bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Screening for Children and Adolescents: General Limits or Ceiling Effects?
Authors: Bornholt Laurel J. , Ajersch Susan , Fisher Ian H. , Markham Roslyn H. , Ouvrier Robert A.
Published: January 2010

Cognitive screening tools designed for children can also be used with adolescents. However, early studies suggest that scores can approach a maximum at about age 10 or 11 years. The inital hypothesis was this apparent ‘‘ceiling effect’’ is due to limits in the materials, where items can be insufficiently challenging for some adolescents. The alternative hypothesis is that general cognitive screening has a true limit by early adolescence. Participants (N = 85) were 10 to 15-year-old girls and boys, with a database (N = 1249) of 4 to 12-year-old children. The School-Years Screening Test for the Evaluation of Mental Status (SYSTEMS) cognitive screening was extended by more difficult items. Results show that scores increase rapidly for young children and tend toward a maximum in early adolescence. This characteristic asymptotic curve explained a substantial proportion of the variance. We can conclude that, although specific functions continue to develop, there is an upper limit in early adolescence for such general cognitive functioning. The findings support cognitive screening across a broad age range and suggest worthwhile research and clinical applications.
Four Novel SCN1A Mutations in Turkish Patients With Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy (SMEI)
Authors: Arlier Zulfikar , Bayri Yasar , Kolb Luis E. , Erturk Ozdem , Ozturk Ali K. , Bayrakli Fatih , Bilguvar Kaya , Moliterno Jennifer A. , Dervent Aysin , Demirbilek Veysi , Yalcinkaya Cengiz , Korkmaz Baris , Tuysuz Beyhan , Gunel Murat
Published: January 2010

Severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy (SMEI) (OMIM #607208), also known as Dravet syndrome, is a rare genetic disorder characterized by frequent generalized, unilateral clonic or tonic-clonic seizures that begin during the first year of life. Heterozygous de novo mutations in the SCN1A gene, which encodes the neuronal voltage-gated sodium channel α subunit type 1 (Nav1.1), are responsible for Dravet syndrome, with a broad spectrum of mutations and rearrangements having been reported. In this study, the authors present 4 novel mutations and confirm 2 previously identified mutations in the SCN1A gene found in a cohort of Turkish patients with Dravet syndrome. Mutational analysis of other responsible genes, GABRG2 and PCDH19, were unrevealing. The authors’ findings add to the known spectrum of mutations responsible for this disease phenotype and once again reinforce our understanding of the allelic heterogeneity of this disease.
Developing a Biomonitoring Educational Pamphlet for Potential Participants in a Breast Milk Biomonitoring Study
Authors: Dunn Rebecca L. , Carey Gale B.
Published: January 2010

Over the past decade, biomonitoring research initiatives in the United States have increased because of growing concern over the accumulation of environmental chemicals in the human body. One matrix that has become a viable biological sample for estimating human exposure to environmental chemicals is breast milk. However, breast milk biomonitoring research can induce anxiety and confusion about breastfeeding if communication is lacking between researchers, community partners, and participants. To bridge this communication gap, an informative, reassuring 8-page pamphlet was developed to educate community partners and potential participants about research on 1 class of environmental chemicals—polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Not only did the pamphlet assist in participant recruitment, but it forged positive relationships with valuable community partners.
Temporal stability in bristlecone pine tree-ring stable oxygen isotope chronologies over the last two centuries
Authors: Bale R.J. , Robertson I. , Leavitt S.W. , Loader N.J. , Harlan T.P. , Gagen M. , Young G.H.F. , Csank A.Z. , Froyd C.A. , McCarroll D.
Published: January 2010

The absolutely dated bristlecone pine ( Pinus longaeva) tree-ring chronology spans almost 9000 years, offering great potential for inferring past environmental change. Existing ring width chronologies have been widely used to produce some of the most influential millennial length temperature reconstructions for the Northern Hemisphere. A recently published δ 18O record from two bristlecone pine trees growing at Methuselah Walk in the White Mountains of California showed a dramatic decrease in δ 18O between AD 1850 and 1920 ( c. 13‰), interpreted as indicating a major shift in Pacific storm tracks over the past 300 years. Here we present new bristlecone pine δ18O time series from 15 trees at three White Mountains sites, including two series from Methuselah Walk. Whilst occasional high interannual variability is observed in our δ 18O series, none of our chronologies exhibit an equivalent pronounced or sustained twentieth-century decrease, suggesting the earlier results are anomalous and may require palaeoclimatic re-interpretation.
The Logic of Institutional Interdependency: The Case of Day Laborer Policy in Suburbia
Authors: Frasure Lorrie A. , Jones-Correa Michael
Published: January 2010

