bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictive Value of Baseline Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio for T4 Disease in Wall‐Penetrating Gastric Cancer
Authors: Aizawa Masaki , Gotohda Naoto , Takahashi Shinichiro , Konishi Masaru , Kinoshita Taira
Published: September 2011

Background

Multimodality therapy has been used in the management of gastric cancer associated with locoregional spread. However, the accurate clinical staging still remains to be established. The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the peripheral blood is reported to be an easily assessable prognostic factor in cancer patients. We evaluated the predictive significance of the NLR and other serological parameters in patients with wall‐penetrating gastric cancer.

Methods

Two hundred sixty‐two patients who underwent gastric cancer surgery between 2002 and 2005 were identified retrospectively. Wall penetration was defined as wall invasion deeper than the muscularis propria (≥T2). Blood data were collected from routinely performed blood examinations before treatment and were analyzed with respect to T stage, nodal status, and histological features. A high NLR was defined as less than 3.2 based on ROC curve analysis, and the predictive value of a high NLR for T4 cancer was evaluated.

Results

Elevated levels of NLR (P = 0.004) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) (P = 0.017) and the decrease in lymphocyte count (Lym, P = 0.032) and serum hemoglobin (Hb, P < 0.001) were correlated with the T stage, but there was no meaningful correlation with either positive nodal status or histological differentiation. With respect to the predictive value for stage T4, an elevated NLR (OR = 2.206, 95% CI = 1.187–4.100; P = 0.012), decrease of Hb (OR = 1.875, 95% CI = 1.005–3.500; P = 0.048), and poorly differentiated histology (OR = 3.134, 95% CI = 1.593–6.167; P = 0.001) were identified as independent predictive factors.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the preoperative values of the NLR may be reliable for predicting T4 disease.
The quick motor function test: a new tool to rate clinical severity and motor function in Pompe patients
Authors: van Capelle Carine I. , van der Beek Nadine A. M. E. , de Vries Juna M. , van Doorn Pieter A. , Duivenvoorden Hugo J. , Leshner Robert T. , Hagemans Marloes L. C. , van der Ploeg Ans T.
Published: September 2011

Pompe disease is a lysosomal storage disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness. With the emergence of new treatment options, psychometrically robust outcome measures are needed to monitor patients’ clinical status. We constructed a motor function test that is easy and quick to use. The Quick Motor Function Test (QMFT) was constructed on the basis of the clinical expertise of several physicians involved in the care of Pompe patients; the Gross Motor Function Measure and the IPA/Erasmus MC Pompe survey. The test comprises 16 items. Validity and test reliability were determined in a cohort of 91 Pompe patients (5 to 76 years of age). In addition, responsiveness of the scale to changes in clinical condition over time was examined in a subgroup of 18 patients receiving treatment and 23 untreated patients. Interrater and intrarater reliabilities were good (intraclass correlation coefficients: 0.78 to 0.98 and 0.76 to 0.98). The test correlated strongly with proximal muscle strength assessed by hand held dynamometry and manual muscle testing (rs= 0.81, rs=0.89), and showed significant differences between patient groups with different disease severities. A clinical‐empirical exploration to assess responsiveness showed promising results, albeit it should be repeated in a larger group of patients. In conclusion, the Quick Motor Function Test can reliably rate clinical severity and motor function in children and adults with Pompe disease.
Impact of perinatal prebiotic consumption on gestating mice and their offspring: a preliminary report
Authors: Desbuards Nicolas , Gourbeyre Pascal , Haure-Mirande Vianney , Darmaun Dominique , Champ Martine , Bodinier Marie
Published: September 2011

To assess the impact of prebiotic supplementation during gestation and fetal and early neonatal life, gestating BALB/cj dam mice were fed either a control or a prebiotic (galacto-oligosaccharides–inulin, 9:1 ratio)-enriched diet throughout pregnancy and lactation, and allowed to nurse their pups until weaning. At the time of weaning, male offspring mice were separated from their mothers, weaned to the same solid diet as their dam and their growth was monitored until killed 48 d after weaning. Prebiotic treatment affected neither the body-weight gain nor the food intake of pregnant mice. In contrast, at the time of weaning, pups that had been nursed by prebiotic-fed dams had a higher body weight (11·0 (se 1·2) g) than pups born from control dams (9·8 (se 0·9) g). At 48 d after weaning, significantly higher values were observed for colon length and muscle mass in the offspring of prebiotic-fed dams (1·2 (se 0·1) cm/cm and 5·7 (se 1·8) mg/g, respectively), compared with control offspring (1·1 (se 0·1) cm/cm and 2·9 (se 0·9) mg/g, respectively), without any difference in spleen and stomach weight, or serum leptin concentration. The present preliminary study suggests that altering the fibre content of the maternal diet during both pregnancy and lactation enhances offspring growth, through an effect on intestinal and muscle mass rather than fat mass accretion.
Novel Integrity Concept for CAT III Precision Approaches and Taxiing: Extended GBAS (E-GBAS)
Authors: Schuster Wolfgang , Ochieng Washington
Published: September 2011

