bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital Marketing: The Time for a New “Academic Major” Has Arrived
Authors: Wymbs Cliff
Published: February 2011

The rapidly emerging digital economy is challenging the relevance of existing marketing practices, and a radical redesign of the marketing curriculum consistent with the emerging student and business needs of the 21st century is required. To remain relevant to our students and to the ultimate consumers of our output, businesses, the marketing curriculum must evolve with both the changing technological environment and the way marketing is perceived by its own academic architects. After an overview of recent marketing trends, this article describes the need for a fundamental change in the teaching of marketing in today’s environment, performs a curriculum audit of existing digital marketing initiatives, and then details a new curriculum reflective of marketing in a digital age and an approach to implement it. Finally, the new major is discussed in the context of specific challenges associated with the new age of marketing. The approach developed here provides other universities a target to serve as one measure of progress toward a curriculum more in tune with the emerging digital environment.
Promising pessimism: Reading the futures to be avoided in biotech
Authors: Tutton Richard
Published: February 2011

A number of science and technology studies (STS) scholars have suggested that the performativity of the ‘forward-looking statement’ is an important institutional element of contemporary biocapital. This paper considers how, when making projections that set up expectations about their futures, firms also acknowledge and detail the risk factors that they face in their operations. In other words, in addition to projecting optimistic scenarios, firms advance much more pessimistic images of futures that they wish to avoid: possible failures, disappointments and financial losses. I examine such pessimistic projections in company filings to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and investigate their discursive character. I ask what value such pessimism might hold for STS scholars interested in the mangle of science and capital. I sample the SEC filings of three companies: deCODE Genetics, DNAPrint Genomics Inc. and NitroMed Inc. In their own particular ways, these projections exemplify the volatility and the promise of the life sciences in the 21st century. My reading shows that such pessimistic risk factor statements provide interesting commentary on the dynamics of risk and innovation in the context of contemporary biocapital, raising questions to which analysts to date have given little attention.
Changes in the Relative Importance of Dynamic Risk Factors for Recidivism During Adolescence
Authors: van der Put C. E. , Stams G. J. J. M. , Hoeve M. , Deković M. , Spanjaard H. J. M. , van der Laan P. H. , Barnoski R. P.
Published: February 2011

This study examined which dynamic risk factors for recidivism play an important role during adolescence. The sample consisted of 13,613 American juveniles who had committed a criminal offense. The results showed that the importance of almost all dynamic risk factors, both in the social environment domain (school, family, relationships) and in the individual domain (attitude, skills, aggressiveness), decreased as juveniles grew older. Therefore, the potential effect of an intervention aimed at these factors will also decrease as juveniles grow older. The relative importance of the risk factors also changed: In early adolescence, risk factors in the family domain showed the strongest association with recidivism, whereas in late adolescence risk factors in the attitude, relationships, and school domain were more strongly related to recidivism. These results suggest that the focus of an intervention needs to be attuned to the age of the juvenile to achieve the maximum potential effect on recidivism.
Variations of waste unit weight during mechanical and degradation processes at landfills
Authors: Yu Li , Batlle Francisco , Carrera Jesús
Published: February 2011

This manuscript develops a model for assessing the time and space variations in unit weight of traditional municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. The model considers the variations of unit weight caused by deformation of the waste matrix and degradation of the organic portion. Deformation of the waste matrix includes both short-term effects, resulting from mechanical strain during the filling period, and long-term effects, resulting from superposition of waste skeleton creep and waste degradation. Mass loss, caused by waste degradation, not only affects the stress level within the waste column, but also induces large and long-term deformation. Degradation-induced deformation is caused by the local collapse of the solid matrix weakened by mass loss. Considering that the correlation between mass loss and waste deformation is locally erratic and hard to define, a smooth time–strain curve (represented by Kelvin viscoelastic model) is used to describe approximately the overall long-term deformation. The analytical formulation for unit weight is obtained in Laplace transform domain and can be used to simulate spatial and temporal variations of waste unit weight. Unit weight profiles obtained at four MSW landfills using the proposed model agree well with measurements from in situ large-scale unit weight tests. Evolution of unit weight profiles indicates that there is no monotonous varying trend for unit weight along the whole depth of the landfill. Density first increases and then decreases to a stable value in the lower portion, whereas the opposite occurs in the upper portion. Whether unit weight increases or decreases depends on the competition between matrix deformation and degradation processes.
Acute pulmonary toxic effects of chlorhexidine (CHX) following an intratracheal instillation in rats
Authors: Xue Yuying , Zhang Shanshan , Yang Yang , Lu Minyu , Wang Yiqing , Zhang Ting , Tang Meng , Takeshita Haruo
Published: February 2011