This article challenges public choice and regime theory interpretations of constraints on local politics, developing instead the institutional logic behind coalitions of local institutional actors designing redistributive policies addressing immigrant newcomers in increasingly diverse suburban jurisdictions. Employing qualitative data from a data set consisting of over 100 in-depth interviews among state and local elected and appointed officials, and community-based leaders in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, the authors find that elected officials, bureaucrats, and nonprofits partner to gain additional leverage to overcome suburban NIMBY problems such as those associated with day labor workers.These partnerships develop for at least three reasons: (1) they give community-based organizations (CBOs) access to resources available in the public sector; (2) for public agencies, these alliances lower the transaction costs associated with overcoming language and cultural barriers between newcomers and existing residents; and (3) these partnerships allow local bureaucrats to minimize outlays of their scarce resources to deal with the problems associated with the demographic shifts taking place in suburbia by essentially outsourcing much of the effort to nonprofit organizations while still allowing local bureaucrats and the elected officials who control their budgets to take credit for the programs these organizations initiate, maintain, and staff.
Representations of Rape: Transcending Methodological Divides
Authors: Quinlan Elizabeth , Quinlan Andrea
Published: January 2010

This article presents a mixed methods research design that embeds social network analysis, a quantitative method, into the qualitative approach, institutional ethnography, using an illustrative example of rape reporting. There are two practical outcomes of the embedded mixed methods research design, underwritten by the pragmatist paradigm: it offers a visual depiction of the ‘line of fault’ between the lived experience and its institutional representation, and it facilitates an analysis of the internal structure of the associated texts. Through its unusual blend of two methods, commonly considered to be at opposing ends of the methodological spectrum, the article advances the agenda of mixed methods and contributes to the recent debates about the nature and benefits of mixed methods research.
Does body height reduction influence interpretation of lung function in COPD patients?
Authors: Kjensli A. , Ryg M. , Falch J.A. , Armbrecht G. , Diep L.M. , Eriksen E.F. , Ellingsen I.
Published: January 2010

Vertebral deformities are prevalent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and may cause excessive loss of height. As height is used for calculating reference values for pulmonary function tests, larger than normal height reduction could cause overestimation of lung function.

In this cross-sectional study of 465 COPD patients and 462 controls, we explored how often lung function is misinterpreted due to height reduction in COPD patients, and whether the number or severity of vertebral deformities correlate with height reduction.

Measured height was compared to recalled tallest height (RTH) and height calculated from arm span (ASH) to assess height reduction. Vertebral deformities were assessed from radiographs and pulmonary function was assessed using standard formulae.

Height reduction was frequent in both the study and control groups, and increased with the number and severity of vertebral deformities. When using current measured height, lung function was overestimated in a significant proportion of COPD patients at relatively modest height reductions. The effects were smallest for forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity, and most pronounced for total lung capacity and residual volume. Therefore, we propose that in COPD patients with excessive height reduction, one might use RTH or ASH in calculating predicted values. Furthermore, such patients should be evaluated for co-existing vertebral deformities and osteoporosis.
Normalization with genes encoding ribosomal proteins but not GAPDH provides an accurate quantification of gene expressions in neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells
Authors: Zhou Lihan , Lim Qing-En , Wan Guoqiang , Too Heng-Phon
Published: January 2010

Background

Gene regulation at transcript level can provide a good indication of the complex signaling mechanisms underlying physiological and pathological processes. Transcriptomic methods such as microarray and quantitative real-time PCR require stable reference genes for accurate normalization of gene expression. Some but not all studies have shown that housekeeping genes (HGKs), β-actin (ACTB) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), which are routinely used for normalization, may vary significantly depending on the cell/tissue type and experimental conditions. It is currently unclear if these genes are stably expressed in cells undergoing drastic morphological changes during neuronal differentiation. Recent meta-analysis of microarray datasets showed that some but not all of the ribosomal protein genes are stably expressed. To test the hypothesis that some ribosomal protein genes can serve as reference genes for neuronal differentiation, a genome-wide analysis was performed and putative reference genes were identified based on stability of expressions. The stabilities of these potential reference genes were then analyzed by reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR in six differentiation conditions.

Results

Twenty stably expressed genes, including thirteen ribosomal protein genes, were selected from microarray analysis of the gene expression profiles of GDNF and NGF induced differentiation of PC12 cells. The expression levels of these candidate genes as well as ACTB and GAPDH were further analyzed by reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR in PC12 cells differentiated with a variety of stimuli including NGF, GDNF, Forskolin, KCl and ROCK inhibitor, Y27632. The performances of these candidate genes as stable reference genes were evaluated with two independent statistical approaches, geNorm and NormFinder.

Conclusions

The ribosomal protein genes, RPL19 and RPL29, were identified as suitable reference genes during neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells, regardless of the type of differentiation conditions. The combination of these two novel reference genes, but not the commonly used HKG, GAPDH, allows robust and accurate normalization of differentially expressed genes during PC12 differentiation.
Follow-up of phase I trial of adalimumab and rosiglitazone in FSGS: III. Report of the FONT study group
Authors: Peyser Alexandra , MacHardy Nathaniel , Tarapore Freya , MacHardy Jacqueline , Powell Leslie , Gipson Debbie S , Savin Virginia , Pan Cynthia , Kump Theresa , Vento Suzanne , Trachtman Howard
Published: January 2010

Background

Patients with resistant primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) are at high risk of progression to chronic kidney disease stage V. Antifibrotic agents may slow or halt this process. We present outcomes of follow-up after a Phase I trial of adalimumab and rosiglitazone, antifibrotic drugs tested in the Novel Therapies in Resistant FSGS (FONT) study.