Future air navigation envisages increased use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) together with advanced communications and surveillance technologies to facilitate the required increase in capacity, efficiency and safety without adversely impacting the environment. The full benefit of GNSS is expected from its ability to support en-route to en-route or gate-to-gate air navigation. This presents challenges particularly for the phases of flight with stringent required navigation performance. Significant work has so far been devoted to the phases of flight up to CAT I. However, more work is required for CAT III precision landing (with an accuracy requirement at the metre level) and taxiing (with an accuracy requirement at sub-metre level) and both with very high integrity and continuity requirements. The main limitation in using GBAS for CAT III landings is the potential decorrelation of the measurement errors between the GBAS ground station (GGS) and the user. The threats in this respect are the atmospheric anomalies. Periods of strong solar activity can cause large local spatial and temporal gradients in the delays induced on the GNSS signals by the ionosphere. The local nature of the effects results in significant decorrelation between GGS measurements and the user. Therefore, a reliable ground based ionospheric anomaly monitoring scheme is required to guarantee integrity.

This paper critically reviews state-of-the-art monitors, identifies their limitations and addresses them by proposing a high-performance monitoring scheme for the ionosphere. Preliminary analyses suggest that the proposed scheme has the potential to enable GNSS to meet the navigation requirements for CAT III and taxiing.
Maritime Community and its Human Resource Mobility
Authors: Inoue Kinzo
Published: September 2011

In the maritime community, a runner-up will undertake this typical process to catch up with the front runner; first, as a nation's economy grows its domestic crew costs rise, creating a gap with those abroad, which in turn depresses the international competitiveness of shipping companies. Then, to maintain their economic strength, shipping companies have their ships fly a “flag of convenience” relying on increasing amounts of cheap foreign labour. As a result, the nation gradually loses domestic seafarers, which, in the worst case, leads to a depletion of national human resource needed for its maritime cluster to continue to exist. In that sense, the personnel shortage issue is a fate for top runners in the marine transport world, where international competitiveness is inevitable. The Japanese maritime sector is just facing this issue. In this paper, the current situation in the maritime sector and its dependence on foreign labour, the cause and process of the change and the problems of the outcomes are explained, and the possible solutions in terms of the social mechanism of personnel development and utilization are discussed.
The incidence of varicella and herpes zoster in Taiwan during a period of increasing varicella vaccine coverage, 2000–2008
Authors: CHAO D. Y. , CHIEN Y. Z. , YEH Y. P. , HSU P. S. , LIAN I. B.
Published: September 2011

The introduction and the widespread use of the varicella vaccine in Taiwan has led to a 75–80% decrease in the incidence of varicella in children. However the vaccine's long-term impact on the incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) has attracted attention. By controlling gender, underlying diseases, and age effects, a Poisson regression was applied on the 2000–2008 chart records of 240 000 randomly selected residents who enrolled in the Universal National Health Insurance. The results show that, as the vaccine coverage in children increases, the incidence of varicella decreases. However, the incidence of HZ increased even before the implementation of the free varicella vaccination programme in 2004, particularly in females. The increase in the incidence of HZ cannot be entirely and directly attributed to the widespread vaccination of children. Continuous monitoring is needed to understand the secular trends in HZ before and after varicella vaccination in Taiwan and in other countries.
M-protein gene-type distribution and hyaluronic acid capsule in group AStreptococcusclinical isolates in Chile: association ofemmgene markers withcsrRalleles
Authors: WOZNIAK A. , ROJAS P. , RODRÍGUEZ C. , UNDABARRENA A. , GARATE C. , RIEDEL I. , ROMÁN J. C. , KALERGIS A. M. , GARCÍA P.
Published: September 2011

Streptococcus pyogenescauses a variety of infections because of virulence factors such as capsular hyaluronic acid and M protein. The aim of this study was to determineemmtypes and capsule phenotype in 110 isolates ofS. pyogenesfrom patients with invasive (sterile sites) and non-invasive (mainly pharyngitis) infections in Chile, and the relationship between both virulence factors. The most abundant types found wereemm12,emm1,emm4andemm28and their distribution was similar to that seen in Latin America and developed countries, but very different from that in Asia and Pacific Island countries. Ten of 16emmtypes identified in pharyngeal isolates were found in sterile-site isolates, and three of nineemmtypes of sterile-site isolates occurred in pharyngeal isolates; threeemmsubtypes were novel. The amount of hyaluronic acid was significantly higher in sterile-site isolates but did not differ substantially amongemmtypes. Only three isolates were markedly capsulate and two of them had mutations in thecsrRgene that codes for a repressor of capsule synthesis genes. We found a non-random association betweenemmtypes andcsrRgene alleles suggesting that horizontal gene transfer is not freely occurring in the population.
Introduction: Special issue on knowledge and use of the lexicon in French as a second language
Authors:   THE M4 APPLIED LINGUISTICS NETWORK, TREFFERS-DALLER JEANINE , DALLER HELMUT MICHAEL , MALVERN DAVID , RICHARDS BRIAN , MEARA PAUL , MILTON JAMES
Published: September 2011

This special issue of JFLS focuses on what learners know about French words, on how they use that knowledge and on how it can be investigated and assessed.
AGU leadership reflects back, looks forward
Authors: Balcerak Ernie , Buhrman Joan
Published: September 2011