Chlorhexidine (CHX) is a cationic biguanide compound that has been widely used for disinfection of skin, mucous membranes, and medical instruments. Poisoning has been occurred occasionally due to its easy accessibility. Some fatal cases developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from aspiration of CHX directly into the lung. There is no preclinical information about the pulmonary toxicity of CHX available since the products of CHX are usually developed for disinfection by topical use. In this study, the acute pulmonary toxic effects of CHX following an intratracheal instillation in rats were investigated. Rats were exposed either to CHX at concentrations of 0.02% and 0.2% or to distilled water at a volume of 500 μl/kg b.w. CHX at concentration of 0.2% caused changes in hematological and biochemical values including white blood cell count (WBC), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CRE), and induced inflammatory reactions including intra-alveolar edema and hemorrhages, as well as resulted in the target organ concentration in lungs at the level of about 1.0 μg/g and maintained for more than 1 week, when administered intratracheally in rats. The cytotoxic action of CHX might induce those detrimental reactions in rats.
Collapsing glomerulopathy occurring in HIV-negative patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: report of three cases and brief review of the literature
Authors: Gupta R , Sharma A , Bhowmik DM , Gupta S , Agarwal SK , Gupta R , Dinda AK
Published: February 2011

Collapsing glomerulopathy (CG), once recognized as a distinct renal disease in HIV-positive patients, has since been described in association with a number of other conditions, including autoimmune diseases. Among the latter, CG has been reported in Still’s disease. Extensive search of the literature revealed only three patients with renal biopsy diagnosis of CG in the presence of clinical and serological evidence of SLE (HIV-negative). This case report presents three adult female HIV-negative patients with SLE who were detected as having significant proteinuria and underwent renal biopsy. In all three cases, renal biopsy showed features of diffuse lupus nephritis. In addition, variable numbers of glomeruli showed segmental collapse of glomerular tuft with hyperplasia of overlying visceral epithelial cells and were diagnosed as CG. The patients were managed with aggressive immunosuppressive therapy, including intravenous steroids in two patients and tacrolimus and cyclophosphamide in one patient. All three patients achieved partial remission of proteinuria with maintained renal function at the last follow-up. Collapsing glomerulopathy is a rare occurrence in patients with SLE, which should be considered in patients with lupus nephritis and significant proteinuria. A timely performed renal biopsy allows accurate diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic modifications.
Confessions of a Job Crafter: How We Can Increase the Passion Within and the Impact of Our Profession
Authors: Brickson Shelley
Published: February 2011

Job crafting, engaging in practices that alter our jobs for the better, has enormous potential to enliven scholars and to enhance our field’s societal impact. Drawing upon a personal tale, I outline various job crafting techniques in which I have engaged and note how these practices have transformed the level of satisfaction I feel for my job, profession, and life, while also enriching the quality of my research and teaching contributions. As profoundly positive as has been my experience with job crafting, I have also encountered some significant systemic obstacles. For the tenured, such obstacles would likely be frustrating, constraining passion and undermining contributions. For the untenured, many become pitfalls that can endanger careers. I address some of the obstacles that I encountered while engaging in job crafting practices, framing them in terms of what we can do to remove them. I am optimistic that, collectively, we can dramatically diminish and even abolish the obstacles outlined here for the benefit of scholars, the field, and society.
Religiosity, Spirituality, and Marital Relationships of Parents Raising a Typically Developing Child or a Child With a Disability
Authors: Parker Jessica A. , Mandleco Barbara , Olsen Roper Susanne , Freeborn Donna , Dyches Tina Taylor
Published: February 2011

In order to discover if differences or relationships exist between religiosity, spirituality, and marital relationships, 111 parents raising a child with a disability (CWD) and 34 parents raising typically developing children independently completed self-report questionnaires assessing religiosity, spirituality, and marital relationships. Parents raising typically developing children scored higher on private and public religiosity and marital satisfaction than parents raising a CWD; mothers scored higher on religiosity variables than fathers. Mothers’ ratings of spirituality and family type (disability or typically developing child) predicted their ratings of marital conflict. Higher spirituality and raising typically developing children were associated with higher ratings of marital satisfaction for both mothers and fathers. However, spirituality also moderated the relationship between private/public religiosity and marital satisfaction only for fathers. This information helps improve interventions for families raising CWD and adds to the literature on the interplay of religiosity/spirituality/marital relationship.
Child Maltreatment, Attachment Security, and Internal Representations of Mother and Mother-Child Relationships
Authors: Pickreign Stronach Erin , Toth Sheree L. , Rogosch Fred , Oshri Assaf , Manly Jody Todd , Cicchetti Dante
Published: February 2011

Attachment security and internal representations of mothers, and of the mother—child relationship, were examined in an ethnically diverse and economically disadvantaged sample of maltreated (N = 92) and nonmaltreated (N = 31) preschool-aged children. Maltreated preschoolers had lower rates of secure attachment and higher rates of disorganized attachment than did nonmaltreated preschoolers. Maltreatment also was associated with less positive global representations of the mother—child relationship relative to the nonmaltreated comparison group. Analyses were conducted to determine whether maltreatment characteristics such as subtype, chronicity, severity, and frequency were associated with attachment organization and with internal representations. Implications of these results for developmental theory and intervention with maltreated children are discussed.
On the dynamic behavior of a class of Cauchy elastic materials
Authors: Chen Yi-chao
Published: February 2011

