bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direction of wording and responses to items in oral health‐related quality of life questionnaires for children and their parents
Authors: Locker David , Jokovic Aleksandra , Allison Paul
Published: July 2007

Abstract –  Objectives:  In order to minimize acquiescence response set bias, it is often recommended that questionnaires measuring attitudes, behaviours or health states contain items worded positively and negatively. It has also been suggested that when measuring health status this approach means that both the negative and positive dimensions of health can be assessed. This study aimed at assessing the performance of negatively and positively worded items in questionnaires to measure child and parent perceptions of child oral health‐related quality of life.

Methods:  Both the child and parent questionnaire included four pairs of items, one negatively worded and one positively worded, that assessed eating, appearance, oral self‐care and self‐confidence. The response format was a five‐point Likert frequency scale with a ‘Don't know’ option. Prior to analysis, the positive items were reverse coded. The relative performance of the two sets of items was assessed by means of comparisons of the proportions with ‘Don't know’ responses or missing values, mean item scores and proportions with the two highest frequency codes. Kappa statistics and intraclass correlation coefficients were used to assess the agreement between the negative and reverse‐coded positive items and scores and the agreement between child and parent pairs. Factor analysis was used to determine if the two sets of items were measuring the same underlying construct.

Results:  The study was completed by 91 Canadian children and 100 parents (91 child–parent pairs) recruited from clinics treating paediatric, orthodontic and oro‐facial conditions. The positively worded items elicited substantially more ‘Don't know’ responses or missing values than the negatively worded items and failed to discriminate between groups. In addition, mean item scores and proportions with the highest frequency codes were substantially larger for reverse‐coded positive than negative items. Agreement between pairs of items was slight. Child–parent agreement was substantial for a scale constructed from the negative items but only moderate for the positive items. Factor analysis revealed that the two sets of items loaded onto different factors.

Conclusions:  The performance of the positively worded items was unsatisfactory and their use in oral health‐related quality of life indexes, either to reduce response set or assess positive oral health, is at best questionable.
Root surface and coronal caries in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Hintao J. , Teanpaisan R. , Chongsuvivatwong V. , Dahlen G. , Rattarasarn C.
Published: July 2007

Abstract –  Objectives:  To determine the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) on coronal and root surface caries and to investigate some factors suspected of being related to or interacting with DM, that may be associated with coronal and root surface caries.

Methods:  A stratified cross‐sectional study was conducted in 105 type 2 diabetic patients and 103 non‐diabetic subjects of the same age and gender. Coronal and root surface caries, exposed root surfaces, periodontal status, stimulated salivary functions, oral hygiene status, oral health behaviors, and counts of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli were measured.

Results:  Type 2 diabetic patients compared with non‐diabetic subjects had a higher prevalence of root surface caries (40.0% versus 18.5%; P = 0.001), a higher number of decayed/filled root surfaces (1.2 ± 0.2 versus 0.5 ± 0.1; P < 0.01) and a higher percentage of generalized periodontitis (98.1% versus 87.4%; P < 0.01); but the prevalence and decayed/filled surface of coronal caries was not significantly different (83.8% versus 72.8% and 8.0 ± 9.4 versus 6.3 ± 7.5 respectively). The factors associated with root surface caries included type 2 DM, a low saliva buffer capacity, more missing teeth, and existing coronal caries; whereas wearing removable dentures, more missing teeth, a high number of lactobacilli, and a low saliva buffer capacity were associated with coronal caries.

Conclusion:  Type 2 DM is a significant risk factor for root surface, but not for coronal caries. Periodontal disease should be treated early in type 2 diabetic subjects to reduce the risk of subsequent root surface caries.
Does Medicaid improve utilization of medical and dental services and health outcomes for Medicaid‐eligible children in the United States?
Authors: Fisher Monica A. , Mascarenhas Ana K.
Published: July 2007

Abstract –  Background:  Data are lacking to support the contention that Medicaid services improve utilization of healthcare services and result in better health.

Objective:  To compare sociodemographic, utilization of healthcare services and health status characteristics among Medicaid‐eligible children.

Methods:  The third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey included 2821 children 2–16 years of age eligible for Medicaid. The main outcome measures are annual physician visit, annual dentist visit, general health status, oral health status, asthma (second most common childhood disease), dental caries (most common childhood disease), asthma treatment needs, and dental treatment needs. We quantified the association of these outcome measures with Medicaid insurance status and sociodemographic status using multiple logistic regression modeling, taking into account the complex survey design and sample weights.

Results:  Among Medicaid‐eligible children, 27% were uninsured. Among uninsured Medicaid‐eligible children, 62% had an annual physician visit, 32% had an annual dentist visit, 10% needed asthma treatment, and 57% needed dental treatment. Among insured Medicaid‐eligible children, 81% had an annual physician visit, 39% had an annual dentist visit, 13% needed asthma treatment, and 42% needed dental treatment. After simultaneously taking into account other characteristics, uninsured Medicaid‐eligible children were more likely to not have an annual physician visit (ORNoMDvisit = 2.21; 1.26–3.90), and to need dental treatment (ORDentalNeed = 1.57; 1.13–2.18).