Methods

21 patients -- 12 males and 9 females, age 16.0 ± 7.5 yr, and estimated GFR (GFRe) 121 ± 56 mL/min/1.73 m2 -- received adalimumab (n = 10), 24 mg/m2 every 14 days or rosiglitazone (n = 11), 3 mg/m2 per day for 16 weeks. The change in GFRe per month prior to entry and after completion of the Phase I trial was compared.

Results

19 patients completed the 16-week FONT treatment phase. The observation period pre-FONT was 18.3 ± 10.2 months and 16.1 ± 5.7 months after the study. A similar percentage of patients, 71% and 56%, in the rosiglitazone and adalimumab cohorts, respectively, had stabilization in GFRe, defined as a reduced negative slope of the line plotting GFRe versus time without requiring renal replacement therapy after completion of the FONT treatment period (P = 0.63).

Conclusion

Nearly 50% of patients with resistant FSGS who receive novel antifibrotic agents may have a legacy effect with delayed deterioration in kidney function after completion of therapy. Based on this proof-of-concept preliminary study, we recommend long-term follow-up of patients enrolled in clinical trials to ascertain a more comprehensive assessment of the efficacy of experimental treatments.
Improving the clinical assessment of consciousness with advances in electrophysiological and neuroimaging techniques
Authors: Gawryluk Jodie R , D'Arcy Ryan CN , Connolly John F , Weaver Donald F
Published: January 2010

In clinical neurology, a comprehensive understanding of consciousness has been regarded as an abstract concept - best left to philosophers. However, times are changing and the need to clinically assess consciousness is increasingly becoming a real-world, practical challenge. Current methods for evaluating altered levels of consciousness are highly reliant on either behavioural measures or anatomical imaging. While these methods have some utility, estimates of misdiagnosis are worrisome (as high as 43%) - clearly this is a major clinical problem. The solution must involve objective, physiologically based measures that do not rely on behaviour. This paper reviews recent advances in physiologically based measures that enable better evaluation of consciousness states (coma, vegetative state, minimally conscious state, and locked in syndrome). Based on the evidence to-date, electroencephalographic and neuroimaging based assessments of consciousness provide valuable information for evaluation of residual function, formation of differential diagnoses, and estimation of prognosis.
Simultaneous CXCL12 and ESR1 CpG island hypermethylation correlates with poor prognosis in sporadic breast cancer
Authors: Ramos Edneia AS , Camargo Anamaria A , Braun Karin , Slowik Renata , Cavalli Iglenir J , Ribeiro Enilze MSF , Pedrosa Fábio de O , de Souza Emanuel M , Costa Fabrício F , Klassen Giseli
Published: January 2010

Background

CXCL12 is a chemokine that is constitutively expressed in many organs and tissues. CXCL12 promoter hypermethylation has been detected in primary breast tumours and contributes to their metastatic potential. It has been shown that the oestrogen receptor α (ESR1) gene can also be silenced by DNA methylation. In this study, we used methylation-specific PCR (MSP) to analyse the methylation status in two regions of the CXCL12 promoter and ESR1 in tumour cell lines and in primary breast tumour samples, and correlated our results with clinicopathological data.

Methods

First, we analysed CXCL12 expression in breast tumour cell lines by RT-PCR. We also used 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR) treatment and DNA bisulphite sequencing to study the promoter methylation for a specific region of CXCL12 in breast tumour cell lines. We evaluated CXCL12 and ESR1 methylation in primary tumour samples by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Finally, promoter hypermethylation of these genes was analysed using Fisher's exact test and correlated with clinicopathological data using the Chi square test, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis.

Results

CXCL12 promoter hypermethylation in the first region (island 2) and second region (island 4) was correlated with lack of expression of the gene in tumour cell lines. In the primary tumours, island 2 was hypermethylated in 14.5% of the samples and island 4 was hypermethylated in 54% of the samples. The ESR1 promoter was hypermethylated in 41% of breast tumour samples. In addition, the levels of ERα protein expression diminished with increased frequency of ESR1 methylation (p < 0.0001). This study also demonstrated that CXCL12 island 4 and ESR1 methylation occur simultaneously at a high frequency (p = 0.0220).