AGU president Mike McPhaden, president‐elect Carol Finn, and executive director Chris McEntee have served in their current capacities for approximately a year. In this interview, held 18 August after the AGU Council meeting, they reflect back on the year and discuss prospects for the future.
AGU Council adopts position statement on scientific expression
Authors: Landau Elizabeth , Uhlenbrock Kristan
Published: September 2011

On 17 August the AGU Council voted to adopt an American Meteorological Society (AMS) statement on free and open communication of scientific findings as an official position of AGU. The statement appears below. Recent attacks on scientists who present facts that are controversial or politically charged, such as in cases involving climate science, have sparked action by AGU and other scientific societies, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Open communication and collaboration are essential to the scientific process and must not be deterred by politics, media, or faith. In a recent letter to the New York Times, AGU president Michael McPhaden stated that “misguided attempts to suppress scientific research, particularly through political pressure, will not make climate change or the role human activity plays in it magically disappear. It will, however, make the objective knowledge needed to inform good policy decisions disappear.”
Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) from Hordeum vulgare- an in-silico study
Authors: Kumar Bhati Kaushal , Kumar Singh Vijay
Published: September 2011

Glycine Betaine is a quaternary amino compound that accumulates in stress conditions, mainly abiotic stresses like drought and salinity & synthesized by the two-step oxidation of choline via the intermediate betaine aldehyde, catalyzed by Choline monooxygenase and Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH).The sequence analysis of key enzymes of Glycine betaine biosynthesis i.e. BADH was carried out using various online proteomic tools available on Expasy and EBL, and then homologous modeling of this enzyme was performed using automated mode SWISS-MODEL & GENO 3D and models were analyzed on QMEAN. This was an attempt to find the possible model of BADH, because no physical model of BADH is yet available on PDB.
Exploiting evolution to treat drug resistance: Combination therapy and the double bind
Authors: Basanta David , Gatenby Robert , Anderson Alexander
Published: September 2011

Although many anti cancer therapies are successful in killing a large percentage of tumour cells when initially administered, the evolutionary dynamics underpinning tumour progression mean that often resistance is an inevitable outcome, allowing for new tumour phenotypes to emerge that are unhindered by the therapy. Research in the field of ecology suggests that an evolutionary double bind could be an effective way to treat tumours. In an evolutionary double bind two therapies are used in combination such that evolving resistance to one leaves individuals more susceptible to the other. In this paper we present a general evolutionary game theory model of a double bind to study the effect that such approach would have in cancer. Furthermore we use this mathematical framework to understand recent experimental results that suggest a synergistic effect between a p53 cancer vaccine and chemotherapy. Our model recapitulates the experimental data and provides an explanation for its effectiveness based on the commensalistic relationship between the tumour phenotypes.
Prospect and importance of green mulching on the soil status of tropical tasar plantation fields in India
Authors: Manohar Reddy Rangareddygari , - Ramkumar
Published: September 2011

The soils of tropical tasar plantation fields in general are sloppy and are primarily deficient of nutrition due to top soil erosion and constant leaf productivity exploitation to rear tasar silk insect, Antheraea mylitta Drury. The rainfed field of Terminalia tomentosa (W&A) plantation has been evaluated for soil fortification with green mulching through legumes, Sun hemp (Crotalaria juncea), Daincha (Sesbania aculeata), Green gram (Vigna radiatus) and Black gram (Vigna mungo) during rainy season. The mulching has enhanced the water holding, moisture retention, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) and reduced the bulk density and pore space of soil. Among the legumes, Sun hemp has shown higher improvement of water holding (56.9%), moisture content (68.5 & 37.9%) at 30 and 45 cm depth, electrical conductivity (0.30 mhos/cm), bulk density (1.12g/ cm³), pore space (50.4%), organic carbon (0.61%), nitrogen (109 kg/ha) and potassium (254 kg/ha) of the soil, and could augment the leaf yield of tasar food plant with 24.8 MT/ha. The study infers the prospect and importance of green mulching in tasar food plantation in improving the physico chemical nature and fertility status of soil to attain optimal leaf yield in the T. tomentosa food plant.
libSBML New conversion API
Authors: Keating Sarah , Bergmann Frank
Published: September 2011

Description of the new API for including converters within libSBML.
Perivascular adipose tissue: more than just structural support
Authors: Szasz Theodora , Webb R. Clinton
Published: September 2011

PVAT (perivascular adipose tissue) has recently been recognized as a novel factor in vascular biology, with implications in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. Composed mainly of adipocytes, PVAT releases a wide range of biologically active molecules that modulate vascular smooth muscle cell contraction, proliferation and migration. PVAT exerts an anti-contractile effect in various vascular beds which seems to be mediated by an as yet elusive PVRF [PVAT-derived relaxing factor(s)]. Considerable progress has been made on deciphering the nature and mechanisms of action of PVRF, and the PVRFs proposed until now are reviewed here. However, complex pathways seem to regulate PVAT function and more than one mechanism is probably responsible for PVAT actions in vascular biology. The present review describes our current knowledge on the structure and function of PVAT, with a focus on its role in modulating vascular tone. Potential involvements of PVAT dysfunction in obesity, hypertension and atherosclerosis will be highlighted.
Excitations in doped quantum dot induced by accelerating impurity center
Authors: Kr Datta Nirmal , Ghosh Manas
Published: September 2011