A wave-like dynamic solution of elastic materials is studied. It is shown that if the material is not hyperelastic, the amplitude of the wave can grow exponentially. As a result, the kinetic energy in the material would increase indefinitely even when the applied forces do zero work on the material.
Effective spring stiffness for non-interacting penny-shaped cracks at an interface between two dissimilar, isotropic, linearly elastic materials
Authors: Lekesiz Huseyin , Katsube Noriko , Rokhlin Stanislav I. , Seghi Robert R.
Published: February 2011

A quasi-static approximation has been widely used to model ultrasonic wave interactions at imperfect interfaces between two linearly elastic materials. To simulate the reduction of static stiffness of the overall structure due to compromised interfaces (micro-cracks or micro-disbonds), the compliance of an imperfect interface to a loading is represented by continuous, uniform distributions of linearly elastic interfacial springs. In this work, a representation by normal and transverse effective spring stiffnesses of an array of non-interacting penny-shaped cracks at the interface between two dissimilar, isotropic, linearly elastic materials is obtained based on classical fracture mechanics. The results obtained are useful in estimating the disbonded area, which is critical in assessing the bond integrity and estimating the remaining life. Special care is taken to avoid crack surface interpenetration for transverse loading, and the valid loading range is obtained to assure negligibility of crack surface interpenetration for all possible ranges of isotropic, linearly elastic material combinations. For linear ultrasound applications, it is shown that the expression obtained for transverse springs can be used for most isotropic, linearly elastic material combinations, if the initial maximum crack opening displacement is more than 10−5 of the crack radius. The obtained expressions are applied to estimate the accuracy of existing approximate models based on the analysis of penny-shaped cracks in a homogeneous material, rules of mixture, and Hertzian-based effective moduli. It is shown that for most practical material combinations the error is below 5%.
The propagation of small amplitude nonlinear waves in a strongly inhomogeneous medium
Authors: Mortell Michael P , Seymour Brian R
Published: February 2011

A small amplitude wave is propagated into a semi-infinite, strongly inhomogeneous, nonlinear elastic material. The inhomogeneity is chosen, as in functionally graded materials, so that a closed form exact solution is possible within linear theory. The relationship with the approximate solution described by geometrical acoustics, when the inhomogeneity is slowly varying, is readily seen. The nonlinear result is derived by adjusting the linear characteristic as in Whitham’s nonlinearization technique. Shocks may then occur.
Branching of the radial expansion history during inflation of a non-linear incompressible isotropic time-dependent thick-walled sphere
Authors: Wineman Alan
Published: February 2011

The spherically symmetric expansion of an incompressible isotropic spherical shell from pressure on its inner surface is considered. For any such material, the pressure—radius relation is given by an integral over the shell that depends on its constitutive response in equal biaxial stretch and the stretch distribution in terms of the radius of the inner surface. In this work, a general non-linear single-integral constitutive relation describes the equal biaxial stretch response. This relation includes two models of non-linear viscoelasticity and one model for scission and crosslinking of elastomers as specific cases. It results in a non-linear Volterra integral equation for the radius of the inner surface when the pressure is specified. The possibility is considered that the solution to the integral equation develops another branch at some time. A condition is derived that determines if and when branching will occur. It is shown that when the material is elastic, the branching condition reduces to the condition derived by Carroll for a non-monotonic pressure—radius relation. Some results are provided for the case of time-dependent materials, when the branching condition depends on the response to equal biaxial stretch histories.
Contingency and modernity in the thought of J.P. Arnason
Authors: Knöbl Wolfgang
Published: February 2011

This article argues that Arnason’s writings succeed in pushing civilizational analysis — most prominently developed by the late Shmuel N. Eisenstadt — in a much-needed direction. Coming from an action-theoretical background in which the creativity of actors is strongly emphasized, Arnason is critical of approaches within civilizational analysis that tend to downplay contingency within historical processes. Especially by focusing on the role of political power and imperial encounters, Arnason demonstrates how civilizational analysis can be further developed in ways that do not automatically assume the linearity and long-term persistence of civilizational paths.
Modernity and civilization in Johann Arnason’s social theory of Japan
Authors: Smith Jeremy C. A.
Published: February 2011

Johann Arnason’s exploration of the historical constellation of East Asia has helped reproblematize the conceptual framework of modernity and civilization. This article outlines Arnason’s innovations in civilizational analysis and social theory in the field of comparative studies of Japan. It sets out the terms on which a nuanced elaboration of Arnason’s framework could occur. Two areas warrant closer attention: state formation and the institution of capitalism. It is argued that there are signs of what might be termed a ‘tertiary’ phase of state formation, implicit in Arnason’s discussion of advanced modernity. Moreover, this phase brought Japan into close contact with the newly unfolding context of the West’s civilizational imaginary, particularly in its ideological expressions of evolutionism. The article ends on the problematic of capitalism, raising questions about further potential theoretical developments based on Arnason’s conclusions and other inventive studies of Japanese capitalism.
Arnason and Castoriadis’ unfinished dialogue: Articulating the world
Authors: Adams Suzi
Published: February 2011