Conclusions:  This USA population‐based study found disparities exist within Medicaid's services between utilization of dental and medical services. Medicaid insurance improved utilization of medical services, but did not improve the utilization of dental services. This suggests that Medicaid insurance does not improve access to dental services for poor children.
Dental hygiene procedure in a patient with Giardia lamblia infection
Authors: Santacroce L , Bottalico L , Mangini F
Published: July 2007

Abstract:  Introduction:  Giardiasis, or Giardia lamblia infection, is the most common parasitosis of the human digestive tract. It is highly contagious and mostly occurs in warm climates. Children are especially susceptible to infection.

Microbiological Features:  The infection can sporadically occur anywhere and waterborne outbreaks have been reported in some countries. Hence, the prevention of giardiasis depends on proper sanitation. Once ingested through contaminated water, Giardia cysts adhere to the intestinal surface. The parasite feeds on the mucous secretions of the intestine and may produce severe infections which can interfere with nutrient absorption. Symptoms in affected individuals usually include diarrhoea, dehydration, stomach cramps, gas, and weight loss.

Diagnosis:  Diagnosis is based on the detection of cysts in fecal samples. Treatment includes the use of metronidazole and other drugs that are effective in clearing the infection within a few days.

Case report:  We report the recent case of a patient with Giardiasis who received dental hygiene procedures and discuss the interventions required in consideration of the patient’s concomitant heart condition.
Report on the activities carried out by ‘Sonrisas’ to promote oral health: the experience of a Canadian dental hygienist in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Katsman Elina
Published: July 2007

Abstract:  Smiles Foundation is a non‐profitable organization established in Canada as a sister foundation to the Dominican Fundacion para la Prevencion y la Salud Bucal de los Ninos “Sonrisas” the Dominican Republic, which provides free dental treatment and oral health education to underprivileged children. Its founder Elina Katsman, a Canadian dental hygienist embarked on this project in 1986, and started giving lectures in the small community of Samana along with two local nurses that she trained in the principles of oral hygiene and related primary health care. Today, the foundation runs eight dental clinics and five mobile units that serve remote areas and has benefited 1 723 119 people in total. The aim of this article was to report on the growth that Smiles Foundation has experienced to promote oral health among children and adults in the Dominican Republic including its activities and the results it has achieved up until 2005.
A vicious cycle in the oral health status of schoolchildren in a primary school in rural Cambodia
Authors: Shidara Emiko Koito , McGlothlin James D. , Kobayashi Seigo
Published: July 2007

Abstract  Objective:  To investigate the oral health status and the risk factors contributing to dental caries and gum disease of schoolchildren in Cambodia.

Methods:  A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in a primary school in the Puok District, Siem Reap Province of Cambodia. An oral examination and self‐reported questionnaire were used to evaluate oral health status of schoolchildren, ranging in age from 6–16. Of the 512 children that were enrolled in first through sixth grade at the primary school, 332 children (62.8%) participated.

Results:  Of the schoolchildren that were involved in this study, the prevalence of dental caries in permanent dentition was 53.5% and gum disease was present in 46.2%. Among the participants 80% had plaque, 68.6% suffered from tooth pain and only 44.2% of the schoolchildren owned their own toothbrush. There was an association between the schoolchildren that suffered from tooth pain and those that had dental caries (P < 0.03). Plaque was related to dental caries in permanent dentition (P < 0.003), calculus (P < 0.0001) and gum disease (P < 0.0001) and was linked to the schoolchildren who did not own a toothbrush (P < 0.03) and who suffered from tooth pain (P < 0.03).

Conclusion:  The following sequence of events may result in a vicious cycle in the oral healthcare of schoolchildren in rural Cambodia: the lack of a personal toothbrush leads to plaque buildup, which may increase the incidence of dental caries, which has been linked to tooth pain and gum disease. Ultimately, this poor oral healthcare impacts an individual’s quality of life and can lead to more serious health issues later in life.
Surgical management of a recurrent spinal meningioma in a cat
Authors: Sumner JP , Simpson DJ
Published: July 2007

A 13‐year‐old male neutered Persian crossbred cat was evaluated for hindlimb paresis, ataxia and urinary incontinence that had been progressing over the previous 3 months. Neurologically, the cat had thoracolumbar spinal cord deficits and a myelogram detected the presence of a mass compressing the thoracic spinal cord. A hemilaminectomy was performed to excise the soft tissue mass, subsequently identified histologically as a psammomatous meningioma. The cat regained ambulatory function and continence following surgery until a recurrence of paresis and ataxia 36 months later. A second myelogram suggested local recurrence of the tumour, which was confirmed by histological examination of the tumour after its removal at a second laminectomy. The cat again regained normal neurological function, until a further recurrence 16 months after the second surgery. The meningioma was surgically debulked a third time and the cat regained ambulation and continence postoperatively.