We explore the excitation profile of a repulsive impurity doped quantum dot induced by drift of accelerating dopant. The acceleration begins as the velocity of the drifting dopant changes randomly with time. We have considered Gaussian impurity centers. The investigation reveals the roles subtly played by the region of influence of the dopant in conjunction with the dopant strength to modulate the excitation pattern. The investigation also reveals a change in the relative dominance of various factors in influencing the excitation rate as dopant strength increases. The findings seem to be important in the field of impurity diffusion in nanodevices.
Piezoresponse force microscopy observation of domain switching in Bi3.15Nd0.85Ti3O12 thin film prepared by pulsed laser deposition
Authors: Huang H. , Zhong X. L. , Xie S. H. , Zhang Y. , Wang J. B. , Zhou Y. C.
Published: September 2011

Bi3.15Nd0.85Ti3O12 (BNT) ferroelectric thin film was fabricated on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO2/Si substrate using pulsed laser deposition. Domain structure, domain switching and hysteresis loops of the BNT film were investigated via piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). Clear domain structure, complete domain switching and strong piezoresponse are found in BNT film. The PFM images before and after poling illustrate that domain structure and domain switching are restricted by grain boundaries. The shifted P-V hysteresis loops and butterfly loops indicate that internal field exists in the prepared BNT film. Both grain boundaries and internal field affect domain switching of the polycrystalline BNT film.
Signal-to-noise ratio in x ray dark-field imaging using a grating interferometer
Authors: Chabior Michael , Donath Tilman , David Christian , Schuster Manfred , Schroer Christian , Pfeiffer Franz
Published: September 2011

In this work, we report an analytical and experimental investigation of the signal-to-noise ratio for a recently developed method called x ray dark-field imaging. Our approach is based on the propagation of signal and noise through the reconstruction algorithm. We find that the statistical nature of the dark-field images can be understood by a Rician distribution. The analysis shows that, for high flux, the noise in the dark-field images is proportional to the noise in the raw data. In the limit of low flux and, thus, low signal-to-noise ratio, the dark-field signal exhibits a breakdown of the signal transmission, which can be described by an asymptotic behavior of the underlying noise distribution. In this limit, the dark-field signal is no longer connected to the coherence degradation, but rather to the attenuation in the sample. The model is verified in exemplary test measurements using a compact laboratory setup with a polychromatic source and a photon counting detector.
Phase-stabilization and substrate effects on nucleation and growth of (Ti,V)n+1GeCn thin films
Authors: Kerdsongpanya Sit , Buchholt Kristina , Tengstrand Olof , Lu Jun , Jensen Jens , Hultman Lars , Eklund Per
Published: September 2011

Phase-pure epitaxial thin films of (Ti,V)2GeC have been grown onto Al2O3(0001) substrates via magnetron sputtering. The c lattice parameter is determined to be 12.59 Å, corresponding to a 50/50 Ti/V solid solution according to Vegard’s law, and the overall (Ti,V):Ge:C composition is 2:1:1 as determined by elastic recoil detection analysis. The minimum temperature for the growth of (Ti,V)2GeC is 700 °C, which is the same as for Ti2GeC but higher than that required for V2GeC (450 °C). Reduced Ge content yields films containing (Ti,V)3GeC2 and (Ti,V)4GeC3. These results show that the previously unknown phases V3GeC2 and V4GeC3 can be stabilized through alloying with Ti. For films grown on 4H-SiC(0001), (Ti,V)3GeC2 was observed as the dominant phase, showing that the nucleation and growth of (Ti,V)n + 1GeCn is affected by the choice of substrate; the proposed underlying physical mechanism is that differences in the local substrate temperature enhance surface diffusion and facilitate the growth of the higher-order phase (Ti,V)3GeC2 compared to (Ti,V)2GeC.
Electron transport through two irreducibly-coupled Aharonov-Bohm rings with applications to nanostructure quantum computing circuits
Authors: Cain C. A. , Wu C. H.
Published: September 2011

We investigated several classes of two coupled Aharonov-Bohm rings that share a finite center common path, where the phase of the electron wave function can be modulated by two distinct magnetic fluxes. The coupling is similar to two coupled atoms. The behavior of charge accumulation along the center common path or, equivalently, the bonding and anti-bonding of the two rings can be achieved as the two applied fluxes are varied. Thus, when three external terminals are connected to such coupled rings, the behavior of the electron transport is divided into several classes, depending on the number of atoms in each ring and the locations of the terminals. The results are presented here. The applicable electron wave computing circuits are discussed. In particular, a half-adder construction is shown here by employing the symmetric and anti-symmetric properties of the transmission of a given terminal when the sign of the flux is changed. The analogy of two coupled rings with respect to two spins allows one to make a further connection with traditional spintronics-based schemes.
A general-order local coupled-cluster method based on the cluster-in-molecule approach
Authors: Rolik Zoltán , Kállay Mihály
Published: September 2011