Conclusions

This is the first study showing a simultaneous involvement of epigenetic regulation for both CXCL12 and ESR1 genes in Brazilian women. The methylation status of both genes was significantly correlated with histologically advanced disease, the presence of metastases and death. Therefore, the methylation pattern of these genes could be used as a molecular marker for the prediction of breast cancer outcome.
Proteomic analysis of prolactinoma cells by immuno-laser capture microdissection combined with online two-dimensional nano-scale liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry
Authors: Liu Yingchao , Wu Jinsong , Yan Guoquan , Hou Ruiping , Zhuang Dongxiao , Chen Luping , Pang Qi , Zhu Jianhong
Published: January 2010

Background

Pituitary adenomas, the third most common intracranial tumor, comprise nearly 16.7% of intracranial neoplasm and 25%-44% of pituitary adenomas are prolactinomas. Prolactinoma represents a complex heterogeneous mixture of cells including prolactin (PRL), endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and other stromal cells, making it difficult to dissect the molecular and cellular mechanisms of prolactin cells in pituitary tumorigenesis through high-throughout-omics analysis. Our newly developed immuno-laser capture microdissection (LCM) method would permit rapid and reliable procurement of prolactin cells from this heterogeneous tissue. Thus, prolactin cell specific molecular events involved in pituitary tumorigenesis and cell signaling can be approached by proteomic analysis.

Results

Proteins from immuno-LCM captured prolactin cells were digested; resulting peptides were separated by two dimensional-nanoscale liquid chromatography (2D-nanoLC/MS) and characterized by tandem mass spectrometry. All MS/MS spectrums were analyzed by SEQUEST against the human International Protein Index database and a specific prolactinoma proteome consisting of 2243 proteins was identified. This collection of identified proteins by far represents the largest and the most comprehensive database of proteome for prolactinoma. Category analysis of the proteome revealed a widely unbiased access to various proteins with diverse functional characteristics.

Conclusions

This manuscript described a more comprehensive proteomic profile of prolactinomas compared to other previous published reports. Thanks to the application of immuno-LCM combined with online two-dimensional nano-scale liquid chromatography here permitted identification of more proteins and, to our best knowledge, generated the largest prolactinoma proteome. This enlarged proteome would contribute significantly to further understanding of prolactinoma tumorigenesis which is crucial to the management of prolactinomas.
Gas-permeable ethylene bags for the small scale cultivation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 and other viruses in embryonated chicken eggs
Authors: Hamilton Sara B , Daniels Deirdre E , Sosna William A , Jeppesen Eric R , Owells Julie M , Halpern Micah D , McCurdy Kimberly S , Rayner Jonathan O , Lednicky John A
Published: January 2010

Background

Embryonated chicken eggs (ECE) are sometimes used for the primary isolation or passage of influenza viruses, other viruses, and certain bacteria. For small-scale experiments with pathogens that must be studied in biosafety level three (BSL3) facilities, inoculated ECE are sometimes manipulated and maintained in small egg incubators within a biosafety cabinet (BSC). To simplify the clean up and decontamination of an egg incubator in case of egg breakage, we explored whether ethylene breather bags could be used to encase ECE inoculated with pathogens. This concept was tested by determining embryo survival and examining virus yields in bagged ECE.

Results

Virus yields acceptable for many applications were attained when influenza-, alpha-, flavi-, canine distemper-, and mousepox viruses were propagated in ECE sealed within ethylene breather bags.

Conclusions

For many small-scale applications, ethylene breather bags can be used to encase ECE inoculated with various viruses.
Structural abnormalities in gyri of the prefrontal cortex in
individuals with schizophrenia and their unaffected siblings
Authors: Harms Michael P. , Wang Lei , Campanella Carolina , Aldridge Kristina , Moffitt Amanda J. , Kuelper John , Ratnanather J. Tilak , Miller Michael I. , Barch Deanna M. , Csernansky John G.
Published: January 2010

Background

The relatives of individuals with schizophrenia exhibit deficits of
overall frontal lobe volume, consistent with a genetic contribution to
these deficits.

Aims

To quantify the structure of gyral-defined subregions of prefrontal
cortex in individuals with schizophrenia and their siblings.

Method

Grey matter volume, cortical thickness, and surface area of the superior,
middle and inferior frontal gyri were measured in participants with
schizophrenia and their unaffected (non-psychotic) siblings
(n = 26 pairs), and controls and their siblings
(n = 40 pairs).

Results

Grey matter volume was reduced in the middle and inferior frontal gyri of
individuals with schizophrenia, relative to controls. However, only
inferior frontal gyrus volume was also reduced in the unaffected siblings
of those with schizophrenia, yielding a volume intermediate between their
affected siblings and controls.

Conclusions

The structure of subregions of the prefrontal cortex may be
differentially influenced by genetic factors in schizophrenia, with
inferior frontal gyrus volume being most related to familial risk.
Antipsychotic polypharmacy: review of mechanisms, mortality and management
Authors: Langan Julie , Shajahan Polash
Published: January 2010

Antipsychotic polypharmacy is an increasingly encountered clinical scenario. This review considers the reasons behind antipsychotic polypharmacy and the patterns of its use. We also consider the evidence of effectiveness of combined therapyv.monotherapy and the rationale behind the potentially beneficial combinations that are used. The potential dangers of antipsychotic polypharmacy are also discussed and the limited research regarding switching from polypharmacy to monotherapy is reviewed. Some provisional recommendations regarding antipsychotic polypharmacy are proposed.
Pulmonary metastasectomy in colorectal cancer: a systematic review and quantitative synthesis
Authors: Fiorentino Francesca , Hunt Ian , Teoh Kristine , Treasure Tom , Utley Martin
Published: January 2010

Summary

Objectives

Surgical removal of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer is undertaken increasingly but the practice is variable. There have been no randomized trials of effectiveness. We needed evidence from a systematic review to plan a randomized controlled trial.