This case demonstrates the successful use of repeated surgical resection in the management of a recurrent spinal meningioma in a cat. The cat was ambulatory and continent at a follow‐up examination 63 months after the initial presentation.
Olfactory esthesioneuroblastoma treated with orthovoltage radiotherapy in a dog
Authors: Ueno H , Kobayashi Y , Yamada K
Published: July 2007

A 13‐year‐old neutered female mongrel dog presented with a 1‐year history of stertorous respiration. On computed tomography examination, a mass was demonstrated in the nasal cavity. Open biopsy of the mass was performed and a diagnosis of olfactory esthesioneuroblastoma was made on histological examination. The dog was treated with orthovoltage x‐ray radiation (total dose; 53 Gy given in 14 fractions over an 8 week period). Computed tomography after the twelfth irradiation revealed that tumour size had decreased. Although clinical signs were absent in the 4 months after irradiation, re‐growth of the tumour was detected by radiographic evaluation and histological examination. The dog was again treated with orthovoltage x‐ray radiation (total dose; 30 Gy given in three fractions over a 4‐week period), however, tumour regrowth was again detected 3 months later. Clinical treatment of this tumour type has not been previously reported.
Longitudinal study of veterinary students and veterinarians: the first 20 years
Authors: Heath TJ
Published: July 2007

Objective To describe the career paths of veterinary graduates from the University of Queensland during the first 15 years after they graduated, paying particular attention to the fifteenth year.

Procedure Longitudinal study. Questionnaires were completed by 154 first year veterinary students in 1985 and 1986, then while they were in fifth year, and after 1, 5, 10 and 15 years after they graduated. This paper describes findings from the most recent questionnaire but includes comparisons with previous ones.

Results Completed questionnaires were received from 134 of the 137 graduates. They were spread widely, but 58% were in Queensland and 20% in New South Wales; 17% were overseas. Most (85%) were in private practice, and 56% of them were part or sole owners; 58% were working in cities with > 100,000 people, and 28% in centres with < 10,000 people. Overall 80% of the workload of the group was with dogs and cats, 8% with horses and 11% with farm animals. Most felt that their income was too low. Of those doing less than half‐time or no veterinary work, 44% were at home with family, 8% in another business, 11% another profession, and the rest in a wide variety of occupations. Changed interests, need for greater challenges, poor remuneration, loss of interest in veterinary work, and caring for family were, in order, the top five (of 15) reasons for leaving veterinary work. Three‐quarters (78%) of all those doing veterinary work, but 52% of those no longer doing veterinary work agreed that their career had lived up to their expectations.

Conclusion After 15 years 77% were still doing veterinary work, 85% in private practice, and 80% of their work was with dogs and cats. Almost all were either very glad or generally glad that they had done the veterinary course, though most (78%) felt that their income was too low.
Review of identification and traceability legislation for pigs in Australia
Authors: Schembri N , Toribio JA , Sithole F , Holyoake PK
Published: July 2007

Objective  To assess Australia's capability to trace pig movements in the event of an exotic disease outbreak by highlighting the commonalities and inconsistencies between the various state and territory legislations in defining how pig producers are located; their pigs are identified; and whether movement records are required post–farm gate.

Procedure  A review of the identification and traceability legislation applicable to pigs in Australia was undertaken over a 6 month period. The appropriate legislative Acts and Regulations were downloaded from the Australasian Legal Information Institute internet site (http://www.austlii.edu.au/) and reviewed.

Results  The Australian pig industry currently uses the branding method (tattooing) to identify pigs for sale or slaughter, with each state responsible for its own pig identification and movement control systems. Areas of concern identified included inconsistencies with the minimum weight or age of pigs that require identification; discrepancies between methods of tattoo registration and shortfalls in documentation for recording pig movements.

Conclusion  Our findings highlight the flaws in Australia's current state legislative Acts and Regulations for identifying pigs and tracking their movements, which compromise the ability of jurisdictions to meet the endorsed National Performance Standards. Improvements in these areas will enhance security to the pig and other livestock industries in the event of future exotic disease outbreaks.
Some Decompositions of OLSEs and BLUEs Under a Partitioned Linear Model
Authors: Tian Yongge
Published: July 2007

We consider in this paper a partitioned linear model

{
y,  X1β1+X2β2,  σ2σ}
and two corresponding small models

{
y,  X1β1,  σ2σ}
and

{
y,  X2β2,  σ2σ}. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions for (i) the ordinary least squares estimator under the full model to be the sum of the ordinary least squares estimators under the two small models; (ii) the best linear unbiased estimator under the full model to be the sum of the best linear unbiased estimators under the two small models; (iii) the best linear unbiased estimator under the full model to be the sum of the ordinary least squares estimators under the two small models. The proofs of the main results in this paper also demonstrate how to use the matrix rank method for characterizing various equalities of estimators under general linear models.
Evaluation of Five Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays and an Agar Gel Immunodiffusion Test for Detection of Antibodies to Small Ruminant Lentiviruses
Authors: Brinkhof J. , van Maanen C.
Published: July 2007