A general-order local coupled-cluster (CC) method is presented which has the potential to provide accurate correlation energies for extended systems. Our method combines the cluster-in-molecule approach of Li and co-workers [J. Chem. Phys. 131, 114109 (2009)]10.1063/1.3218842 with the frozen natural orbital (NO) techniques widely used for the cost reduction of correlation methods. The occupied molecular orbitals (MOs) are localized, and for each occupied MO a local subspace of occupied and virtual orbitals is constructed using approximate Møller–Plesset NOs. The CC equations are solved and the correlation energies are calculated in the local subspace for each occupied MO, while the total correlation energy is evaluated as the sum of the individual contributions. The size of the local subspaces and the accuracy of the results can be controlled by varying only one parameter, the threshold for the occupation number of NOs which are included in the subspaces. Though our local CC method in its present form scales as the fifth power of the system size, our benchmark calculations show that it is still competitive for the CC singles and doubles (CCSD) and the CCSD with perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] approaches. For higher order CC methods, the reduction in computation time is more pronounced, and the new method enables calculations for considerably bigger molecules than before with a reasonable loss in accuracy. We also demonstrate that the independent calculation of the correlation contributions allows for a higher order description of the chemically more important segments of the molecule and a lower level treatment of the rest delivering further significant savings in computer time.
Graphene microwave transistors on sapphire substrates
Authors: Pallecchi E. , Benz C. , Betz A. C. , Löhneysen H. v. , Plaçais B. , Danneau R.
Published: September 2011

We have developed metal-oxide graphene field-effect transistors (MOGFETs) on sapphire substrates working at microwave frequencies. For monolayers, we obtain a transit frequency up to ∼80 GHz for a gate length of 200 nm and a maximum oscillation frequency of about ∼3 GHz for this specific sample. Given the strongly reduced charge noise for nanostructures on sapphire, the high stability and high performance of this material at low temperature, our MOGFETs on sapphire are well suited for a cryogenic broadband low-noise amplifier.
Optical-optical double resonance spectroscopy of the quasi-linear S2 state of CHF and CDF. II. Predissociation and mode-specific dynamics
Authors: Richmond Craig , Tao Chong , Mukarakate Calvin , Dawes Richard , Brown Eric C. , Kable Scott H. , Reid Scott A.
Published: September 2011

In this work, we report on our full results of the dynamics of the quasi-linear, predissociated S2 state of the prototypical halocarbene, CHF, and its deuterated isotopomer CDF using optical-optical double resonance spectroscopy through the S1 state. Homogeneous linewidths were determined for a total of 51 S2 state vibrational levels with angular momenta in the range ℓ = 0 − 3 for CHF, and 76 levels for CDF. Progressions involving all three fundamental vibrations were observed. The linewidth data reveal pronounced mode specificity for both CHF and CDF, where pure bending states have the largest linewidths. For CDF, the linewidths are uniformly narrower. Calculated (CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVQZ//MP2/aug-cc-pVQZ) stationary points on the CHF potential energy surface show that two dissociative pathways are available at the energies accessed in this experiment: dissociation on the triplet surface, over a barrier, to form C(3P) + HF, and dissociation to ground state CF + H products. The former is excluded as a primary channel based on the small spin-orbit coupling in this system. A 27-state dynamically weighted full-valence complete active space self-consistent field calculation was performed with maximal weight focused on the S2 state, which was then used as a reference for Davidson-corrected multireference configuration interaction calculations MRCI(+Q) of the three lowest A′ and two lowest A″ states. These calculations reveal the presence of multiple conical intersections in the singlet manifold. Consistent with our experimental results, the most important of these involves the repulsive S3 state, which conically intersects with S2 at linearity.
Abnormal anti-Stokes Raman emission as single beam coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering like process in LiNbO3 and CdS powder
Authors: Baibarac Mihaela , Baltog Ioan , Lefrant Serge
Published: September 2011

Abnormal anti-Stokes Raman emission (AASRE) is defined by an anti-Stokes/Stokes intensity ratio much greater than expected on the basis of the equilibrium population of excited vibration states provided by the Boltzmann law. Using nonlinear optical materials such as LiNbO3 and CdS in powder form, we demonstrate that under continuous single beam excitation it presents AASRE whose properties are similar to a single beam pumped Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering. We explain AASRE as resulting from a wave-mixing mechanism of the incident laser light with a Stokes shifted Raman light produced by a spontaneous Raman light scattering process, both strongly scattered inside the sample.
X-ray beam induced current method at the laboratory x-ray source
Authors: Fahrtdinov R. R. , Feklisova O. V. , Grigoriev M. V. , Irzhak D. V. , Roshchupkin D. V. , Yakimov E. B.
Published: September 2011

The x-ray beam induced current method (XBIC) is realized on the laboratory x-ray source using the polycapillary x-ray optics. It is shown that rather good images of grain boundaries in Si can be obtained by this method. The parameters of x-ray beam are estimated by the simulation of Schottky diode image. A good correlation between the experimental and calculated grain boundary XBIC contrast is obtained. The possibilities of laboratory source based XBIC method are estimated.
K-shell emission x-ray imaging of z-pinch plasmas with a pinhole and a logarithmic spiral crystal
Authors: Yang Qingguo , Li Zeren , Peng Qixian , Yang Libing , Chen Guanhua , Ye Yan , Huang Xianbin , Cai Hongchun , Li Jing , Xiao Shali
Published: September 2011