The article reconstructs the unfinished dialogue between Arnason and Castoriadis, with a particular emphasis on the problematic of world articulation. Arnason’s thought is situated as reconfiguring classical sociological constellations, especially as they pertain to the revitalization of the civilizational problematic and the emphasis on the philosophical dimension of sociological investigation. His interpretative framework is located within the nascent field of post-transcendental phenomenology, which he elaborates via the overlapping problematics of cultural articulations of the world as an inter-cultural horizon, and the human condition as various modes of being-in-the-world. Arnason’s encounter with Castoriadis is considered. Despite the many points of fruitful contact, Castoriadis’ neglect of the phenomenological question of the world as a ‘shared horizon’ is, in Arnason’s view, too great to overcome; Arnason looks instead to Weber, Merleau-Ponty and, more recently, Patočka for interpretative resources. Although Castoriadis’ elucidation of the world proceeds ‘in fragments’, the article contends that hermeneutical reconstruction of his thought reveals openings onto the problematic of elemental world orders that can further the dialogue with Arnason.
Reciprocal legitimation: Reframing the problem of international legitimacy
Authors: Buchanan Allen
Published: February 2011

Theorizing about the legitimacy of international institutions usually begins with a framing assumption according to which the legitimacy of the state is understood solely in terms of the relationship between the state and its citizens, without reference to the effects of state power on others. In contrast, this article argues that whether a state is legitimate vis-a-vis its own citizens depends upon whether its exercise of power respects the human rights of people in other states. The other main conclusions are as follows. First, a state’s participation in international institutions can contribute to its legitimacy in several ways. Second, when international institutions contribute to the legitimacy of states, their doing so can contribute to their own legitimacy. Third, a theory of international legitimacy ought to recognize reciprocal legitimation between states and international institutions.
Assessing and Treating Patient With Chronic Panic Disorder Using Cognitive-Constructive Psychotherapy
Authors: Lindeman Sari
Published: February 2011

In cognitive-constructive psychotherapy, the aim is to understand the origins of a mental health problem beginning from the early attachment relationship, which is thought to regulate later interaction with the environment. People participate in this interaction consciously and unconsciously in keeping with their expectations and receive information in accordance with these expectations. The ways in which information is processed are thus strengthened and the significances given to experiences become stabilized. As people have a need to maintain an experience of the continuity of the self and of the consistency of their inner world, they will also hold on to harmful experiences. That is why change takes time, especially in the case of long-term disturbances. A patient with panic disorder perceives the world through a feeling of security and insecurity, which is regulated by a sense of control in particular. This article describes the psychotherapy process of a patient with panic disorder. In this process, recovery is explained based on a cognitive-constructive framework.
Case Study: A Structural Model for Schizophrenia and Family Collaboration
Authors: Carter David J.
Published: February 2011

This single case study describes a structural therapy perspective applied to a family and examines interaction patterns within the clinical setting and the home; the therapeutic view examines contextual variables that affect an individual diagnosed with schizophrenia, his family, and his recovery. The therapeutic experience of one client diagnosed with schizophrenia and his family is presented. The client’s symptoms were tracked using a pre- and posttest from the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF) assessment tool over the 15-week treatment period. There was a significant change from pretest to posttest for the following factors: warmth, emotional stability, dominance, liveliness, rule consciousness, vigilance, openness to change, self-reliance, self-control, and tension.
Multifactor dimensionality reduction analysis of MTHFR, PAI-1, ACE, PON1, and eNOS gene polymorphisms in patients with early onset coronary artery disease
Authors: Agirbasli M , Guney AI , Ozturhan HS , Agirbasli D , Ulucan K , Sevinc D , Kirac D , Ryckman KK , Williams SM
Published: February 2011

Background: Association studies in the Turkish population have investigated the single locus effects of different gene polymorphisms on coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is a complex polygenic disease that involves complex interactions among multiple genetic and environmental conditions.

Design: We evaluated associations of five candidate genetic polymorphisms (methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase C677T, plasminogen activator inhibitor 4G/5G, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) 3–27 base pair repeat, insertion, or deletion of a 287 bp Alu repeat sequence polymorhism of angiotensin I converting enzyme, and paraoxonase Gln192Arg PON1 polymorphisms) with the presence and extent of early onset CAD.

Methods: DNA was isolated and amplified from 90 consecutive patients with angiographically proven early onset CAD (ages 41 ± 5 for men, 49 ± 7 for women) and also from 90 control subjects with no significant coronary obstruction angiographically (ages 42 ± 5 for men, 48 ± 6 for women). Multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) analysis was performed to identify a model of CAD based on both genetic and conventional risk factors.

