , Drake Lesley E. , Harris Julie-Gai B. , Watson Kay , Pohlner Peter G.
Published: May 2013

This paper identifies the contribution of health and clinical informatics in the support of healthcare in the 21st century. Although little is known about the health and clinical informatics workforce, there is widespread recognition that the health informatics workforce will require significant expansion to support national eHealth work agendas. Workforce issues including discipline definition and self-identification, formal professionalisation, weaknesses in training and education, multidisciplinarity and interprofessional tensions, career structure, managerial support, and financial allocation play a critical role in facilitating or hindering the development of a workforce that is capable of realising the benefits to be gained from eHealth in general and clinical informatics in particular. As well as the national coordination of higher level policies, local support of training and allocation of sufficient position hours in appropriately defined roles by executive and clinical managers is essential to develop the health and clinical informatics workforce and achieve the anticipated results from evolving eHealth initiatives.

What is known about the topic?
Health informatics is considered an emerging profession. There are not enough Health Informaticians to support the eHealth agenda.

What does this paper add?
This paper considers the issues, barriers and facilitators of capacity building in the health informatics workforce with a special emphasis on Clinical Informaticians. The authors conclude that resources and awareness at the national, state and local health service levels is required to facilitate health and clinical informatics’ capacity building.

What are the implications for practitioners?
Recognition and support of the health and clinical informatics workforce is required to improve the appropriate implementation and use of Health Information Technology for clinical care, quality and service management.