In the framework of the Dutch control program for small ruminant lentiviral (SRLV) infections, too many drawbacks were encountered with respect to serological testing. To improve the quality of testing, five enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and an agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGIDT) were evaluated. The focus was on the sensitivity, specificity, and variances of the commercially available tests. Clear differences were found among the tests in analytical and diagnostic sensitivity and overall diagnostic performance, whereas no significant differences in specificity were found. For serodiagnosis of sheep with clinical symptoms of maedi-visna virus (MVV) (histopathologically confirmed), one ELISA was significantly more sensitive than the other ELISAs and than the AGIDT, while for asymptomatic sheep originating from infected flocks, three ELISAs and the AGIDT demonstrated similar performance. The diagnostic performance appeared to be related to animal species and virus infection (MVV or caprine arthritis encephalitis virus [CAEV]) as well as the phase of infection/progression of disease. Receiver operating characteristic analysis, demonstrating the diagnostic potential of tests irrespective of defined cutoffs, again revealed clear differences between tests with respect to diagnostic performance for detection of antibodies against CAEV or MVV. An indirect ELISA, of which the solid phase is sensitized with a combination of the core protein p27 of MVV produced inEscherichia coliand a peptide derived from the transmembrane protein gp46, appeared to be the test of choice for serodiagnosis of SRLV infections in sheep and goats.
Regulation of Hepatitis B Virus Replication by the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase-Akt Signal Transduction Pathway
Authors: Guo Haitao , Zhou Tianlun , Jiang Dong , Cuconati Andrea , Xiao Guang-Hui , Block Timothy M. , Guo Ju-Tao
Published: July 2007

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway is one of the major oncogenic pathways and is activated in many types of human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma. It can also be activated by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural 5A (NS5A) protein. In the present study, we set out to determine the regulatory effects of this pathway on the replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Our results demonstrate that the expression of a constitutively active Akt1 profoundly inhibited HBV RNA transcription and consequently reduced HBV DNA replication in HepG2 cells. This suppression of HBV gene transcription was apparently mediated by the activation of mTOR, as it was abolished by the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin. Moreover, treatment of HBV-expressing HepG2.2.15 cells with inhibitors of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR increased the transcription of 3.5-kb and 2.4-kb viral RNA as well as the replication of HBV DNA. This observation implies that the basal level activation of this pathway in HepG2 cells regulated HBV replication. Consistent with previous reports showing that the HCV NS5A protein could bind to the p85 subunit of PI3K and activate the PI3K-Akt signal transduction pathway, our results showed that expression of this protein could inhibit HBV RNA transcription and reduce HBV DNA replication in HepG2 cells. Taken together, our results suggest that the activation of the PI3K-Akt pathway during liver oncogenesis may be at least partially responsible for the elimination of HBV replication from tumor cells and may also provide an explanation for the observed suppression of HBV replication by HCV coinfection.
Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E7 Oncoprotein Associates with the Cullin 2 Ubiquitin Ligase Complex, Which Contributes to Degradation of the Retinoblastoma Tumor Suppressor
Authors: Huh KyungWon , Zhou Xiaobo , Hayakawa Hiroyuki , Cho Je-Yoel , Libermann Towia A. , Jin Jianping , Wade Harper J. , Munger Karl
Published: July 2007

Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) and other high-risk HPVs are etiologically linked to the development of cervical carcinomas and contribute to a number of other tumors of the anogenital tract, as well as oral cancers. The high-risk HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins are consistently expressed in cervical cancer cells and are necessary for the induction and maintenance of the transformed phenotype. An important aspect of HPV16 E7's oncogenic activities is destabilization of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (pRB) through a ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent mechanism, although the exact molecular mechanism is unknown. Here, we report that HPV16 E7 is associated with an enzymatically active cullin 2 ubiquitin ligase complex and that the HPV16 E7/pRB complex contains cullin 2. Depletion of cullin 2 by RNA interference causes increased steady-state levels and stability of pRB in HPV16 E7-expressing cells, and ectopic expression of HPV16 E7 and the cullin 2 complex leads to pRB ubiquitination in vivo. Hence, we propose that the HPV16 E7-associated cullin 2 ubiquitin ligase complex contributes to aberrant degradation of the pRB tumor suppressor in HPV16 E7-expressing cells.
Phase-Dependent Immune Evasion of Herpesviruses
Authors: Vider-Shalit Tal , Fishbain Vered , Raffaeli Shai , Louzoun Yoram
Published: July 2007

Viruses employ various modes to evade immune detection. Two possible evasion modes are a reduction of the number of epitopes presented and the mimicry of host epitopes. The immune evasion efforts are not uniform among viral proteins. The number of epitopes in a given viral protein and the similarity of the epitopes to host peptides can be used as a measure of the viral attempts to hide this protein. Using bioinformatics tools, we here present a genomic analysis of the attempts of four human herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus type 1-human herpesvirus 1, Epstein-Barr virus-human herpesvirus 4, human cytomegalovirus-human herpesvirus 5, and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus-human herpesvirus 8) and one murine herpesvirus (murine herpesvirus 68) to escape from immune detection. We determined the full repertoire of CD8 T-lymphocyte epitopes presented by each viral protein and show that herpesvirus proteins present many fewer epitopes than expected. Furthermore, the epitopes that are presented are more similar to host epitopes than are random viral epitopes, minimizing the immune response. We defined a score for the size of the immune repertoire (the SIR score) based on the number of epitopes in a protein. The numbers of epitopes in proteins expressed in the latent and early phases of infection were significantly smaller than those in proteins expressed in the lytic phase in all tested viruses. The latent and immediate-early epitopes were also more similar to host epitopes than were lytic epitopes. A clear trend emerged from the analysis. In general, herpesviruses demonstrated an effort to evade immune detection. However, within a given herpesvirus, proteins expressed in phases critical to the fate of infection (e.g., early lytic and latent) evaded immune detection more than all others. The application of the SIR score to specific proteins allows us to quantify the importance of immune evasion and to detect optimal targets for immunotherapy and vaccine development.
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY IN DOMAINS WITH CORNERS
Authors: BONNAILLIE-NOËL V. , FOURNAIS S.
Published: July 2007