Results: MDR analysis detected a significant model with four genes (prediction success ∼ 61%, p = 0.03). When the total number of the conventional risk factors is analysed with the candidate polymorphisms, a different model is identified that includes three of the four genes from the above model and achieves a similar prediction of CAD as the gene only model.

Conclusion: These data indicate that gene–gene and gene–environmental risk interactions form significant models in predicting early onset CAD.
Study of interface and base metal microstructures in explosive clad joint of Ti–5Ta–1·8Nb and 304L stainless steel
Authors: Sudha C , Prasanthi T N , Murugesan S , Saroja S , Kuppusami P , Vijayalakshmi M
Published: February 2011

This paper presents the microstructural modification in a dissimilar joint of Ti–5Ta–1·8Nb alloy with 304L austenitic stainless steel, fabricated using explosive cladding process. The interface had a wavy nature with occasional presence of shrinkage cavities and solidified melt zones. X‐ray Rietveld and electron microprobe based analysis did not reveal the presence of intermetallic phases at the weld interface within their detection limits. Evidences for the transformation of fcc to bct phases in 304L stainless steel and formation of metastable fcc phase in Ti–Ta–Nb alloy, not predicted in the phase diagram are provided. These phase transformations are understood in terms of severe plastic deformation during explosive cladding process.
Experimental study on electrode displacement fluctuation characteristics during resistance spot welding
Authors: Wang X F , Li Y B , Li R H , Meng G X
Published: February 2011

Electrode displacement has been used to monitor resistance spot weld quality for long, but the fluctuation of the electrode displacement has not been well studied. This paper analysed the mechanism of the displacement fluctuation by collecting the welding current and electrode displacement during welding process and extracted the incremental pulse expansion of the electrode displacement, which was named as the displacement fluctuation peak. Through metallurgical experiments, the relationship of the displacement fluctuation peak with the weld nugget growth during resistance spot welding process was analysed. The whole process can be divided into four successive stages, and five characteristic points of the displacement fluctuation peak curve were selected to online predict the weld quality. The variation in the displacement fluctuation peak curve under different welding currents was studied, and the results showed that the displacement fluctuation characteristics can be used to effectively evaluate the weld quality.
Ultrasonic metal welding of AA 6022‐T4 lap joints: Part I – Technological characterisation and static mechanical behaviour
Authors: Annoni M , Carboni M
Published: February 2011

High power ultrasonic technology can currently count on a number of industrial applications. Ultrasonic welding, which is a standard joining technique in many applications on plastics, has few but well established metal applications, such as copper wires, pipes and connectors welding, or, considering spot welding of aluminium thin sheets, is attractive for the automotive industry field, where it could represent a possible cost effective alternative to resistance spot welding, clinching or self‐pierce riveting. The present experimental study is addressed to this kind of application in order to evidence the effects of welding parameters and, most of all, their interactions on the tensile strength of tensile–shear spot welded lap joints. Relevant results have been achieved by dedicated and non‐conventional instrumentations applied to the welder for measuring and controlling the process parameters. The best static performance has been taken as an input for the second part of the study regarding the fatigue behaviour and the joints failure modes.
Ultrasonic metal welding of AA 6022‐T4 lap joints: Part II – Fatigue behaviour, failure analysis and modelling
Authors: Carboni M , Annoni M
Published: February 2011

The present paper reports the second part of a research carried out by the authors on the application of ultrasonic metal spot welding to lap joints made of AA 6022‐T4 thin sheets. In particular, starting from the findings of Part 1, tensile–shear fatigue experiments are carried out on ultrasonically spot welded lap joints both in single and double spot configurations. The analysis of consequent failure causes and modes and the application of traditional approaches for fatigue assessment of resistance spot welded joints allow then effectively predicting experimental evidences. Furthermore, an optimisation of the fatigue behaviour of double spot joints (longitudinal spots configuration) is achieved in terms of endurable load and distance between spots, with a possible generalisation to multiple spot configurations. Finally, a comparison of the fatigue performance of the ultrasonic technique to other spot joining techniques is presented.
Effect of nanoclay on vibration welding of LLDPE nanocomposites in presence and absence of compatibiliser
Authors: Das C K , Rajasekar R , Friedrich S , Gehde M
Published: February 2011

Welding is employed to develop bonded joints with mechanical properties that draw near the parent material. Vibration welding has been applied to join pure and nanoclay filled linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). Ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer (PE‐g‐MA) is used as a compatibiliser in this study. High resolution transmission electron microscopic images showed the combination of exfoliation and intercalation of nanoclay platelets in LLDPE in the presence of a compatibiliser. The mechanical properties were studied for both the body part and the welded joints. The tensile strength and modulus of the body part for the nanoclay filled LLDPE in the presence of a compatibiliser were substantially improved. The welded joints of the same system showed better enhancement in the modulus. X‐ray diffraction analysis observed from the welded joints showed that the crystallite size of the nanoclay filled LLDPE composites in the presence of a compatibiliser was lower than that of nanocomposites in the absence of a compatibiliser.
Development of friction stir welding of high strength steel sheet
Authors: Matsushita M. , Kitani Y. , Ikeda R. , Ono M. , Fujii H. , Chung Y.‐D.
Published: February 2011