Design

A formal search for all studies concerning the practice of pulmonary metastasectomy was undertaken including all published articles using pre-specified keywords. Abstracts were screened, reviewed and data extracted by at least two of the authors. Information across studies was collated in a quantitative synthesis.

Results

Of 101 articles identified, 51 contained sufficient quantitative information to be included in the synthesis. The reports were published between 1971 and 2007, and reported on 3504 patients. There was little change over time in patient characteristics such as age, sex, the time elapsed since resection of the primary cancer, its site or stage. The proportion with multiple metastases or elevated carcinoma embryonic antigen (CEA) did not change over time but there was an apparent increase in the proportion of patients who also had hepatic metastasectomy. Differences in 5-year survival between groups defined by CEA or by single versus multiple metastases persisted over time. Few data were available concerning postoperative morbidity, postoperative lung function or change in symptoms.

Conclusion

The quality of evidence available concerning pulmonary metastasectomy in colorectal cancer is not sufficient to draw inferences concerning the effectiveness of this surgery. There is great variety in what was reported and its utility. Given the burdensome nature of the surgery involved, better evidence, ideally in the form of a randomized trial, is required for the continuance of this practice.
Gradient Estimation for Multicomponent Maintenance Systems with Age-Replacement Policy
Authors: Heidergott Bernd , Farenhorst-Yuan Taoying
Published: January 2010

We consider multicomponent maintenance systems with an F-failure group age-replacement policy: it keeps failed components idling until F components are failed and then replaces all failed components together with the nonfailed components whose age has passed the critical threshold age θn for components of type n. With each maintenance action, costs are associated. We derive various unbiased gradient estimators based on the measure-valued differentiation approach for the gradient of the average cost. Each estimator has its own domain of applicability. We also compare the performance of our gradient estimators when applied to stochastic optimization with other general gradient-free methods.
Achievement differences and self‐concept differences: Stronger associations for above or below average students?
Authors: Möller Jens. , Pohlmann Britta.
Published: January 2010

Background

On the one hand, achievement indicators like grades or standardized test results are strongly associated with students' domain‐specific self‐concepts. On the other hand, self‐evaluation processes seem to be triggered by a self‐enhancing means of information processing. As a consequence, above average students have more positive self‐concepts than average students whereas below average students have lower self‐concepts than average students.

Aims

Imagine that two students, one above average, the other below average, have identical achievement differences to an average student. Will their self‐concepts also share identical differences with the average students' self‐concept? Our hypothesis is that students who achieve above average develop self‐concepts that are more distinct from average achieving students' self‐concepts than are below average achieving students' self‐concepts.

Sample

In Study 1, N = 382 7th–10th graders (62.2% female) from several academic track (Gymnasium) schools in Germany served as participants. Students' ages ranged between 12 and 16 years (M = 14.76, SD = 6.24). In Study 2, the sample comprised N = 1,349 students (49% girls) with a mean age of M = 10.87 (SD = 0.56) from 60 primary schools that were drawn representatively from a federal German state. In an experimental Study 3, N = 81 German teacher education students (76.5% female) aged between 18 and 40 years (M = 22.38, SD = 3.80) served as participants.

Method

Two field studies and one experimental study were conducted.

Results

In all three studies, achievement differences between above average and average students were identical to those between average and below average students. However, self‐concept differences between above average and average achieving students were greater than those identified between average and below average students.

Conclusions

As our studies show, self‐enhancement and self‐protection processes lead above average students to develop self‐concepts that are more distinct from average students' self‐concepts than those of below average students' self‐concepts.
Demographic and attitudinal determinants of protective behaviours during a pandemic: A review
Authors: Bish Alison , Michie Susan
Published: January 2010

Purpose. A new strain of H1N1 influenza, also known as swine flu was confirmed in the UK in May 2009 and has spread to over 100 countries around the world causing the World Health Organization to declare a global flu pandemic. The primary objectives of this review are to identify the key demographic and attitudinal determinants of three types of protective behaviour during a pandemic: preventive, avoidant, and management of illness behaviours, in order to describe conceptual frameworks in which to better understand these behaviours and to inform future communications and interventions in the current outbreak of swine flu and subsequent influenza pandemics.

Methods. Web of Science and PubMed databases were searched for references to papers on severe acute respiratory syndrome, avian influenza/flu, H5N1, swine influenza/flu, H1N1, and pandemics. Forward searching of the identified references was also carried out. In addition, references were gleaned from an expert panel of the Behaviour and Communications sub‐group of the UK Scientific Pandemic Influenza Advisory Group. Papers were included if they reported associations between demographic factors, attitudes, and a behavioural measure (reported, intended, or actual behaviour).