We study the two-dimensional Ginzburg–Landau functional in a domain with corners for exterior magnetic field strengths near the critical field where the transition from the superconducting to the normal state occurs. We discuss and clarify the definition of this field and obtain a complete asymptotic expansion for it in the large κ regime. Furthermore, we discuss nucleation of superconductivity at the boundary.
DISCONTINUOUS DUALITY THEOREM
Authors: YOSHINO TARO
Published: July 2007

For a Lie group G and a subset H of G, Kobayashi [4] introduced the concept of the discontinuous dual of H as the set consisting of the subsets in G which are proper with H. Here, properness is a generalization of properly discontinuous actions. Kobayashi posed in the millenium volume [5] whether the discontinuous dual of H determines H uniquely up to a certain equivalence relation. In this paper, we solve this problem affirmatively.
WEAK PROPER ACTIONS ON SOLVABLE HOMOGENEOUS SPACES
Authors: BAKLOUTI ALI , KHLIF FATMA
Published: July 2007

Let H and K be closed connected subgroups of a connected, simply connected solvable Lie group G. We define the notion of weak and finite proper action of K on the homogeneous space X = G/H and prove that they are equivalent to the notion of (CI)-action of K on X in the sense of Kobayashi. We show also that the action of K on X is proper if and only if the solvable triple (G, H, K) has the (CI) property in both cases where one of those subgroups is maximal and where G is special.
THE RESISTANCE AND ARC EROSION CHARACTERISTICS OF Ag/LaFe1-xNixO3 CONTACT MATERIAL
Authors: YIN NA , WANG CHENG-JIAN , LIU XUE-YAN , WANG CHUN-MING , RAN DONG-GANG , YANG KUN
Published: July 2007

The resistance, mass transfer, erosion and arc properties of a new contact material named Ag/LaFe 1-x Ni x O 3 conductive ceramics were investigated. Ag/LaFe 1-x Ni x O 3 performed well under low voltage conditions in contrast with other contact materials such as Ag/CdO and Ag/SnO 2. After 5000 make-and-break operations, life test was made and the surface analysis method together with an arc voltage waveform was used to research the corrosion resisting and mass transfer properties. It was found that the conductive ceramics used in the contact materials could influence the resistance performance and, in turn, influence the mass transfer, erosion and arc characteristics.
CHAOTIC MAP WITH THE PROPERTY OF RECURRENCE
Authors: WANG LIDONG , CHU ZHENYAN , DUAN XIAODONG
Published: July 2007

In this paper, we consider a continuous map f: X→X, where X is a compact metric space, and discuss the existence of a chaotic set of f specially (as X=[0,1]). We prove that f has a positively topological entropy if and only if it has an uncountably chaotic set in which each point is recurrent and is not weakly periodic.
OPTICAL SOLITARY WAVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE FOURTH-ORDER DISPERSIVE CUBIC-QUINTIC NONLINEAR SCHRÖDINGER EQUATION
Authors: DAI CHAO-QING , CHEN JUN-LANG , ZHANG JIE-FANG
Published: July 2007

We present several kinds of optical solitary wave solutions for the fourth-order dispersive cubic-quintic nonlinear Schrödinger equation describing the propagation of optical pulses in a medium that exhibits a parabolic nonlinearity law. Among them, apart from some regular fundamental bright solitary wave solutions and dark solitary wave solutions given, there are also two kinds of combined solitary wave solutions, i.e., bright and dark solitary wave and W-shaped solitary wave solutions which describe bright and dark solitary wave properties. It is found that their amplitude may approach nonzero when the time variable approaches infinity. Moreover, when the parameters of the bright and dark solitary wave are selected appropriately, the kink and anti-kink solitary wave solutions, which are first reported in the fourth-order dispersive cubic-quintic nonlinear Schrödinger equation, are discovered.
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF CO-PRECIPITATED MnZn FERRITE-SiO2 COMPOSITES
Authors: ISLAM M. U. , AZHAR KHAN M. , ALI ZULFIQAR , NIAZI SHAHIDA B. , ISHAQUE M. , ABBAS T.
Published: July 2007

A series of composite ferrites with chemical formula (1–x) [Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4] ·x[ SiO 2](x = 0.0, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50) were prepared by the co-precipitation technique. The samples were finally sintered at 1150°C followed by air quenching. The x-ray diffraction analysis confirms the phases precipitated out in the samples. AC magnetic susceptibility of these samples has been measured using the low field mutual inductance technique over the temperature range 298 K to 550 K at a frequency of 250 Hz. The magnetic parameters like Curie constant, C, Curie temperature, Tc, Lande splitting factor, g, effective magnetic moment, P eff , exchange integral, J/kB, and characteristic temperature, θ( K ) were calculated. The reciprocal of susceptibility versus temperature curves of each sample follows the Curie Weiss behaviour above the Curie temperature. Below the Curie temperature, all the samples show the ferrimagnetic behaviour. It was concluded that the magnetic properties were enhanced by the addition of silicon as is evident by the variation of magnetic interactions J, with Si -concentration and followed subsequently by the P eff , θ( K ) and Tc etc.
CONDENSATION OF HELIUM IN WEDGES
Authors: HERNÁNDEZ E. S. , ANCILOTTO F. , BARRANCO M. , MAYOL R. , PI M.
Published: July 2007