For friction stir welding (FSW) of advanced high strength steel (AHSS) sheets with tensile strength grades between 590 and 1180 N mm−2, the appropriate welding condition range and the influence of welding conditions on microstructures and mechanical properties of the welds were investigated. The appropriate welding conditions to avoid defects such as the incomplete consolidation at the bottom of the weld were obtained for the steel sheets up to 1180 N mm−2 grade. The higher tool rotation speed evidently resulted in the larger volume fraction of martensite and higher hardness in the stir zone (SZ), attributed to an increase in the peak temperature of its thermal cycle. The tensile strength of the weld joint was as high as that of the base metal for the steels up to 980 N mm−2 grade, but slightly lower than that of the base metal for the steel of 1180 N mm−2 grade due to the heat affected zone (HAZ) softening.
Nasal nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase expression in primary ciliary dyskinesia
Authors: Pifferi M. , Bush A. , Maggi F. , Michelucci A. , Ricci V. , Conidi M.E. , Cangiotti A.M. , Bodini A. , Simi P. , Macchia P. , Boner A.L.
Published: February 2011

No study has evaluated the correlation between different expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in nasal epithelial cells and nasal NO (nNO) level in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).

Gene expression of endothelial (NOS3) and inducible NOS (NOS2) and their correlation with nNO level, ciliary function and morphology were studied in patients with PCD or secondary ciliary dyskinesia (SCD). NOS3 gene polymorphisms were studied in blood leukocytes.

A total of 212 subjects were studied (48 with PCD, 161 with SCD and three normal subjects). nNO level correlated with mean ciliary beat frequency (p = 0.044; r = 0.174). The lower the nNO level the higher was the percentage of immotile cilia (p<0.001; r = -0.375). A significant positive correlation between NOS2 gene expression and nNO levels was demonstrated in all children (p = 0.001; r = 0.428), and this correlation was confirmed in patients with PCD (p = 0.019; r = 0.484). NOS2 gene expression was lower in PCD than in SCD (p = 0.04). The NOS3 isoform correlated with missing central microtubules (p = 0.048; r = 0.447). nNO levels were higher in PCD subjects with the NOS3 thymidine 894 mutation, and this was associated with a higher ciliary beat frequency (p = 0.045).

These results demonstrate a relationship between nNO level, NOS mRNA expression and ciliary beat frequency.
All-trans retinoic acid results in irregular repair of septa and fails to inhibit proinflammatory macrophages
Authors: Seifart C. , Muyal J.P. , Plagens A. , Yildirim A.Ö. , Kohse K. , Grau V. , Sandu S. , Reinke C. , Tschernig T. , Vogelmeier C. , Fehrenbach H.
Published: February 2011

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is controversially discussed in emphysema therapy. We re-evaluated ATRA in the elastase model and hypothesised that beneficial effects should be reflected by increased alveolar surface area, elastin expression and downregulation of inflammatory mediators and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).

Emphysema was induced by porcine pancreatic elastaseversussaline in Sprague–Dawley rats. On days 26–37, rats received daily intraperitoneal injections with ATRA (500 μg·kg−1body weight)versusolive oil. Lungs were removed at day 38. Rat alveolar epithelial L2 cells were incubated with/without elastase followed by ATRA- or vehicle-treatment, respectively.

ATRA only partially ameliorated structural defects. Alveolar walls exhibited irregular architecture: increased arithmetic mean thickness, reduction in surface coverage by alveolar epithelial cells type II. ATRA only partially restored reduced soluble elastin. It tended to increase the ratio of ED1+:ED2+macrophages. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells exhibited a proinflammatory state and high expression of interleukin-1β, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1, tumour necrosis factor-α, nuclear factor-κB, MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-12, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2 in emphysema, with ATRA exerting only few effects. MMP-7 was highly induced by ATRA in healthy but not in emphysematous lungs. ATRA reduced both MMP-2 and TIMP-1 activity in BAL fluid of emphysematous lungs.

ATRA-therapy may bear the risk of unwanted side-effects on alveolar septal architecture in emphysematous lungs.
Effects of EpCAM overexpression on human breast cancer cell lines
Authors: Gostner Johanna M , Fong Dominic , Wrulich Oliver A , Lehne Florian , Zitt Marion , Hermann Martin , Krobitsch Sylvia , Martowicz Agnieszka , Gastl Guenther , Spizzo Gilbert
Published: February 2011

Background

Recently, EpCAM has attracted major interest as a target for antibody- and vaccine-based cancer immunotherapies. In breast cancer, the EpCAM antigen is overexpressed in 30-40% of all cases and this increased expression correlates with poor prognosis. The use of EpCAM-specific monoclonal antibodies is a promising treatment approach in these patients.