Results. Twenty‐six papers were identified that met the study inclusion criteria. The studies were of variable quality and most lacked an explicit theoretical framework. Most were cross‐sectional in design and therefore not predictive over time. The research shows that there are demographic differences in behaviour: being older, female and more educated, or non‐White, is associated with a higher chance of adopting the behaviours. There is evidence that greater levels of perceived susceptibility to and perceived severity of the diseases and greater belief in the effectiveness of recommended behaviours to protect against the disease are important predictors of behaviour. There is also evidence that greater levels of state anxiety and greater trust in authorities are associated with behaviour.

Conclusions. The findings from this review can be broadly explained by theories of health behaviour. However, theoretically driven prospective studies are required to further clarify the relationship between demographic factors, attitudes, and behaviour. The findings suggest that intervention studies and communication strategies should focus on particular demographic groups and on raising levels of perceived threat of the pandemic disease and belief in the effectiveness of measures designed to protect against it.
Transportation of Na and Li in Hydrothermally Grown ZnO
Authors: Neuvonen Pekka Tapio , Vines Lasse , Johansen Klaus Magnus , Hallén Anders , Svensson Bengt Gunnar , Kuznetsov Andrej Yu.
Published: January 2010

Secondary ion mass spectrometry has been applied to study the transportation of Na and Li in hydrothermally grown ZnO. A dose of 1015 cm-2 of Na+ was implanted into ZnO to act as a diffusion source. A clear trap limited diffusion is observed at temperatures above 550 °C. From these profiles, an activation energy for the transport of Na of ∼1.7 eV has been extracted. The prefactor for the diffusion constant and the solid solubility of Na cannot be deduced independently from the present data but their product estimated to be ∼3 × 1016 cm-1s-1. A dissociation energy of ∼2.4 eV is extracted for the trapped Na. The measured Na and Li profiles show that Li and Na compete for the same traps and interact in a way that Li is depleted from Na-rich regions. This is attributed to a lower formation energy of Na-on-zinc-site than that for Li-on-zinc-site defects and the zinc vacancy is considered as a major trap for migrating Na and Li atoms. Consequently, the diffusivity of Li is difficult to extract accurately from the present data, but in its interstitial configuration Li is indeed highly mobile having a diffusivity in excess of 10-11 cm2s-1 at 500 °C.
Bound-exciton recombination in MgxZn1-xO thin films
Authors: Dietrich Christof Peter , Müller Alexander , Stölzel Marko , Lange Martin , Benndorf Gabriele , von Wenckstern Holger , Grundmann Marius
Published: January 2010

Excitons in semiconductor alloys feel a random disorder potential leading to inhomogeneous line broadening and a lack of knowledge about the dominating recombination processes. Nevertheless, we demonstrate competing localization effects due to disorder (random potential fluctuations) and shallow point defects. We were able to spectrally separate donor-bound and quasi-free excitons within the whole wurtzite-type composition range of MgxZn1-xO (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.33) using spectrally resolved (x ≤ 0.06) and time-resolved photoluminescence (x ≥ 0.08). We found out that donor-bound excitons dominate photoluminescence spectra even for Mg-contents up to x = 0.18 and still appear for x = 0.33.
Effect of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles on the Mechanical Properties and Tacticity of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)
Authors: Viratyaporn Wantinee , Lehman Richard
Published: January 2010

Nanoparticles were incorporated into poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix by the mean of in situ bulk polymerization. Particle chemistry, size, shape, and percent loading were experimental variables in the synthesis and mechanical properties were assessed, particularly impact resistance, which showed improvement at the optimal particle loading. In assessing the mechanisms of this improvement, the elongated shape of zinc oxide particles appears to promote crack deflection processes to introduce a pull-out mechanism similar to that observed in fiber composite systems. Raman spectroscopy was performed to examine the effect of polymer chain conformation and configuration with the addition of nanoparticles.
TEM Analysis of Microstructures of AlN/sapphire grown by MOCVD
Authors: Cai Bo , Nakarmi Mim L
Published: January 2010

We report on microstructure analysis of aluminum nitride (AlN) epilayers by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). AlN epilayer samples were grown on sapphire substrates by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. Cross section and plan view images were taken by TEM to investigate the threading dislocations. Edge type threading dislocations dominate the total dislocation density. The threading dislocations are greatly reduced by inserting an intermediate layer prior to the growth of high temperature AlN epilayer. The dislocations further reduce with increasing thickness. Our results correlate with the dislocation density estimated from x-ray diffraction analysis.
Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors Deposited on AlN Thin Films
Authors: Justice J. L. , Mukdadi O. M. , Korakakis D.
Published: January 2010