An in-chamber, mini x-ray imaging instrument employs a pinhole and a logarithmic spiral crystal has been developed for obtaining K-shell line images of the imploding aluminum wire array on the “Yang” accelerator. The logarithmic spiral crystal acts as a monochromator and a non-dispersive mirror that reflects the pinhole image to a x-ray film detector with a very narrow photon energy bandwidth (<1 eV, mainly determined by the width of rocking curve of the crystal). Two imaging configurations with the use of Quartz ($10\bar{1}0$101¯0) crystal and Mica (002) crystal are designed, respectively, to image the Al Lyα2 line (1727.7 eV) emission and Al Heα intercombination line (1588.3 eV) emission. The primary experimental data corresponding to these two configurations are presented and discussed.
Sums of Laplace eigenvalues: Rotations and tight frames in higher dimensions
Authors: Laugesen R. S. , Siudeja B. A.
Published: September 2011

The sum of the first n ⩾ 1 eigenvalues of the Laplacian is shown to be maximal among simplexes for the regular simplex (the regular tetrahedron, in three dimensions), maximal among parallelepipeds for the hypercube, and maximal among ellipsoids for the ball, provided the volume and moment of inertia of an auxiliary body are suitably normalized. This result holds for Dirichlet, Robin, and Neumann eigenvalues. Additionally, the cubical torus is shown to be maximal among flat tori. The proof involves euclidean tight frames generated by orbits of the rotation group of the extremal domain. Among general convex domains, the ball is conjectured to maximize sums of Neumann eigenvalues, provided the volume and moment of inertia of the polar dual are suitably normalized.
The mechanical spectra of glycerol measured by a composite reed vibration method
Authors: Yuan Y. H. , Ying X. N. , Zhang L.
Published: September 2011

We extend an experimental procedure to measure the complex Young’s modulus of glycerol from liquid to glassy state, a composite reed vibration method. In this report, a rigorous analysis is obtained to subtract the mechanical spectrum of deposited materials from a composite system consisting of the substrate reed and of materials deposited on it. The dynamic glass transition of glycerol was measured by the mechanical spectra method at two frequencies in the same heating route. The consistency with the mechanical spectrum available in the literature shows the composite reed vibration method to be reliable and effective.
Spin-dependent electron transport in waveguide with continuous shape
Authors: Ban Yue , Sherman E. Ya.
Published: September 2011

We study effects of the shape of a two-dimensional waveguide on the spin-dependent electron transport in the presence of spin-orbit coupling. The transition from classical motion to the tunneling regime can be controlled there by modulating the strength of spin-orbit coupling if the waveguide has a constriction. The spin precession strongly depends on the shape of the waveguide.
Computational study of cold atmospheric nanosecond pulsed helium plasma jet in air
Authors: Breden Doug , Miki Kenji , Raja Laxminarayan L.
Published: September 2011

A luminous plasma jet is produced when helium gas issuing into atmospheric pressure ambient air is excited by high voltage nanosecond pulsing of a dielectric covered electrode. A detailed computational modeling study of such a discharge is presented. The dynamics of streamer propagation, its dependence on the diffusional mixing layer between helium and air species, and the role of photoionization are discussed.
Metallic-like conduction in Co-phthalocyanine/Fe-phthalocyanine composite films grown on sapphire substrates
Authors: Kumar Arvind , Singh Ajay , Samanta S. , Debnath A. K. , Aswal D. K. , Gupta S. K.
Published: September 2011

Charge transport properties of pure and composite thin films of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) and iron phthalocyanine (FePc) deposited on (0001) sapphire substrate has been investigated. Temperature dependence of resistivity showed that composite films are in metallic regime, while pure films are in the critical regime of metal–insulator transition. Composite films showed trap free space charge limited conduction (SCLC) along with two order of magnitude higher mobility (∼110 cm2 V−1 s−1) compared to pure films. Pure films showed SCLC with exponential distribution of traps. High mobility and better structural ordering in composite films is attributed to the formation of CoPc-FePc dimers.
First-principles studies on the dominant acceptor and the activation mechanism of phosphorus-doped ZnO
Authors: Li Ping , Deng Sheng-Hua , Huang Jing
Published: September 2011

Based on first-principles calculations, we suggest that the PZn-2VZn complex is the dominant acceptor in phosphorus-doped ZnO with a calculated transition level of 150 meV. We suggest that the out-diffusion of zinc interstitials will indirectly favor the formation of the PZn-2VZn complex. According to this mechanism, an upper limit of annealing temperature of about 860 °C is obtained, which is high enough to activate the doped ZnO from n- to p-type. This mechanism applies to the other group-V dopants. The above results are in agreement with the experimental reports.
A decade of monitoring the remnant Victorian population of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata)
Authors: Bluff Lucas A. , Clausen Lucy , Hill Amie , Bramwell Michael D.
Published: September 2011