Methods

In order to explore molecular changes following EpCAM overexpression, we investigated changes of the transcriptome upon EpCAM gene expression in commercially available human breast cancer cells lines Hs578T and MDA-MB-231. To assess cell proliferation, a tetrazolium salt based assay was performed. A TCF/LEF Reporter Kit was used to measure the transcriptional activity of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. To evaluate the accumulation of β-catenin in the nucleus, a subcellular fractionation assay was performed.

Results

For the first time we could show that expression profiling data of EpCAM transfected cell lines Hs578TEpCAM and MDA-MB-231EpCAM indicate an association of EpCAM overexpression with the downregulation of the Wnt signaling inhibitors SFRP1 and TCF7L2. Confirmation of increased Wnt signaling was provided by a TCF/LEF reporter kit and by the finding of the nuclear accumulation of ß-catenin for MDA-MB-231EpCAM but not Hs578TEpCAM cells. In Hs578T cells, an increase of proliferation and chemosensitivity to Docetaxel was associated with EpCAM overexpression.

Conclusions

These data show a cell type dependent modification of Wnt signaling components after EpCAM overexpression in breast cancer cell lines, which results in marginal functional changes. Further investigations on the interaction of EpCAM with SFRP1 and TCF7L2 and on additional factors, which may be causal for changes upon EpCAM overexpression, will help to characterize unique molecular properties of EpCAM-positive breast cancer cells.
GaInNAs-based Hellish-vertical cavity semiconductor optical amplifier for 1.3 μm operation
Authors: Chaqmaqchee Faten Adel Ismail , Mazzucato Simone , Oduncuoglu Murat , Balkan Naci , Sun Yun , Gunes Mustafa , Hugues Maxime , Hopkinson Mark
Published: February 2011

Hot electron light emission and lasing in semiconductor heterostructure (Hellish) devices are surface emitters the operation of which is based on the longitudinal injection of electrons and holes in the active region. These devices can be designed to be used as vertical cavity surface emitting laser or, as in this study, as a vertical cavity semiconductor optical amplifier (VCSOA). This study investigates the prospects for a Hellish VCSOA based on GaInNAs/GaAs material for operation in the 1.3-μm wavelength range. Hellish VCSOAs have increased functionality, and use undoped distributed Bragg reflectors; and this coupled with direct injection into the active region is expected to yield improvements in the gain and bandwidth. The design of the Hellish VCSOA is based on the transfer matrix method and the optical field distribution within the structure, where the determination of the position of quantum wells is crucial. A full assessment of Hellish VCSOAs has been performed in a device with eleven layers of Ga0.35In0.65N0.02As0.08/GaAs quantum wells (QWs) in the active region. It was characterised through I-V, L-V and by spectral photoluminescence, electroluminescence and electro-photoluminescence as a function of temperature and applied bias. Cavity resonance and gain peak curves have been calculated at different temperatures. Good agreement between experimental and theoretical results has been obtained.
Tuning the electronic properties of boron nitride nanotube by mechanical uni-axial deformation: a DFT study
Authors: Ju Shin-Pon , Wang Yao-Chun , Lien Ting-Wei
Published: February 2011

The effect of uni-axial strain on the electronic properties of (8,0) zigzag and (5,5) armchair boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) is addressed by density functional theory calculation. The stress-strain profiles indicate that these two BNNTS of differing types display very similar mechanical properties, but there are variations in HOMO-LUMO gaps at different strains, indicating that the electronic properties of BNNTs not only depend on uni-axial strain, but on BNNT type. The variations in nanotube geometries, partial density of states of B and N atoms, B and N charges are also discussed for (8,0) and (5,5) BNNTs at different strains.
Kinetics of Si and Ge nanowires growth through electron beam evaporation
Authors: Artoni Pietro , Pecora Emanuele Francesco , Irrera Alessia , Priolo Francesco
Published: February 2011

Si and Ge have the same crystalline structure, and although Si-Au and Ge-Au binary alloys are thermodynamically similar (same phase diagram, with the eutectic temperature of about 360°C), in this study, it is proved that Si and Ge nanowires (NWs) growth by electron beam evaporation occurs in very different temperature ranges and fluence regimes. In particular, it is demonstrated that Ge growth occurs just above the eutectic temperature, while Si NWs growth occurs at temperature higher than the eutectic temperature, at about 450°C. Moreover, Si NWs growth requires a higher evaporated fluence before the NWs become to be visible. These differences arise in the different kinetics behaviors of these systems. The authors investigate the microscopic growth mechanisms elucidating the contribution of the adatoms diffusion as a function of the evaporated atoms direct impingement, demonstrating that adatoms play a key role in physical vapor deposition (PVD) NWs growth. The concept of incubation fluence, which is necessary for an interpretation of NWs growth in PVD growth conditions, is highlighted.
Memory properties and charge effect study in Si nanocrystals by scanning capacitance microscopy and spectroscopy
Authors: Lin Zhen , Bremond Georges , Bassani Franck
Published: February 2011