Over the past few decades, there has been considerable research and advancement in surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology. At present, SAW devices have been highly successful as frequency band pass filters for the mobile telecommunications and electronics industries. In addition to their inherent frequency selectivity, SAW devices are also highly sensitive to surface perturbations. This sensitivity, along with a relative ease of manufacture, makes SAW devices ideally suited for many sensing applications including mass, pressure, temperature, and biosensors. In the area of biosensing, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and quartz crystal microbalances (QCM) are still in the forefront of research and development, but advancement in SAW sensors could prove to have significant advantages over these technologies. This study investigates the advantages of using aluminum nitride (AlN) as a material for SAW sensors. AlN retains its piezoelectric properties at relatively high temperatures when compared to more common piezoelectric materials such as lead zirconium titanate (PZT), lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) and zinc oxide (ZnO). AlN is also a very robust material making it suitable for biosensing applications where the sensing target is selectively absorbed by an active layer on the device which may attack the piezoelectric layer. AlN thin films of different thicknesses have been deposited on Si substrates by DC reactive sputtering. Rayleigh-wave SAW devices have been fabricated by the deposition of platinum contacts and interdigital transducers (IDTs) onto AlN thin films using standard photolithographic processes. Experiments have been conducted to measure Rayleigh velocities, resonant frequencies, and insertion loss. Experimental results are compared to theoretical calculations.
Electrochemical Charge Transfer to Diamond and Other Materials
Authors: Chakrapani Vidhya , Angus John C. , Kash Kathleen , Anderson Alfred B. , Desai Sharvil , Sumanasekera Gamini
Published: January 2010

The oxygen redox couple in adsorbed water films acts as an “electrochemical ground” that tends to pin the Fermi level in solids at the electrochemical potential of the redox couple. We discuss this effect on the conductivity of diamond; the conductivity type of sp2-based carbons including single-walled, semiconducting carbon nanotubes and graphene; the photoluminescence of GaN and ZnO; and the contact charging of metals.
Titania Coated Silica Nanowires
Authors: Shalav Avi , Venkatachalam Dinesh Kumar , Reichardt Fabian , Fischer Frederic J.C. , Elliman Robert G.
Published: January 2010

The morphology, phase and stability of titania-coated SiOX NWs are investigated for two coating methods: solution-based deposition of Ti-alkoxides and Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD). Analysis of as-deposited and annealed films shows that it is possible to produce stable coatings of the anatase phase of TiO2. The limitations of these two approaches are also discussed.
Linear Electrogyration Study on Eu:In2O3 Nanocrystals
Authors: Sun Zhaoyong , Kityk Ivan V , Fang Jiye
Published: January 2010

Colloidal Europium-doped In2O3 nanocrystals were successfully prepared in a noncoordinating solvent using indium (III) and europium (III) acetates as precursors. The concentration of doped europium was varied up to 2.88 at%. Linear electrogyration induced by coherent circularly-polarized light was observed from samples in which europium-doped In2O3 nanocrystals were embedded in photopolymer oligoethracryalte matrices. The result on ˜2.5 at% europium-doped sample shows that the maximal linear electrogyration could reach to ˜12 deg./mm at an electric field of 120V/cm for He-Ne laser.
A High Efficiency, Purcell-enhanced Microcavity Single Photon Emitting Diode
Authors: Ellis David J.P. , Bennett Anthony J. , Dewhurst Samuel J. , Nicoll Christine A. , Ritchie David A. , Shields Andrew J.
Published: January 2010

Efficient, high-frequency quantum light sources are a prerequisite for advanced quantum information processing. Here, we report the observation of a Purcell enhancement in the radiative decay rate of a single quantum dot, embedded in a microcavity light-emitting diode structure. An annulus of low-refractive-index aluminium oxide, formed by wet oxidation, is used to simultaneously achieve lateral confinement of both the optical mode and the current through the device. This technique reduces the active area of the device without impeding the electrical properties of the p-i-n diode. We measure a photon collection efficiency of 14 ± 1% and demonstrate single photon electroluminescence at repetition rates up to 0.5 GHz.
Comparison of MISLEDs Made on Si-rich SiOx and SiNx
Authors: Chen Chun-Chieh , Lin Cheng-Tao , Pai Yi-Hao , Lin Gong-Ru
Published: January 2010

We compare the turn-on voltage, P-I, and EL responses between the MISLEDs made by Si-rich SiNx and SiOx films. Active layer thickness enlarged from 120 to 360 nm is achieved by lengthening deposition time from 10 to 30 min, which inevitably increases the forward turn-on voltage from 3 to 41 V. We observe that the forward turn-on voltage of SiNx based MISLED is only 10.43 V and that of SiOx based one is 69 V with the same film thickness of 100 nm. The tunneling-based carrier transport mechanism is dominated due to the exponential like V-I behavior, while the tunneling probability is strongly dependent on the height of the barriers between metal/dielectric and dielectric/nc-Si matrices. The P-I slope of SiNx and SiOx based MISLEDs are 1.6 and 115.2 mW/A, respectively. The SiNx MISLED reveals threshold current and voltage of only 4 A and 12 V due to lower barrier height of both ITO/SiNx and SiNx/nc-Si, whereas the threshold current and voltage of SiOx based MISLED are 400 A and 78 V, respectively. In comparison, the higher tunneling current through the SiNx MISLED fails to promote the larger external quantum efficiency of the MISLED, indicating that such lower barriers are not beneficial to the confinement of tunneling carriers and the enhancement of light-emission efficiency.
Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence of Chlorophylls in Single Light-Harvesting Complexes
Authors: Mackowski Sebastian , Piatkowski Dawid , Wörmke Stephan , Hartschuh Achim , Bräeuchle Christoph , Brotosudarmo Tatas H. P. , Scheer Hugo , Agarwal Ashish , Kotov Nicholas A. , Govorov Alexander O
Published: January 2010