We investigate the adsorption of helium in alkali wedges at zero temperature within a fully unrestricted density–functional theory. We have found a sequence of shapes that includes one filling transition on the nonwettable Cs and one emptying transition for every alkali, as well as a threshold for metastable configurations where helium does not populate the wedge apex.
PAIRING IN ASYMMETRICAL FERMI SYSTEMS
Authors: QUADER KHANDKER F. , LIAO RENYUAN
Published: July 2007

We consider inter- and intra-species pairing interactions in an asymmetrical Fermi system. Using equation of motion method, we obtain coupled mean-field equations for superfluid gap functions and population densities. We construct a phase diagram across BCS-BEC regimes. Due to intra-species correlations, the BCS singlet superfluid state can sustain finite polarizations, P. For larger P, we find phase separations in BCS and BEC regimes. A superfluid phase exists for all P deep in BEC regime. Our results may apply to pairing in ultracold fermions, nuclear and quark matter physics.
GROUND-STATE ENERGY AND COMPRESSIBILITY OF A DISORDERED TWO-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRON GAS
Authors: TANATAR B. , SUBAŞI A. L. , ESFARJANI K. , FAZELI S. M.
Published: July 2007

Two-dimensional (2D) electron systems in the presence of disorder are of interest in connection with the observed metal-insulator transition in such systems. We use density functional theory in its local-spin density approximation (LSDA) to calculate the ground-state energy of a 2D electron system in the presence of remote charged impurities which up on averaging provides disorder. The inverse compressibility calculated from the ground-state energy exhibits a minimum at a critical density controlled by the disorder strength. Our findings are in agreement with experimental results.
5f ELECTRONS IN ACTINIDES: DUAL NATURE AND PHOTOEMISSION SPECTRA
Authors: ZWICKNAGL GERTRUD
Published: July 2007

Increasing experimental evidence points towards a two-fluid model for the low-temperature behavior of 5f systems. Assuming some 5f electrons to be localized atomic-like and others to be band-like itinerant can explain various unusual low-energy properties of U compounds including the formation of heavy fermion and their unconventional superconductivity. The dual model, however, provides an effective Hamiltonian which is valid only for the low-energy regime. It has been shown that intra-atomic correlations among the 5f electrons are a possible mechanism for orbital-selective (partial) localization. In this paper we theoretically derive criteria and specify properties which experimentally characterize correlation-induced partial localization in actinide compounds. Of particular interest are the 5f spectral function which can be related to photoemission data. Results for the U -based heavy fermion superconductor UPd 2 Al 3 are presented emphasizing the consequences for the interpretation of experimental data.
MAGNETISM IN THE DISORDERED TWO-DIMENSIONAL KONDO-NECKLACE
Authors: BRENIG WOLFRAM
Published: July 2007

We analyze the effects of site-dilution disorder on the thermodynamic properties of the two-dimensional Kondo necklace using finite-temperature stochastic series expansion. Results will be discussed for the dependence on dilution concentration, temperature, and Kondo exchange-coupling strength of the uniform susceptibility, the staggered structure factor, and the Chakravarty-Halperin-Nelson ratio. Dilution is shown to induce effective free-spin clusters in the gapped phase of the clean system with a low-temperature Curie constant renormalized below 1/4. Furthermore, dilution is demonstrated to suppress the quantum critical point of the clean system and to generate antiferromagnetic order in the quantum disordered phase of the clean system, i.e. order-from-disorder.
ON THE DE HAAS-VAN ALPHEN OSCILLATION IN 2D
Authors: FUJITA S. , MORABITO D. L.
Published: July 2007

The statistical weight W as a function of energy E for quasielectrons with mass m* subject to a fixed magnetic field B is [Formula: see text], where A is the sample area, and ωc ≡ eB/m* the cyclotron frequency. Significantly, there is no Landau term proportional to B2 in 2D. This leads to the conclusion that the 2D electron system is always paramagnetic, but shows a magnetic oscillation.
FRUSTRATED QUANTUM ANTIFERROMAGNETS: APPLICATION OF HIGH-ORDER COUPLED CLUSTER METHOD
Authors: RICHTER J. , DARRADI R. , ZINKE R. , BISHOP R. F.
Published: July 2007

We report on recent results for strongly frustrated quantum J1 - J2 antiferromagnets in dimensionality d = 1, 2, 3 obtained by the coupled cluster method (CCM). We demonstrate that the CCM in high orders of approximation allows us to investigate quantum phase transitions driven by frustration and to discuss novel quantum ground states. In detail we consider the ground-state properties of (i) the Heisenberg spin-1/2 antiferromagnet on the cubic lattice in d = 1, 2, 3, and use the results for the energy, the sublattice magnetization and the spin stiffness as a benchmark test for the precision of the method; (ii) coupled frustrated spin chains (the quasi-one-dimensional J1 - J2 model) and discuss the influence of the quantum fluctuations and the interchain coupling on the incommensurate spiral state present in the classical model; (iii) the Shastry-Sutherland antiferromagnet on the square lattice; and (iv) a stacked frustrated square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet (the quasi-two-dimensional J1 - J2 model), and discuss the influence of the interlayer coupling on the quantum paramagnetic ground-state phase that is present for the strictly two-dimensional model.
D-WAVE CHECKERBOARD BOSE CONDENSATE OF MOBILE BIPOLARONS
Authors: ALEXANDROV A. S.
Published: July 2007