In this letter, isolated Si nanocrystal has been formed by dewetting process with a thin silicon dioxide layer on top. Scanning capacitance microscopy and spectroscopy were used to study the memory properties and charge effect in the Si nanocrystal in ambient temperature. The retention time of trapped charges injected by different direct current (DC) bias were evaluated and compared. By ramp process, strong hysteresis window was observed. The DC spectra curve shift direction and distance was observed differently for quantitative measurements. Holes or electrons can be separately injected into these Si-ncs and the capacitance changes caused by these trapped charges can be easily detected by scanning capacitance microscopy/spectroscopy at the nanometer scale. This study is very useful for nanocrystal charge trap memory application.
A cylindrical core-shell-like TiO2 nanotube array anode for flexible fiber-type dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Yu Jiefeng , Wang Dan , Huang Yining , Fan Xing , Tang Xin , Gao Cong , Li Jianlong , Zou Dechun , Wu Kai
Published: February 2011

A versatile anodization method was reported to anodize Ti wires into cylindrical core-shell-like and thermally crystallized TiO2 nanotube (TNT) arrays that can be directly used as the photoanodes for semi- and all-solid fiber-type dye-sensitized solar cells (F-DSSC). Both F-DSSCs showed higher power conversion efficiencies than or competitive to those of previously reported counterparts fabricated by depositing TiO2 particles onto flexible substrates. The substantial enhancement is presumably attributed to the reduction of grain boundaries and defects in the prepared TNT anodes, which may suppress the recombination of the generated electrons and holes, and accordingly lead to more efficient carrier-transfer channels.
Animal model integration to AutDB, a genetic database for autism
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Wadhawan Rachna , Swanwick Catherine Croft , Kollu Ravi , Basu Saumyendra N , Banerjee-Basu Sharmila
Published: February 2011

Background

In the post-genomic era, multi-faceted research on complex disorders such as autism has generated diverse types of molecular information related to its pathogenesis. The rapid accumulation of putative candidate genes/loci for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and ASD-related animal models poses a major challenge for systematic analysis of their content. We previously created the Autism Database (AutDB) to provide a publicly available web portal for ongoing collection, manual annotation, and visualization of genes linked to ASD. Here, we describe the design, development, and integration of a new module within AutDB for ongoing collection and comprehensive cataloguing of ASD-related animal models.

Description

As with the original AutDB, all data is extracted from published, peer-reviewed scientific literature. Animal models are annotated with a new standardized vocabulary of phenotypic terms developed by our researchers which is designed to reflect the diverse clinical manifestations of ASD. The new Animal Model module is seamlessly integrated to AutDB for dissemination of diverse information related to ASD. Animal model entries within the new module are linked to corresponding candidate genes in the original "Human Gene" module of the resource, thereby allowing for cross-modal navigation between gene models and human gene studies. Although the current release of the Animal Model module is restricted to mouse models, it was designed with an expandable framework which can easily incorporate additional species and non-genetic etiological models of autism in the future.

Conclusions

Importantly, this modular ASD database provides a platform from which data mining, bioinformatics, and/or computational biology strategies may be adopted to develop predictive disease models that may offer further insights into the molecular underpinnings of this disorder. It also serves as a general model for disease-driven databases curating phenotypic characteristics of corresponding animal models.
The innate immune response to coxsackievirus B3 predicts progression to cardiovascular disease and heart failure in male mice
Authors: Onyimba Jennifer A , Coronado Michael J , Garton Amanda E , Kim Joseph B , Bucek Adriana , Bedja Djahida , Gabrielson Kathleen L , Guilarte Tomas R , Fairweather DeLisa
Published: February 2011

Background

Men are at an increased risk of dying from heart failure caused by inflammatory heart diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We previously showed that macrophages in the spleen are phenotypically distinct in male compared to female mice at 12 h after infection. This innate immune profile mirrors and predicts the cardiac immune response during acute myocarditis.

Methods

In order to study sex differences in the innate immune response, five male and female BALB/c mice were infected intraperitoneally with coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) or phosphate buffered saline and their spleens were harvested 12 h later for microarray analysis. Gene expression was determined using an Affymetrix Mouse Gene 1.0 ST Array. Significant gene changes were verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or ELISA.

Results

During the innate immune response to CVB3 infection, infected males had higher splenic expression of genes which are important in regulating the influx of cholesterol into macrophages, such as phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and the macrophage scavenger receptor compared to the infected females. We also observed a higher expression in infected males compared to infected females of squalene synthase, an enzyme used to generate cholesterol within cells, and Cyp2e1, an enzyme important in metabolizing cholesterol and steroids. Infected males also had decreased levels of the translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO), which binds PLA2 and is the rate-limiting step for steroidogenesis, as well as decreased expression of the androgen receptor (AR), which indicates receptor activation. Gene differences were not due to increased viral replication, which was unaltered between sexes.

Conclusions

We found that, compared to females, male mice had a greater splenic expression of genes which are important for cholesterol metabolism and activation of the AR at 12 h after infection. Activation of the AR has been linked to increased cardiac hypertrophy, atherosclerosis, myocarditis/DCM and heart failure in male mice and humans.