Historically, the brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata), occurred throughout the Great Dividing Range from southern Queensland to western Victoria. Within Victoria, this extensive range has now contracted to a single remnant population in the Little River Gorge in East Gippsland, and the species is classified as ‘Critically Endangered’. Here we summarise the key results from 10 years of monitoring and management of the Little River Gorge population. The count of individuals detected biannually rose from one in 2000 to 12 in 2008, but this increase was at least partially due to variation in monitoring methodology. Apparent mortality rate in the first year of life was 69%, suggesting that predation was the strongest extrinsic factor limiting the population. Fecundity rate among fertile females was estimated at 1.14 births per annum. Rainfall did not significantly predict birth rate, juvenile mortality or sex ratio. Comparison of three monitoring techniques (cage traps, remote camera surveillance and genetic analysis of scats) revealed that each detected a different subset of the population in this study. These techniques should be considered complementary, rather than substitutable, in future monitoring of small Petrogale populations.
Bringing back warru: initiation and implementation of the South Australian Warru Recovery Plan
Authors: Read John L. , Ward Matthew J.
Published: September 2011

The warru, or black-footed rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis MacDonnell Ranges race), has continued to declined dramatically in range and abundance in South Australia over the last 80 years, and is now considered to be one of the state’s most endangered species. This paper documents key indicators of this decline and provides context for both the formation of the Warru Recovery Team, and the development of the objectives and actions of the Warru Recovery Plan. Warru decline is considered to be a symptom of ecosystem dysfunction in the central Australian ranges, yet warru recovery provides an opportunity for broadscale ecosystem recovery in this remote region. Full engagement of Anangu, research-based adaptive ecosystem management, and inclusive, strategic and sustainable management of the recovery process, are considered integral to meeting the objectives of the Warru Recovery Plan.
Multiple scales of diet selection by brush-tailed rock-wallabies (Petrogale penicillata)
Authors: Tuft Katherine D. , Crowther Mathew S. , McArthur Clare
Published: September 2011

Detailed data on diet and diet selection helps to predict how species will respond to changes in their environment. We measured the diet of brush-tailed rock-wallabies (Petrogale penicillata) using microscopic examination of plant cuticle fragments in faeces over two years from three populations across New South Wales: Warrumbungles in the central west, Curracabundi in the New England Tablelands, and Kangaroo Valley south of Sydney. Diet was analysed at the level of plant functional groups for all three populations, then in more detail at the plant species level in the Warrumbungles. Diet selection was measured by comparing diets with vegetation biomass. Across all three populations, rock-wallaby diet comprised 10–40% grass, 30–50% browse, 12–45% forbs and minor quantities of orchid/lilies and sedges. Rock-wallabies selected food resources on multiple scales by combining a generalist feeding strategy at the broad spatial scale (across populations) with a more specialist strategy for particular plant species at the fine spatial scale (within one population).
An evaluation of faecal pellet counts to index rock-wallaby population size
Authors: Norton Melinda A. , Sharp Andy , Marks Adam
Published: September 2011

This study assessed the efficacy of faecal pellet counts to index population size within yellow-footed rock-wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus) colonies. One hundred 1-m2 quadrats were permanently located in each of two colonies and emptied of pellets on a monthly basis between September 1996 and August 1998. The mean number of pellets (MNP) accumulated per season (quadrats as replicates) and a mean pellet presence/absence per quadrat index (MPAP) were calculated for each colony. Other population estimates and indices (direct counts, mark–recapture and aerial surveys) were also collected at these colonies or drawn from other studies, allowing comparison with the pellet data. The trends in abundance across seasons suggested by these additional estimates and indices were an overall increase at one colony with no change at the other. While these trends were reflected by the seasonal MNP trends across the eight seasons monitored, this was less often the case for the like-season MNP comparisons. The large degree of variation in seasonal MNP data may render it unsuitable for use in such short-term like-season comparisons. The MPAP seasonal data were also found to be unreliable as an index of population size for yellow-footed rock-wallaby. In Spring 1997, one pellet collection period was missed, resulting in a combined September–October 1997 count at each colony. This increased period between pellet counts appears to have resulted in increased pellet decomposition and/or loss. This disrupted sampling regime produced a marked discrepancy in the pellet indices, particularly in the colony with more individuals and thus more pellets to lose, and highlights the importance of a structured sampling regime.
The impact of isolation and bottlenecks on genetic diversity in the Pearson Island population of the black-footed rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis pearsoni; Marsupialia:Macropodidae)
Authors: Jones Lennon Michelle , Taggart David A. , Temple-Smith Peter D. , Eldridge Mark D. B.
Published: September 2011

A morphologically distinct subspecies of black-footed rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis pearsoni), is naturally found only on North Pearson Island (~160 ha) in the Investigator Group, SA, where it was isolated by rising sea levels ~10 500 years ago. Subsequent translocations have seen additional populations established on Middle-South Pearson Island (~53 ha) in 1960 and Wedge Island (96 ha) in 1975. We have used 10 hypervariable microsatellite loci to examine the levels of genetic diversity in the endemic (n = 38) and translocated (n = 45–77) P. l. pearsoni populations compared with mainland P. lateralis populations (n = 19–52). Results show that all sampled P. l. pearsoni populations have very low levels of genetic diversity (A = 1.5–1.9; HE = 0.02–0.13) compared with mainland populations (A = 3.5–12.7; HE = 0.54–0.87). Intriguingly, more diversity was detected in the translocated Middle-South Pearson population than in its source population from North Pearson Island. In contrast, the Wedge Island population was almost monomorphic. Overall, the severe loss of genetic diversity (up to 98%) in P. l. pearsoni populations appears to result from random genetic drift on a small isolated population, exacerbated by some subsequent one-off translocation events. Although additional supplementary translocations are recommended to enhance genetic diversity, populations of P. l. pearsoni are likely to remain inherently vulnerable to extinction and therefore of special conservation concern.
Emergence, survival, biomass production, and seed production of Chloris truncata (windmill grass) in the Western Australian wheatbelt
Authors: Borger C. P. D. , Riethmuller G. P. , Hashem A.
Published: September 2011