Strong finite-range electron-phonon interaction (EPI) bounds carriers into small mobile bipolarons. The Bogoliubov-de Gennes (BdG) equations are formulated and solved in the strong-coupling limit, when small bipolarons bose-condense with finite center-of-mass momentum, K ≠ 0. There are two energy scales in this regime, a temperature independent incoherent gap Δp and a temperature dependent coherent gap Δc(T, R) modulated in the real space, R. The order parameter has d-wave symmetry in R-space and the single-particle density of states (DOS) reveals checkerboard modulations similar to the checkerboard tunnelling DOS observed in cuprates.
FIVE POSSIBLE REASONS WHY HIGH-Tc SUPERCONDUCTIVITY IS STALLED
Authors: GRETHER M. , DE LLANO M.
Published: July 2007

Five commonly held premises considered questionable assumptions in the microscopic theory of superconductivity are discussed as possible reasons why the search appears to be stalled for a theoretical framework, admittedly ambitious, capable of predicting materials with critical temperatures Tc higher than the 1993 record of 164K in HgTlBaCaCuO (under pressure). We focus the dilemma as a whole in terms of a generalized Bose-Einstein condensation (GBEC) interpretation that includes and further extends BCS theory, as well as substantially enhancing its predicted Tcs within the electron-phonon mechanism producing pairing. The new GBEC model is an extension of the Friedberg-T.D. Lee 1989 boson-fermion BEC theory of high-Tc superconductors in that it includes hole pairs as well as electron pairs.
MULTISTABILITY AND MULTI 2π-KINKS IN THE FRENKEL–KONTOROVA MODEL: AN APPLICATION TO ARRAYS OF JOSEPHSON JUNCTIONS
Authors: KÜRTEN KARL E. , KRATTENTHALER CHRISTIAN
Published: July 2007

A regular ring of Josephson junctions, connected in parallel, is studied analytically and numerically. We show that, depending on the strength of the r-well cosine potential the energy landscape of the Hamiltonian can have of the order of rN/N locally stable minima separated by large barriers specified by unstable saddle points. The counting problem for the degeneracy of the total energy is equivalent to a wellknown necklace problem in combinatorial mathematics. We also demonstrate that the distribution of the phase differences as well as the energy spectrum is fractal provided that the strength of the cosine potential is sufficiently strong.
COMPETING LOCAL AND NON-LOCAL PHASE CORRELATIONS IN FERMIONIC SYSTEMS WITH RESONANT PAIRING: THE BOSON–FERMION SCENARIO
Authors: RANNINGER J.
Published: July 2007

We consider systems where the amplitude and the phase of a superfluid order parameter are controlled independently by local, respectively non-local phase correlations of the internal degrees of freedom of quasi-particles which characterize the different phases of such fermionic systems. A possible realization of such a situation is when pairing into the bosonic entities occurs via resonant scattering of itinerant fermionic particles. Examples for that are the ultracold fermionic gases in optical traps and lattices, the correlated electronic systems and strongly coupled electron-phonon systems, such as seen in the high Tc cuprates. We demonstrate the occurrence of a quantum phase transition from a superfluid to a phase uncorrelated boson liquid state in such systems, which is controlled by the competing effects of long and short range phase correlations of the constituents of composite quasi-particles.
DISTRIBUTION OF MAXIMA OF THE ANTISYMMETRIZED WAVE FUNCTION FOR THE NUCLEONS OF A CLOSED-SHELL AND FOR THE NUCLEONS OF ALL CLOSED-SHELLS IN A NUCLEUS
Authors: ANAGNOSTATOS GERASIMOS S.
Published: July 2007

The significant features of exchange symmetry are displayed by simple systems such as two identical, spinless fermions in a one-dimensional well with infinite walls. The conclusion is that the maxima of probability of the antisymmetrized wave function of these two fermions lie at the same positions as if a repulsive force (of unknown nature) was applied between these two fermions. This conclusion is combined with the solution of a mathematical problem dealing with the equilibrium of identical repulsive particles (of one or two kinds) on one or more spheres like neutrons and protons on nuclear shells. Such particles are at equilibrium only for specific numbers of particles and, in addition, if these particles lie on the vertices of regular polyhedra or their derivative polyhedra. Finally, this result leads to a pictorial representation of the structure of all closed shell nuclei. This representation could be used as a laboratory for determining nuclear properties and corresponding wave functions.
QUARTETTING IN ATTRACTIVE FERMI-SYSTEMS AND ALPHA PARTICLE CONDENSATION IN NUCLEAR SYSTEMS
Authors: SCHUCK P. , FUNAKI Y. , HORIUCHI H. , RÖPKE G. , TOHSAKI A. , YAMADA T.
Published: July 2007