We show that the fluorescence of peridinin-chlorophyll a-protein complexes can be strongly enhanced via coupling with plasmon excitations localized in metal nanostructures. The results of ensemble and single-molecule spectroscopy experiments at room temperature demonstrate six-fold increase of the emission intensity of the light-harvesting complex when it is placed in the vicinity of chemically prepared silver islands. Irrespective of the enhancement, we observe no effect of the metal nanoparticle on the fluorescence emission energy of the complex. This observation implies that plasmon excitations may be applied for controlling the optical properties of complex biomolecules.
Effects of Plasmon-Exciton Coupling on the Optical Properties of CdSe/Zns Quantum Dots Coupled to Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Chou Shin Grace , Kang Hyeong Gon , Clarke Matthew L , Hwang Jeeseong
Published: January 2010

By using a multi-color, multi-modal imaging platform, we look into the effects of exciton-plasmon coupling on optical properties of a semiconductor quantum dot (QD) that is coupled to a nearby gold NPs (AuNPs). By exciting this coupled material with laser excitation energies that are either strongly or weakly resonating with the plasmon resonance of the AuNP, the effects of plasmon-exciton coupling was studied in detail by analyzing the changes in the photoluminescence signal, the photoluminescence lifetime, and the blinking pattern of the QD.
Optical Transmission through Optically Thin and Thick Sub-wavelength Hole Arrays
Authors: Aksu Serap , Altug Hatice
Published: January 2010

In this work we have studied transmission and scattering of light through hexagonally packed circular subwavelength holes in optically thin and thick metallic film. The gold nanohole arrays are fabricated on glass substrate by combining nanosphere lithography with dry-etching technique. We observed that the transmission resonances of the thin films are significantly different than that of the thick films due to the coupling of plasmons at metal/air and metal/glass interfaces. We also investigated the effect of the diameter and the periodicity on the transmission resonance by controlling the dry-etching time and the bead size used in lithography, respectively. Finally, we have looked at the spectral response of the fabricated structures in media with different refractive indexes for bio-sensing application.
Obtaining Circularly Polarized Optical Spots Beyond the Diffraction Limit Using Plasmonic Nano-Antennas
Authors: Ogut Erdem , Kiziltas Gullu , Sendur Kursat
Published: January 2010

With advances in nanotechnology, emerging plasmonic nano-optical applications, such as all-optical magnetic recording, require circularly-polarized electromagnetic radiation beyond the diffraction limit. In this study, a plasmonic cross-dipole nano-antenna is investigated to obtain a circularly polarized near-field optical spot with a size smaller than the diffraction limit of light. The performance of the nano-antenna is investigated through numerical simulations. In the first part of this study, the nano-antenna is illuminated with a diffraction-limited circularly-polarized radiation to obtain circularly polarized optical spots at nanoscale. In the second part, diffraction limited linearly polarized radiation is used. An optimal configuration for the nano-antenna and the polarization angle of the incident light is identified to obtain a circularly polarized optical spot beyond the diffraction limit from a linearly polarized diffraction limited radiation.
Gold-black as IR absorber and solar cell enhancer
Authors: Peale Robert E. , Cleary Justin W , Ishigami Masahito , Smith Christian W , Baillie Kevin , Colwell Josh E , Beck Kenneth M , Joly A.G. , Edwards Oliver , Fredricksen Chris J
Published: January 2010

Infrared absorbance and visible/near-IR excited plasmon resonances are investigated in gold-black, a porous nano-structured conducting film. Polymer infusion (for hardening) generally reduced absorbance in the long wave IR but has little effect at THz wavelengths. The characteristic length scales of the structured films vary considerably as a function of deposition parameters, but the absorbance is found to be only weakly correlated with these distributions. Initial investigations of gold-black by photoelectron emission microscopy (PEEM) reveal plasmon resonances, which have potential to enhance the efficiency of thin film solar cells. For films with different characteristic length scales, the plasmon resonances appear in structures with similar length scales.
Universal Correlation and Mechanism for the Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles
Authors: Sotiriou Georgios A. , Camenzind Adrian , Krumeich Frank , Meyer Andreas , Panke Sven , Pratsinis Sotiris E.
Published: January 2010

Silver clusters (4-150 nm) anchored on nanostructured silica particles (300-400 m2/g) with closely controlled Ag content and size were made in one-step by scalable flame spray pyrolysis of Ag-nitrate and hexamethyldisiloxane containing solutions. Composite Ag/SiO2 nanoparticles were characterized by S/TEM, EDX spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption. The activity of such nanoparticles against the Gram negative bacterium Escherichia coli was investigated by monitoring the recombinantly synthesized green fluorescent protein. It is shown that higher Ag content particles exhibit a stronger antibacterial effect.