Chloris truncata is a C4 grass species, native to Australia. Within the wheatbelt of Western Australia (WA), it is a weed of grain cropping systems and a beneficial forage species within pasture systems. Plant emergence, density, survival, biomass production, seed production, and seed germinability were investigated, in pasture or cropping systems, at two trial sites (in Merredin, WA) over two years (from 2007 to 2009). Chloris truncata predominantly emerged and set seed during spring and early summer. This species is usually referred to as a short-lived perennial, and could survive for >14 months, but predominantly grew as a spring/summer annual in the WA wheatbelt. Maximum plant density, biomass, and seed production were, respectively, 4.2–28.2 plants/m2, 8.3–146.1 g dry biomass/m2, and 3325–61 383 seeds/m2, depending on location. Cohorts emerging in spring produced more seeds than those that emerged during other seasons. Average seed germinability reached a maximum of 62%, following an initial 3–4-month period of dormancy. There are few herbicides to control plants growing within the winter/spring annual grain crops, and so further research into increased crop competitive ability is required to reduce growth of spring cohorts and potentially reduce seed set. However, the biomass produced by C. truncata (range 0–1460 kg/ha) can be used as forage in a pasture system, or over the summer/autumn feed gap in a cropping system.
Collimator Interchange System for Adaptive Cardiac Imaging in C-SPECT
Authors: Rozler Mike , Chang Wei
Published: September 2011

Compared to imaging the heart with conventional cameras, dedicated cardiac SPECT systems can achieve much higher performance through use of a small field of view. To realize this potential, however, the heart must be reliably placed in the appropriate small FOV prior to imaging, thus requiring a separate scout operation to locate the heart and estimate its size. Furthermore, to achieve high performance across the general population, a system should provide several imaging configurations optimized for different size and location of the heart and the size of the patient. Because of the critical role the collimator plays in SPECT, it would be ideal if a dedicated collimator could be used for each of the different patient groups, as well as for the scout imaging. The ability to exchange collimators without moving the patient can also enable serial studies with different imaging options while preserving anatomic registration.
Novel activity of acriflavine against colorectal cancer tumor cells
Authors: Hassan Saadia , Laryea Daniel , Mahteme Haile , Felth Jenny , Fryknäs Mårten , Fayad Walid , Linder Stig , Rickardson Linda , Gullbo Joachim , Graf Wilhelm , Påhlman Lars , Glimelius Bengt , Larsson Rolf , Nygren Peter
Published: September 2011

A high‐throughput screen of the cytotoxic activity of 2000 molecules from a commercial library in three human colon cancer cell lines and two normal cell types identified the acridine acriflavin to be a colorectal cancer (CRC) active drug. Acriflavine was active in cell spheroids, indicating good drug penetration and activity against hypoxic cells. In a validation step based on primary cultures of patient tumor cells, acriflavine was found to be more active against CRC than ovarian cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This contrasted to the activity pattern of the CRC active standard drugs 5‐fluorouracil, irinotecan and oxaliplatin. Mechanistic studies indicated acriflavine to be a dual topoisomerase I and II inhibitor. In conclusion, the strategy used seems promising for identification of new diagnosis‐specific cancer drugs. (Cancer Sci 2011; 102: 2206–2213)
Development of a mouse model for lymph node metastasis with endometrial cancer
Authors: Takahashi Kayoko , Saga Yasushi , Mizukami Hiroaki , Takei Yuji , Urabe Masashi , Kume Akihiro , Suzuki Mitsuaki , Ozawa Keiya
Published: September 2011

Controlling lymph node metastasis is currently a key issue in cancer therapy. Lymph node metastasis is one of the most important prognostic factors in various types of cancers, including endometrial cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor‐C (VEGF‐C) plays a crucial role in lymphangiogenesis, and is implicated to play an important role in lymph node metastasis. To evaluate the role of VEGF‐C in lymph node metastasis, we developed an animal model by using an endometrial cancer cell line, HEC1A. This cell line is not invasive by nature and secretes moderate amounts of VEGF‐C; intrauterine injection of HEC1A cells into Balb/c nude mice resulted in uterine cancer with lymph node metastasis after 8 weeks. To analyze the contribution of VEGF‐C to lymph node metastasis, its corresponding gene was stably introduced into HEC1A cells (HEC1A/VEGF‐C), which then produced more than 10 times the amount of VEGF‐C. The number of lymph node metastases was significantly higher in HEC1A/VEGF‐C cells than in HEC1A cells (3.2 vs 1.1 nodes/animal, respectively). Augmented lymphangiogenesis was observed within tumors when HEC1A/VEGF‐C cells were inoculated. These results indicate that VEGF‐C plays a critical role in lymph node metastasis, in addition to serving as a platform to test the efficacy of various therapeutic modalities against lymph node metastasis. (Cancer Sci 2011; 102: 2272–2277)