The famous Hoyle state (02+ at 7.654 MeV in 12 C ) is identified as being an almost ideal condensate of three α-particles, hold together only by the Coulomb barrier. It, therefore, has a 8 Be -α structure of low density. Transition probability and inelastic form factor together with position and other physical quantities are correctly reproduced without any adjustable parameter from our two parameter wave function of α-particle condensate type. The possibility of the existence of α-particle condensed states in heavier nα nuclei is also discussed.
KOHN-SHAM CALCULATIONS COMBINED WITH AN AVERAGE PAIR-DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY
Authors: GORI-GIORGI P. , SAVIN A.
Published: July 2007

A recently developed formalism in which Kohn-Sham calculations are combined with an "average pair density functional theory" is reviewed, and some new properties of the effective electron-electron interaction entering in this formalism are derived. A preliminary construction of a fully self-consitent scheme is also presented in this framework.
THE BRAIN'S VIEW OF THE NATURAL WORLD IN MOTION: COMPUTING STRUCTURE FROM FUNCTION USING DIRECTIONAL FOURIER TRANSFORMATIONS
Authors: DELLEN B. K. , CLARK J. W. , WESSEL R.
Published: July 2007

Attractive possibilities exist for the brain to solve important problems of visual processing in Fourier space. First, we describe a wave-interference model for computing motion contrast directly from the moving intensity distribution, without the need for directionally selective motion sensors. We then propose a global method for motion-based image segmentation based on unsupervised clustering in a three-dimensional Fourier space. The Fourier components of coherently moving entities are segregated from the remainder by means of a simple velocity proximity measure. This is accomplished without altering the spatial frequency components encoding the object, thereby ensuring that the spatiotemporal features of the segregated object can be reconstructed.
RECENT PROGRESS IN THE DENSITY-MATRIX RENORMALIZATION GROUP
Authors: SCHOLLWÖCK ULRICH
Published: July 2007

Over the last decade, the density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG) has emerged as the most powerful method for the simulation of strongly correlated one-dimensional (1D) quantum systems. Input from quantum information has allowed to trace the method's performance to the entanglement properties of quantum states, revealing why it works so well in 1D and not so well in 2D; it has allowed to devise algorithms for time-dependent quantum systems and, by clarifying the link between DMRG and Wilson's numerical renormalization group (NRG), for quantum impurity systems.
INTRINSICALLY LINKED GRAPHS AND THE SATO–LEVINE INVARIANT
Authors: FLEMING THOMAS , POMMERSHEIM JAMES
Published: July 2007

Let β* be the unoriented Sato–Levine invariant, an invariant of two component links with even linking number. For a three component link L, we will develop a relation between the Milnor number [Formula: see text], β*(L′) of certain two component sublinks L′ of L, and β* of the link formed by merging two of the components of L by band sum. Using this relation, we will show that every embedding of K10 contains a two component link with β*(L) ≠ 0.
SURGICAL REPAIR OF CENTRAL SLIP AVULSION INJURIES WITH MITEK BONE ANCHOR — RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF A CASE SERIES
Authors: Chan Jeffrey C. Y. , Purcell Elizabeth M. , Kelly John L.
Published: July 2007

The purpose of this study is to describe our technique of central slip repair using the Mitek bone anchor and to evaluate the treatment outcome. Eight digits in eight patients were reconstructed using the bone anchor: three little fingers, two middle fingers, two index fingers and one ring finger. There were two immediate and six delayed repairs (range from one day to eight months). Four patients had pre-operative intensive splinting and physiotherapy to restore passive extension of the proximal interphalangeal joint prior to central slip reconstruction. All patients have made good progress since surgery. No patient requires a second procedure and none of the bone anchors have dislodged or loosened. We conclude that the Mitek bone anchor is a reliable technique to achieve soft tissue to bone fixation in central slip avulsion injuries. We recommend that this technique be considered as a treatment option for patients requiring surgical repair.
TREATMENT OF CHRONIC POST-TRAUMATIC HYPEREXTENSION DEFORMITY OF PROXIMAL INTERPHALANGEAL JOINT USING THE SUTURE ANCHOR: A CASE REPORT
Authors: Onishi Yasuo , Fujioka Hiroyuki , Doita Minoru
Published: July 2007

We present a case of chronic post-traumatic hyperextension of the PIP joint of the little finger. The volar plate was reattached at the original attachment site of the proximal phalanx using two suture anchors and tenodesis of the radial half slip of the FDS tendon was added. An acceptable result was obtained.
EXISTENCE OF WEAK SOLUTIONS FOR A QUASILINEAR VERSION OF BENNEY EQUATIONS
Authors: DIAS JOÃO-PAULO , FIGUEIRA MÁRIO
Published: July 2007

Benney introduced a general strategy for deriving systems of nonlinear partial differential equations associated with long- and short-wave solutions. The semi-linear Benney system was studied recently by Tsutsumi and Hatano. Here, we tackle the nonlinear version of it and using compensated compactness techniques, we prove the global existence of weak solutions to the Cauchy problem, in the case that the equation for the amplitude of the long wave is a quasilinear conservation law with flux f(v) = av2 - bv3 where a, b are constants with b > 0.